Antipodean Noir: recording from 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

Really stoked that today Harrogate Festivals has today released the audio recording of the Antipodean Panel from last year's Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, as part of their featured series on great sessions from throughout the festival's history. Other sessions they've released in recent weeks include Val McDermid in conversation with Susan Calman from 2016, an audience with the legendary Colin Dexter (creator of Inspector Morse) from the first festival in 2003, and Peter Robinson and Ian Rankin in conversation back in 2012 (among several other top sessions).

I have some great memories of a wonderful hour onstage with the marvellous Jane Harper, Stella Duffy, Vanda Symon, and Christian White. Four brilliant crime writers. So many laughs, such great stories shared by all the authors. Fabulous vibe onstage. Warning: it's a group of Kiwis & Aussies, so we talk fast, we're a bit raucous, but hopefully well worth a listen for those who couldn't be there (it was a sold-out session in front of almost a thousand people). The discussion veers across a wide array of subjects, and the authors share some really remarkable insights about storytelling and much more.

Listen below, from wherever you are in the world.

HIF Player by Harrogate International Festivals · Antipodean Noir

Newcastle Noir online festival - Southern Cross Crime

Last year the Newcastle Noir festival invited their first set of writers from Australia & New Zealand. Undercover cop turned award-shortlisted crime writer Nathan Blackwell (author of the fantastic THE SOUND OF HER VOICE) came all the way from Auckland, which would have made him the guest who'd travelled the furthest ever in the history of Newcastle Noir - except fellow Kiwi Vanda Symon came the whole way from Dunedin, near the bottom of the South Island!

The Newcastle Noir 2019 festival goers enjoyed that panel (which also included Australian authors Helen Fitzgerald and Rachel Amphlett, who are based in the UK) so much that the organisers "knew we just had to host another group of Antipodean authors". Jacky Collins, aka Dr. Noir, was lucky enough to hear one of this year's panelists speak at Rotorua Noir last year and she just knew you’d want to hear them too! Join Craig Sisterson as he talks to Kirsten McKenzie, Helen Fitzgerald and Charity Norman (plus some other surprise special guests).

Hearsay and Red Herring

When does crime pay? Where do facts end and fiction begin? How can you stop the truth getting in the way of a good story? 

Auckland novelist Jonothan Cullinane will give his take on these and other questions at Hearsay and Red Herring, a free public event at Grey Lynn Library from 6pm on Thursday 23 March.

Cullinane’s debut novel RED HERRING, published in the lead-up to last Christmas, is a New Zealand bestseller. The Auckland Libraries waiting list has only recently dipped below 100 requesters for nearly 50 copies.

Set during Auckland's infamous waterfront dispute of 1951, RED HERRING stars Johnny Molloy, a private detective whose fraud investigation takes him on a car chase through Grey Lynn streets and earns him a pummelling out the back of the Returned Services Club.

Other characters include major players of the time, such as Federation of Labour ‘hard man’ Patrick Fintan Walsh, union leader Jock Barnes and PM Sid Holland. The author worked to make their voices in the novel as true to life as possible, even if some of the events are fictional.

The book is getting good reviews. “What a cracker!” writes Crime Watch blog contributor Alyson Baker of this “noir novel set in tea-drenched 1950s New Zealand”. The Spinoff calls Red Herring “a damned good read”, rating it one of the best fiction books of 2016.

Those attending Hearsay and Red Herring at Grey Lynn Library, 474 Great North Rd, can hear some rollicking good stories, enjoy a glass of wine, ask searching questions, and pick up a signed copy of the book at a cash stall staffed by indie bookseller Dear Reader.

Hearsay and Red Herring (with Jonothan Cullinane)
6pm, Thursday 23 March, 
Grey Lynn Library
474 Great North Road, Auckland

Nordic Noir meets Kiwi Crime: a special Ngaios event in Reyjavik

The Ngaio Marsh Awards and Reykjavik City Library invite booklovers to a special Ngaio Marsh Awards edition of the Library's popular 'Dark Deeds' summer walking tours.

The walks are centered on dark deeds of various kinds in Icelandic fiction, happening in or around Reykjavík, and give a taste of Icelandic crime fiction, ghost stories and history. The walking tours are led by library staff.

On Thursday 30 June, in a special event, Reyjavik-based crime writer Grant Nicol, longlisted for this year's Ngaio Marsh Awards, will be part of the walking tour, reading from his works, and available for questions from participants.

Nicol's THE MISTAKE has been praised by judges as doing "a superb job taking a simple premise and layering it with complexities and intrigue... a dark tale that draws on the chill of Reykjavik surrounds to deliver caution about avenging in haste."

There will also be readings from Ngaio Marsh Awards' judge Yrsa Sigurdardottir's works.

The special Ngaio Marsh Awards Dark Deeds walk starts at the library in Grófin, Tryggvagata 15. The walk is at an easy pace and takes around 90 minutes. There is no reservation or booking necessary, just show up at the library in time.

