Better the blood by Michael Bennett

A stunning and complex book, Better the blood will thrill lovers of crime stories with its background of Maori history and colonisation. Hana Westerman is a Maori detective who receives a mysterious video leading her to a body in a hidden room. Other deaths follow and Hana is forced to face the fact that it is her past and Maori heritage that may lead to the serial killer. When she discovers a photograph from 1863 of 6 soldiers posing with the hanging dead body of a Maori chief, she realises that the murders may be revenge for the past atrocity.

Hana is a tenacious and determined character, once married to a white detective, and now juggling being a single parent. She is faced with the dilemma of being a member of the police force which often clashes with Maori beliefs and is haunted by an incident in her past when she had to forcibly break up a peaceful land rights protest.

Bennett brings a depth of understanding of culture and language in his narrative. His use of Indigenous terms and names explained in footnotes adds to the novel's tone. It is an engrossing police procedural that begs to be read in a couple of sittings, but one that will leave a lasting memory of Maori beliefs and the effects of racism.

With its clever plotting, thrilling action and engaging characters, Better the blood is a memorable novel and I look forward to reading future books by Michael Bennett.

Themes: Murder, Mystery, Detectives, Maori culture.

Pat Pledger