High Country Woman: My Life on Rees Valley Station, by Iris Scott with Geraldine O’Sullivan Beere (Random House, RRP $45): The description on the back cover of this book says “New Zealand’s high country farmers are a special breed” and…
Category: NZ books
The cat that captured a heart
After Cleo Came Johah, by Helen Brown (Allen & Unwin, $35): This is the sequel to New Zealander Helen Brown’s lovely bestseller Cleo, which told the story of the death of Helen’s young son Sam and how the arrival of…
Behind the scenes with a real forensic scientist
Expert Witness, by Dr Anna Sandiford (HarperCollins, RRP $33): With programmes such as Bones and CSI, we all feel familiar with the inner workings of the forensic side of police investigations, but the real thing is somewhat different. Expert Witness…
Humour tinges sad story
Shaken, Not Stirred: Family Survival in a Quake Zone, by Amanda Cropp (Wily Publications, RRP $30): For those of us who do not live there, it’s hard to imagine the fear and uncertainty that has swamped Canterbury since the quakes.…
System failings the issue now
Trial by Ambush: The Trials of David Bain, by Joe Karam (HarperCollins, RRP $45): On June 20, 1994, David Bain called emergency services to report finding his entire family dead. His parents Robin and Margaret, sisters Arawa and Laniet and…
Tracking our rail history
Last Train To Paradise, by Graham Hutchins (Exisle Publishing, RRP $50): This celebratory account of a time when train travel was the most accepted way of getting around New Zealand looks at the halcyon days of New Zealand rail, at…
■ REVIEW
New Zealand New Millennium
New Zealand New Millennium is a timely, comprehensive and ultimately moving portrait of our nation in images, from 2000 to 2010: news, politics, natural disasters, sports, arts/culture, celebrity, lifestyle, as well as those that are simply quirky, poignant or striking.…
Kiwi detectives give hard-hitting insights
NZ Detectives, by John Lockyer (Penguin, RRP $42): If the growing number of fly-on-the-wall, reality cop shows on television is anything to go by, then I think it’s safe to say we have a fascination with cops and how they…
Who ‘ghosted’ this doesn’t matter
Justice: Speaking Up for Crime’s Silent Victims, by Garth McVicar with Michael Larson (Penguin, RRP $42): This book sparked a bit of controversy when it hit the shelves because while Garth McVicar is listed as the author, he didn’t actually…
Book highlights real role models for young Kiwis
New Zealand Hall of Fame, by Maria Gill and Bruce Potter (New Holland Publishers, RRP $35): All too often youngsters adopt sportspeople and entertainers as their role models and overlook the other incredibly talented people out there. And, sadly, all…