Better the Blood

Holly says: "I first saw this book featured on Unity Books Auckland's Instagram account and I’m so glad I brought it home with me! Māori author Michael Bennett’s debut novel, it follows Māori detective Hana Westerman as she balances a complicated family life, racial tensions, and career pressure while trying to hunt down Aotearoa New Zealand’s first serial killer. Set in and around Auckland, I was drawn in by the compelling story and the perspectives on history, colonization, and the echoes of violence across time. While it does feature a serial killer, I didn’t find it to be too graphic, and it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through to the end. I hope there’s more from Bennett and Detective Westerman in the future!"