Murder in the Library: Takapuna (Auckland region)

The Ngaio Marsh Award, in association with the New Zealand Book Council, invites booklovers to a thrilling event featuring the talented authors behind three of the entrants in this year's Ngaio Marsh Awards. This Auckland region event is the first in a series of events across New Zealand.

WHEN: Wednesday 6 April 2016
WHERE: Takapuna Library, 9 The Strand
WHEN: 6pm for light refreshments, 6.30pm panel discussion
RSVP: Helen Woodhouse, (09) 890 4903 or helen.woodhouse@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Entry: by koha. 

Ben Sanders' AMERICAN BLOOD has been praised as "tense and gritty" (New Zealand Listener), "cementing the arrival of a major crime talent" (New Zealand Herald) and "a winner for crime fans" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Adam Sarafis's SOMETHING IS ROTTEN begins with a murder in an Auckland library and is "an intriguing tale that raises wider issues about the connection between business, politics, and the media" (Herald on Sunday).

Ken Smith's debut HOODWINKED centres on an "endearing" main character who runs afoul of others looking to take advantage (Coast FM). Smith was a lawyer in South Africa for many years and now lives in Auckland.

Book Launch: THE ICE SHROUD by Gordon Ell

Acclaimed heritage photographer, publisher, and author Gordon Ell will join the ranks of New Zealand's crime writing fraternity when his debut is launched at Takapuna Library on 2 March.

Ell's passion for the outdoors shines through in his first crime tale, which is set in the majestic Southern Lakes region of New Zealand. I'm looking forward to reading THE ICE SHROUD as I've met Ell several times at books events over the past few years. He's had such a terrific career publishing numerous books about our country's natural and historic heritage, it was quite delightful to see how enthusiastic he was about making a move into crime fiction, something else he loved.

Here's the blurb:
Edie is dead, frozen in an alpine torrent, murdered. A crime of passion, or is something darker troubling her former lovers? Detective Sergeant Buchan keeps his own secret while probing the private lives of others among the mountains of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Lakes. Something, it seems, is rotten in the alpine paradise.

Book Launch: 
The Friends of Takapuna Library and Bush Press invite booklovers to a free event to celebrate the release of Gordon Ell's first crime novel, THE ICE SHROUD, on the evening of Wednesday 2 March 2016.

Level 1, Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna.

Light refreshments will be served from 6pm. The official launch will be at 6.30pm. Copies of THE ICE SHROUD will be available for purchase and signing.

Please RSVP to Helen Woodhouse, helen.woodhouse@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or (09) 890 4903

Book Launch: THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB

I've recently become aware of a brand new debut New Zealand psychological thriller, which is having its official book launch at the Women's Bookshop in Ponsonby tonight NZT.

Carole Beu and her team at the Women's Bookshop regularly put on terrific events (I've attended some in the past with the likes of Tess Gerritsen and Val McDermid) and are great supporters of good books and great writing. I'd highly recommend anyone near Auckland heads along tonight for the launch of THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB.

Jen Shieff's debut novel sounds very promising. A former government analyst, Turangi-based Shieff has delved into some real-life New Zealand history with her historical psychological thriller, that sounds like it might mix a few genres and appeal to a range of readers.

Here's the official blurb:

A psychological thriller that will shock you to the core. Headstrong and independent, Rita Saunders is a successful hairdresser by day and a busy brothel madam by night. The only thing missing from her life is the love of a good woman. Istvan Ziegler is a Hungarian immigrant who has come to New Zealand to work on the brand new harbour bridge project. He is full of hope and dreams of a better life. Sixteen-year-old Judith Curran has come to Auckland for an abortion. With no money or family support, she finds herself at the mercy of strangers and simply has to hope they have her best interests at heart. Becoming bound into a desperate situation involving a group of orphan girls, Rita, Judith and Istvan find fortitude they never knew they possessed. But do they have enough of it to expose the menacing orphanage director and the slice of the heartless and seedy 1950s' underworld he inhabits? The Gentlemen's Club is an honest and gritty debut novel that will linger with you long after you have finished reading it.

I understand the book launch tonight is open to anyone, and kicks off from 6pm.

Flying Kiwis at the Gothenburg Book Fair

New Zealand-based Swedish author Linda Olsson and Kiwi playwright Thomas Sainsbury are swimming against the tide a little this week, appearing at the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden.

In the last few years there's been a tsunami of Scandinavian crime fiction translated and made readily available in English-speaking countries around the world, so it's nice to see some New Zealand crime fiction (with a Scandinavian connection, to be sure) going in the other direction too. Olsson and Sainsbury's first crime thriller, SOMETHING IS ROTTEN, written under the pen-name Adam Sarafis, has been translated into Swedish - INGENTING AR GLOMT. Beautiful cover design, as you can see above.

