Rough Justice: The Rex Haig Story Rex Haig and Rennie Gould Longacre Press, $34.99, ISBN 9781877460029 Rough Justice describes one of the most bizarre and perplexing murder cases ever to appear before a New Zealand court. The tale begins on…
My Father’s Shadow: A Portrait of Justice Peter Mahon Sam Mahon Longacre Press, $39.99, ISBN 9781877460173 I like Sam Mahon’s writerly qualities. This book confirms the literary reputation inaugurated with The Year of the Horse and broadened with delicious malice…
The 10pm Question Kate De Goldi Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 978977460203 “Every family has a secret,” says Alan Bennett, “and the secret is that it’s not like other families.” For Frankie Parsons, the clever, neurotic hero of Kate De Goldi’s…
March to the Sound of the Guns Ray Grover Longacre Press, $34.99, ISBN 9781877460012 Ray Grover’s extremely well written novel March to the Sound of the Guns traces the harrowing years of the First World War, and the years immediately…
Two Little Boys Duncan Sarkies Penguin Books, $28.00, ISBN 9780143020912 Acid Song Bernard Beckett Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 9781877460111 Girlie Gillian Ranstead Penguin Books, $28.00, ISBN 9780143010005 “I thought it was one of those boys’ books,” said a friend when…
Shadow of the Mountain Anna Mackenzie Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877460005 Smashed Mandy Hager Random House, $18.99, ISBN 9781869419424 Gool Maurice Gee Puffin, $19.95, ISBN 9780143304005 Each of these kidult novels tells a compelling story in a tightly written…
Looking for Darwin Lloyd Spencer Davis Longacre Press, $39.99, ISBN 0781877361227 Science has somehow acquired an almost inhuman reputation. Scientists are regarded as dry, dusty specimens, cut off from society and probably working on projects that will cause more harm…
At the End of Darwin Road – A Memoir Fiona Kidman Vintage, $34.99, ISBN 9781869419448 Muck: A Memoir Craig Sherborne Victoria University Press, $30.00, ISBN 9780864735683 Digging for Spain: A Writer’s Journey Penelope Todd Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 9781877361968 “The…
Falling for Science: Asking the Big Questions Bernard Beckett Longacre Press, $39.99, ISBN 9781877361722 Imagine yourself in Egypt in the third century BC. You believe the earth is round – what else would cause ships’ masts to appear before…
The Dumpster Saga Craig Harrison Scholastic New Zealand, $16.99, ISBN 9781869438166 Salt Maurice Gee Puffin, $17.95, ISBN 9780143303350 The Sea-wreck Stranger Anna Mackenzie Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361883 It’s hard to imagine and salutary to recall that many teenagers do…