Better the Blood

'A compelling, atmospheric page turner with an authentic insight into Maori culture' Val McDermid A DETECTIVE IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH. A KILLER IN SEARCH OF RETRIBUTION. A CLASH BETWEEN CULTURE AND DUTY. THE PAST NEVER TRULY STAYS BURIED. WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE OF PARADISE. Detective Senior Sergeant Hana Westerman is a tenacious Maori detective juggling single motherhood and the pressures of her career in Auckland’s Central Investigation Branch. When she’s led to a crime scene by a mysterious video, she discovers a man hanging in a hidden room. With little to go on, Hana knows one thing: the killer is sending her a message. As a Maori officer, there has always been a clash between duty and culture for Hana, but it is something that she’s found a way to live with. Until now. When more murders follow, Hana realises that her heritage and past are the keys to finding the perpetrator. Especially when the killer's agenda of revenge may include Hana – and her family . . . ‘As page-turning as it is eye-opening’ Ambrose Parry ‘A remarkable new detective’ Daily Mail ‘[A] highly addictive read’ My Weekly ‘So chilling’ Crime Monthly ‘Opens a unique window onto a fascinating Antipodean society as only world-class crime fiction can’ **Deon Meyer Winner of the Best First Novel Award at the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Awards Finalist for****Best Novel at the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Awards Shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Longlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger** Shortlisted for Audio Book of the Year at the Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards Don’t miss it’ David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter Counts ‘Packed with intricate detail about Maori history and culture, this tense and involving story ushers in a remarkable new detective’ Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail ‘This thought-provoking debut is a compelling, insightful and highly addictive read’ My Weekly ‘So chilling’ Crime Monthly ‘[A] stellar series launch . . . Immersed in modern-day technologies and with a keen sensitivity to cultural issues, this is a finely crafted page-turner. Bennett is a writer to watch’ Publishers Weekly (starred review) 'Bennett unflinchingly weaves together layers of fallout from New Zealand’s bloody colonization, enduring Maori culture, and gripping procedural details. Hopefully this compelling debut heralds the start of a long-running series' Booklist