Author Archives: alysonebaker

Wake by Elizabeth Knox – 2013

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

Wake is a meticulously plotted novel about a group of survivors who find themselves isolated in and unable to escape from Kahukura – a fictitious area in the Tasman District. It starts like a scene from Dawn of the Dead … Continue reading →

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The virgin and the whale by Carl Nixon – 2013

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

I am a big Carl Nixon fan – and The Virgin & the Whale has strengthened this position. It is a story about stories – how we use them to cope with trauma; and stories within stories – overtly playing … Continue reading →

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Beyond the shadows by LaVerne Clark – 2013

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

If you like your novels hot and raunchy, but also like crime suspense and are not averse to the odd bit of the supernatural you will love Beyond the shadows. Cop Kelly Appleton is attracted to her senior partner, Nate, … Continue reading →

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The purple shroud by Stella Duffy – 2012

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

The Purple Shroud is the continuation of the story of Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore. Theodora ends on a high, with Theodora having risen from humble origins to be the Byzantine Empress in Constantinople alongside her husband Justinian. The Purple Shroud … Continue reading →

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The water race by D. Bradley – 2011

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

The Water Race is a classic tale of conflict and resolution set in a small New Zealand coastal village and wonderfully told in the Kiwi vernacular. In the village there are many conflicting projects and beliefs that are all in … Continue reading →

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Rangatira by Paula Morris – 2011

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

Rangatira is a lovely book – the story of Paratene Te Manu told from his point of view as an old man. As he sits for a portrait by Lindauer he looks back on his trip to England, which he … Continue reading →

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Hokitika Town by Charlotte Randall – 2011

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

A slice of life on the West Coast in the 1860s as seen through the eyes of a young boy trying to make sense of the world, relationships and trickiest of all, the English language. Funny, sad and intriguing, it … Continue reading →

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The conductor by Sarah Quigley – 2011

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

So much more than a novel about how art can help people triumph over, or at least survive through, adversity; The Conductor is a complex novel exploring the many and various drives and desires that keep us going. A disparate … Continue reading →

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Blood men by Paul Cleave – 2010

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

Blood Men is Paul Cleave’s fourth thriller set in a Christchurch more like the outskirts of hell than a garden city. Edward Hunter has managed to create a comfortable life – he is married to a fellow accountant and the … Continue reading →

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Theodora: actress, empress, whore by Stella Duffy – 2010

Posted on November 5, 2014 by alysonebaker

Theodora is a meticulously researched novel about the early life of Theodora, who was born around 500 and died in 548. It starts with the story of a child raised in the excitement and turmoil surrounding Constantinople’s ‘circus’ performers – … Continue reading →

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