Setting the Stage for Murder in New Zealand

For those on the other side of the ditch, closer to Christchurch, NZ, I hope you have the Christchurch Writers' Festival, or more precisely Friday 10 September in your calendar.

On that night the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel will be presented.
On a panel that night to discuss the state of the modern crime novel with well-known book blogger and crime aficionado, Graham Beattie.:

• Neil Cross
• Michael Robotham
• Simon Kernick
• Vanda Symon

In a recent post, Peter Rozovsky from Detectives Beyond Borders  has revealed not only that he is a judge, but that a short list for the award has been decided.

• Burial by Neil Cross
• Cut and Run by Alix Bosco
• Access Road by Maurice Gee
• Bold Blood by Lindy Kelly
• Containment by Vanda Symon

Peter also revealed that the award is the "brainchild of the enterprising Craig Sisterson of the Crime Watch blog,"

So if you are looking for some New Zealand crime fiction to read, these are obviously starters for your list.
I have only read one of them, so I have a way to go to catch up.
I can get Burial and Access Road from my library.
My Review: CONTAINMENT, Vanda Symon

Attending the Festival:

• International writers including Simon Winchester, Barbara Trapido, Clive Hamilton and Emily Maguire
• A bevy of Kiwi writers, poets and performers including Dave Dobbyn, Roger Hall, Rachael King, Chris Laidlaw and Helen Lowe.