Latest fromBook Reviews
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Thriller's sinister assault on teenager
Lisa Jewell’s latest book is a thriller about a sinister assault on a teenager. She talks to Stephen Jewell.
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Revisiting a noir wasteland
There’s a neat conceit, albeit an unlikely one, to Joseph Kanon’s new thriller, Leaving Berlin.
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Coming-of-age journey captivates
It’s 1978 and the inhabitants of Gaialands, an idealist vegan commune in the Coromandel, are living the sustainable dream.
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Turning the heat on the Cold War
Marian remains a compelling heroine, whose many contradictions are all believable — even if, to the long list of men who are smitten by her, we can confidently add the name of Simon Mawer.
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Engineer's thriller questions real-life
Engineer Paul Hardisty, a veteran of working in developing nations, has set his first thriller in Yemen. It’s a novel which raises plenty of questions about real-life, he tells Craig Sisterson.
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Books: Recent releases June 21
Author exposes the emotion behind the glitter and the glamour.
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Stanley Tucci releases second cookbook
Actor Stanley Tucci has created his second cookbook. He tells Tim Adams that food is a great way of expressing love.
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James McNaughton's amusing thought-experiment
In the prevailing climate of heightened risk-aversion among New Zealand book publishers, it’s always a welcome thing when someone is prepared to offer the market something different.
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Dennis Lehane - a question of morality
Mystic River author Dennis Lehane tells Jake Kerridge what links bankers with gangsters.
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Kate Atkinson's story of Teddy's war dazzles
Kate Atkinson's extraordinary 2013 novel, Life After Life, introduced readers to the Todd family in their Forster-esque home of Fox Corner, and managed to achieve publishing's holy grail of both literary acclaim and popular appeal.
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Famous Five return for a new generation
The stories of Julian, Dick and Anne, their cousin, tomboy George, and Timmy the dog were my introduction to the transporting quality of books.
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Five great weekend reads
Canvas books editor Linda Herrick's top five reads for the weekend.
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Books: Guile behind the paint
Writer of art-world satire knows her topic at intimately close quarters.
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Hitchcock biography uncovers persona
A new biography of the master of suspense uncovers the life behind the persona, says Duncan White.
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Rosaleen Madigan's poignant and poetic commentary on life
Rosaleen Madigan loves her four adult children but, it has to be said, she has a pretty funny way of showing it.
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Christopher McDougall - parkour, paleo and energetic prose
Those of us for whom the Great Outdoors is the walk from front door to car door need to read Christopher McDougall.
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Bonding over bloodshed
Award-winning Auckland writers Linda Olsson and Thomas Sainsbury tell Craig Sisterson why they’re collaborating on a thriller trilogy.
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Books: Satisfaction in meaty characters
Six of the best in stories starring oddballs and good sorts.
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Books: Constellations of light in tale of tragedy
In her new novel we encounter Julian in a state of profound grief for his lover, Julia, and their daughter, Mira.
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Books: Many strands weave intriguing yarn
Felicito Yanaque is a self-made man. He lives in the city of Piura, and is the owner of a small transport company that he has built up from scratch into a modestly successful enterprise.
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Books: Powerful debut set in seedy Irish underworld
Meet the first novel by a Galway writer who blogs about life on a council estate under a name so forceful I can’t repeat it in a family newspaper. Meet also a terrific reading experience.
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Books: Recent releases May 17
Parisian feel-good tale amuses despite its implausible plot.
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My, what big prospects she's got...
Karen Attwood meets first-time novelist Kate Hamer, whose 21st-century Little Red Riding Hood is tipped to be a best-seller.