BEST BOOKS
Top reads recommended by the team at Booklovers
A CALAMITY OF SOULS by David Baldacci (Pan Macmillan)
David Baldacci’s tense thrillers have millions of fans. His latest book is both a legal thriller and historical drama and was 10 years in the making. Set in the Civil Rights era of 1968 in southern Virginia, a murder case sets two lawyers against an unfair system as they work to defend their wrongfully accused Black defendants in this riveting novel. — Karen McMillan
SEWING MOONLIGHT by Kyle Mewburn (Bateman Books)
In the remote Central Otago settlement of Falter’s Mill, young German immigrant Wilhelm Erdinger seeks solace and a new beginning in the harsh yet fertile lands of 1920s New Zealand. This enthralling novel follows his quest to cultivate a simple, sustainable existence. Mewburn deftly transports the reader to this forgotten corner of the past with descriptive prose that encapsulates the unforgiving beauty of the region.
— Chris Reed
HEMINGWAY’S GOBLET by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing)
Nick is a divorced English law lecturer, charismatic and entertaining, but his world changes when his relationship with one of his law students, Adrienne, becomes complicated. There are allegations of sexual harassment from Adrienne, but then she joins forces with him to help investigate the life of his grandfather, who was a friend of Ernest Hemingway. This novel is well-written and satirical, with engaging central characters. — Karen McMillan
A DIFFERENT LIGHT edited by Catherine Hammond and Shaun Higgins (Auckland University Press)
Bringing together the extensive photographic collections of three major research libraries, A Different Light is endlessly fascinating, with its unique imagery and text. They say a picture paints a thousand words, and this book proves it, by bringing so many small details to life. This book is a must-have for anyone interested in photography, New Zealand’s history, and people’s lives from bygone eras.
— Karen McMillan
PLAY WILD by Rachel Clare (Bateman Books)
Play Wild encourages tamariki to develop a foraging mindset by making use of what they can find. This gorgeous book is jam-packed full of activities that only require a few materials, such as nature wristbands for which you need double-sided tape, then whatever you can find outside in leaf, flower or pebble form. Perfect for entertaining the kids on the last days of the school holidays.
— Rebekah Lyell