Author Archives: alysonebaker

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris – 2018

Posted on November 24, 2018 by alysonebaker

Lale was a bit of a lad in Slovakia, fond of women and fine clothes: “Always dress to impress”, but when he ends up in Auschwitz/Birkenau in 1942 he must use all his charm and cunning to survive – and … Continue reading →

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Heaven Sent by Alan Carter – 2018

Posted on November 18, 2018 by alysonebaker

Cato Kwong and his new wife Sharon Wang are blissfully married, if not a bit sleep deprived, with an infant daughter, Ella.  But when Kwong starts working on a series of murders among the Fremantle homeless community, he gets more … Continue reading →

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The Man Who Would Not See by Rajorshi Chakraborti – 2018

Posted on November 17, 2018 by alysonebaker

Abhay is a writer and primary caregiver to his daughter, Mira.  He lives a comfortable life in Wellington with his wife, Lena – “… simply the daily opportunity to play. That’s one of the biggest things I owe New Zealand … Continue reading →

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The Sound of Breaking Glass by Kirsten Warner – 2018

Posted on October 16, 2018 by alysonebaker

Christel is married to Ted and they have two children, Jim and Maisie. Christel works in TV – making reality TV shows that emphasise people’s suffering.  Christel is a rape survivor. Christel was taken advantage of when a teenager. Christel’s … Continue reading →

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The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke by Tina Makereti – 2018

Posted on September 22, 2018 by alysonebaker

“Wanderer, freak, sailor, philosopher, Native boy in English costume, English boy in native costume. Exhibitionist, lover, clown, Maori boy, Man of the world.” – Hemi (James) Pōneke is recuperating in a house in Victorian London – and recording his story … Continue reading →

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Death Actually by Rosy Fenwicke – 2018

Posted on September 20, 2018 by alysonebaker

Maggie Potter is an independent funeral director in picturesque tourist village Queenstown.  Her life is not what she had dreamed for herself, but she does have her son, her recently-returned-from-the-UK daughter, and her firm circle of female friends.  But when … Continue reading →

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Eye of the Songbird by Michael Munro – 2018

Posted on August 25, 2018 by alysonebaker

Sadie Rosenberg is hanging down a crevasse in Antarctica, refusing to cut free her friend Bill who is hanging beneath her, making it impossible for another friend, Sean Tomasin, to haul her to safety.  Sadie and Sean, and a large … Continue reading →

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The Floating Basin by Carolyn Hawes – 2016

Posted on August 16, 2018 by alysonebaker

WELCOME TO MY SECOND POST IN THE NGAIO MARSH AWARDS BLOG TOUR 2018 A man’s body is discovered in the floating basin; a murky tidal estuary on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Ru Clements, a local detective, … Continue reading →

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The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney – 2018

Posted on August 12, 2018 by alysonebaker

‘The Quaker’ is the nickname given to a serial killer who has taken three female lives, ruined families, stymied the police, and terrorised a city.  The city in question is the “disintegrating city” of Glasgow in the late 1960s, and … Continue reading →

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All Our Secrets by Jennifer Lane – 2017

Posted on August 9, 2018 by alysonebaker

WELCOME TO THE NGAIO MARSH AWARDS BLOG TOUR 2018 All was going pretty OK in the small town of Coongahoola, NSW, but then Gracie’s Dad moved out, the Believers arrived, and one by one the River Children started disappearing. Coongahoola … Continue reading →

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