Carved in Blood
The stunning new Hana Westerman thriller from the award-winning author of BETTER THE BLOOD
$19.99
- Paperback
384 pages
- Release Date
28 April 2026
Summary
THE GRIPPING NEW THRILLER FROM THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF BETTER THE BLOOD AND RETURN TO BLOOD.
In the depths of the bleak New Zealand winter comes the rising of Matariki – a sacred constellation in Maori culture, heralding a time of new beginnings. For former Detective Senior Sergeant Hana Westerman, life is good: her work in her hometown of Tata Bay is going well, the community is thriving, and her daughter Addison is getting engaged.
But this Matariki brings unwelcome chan…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781398536821 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1398536822 |
| Author: | Michael Bennett |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Imprint: | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 384 |
| Release Date: | 28 April 2026 |
| Weight: | 276g |
| Dimensions: | 198mm x 130mm x 23mm |
| Series: | Hana Westerman |
You Can Find This Book In
What They're Saying
Critics Review
PRAISE FOR MICHAEL BENNETT:
‘Stunning … Hana Westerman, the Maori detective at the centre of the story, instantly becomes one of the great characters in crime fiction on any continent’ David Heska Wanbli Weiden
‘As page-turning as it is eye-opening. An excitingly fresh perspective upon a world you thought you knew’ Ambrose Parry
‘Bennett opens a unique window onto a fascinating Antipodean society as only world-class crime fiction can’ Deon Meyer
‘A significant addition to Indigenous literature’ Kirkus Reviews
‘Bennett is a writer to watch’ Publishers Weekly
About The Author
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett (Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Whakaue) is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and author.
His first book, In Dark Places, a non-fiction work detailing New Zealand’s worst miscarriage of justice, won Best Non-Fiction Book at the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Awards. Michael’s second book, Helen and the Go-Go Ninjas, is a time-travel graphic novel co-authored with Ant Sang.
Better the Blood, the first Hana Westerman thriller, was shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction/Ockham New Zealand Book Award, the Audio Book of the Year at the Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards, and Best First Mystery Novel at the Barry Awards. It was also longlisted for the CWA John Creasey New Blood Debut Dagger and was a finalist for Best Novel at the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Awards, where it won the award for Best First Novel. Return to Blood, the second novel in the acclaimed series, won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel in 2025.
Michael’s short and feature films have garnered international awards and have screened at numerous festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Locarno, New York, London, and Melbourne. In 2020, Michael received the Te Aupounamu Maori Screen Excellence Award, recognizing significant contributions to screen storytelling by members of the Maori filmmaking community.
He resides in Auckland, Aotearoa (New Zealand), with his partner Jane, and children Tihema, Mahina, and Matariki.
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.