For the last couple of years I've had the enormous privilege of being one of the judges on the New Zealand Crime Fiction Ngaio Marsh Awards, and I'm not joking when I call it a privilege. I've always been a fan of the work of New Zealand's fine band of Crime Fiction writers, but in the last couple of years, there's something going on over there that demands close attention. There's a sense of risk taking, of boundary pushing that's now palpable, along with an increasing pride in place and culture that's just wonderful. There's also a willingness to step away from that and take on a new setting / new place with aplomb. If you've not read any of the books on this shortlist in particular, but on the long-list as a whole then get on with it people - I know there are two on that Best First list that have just been ordered. You're missing out.
The finalists for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel are:
- INSIDE THE BLACK HORSE by Ray Berard (Mary Egan Publishing);
- MADE TO KILL by Adam Christopher (Titan Books);
- TRUST NO ONE by Paul Cleave (Upstart Press);
- THE LEGEND OF WINSTONE BLACKHAT by Tanya Moir (RHNZ Vintage); and
- AMERICAN BLOOD by Ben Sanders (Allen & Unwin).
The finalists for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel are:
- INSIDE THE BLACK HORSE by Ray Berard (Mary Egan Publishing);
- THE FIXER by John Daniell (Upstart Press);
- THE GENTLEMEN’S CLUB by Jen Shieff (Mary Egan Publishing); and
- TWISTER by Jane Woodham (Makaro Press).