Connie: New Zealand Inheritance by Essie Summers
This author has been described as ‘New Zealand’s Queen of Romance’ having written over 50 novels and sold 19 million books in 105 countries. The book follows the Mills and Boon format where her heroines are strong characters and many continue to work after marriage to the love of their life. If there are problems, these are overcome, and life goes on staring into the beautiful sunset.
While an easy read, Connie thought the book was more suitable for a younger audience.
Judy J: The Nursing Home Murder by Ngaio Marsh
Ngaio Marsh is often described as one of the “Great Ladies” of the English mystery’s golden age and wrote 32 classic English detective stories. They all feature Detective Inspector Alleyn.
When the British Home Secretary dies after an emergency operation, the police are called in to investigate. After interviewing all who were present, many had a motive or opportunity to commit the murder. Through quiet, methodical police work, Alleyn solves the crime.
Police procedures in 1935 are much simpler than today, but the story is an easy, quaint read.
Lyn: Māori Markings by Tá Moko
Lyn chose to read and talk about the history of the settlement in New Zealand, the Maori traditions, song, dance, customs and craft.
Jo: Fire by Deborah Challinor
An historical romance based on the Ballantynes Department Store Fire in 1947 that killed 41 people, most of them store employees trapped in controversial circumstances. Set in an unnamed NZ city in 1953, Fire tells the story of four working class friends, all employed at Dawsons, one of the country's most glamorous and sophisticated department stores.
The story takes place when the city is preparing for a visit by the young Queen Elizabeth. When a fire starts in the basement many are trapped.
Jo thought it was a great read.
Val: Money in the Morgue by Ngaio Marsh and Stella Duffy
Stella Duffy has published many books herself but was asked to complete a novel begun by Ngaio Marsh during World War 11 but abandoned. There was only the title, three chapters and some notes, but no plot outline.
She set the story in the South Island and featured Inspector Alleyn who was there following up on a secret war mission. But when two murders happen and a large amount of money is stolen, Alleyn leaves his original position to help solve the mystery.
Val enjoyed the book and thought it was very true to the style of Ngaio Marsh.
Pamela: The Bones Remember by Sara Johnson
The story is set on Stewart Island, 30 km off the South Island of New Zealand. A visiting pathologist is asked to examine the skeletal remains of a body and very soon another body is discovered. While it is first thought to have been a shark attack, it soon seems that both deaths are related.
Pamela was interested to read of the controversy between those in the tourist industry who promoted ‘cage diving’ among the sharks, and the locals who were not in favour.
Apart from this, Pamela found that many the elements in the plot were too incredible, and much information was irrelevant.
Prue: The Cloud Leopard’s Daughter by Deborah Challinor
This book is the fourth in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. The genre is historical fiction/romance and moves between the Opium Wars in China and the Gold Rushes in both Australia and New Zealand. Her books are always very well researched and moves along quickly with never a slow part. She is a good storyteller. The characters have depth and feel familiar.
Her books are educational and enjoyable.
Kris: See You in September by Charity Norman
Cassy is having a short break with her boyfriend in New Zealand before she begins her law course and being bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding.
She is unsure about her boyfriend, so after an argument she accepts a lift from a group of people from an idyllic farming collective, planning to meet up with him later. Before long she is under the spell of the charismatic leader, Justin.
The story goes back and forth between her life in New Zealand and her parents in England frantically trying to get her back.
Kris thought it was a really good read, but at over 400 pages, could have been trimmed down a little.
Pat: Kitty by Deborah Challinor
This is the first book in ‘The Smuggler’s Wife ‘series.
When Kitty’s father dies, her mother is left impoverished, and her only hope is for her daughter to marry well. When she is found in a compromising position with an unscrupulous adventurer, she is banished to New Zealand. Much happens in the story, but it is so enjoyable and easy to read.
Gulf Between by Maxine Alterio
A young man is unconscious in hospital after a car accident. His mother learns that he is there, even though they haven’t seen each other in more than forty years. As he recovers family conflict, relationships and manipulation within the family bring back so many sad memories.
Julia: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
A dystopian novel, told in the first person, focuses on two complete strangers who meet moments before the end of the world. They miraculously survive by climbing into the mouth of the whale.
Julia gave up reading it as it became too horrible to read what they were doing to the whale.
Judy 3: The Secret of Strangers by Charity Norman
The author, born in Uganda, lived in England but has now moved to New Zealand and has written seven suspense thrillers featuring crime and family drama.
This book is set in London and a group of strangers are caught in a hostage situation in a café. The shooter rushes in and kills the owner. You learn the backstory of the hostages, the gunman and the negotiator.
Judy thought it was worth reading and hard to put down.
Bev: Alex in Winter by Tessa Duder
Alex is a teenage girl, a swimmer in training hopefully for the 1960 Olympics. She is also coping with the death of her boyfriend in a hit and run accident.
Her main rival is a young girl, an only child with rich parents and a bossy mother.
Many obstacles and challenges are put in her way as she tries to reach her goal.
Rosemary: Blood Men by Paul Cleave
The protagonist is Edward Hunter, a family man with a beautiful wife and daughter, a secure job as an accountant and a bright future ahead. But he has a very dark past, his father being a convicted serial murderer of eleven prostitutes having been in prison for the past 20 years. He has struggled with this nightmare all his life.
However, while waiting in the bank with his wife, a hold up occurs, his wife is taken hostage and eventually killed.
Thus begins the hunt for the killers.
Rosemary said she was conflicted with this book, not being sure whether she was enjoying it but knew she had to finish it. It certainly held her interest with many twists.
Joan: The Silent Frontier by Peter Watt
The story begins on the gold fields of Ballarat as the Eureka Stockade is under attack.
A man is killed, his siblings survive but are separated.
The story follows them through their lives until they are finally reunited.
Joan thought it a terrific story, fiction based on history, and she is absolutely hooked on it. A total escape.
Her next read is ‘Papua’ by Peter Watt.
AUGUST BOOK CLUB: The English writer Graham Greene