For those in the region this week, you can meet Olsson and Sainsbury at the Book Fair, along with some other crime writers like Arnaldur Indridason and Paula Hawkins (THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN).

I'm curious to see how Swedish-speakers will respond to what I thought was a good debut crime novel to kickstart what could be a fascinating trilogy. You can read my review of the book here.

Murder in the Court: Ngaio Marsh Award winner to be revealed

Murder in the Court: Ngaio winner revealed

THE NGAIO MARSH AWARD, in association with WORD Christchurch and The Press, is pleased to reveal that whodunit and who-won-it will be announced at a great event at the Court Theatre on 4 October. 

“I’m thrilled that the event will be held at the Court Theatre this year,” says Judging Convenor Craig Sisterson, “both as a nod to Dame Ngaio’s own passion for the stage, and because the Court Jesters were scheduled to perform at our inaugural event in 2010, before the Christchurch earthquakes intervened.”

The event on Sunday 4 October begins at 5.00pm and will include a chance to have a drink and mingle with the finalists and an improvised murder mystery, followed by actors reading from each novel:
• FIVE MINUTES ALONE by Paul Cleave (Penguin NZ)
• THE PETTICOAT MEN by Barbara Ewing (Head of Zeus)
• SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Paddy Richardson (Upstart Press)
• THE CHILDREN’S POND by Tina Shaw (Pointer Press)
• FALLOUT by Paul Thomas (Upstart Press)

“Rachael King and her WORD Christchurch team have put together a really terrific evening to honour this year’s finalists,” says Sisterson. “We’re all curious to see who’ll win from amongst this superb array of New Zealand writing talent; diverse books melding page-turning storytelling with deeper societal issues. I understand it’s been a cliffhanger decision for our international judging panel of crime fiction experts.”

The Ngaio Marsh Award is made annually for the best crime, mystery, or thriller novel written by a New Zealand citizen or resident. This year’s winner will receive the Ngaio Marsh Award trophy, a set of Dame Ngaio’s novels courtesy of her publisher HarperCollins, and a cash prize provided by WORD Christchurch.

WORD Christchurch will also be giving away a set of the finalists’ novels to an attendee on the night.

For more information and ticketing, contact WORD Christchurch at admin@wordchristchurch.co.nz 
For more on the Ngaio Marsh Award, go to www.facebook.com/NgaioMarshAward, follow on Twitter @ngaiomarshaward, or contact the Judging Convenor directly: craigsisterson@hotmail.com 

Event: Ngaio Marsh Award winner announcement

It's not long until we'll know which fantastic writer has scooped the 2015 Ngaio Marsh Award. 

An event celebrating the five finalists and announcing the winner will be held in Christchurch, Dame Ngaio's birthplace and hometown, on Sunday 4 October. The team at WORD Christchurch have created a terrific evening which will honour the finalists and Dame Ngaio's memory in a number of unique ways.

It's going to be a highlight of the upcoming New Zealand books calendar, and I'll be revealing specific details of the evening itself here on Crime Watch very soon. Until then, a bit more mystery... appropriate really.

Back in July, five outstanding novels, full of mystery and intrigue, were announced as the 2015 shortlist:
• FIVE MINUTES ALONE by Paul Cleave (Penguin NZ)
• THE PETTICOAT MEN by Barbara Ewing (Head of Zeus)
• SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Paddy Richardson (Upstart Press)
• THE CHILDREN’S POND by Tina Shaw (Pointer Press)
• FALLOUT by Paul Thomas (Upstart Press)

As I said then, the shortlist is a superb showcase of New Zealand writing talent. It isn't that long ago that it was common to question the quality or heritage of New Zealand crime writing, but these authors clearly demonstrate that our tales and writers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world.

For me, the shortlist contains a diverse range of styles and stories, but each book melds page-turning entertainment with an undercurrent of deeper issues that go the very heart of our communities and society.

Each year the Ngaio Marsh Award is blessed to have a terrific judging panel. In 2015, there are seven judges; crime fiction experts from the UK, USA, Iceland, Australia, and New Zealand.

The judges praised Cleave’s FIVE MINUTES ALONE as “gritty and thoroughly absorbing”, a “one-sitting” novel that “evokes complex feelings regarding retribution and morality”. Ewing’s THE PETTICOAT MEN is “an immaculately researched” take on a real-life 1870s event that is “spirited, full of strong characters” and “a joy to read”.  The panel hailed SWIMMING IN THE DARK as “an elegantly delivered, disturbing, and ultimately very human tale” that showcased Richardson’s talent for “damaged characters and tackling grey areas”. Tina Shaw authors a “mesmerising” character study in THE CHILDREN’S POND, using deft and spare language to craft a tale with a sublime sense of both place and menace that is “a delight to read”. Paul Thomas’s FALLOUT is “compelling and character-rich”, a “superb continuation” of the Ihaka series; “excellent writing… funny, but also serious.”

It's going to be a very close call as to which book takes home the prize.

Do you have a favourite?