“Better the Blood” is an enthralling and astute first foray into the thriller genre, skilfully crafted by the esteemed Māori screenwriter and director, Michael Bennett. This debut novel delves into the enduring struggles of New Zealand’s indigenous communities, shedding light on the longstanding injustices they have endured. Read Better the Blood summary below.
Better the Blood by Michael Bennett Summary
One fateful day, Hana stumbles upon a crime scene thanks to a mysterious video that leads her to a chilling discovery: a man hanging in a secret room with an intriguing inward-curving inscription. As she immerses herself in the investigation, another seemingly unrelated death occurs, deepening the mystery. However, as she delves deeper, she unearths a connection that spans over 160 years, back to the brutal and bloody British colonization of New Zealand.
Hana soon realizes that the current murders are a manifestation of utu, the Māori tradition of seeking retribution for past injustices. In this case, the heinous execution of a Māori Chief by colonial soldiers during the early days of New Zealand’s colonization has sparked a chain of revenge. With descendants of two of the original soldiers already killed, Hana believes there are four more potential murders yet to occur. She finds herself on the hunt for New Zealand’s first serial killer, battling her own cultural heritage while seeking justice for the victims.
As the investigation unfolds, the pursuit becomes intensely personal for Hana. Memories resurface of an event from two decades ago when she was a new cop, part of a police team sent to forcefully end a land rights occupation by indigenous peoples on the same ancestral mountain where the Chief was killed. This incident once more challenges her loyalty to her roots and forces her to confront her past.
To complicate matters further, the case takes a terrifying turn when Hana discovers a genealogical link between her own family and the British soldiers involved in the historic crime. The boundaries between past and present blur, and Hana finds herself at the center of a web of historical injustices, revenge, and familial secrets.
“Better the Blood” is a riveting and thought-provoking debut in crime fiction. Michael Bennett weaves a captivating tale that explores not only the intricate dynamics of a compelling murder mystery but also delves into the rich cultural heritage of New Zealand’s Māori community. With its engaging plot twists, complex characters, and a thrilling narrative, this novel promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.
In this masterfully crafted story, Michael Bennett demonstrates an impressive ability to seamlessly blend history, tradition, and suspense. “Better the Blood” shines as a fresh and extraordinary addition to the crime fiction genre, and readers will undoubtedly eagerly anticipate more from this remarkable new talent.
Read Born a Crime Pdf Summary Reviews By Trevor Noah
Better the Blood pdf, Paperback, Hardcover book Information
- ASIN : B0B52D8S1J
- Publisher : Atlantic Monthly Press (January 10, 2023)
- Publication date : January 10, 2023
- Language : English
- File size : 1250 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 331 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 0802160603
- Best Sellers Rank: #135,494 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #273 in Native American Literature (Kindle Store)
- #751 in Serial Killers
- #2,030 in Serial Killer Thrillers
- Customer Reviews: 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 129 ratings
Better the Blood Reviews
“A stellar series launch set in contemporary New Zealand . . . The narrative moves at a quick pace. 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 establishes himself as an excellent storyteller . . . The book’s immersion in tribal culture and history makes the greatest impact, lending complexity and sweep to the narrative . . . One can only hope this is the beginning of a series. A striking debut and a significant addition to Indigenous literature.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Riveting . . . Bennett deftly illuminates the plight of the Māori people and its continuing effects in New Zealand. His action-packed narrative, blended with various cultural references, recalls the novels of Tony and Anne Hillerman, Craig Johnson, and William Kent Krueger.”—Library Journal
“Bennett unflinchingly weaves together layers of fallout from New Zealand’s bloody colonization, enduring Māori culture, and gripping procedural details. Hopefully this compelling debut heralds the start of a long-running series.”—Booklist
“With plenty of suspense, sympathetically drawn characters and crisp dialogue, Better the Blood promises to be the start of a long and rewarding literary career for Bennett.”—BookPage
“A compelling, atmospheric page turner with an authentic insight into Māori culture.”—Val McDermid
“Stunning. Better the Blood is a tremendous debut, and Hana Westerman, the Māori detective at the center of the story, instantly becomes one of the great characters in crime fiction on any continent. This novel has it all: a gripping mystery, complex and memorable characters, and timely social and cultural commentary. Don’t miss it.”—David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of Winter Counts
“Carefully crafted and beautifully written, intelligent and insightful, Bennett opens a unique window onto a fascinating Antipodean society as only world-class crime fiction can. I devoured it. (And, as a South African, I found great pleasure in the rugby references too.)”—Deon Meyer, author of The Dark Flood
“Better the Blood touches on themes that have become increasingly urgent in recent years including the far-reaching impacts of colonialism and the often uneasy integration of identity and heritage into modern multicultural society. A tensely plotted, gritty crime novel that has the courage to force us all to rethink our relationship with the past.”—Vaseem Khan
“As page-turning as it is eye-opening. An excitingly fresh perspective upon a world you thought you knew.”—Ambrose Parry
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