Podcasts about whitcoulls

Whitcoulls is being accused of censorship and moral panic - because it's hiding a literary journal with risqué content. Copies of Folly Journal have been pulled off Whitcoulls shelves around the country and are now only offered when customers ask for it. Editor and Founder of Folly Journal Emily Broadmore told Heather duPlessis-Allan that Whitcoulls hasn't explained specifically why their books have been removed from stores. 'We have no idea. We've just been told that it's offensive, but we can't figure it out.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 14 November 2025, we have officially missed our climate goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. So why are we sending a massive delegation to the talkfest that is Cop30? Labour's Deborah Russell tells Heather why the trip to Brazil is important. One of the outcomes of the damning McSkimming IPCA report has been the establishment of an Inspector General for the police. But would this have changed anything? Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson wants to take Government Kiwisaver contributions from the rich to pay the poor. Whitcoulls is being accused of censorship for pulling a raunchy literary journal off its shelves. Folly Journal editor Emily Broadmore speaks to Heather about the publication. The Sports Huddle debates whether being selected as a bench player is just as prestigious as being picked for the starting XV. And will Heather buy a Lotto ticket this week? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founder and editor-in-chief of Folly, Emily Makere Broadmore, joins Emile Donovan.

The Widow by John Grisham. Simon Latch is a small time, small town lawyer in Virginia, whose marriage is falling apart, his gambling is out of control, and his legal practice is on the verge of going under. Then an elderly widow arrives on his doorstep, to say that her husband left her millions of dollars in shares, which she wants to keep out of the hands of her estranged stepsons and as she no longer trusts the lawyer who drafted her current will, she wants Simon to help her. He thinks this is the golden ticket that could turn his life around….until she dies in a car crash and he finds himself accused of murder. It's terrific Grisham - less courtroom drama than some of his earlier novels but plenty of intrigue nonetheless. Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben. These two have collaborated on a novel about a highly skilled surgeon who has been disgraced and can no longer practice, and whose husband has been murdered in the war zone where they used to work together. She's approached by a former colleague to take a job with an oligarch who requires complete anonymity and confidentiality and in return will re-establish her credentials, and pay handsomely for her service. The story moves from war zones and refugee camps, and America to Russia and Dubai where there are wheels within wheels, no one can be trusted, and the tension ratchets up as hidden truths are exposed and the secrets of this underworld are brought to light. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth. An elderly man is found dead by his neighbour, 81-year-old Elsie. No one suspects foul play - until they discover that in the 1950's, Elsie's name was Mabel, and she was the youngest person in Australian history to be convicted of murder – at which point the media circus arrives on her doorstep and the police take an interest, and she decides it might finally be time to tell her story. It's a charming read with genuine human interest. Perspective by Shaun Johnson. He is of course the rugby league legend who has had a remarkable career on the field, and who is very interesting off it. The sheer grit and determination – to say nothing of the skills required – are extraordinary, but this is also the story of a man who ultimately felt that he was being judged on 80 minutes of football a week, and on little else and has also had to fight hard to maintain his perspective. I'm not a rugby league expert but I'm fascinated by the discipline and the pressure that he put himself under, and what it takes to survive it. It's a really good read. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. Sonia and Sunny live, study and work in America, but their families back home in India worry about the loneliness they feel in a strange country and try to bring them together. They do eventually connect, but relationships in their new world are not straightforward and there are a lot of things to navigate including finding the place where they belong - plus class, race, history, and the complicated bonds that link one generation to the next. This is huge, epic and outstanding. Last Rites by Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy's memoir, for which the last chapter was handed in just days before he died. He tells the story of an extraordinary life...someone who began his stage career as something of a pariah for outrageous behaviour, and ended up selling more than 100 million albums and becoming a beloved son of Birmingham, and the world. This is unfiltered rock ‘n roll. What a life! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton. Noah Cork should be on top of the world. His new true crime book is a bestseller, but strange things happening around him are deeply unsettling. As a major storm threatens Brisbane he's caught up in one of his own, failing to see what's right under his nose in this brilliant story about murder and marriage and one man desperate to do the best by his family, with no idea how to go about it. Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory. Jane Boleyn was the sister of Anne Boleyn and a senior lady in waiting to five of Henry V111's wives. The book is written from her perspective, about their lives in his court. The story of these women as they lived through a volatile and dangerous period in service of a petulant and unreliable king is compassionate, insightful and utterly riveting, and bears some comparisons with modern days. I adored it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger. When a self driving car crashes, a family's lives are thrown into chaos. In the aftermath, questions are raised about responsibility for the accident and where the ethical line between human culpability and the technology is drawn. The people in this family are all keeping secrets from one another, and as these are thrown into the spotlight this book just gets more and more compelling. I couldn't put it down. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. She won the Booker Prize in 1997 with The God of Small Things which was fiction – this new one is a memoir, about her life, and specifically about her relationship with her mother who was a singular, difficult woman who is referred to throughout the book as Mrs Roy. They had a challenging relationship – Arundhati said her mother was her shelter and her storm – and there are loads of fascinating and entertaining stories and anecdotes in the book. It's a terrific memoir. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clown Town by Mick Herron. This is the latest novel in his Slow Horses series, about Jackson Lamb and the cast of MI5 misfits and rejects that he manages in Slough House. They are brilliant books and this one is no exception. There are several seasons of an Apple TV series based on the books which is wonderful television, but as always, the books are even better. Highly recommended for anyone who likes spy stories, and eccentric, interesting and deeply flawed characters. Fly, Wild Swans by Jung Chang. In 1991, Jung Chang's memoir about three generations of women in her family in China was on everyone's reading list - and it was wonderful. This is a follow up, updating things since the impact that success had on her life, change in China and its place in the world over the years and what's happened to her during that period - it's really a personal and global memoir, and much of it is a love letter to her mother. Her books are all banned in China, but luckily we have them here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulfillment by Lee Cole. Two half brothers lead very different lives. When they converge on their mother's home in rural Kentucky, the rivalry between them intensifies with potentially terrifying consequences. This is a story about class, privilege, family, brotherhood and ordinary people living ordinary, messy lives - and what it takes to find fulfilment. All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert - who is of course the author of the bestselling Eat, Pray, Love. This is another deeply personal story, about her relationship with Rayya Elias - which was one of co-dependence, serious addictions and a spiral of self destruction. Rayya was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and after her death Elizabeth shone a spotlight on their affair and managed to recover through a determined adherence to a 12 step programme. It's a really brave book, harrowing at times and ultimately fascinating. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan. This is set in a small Ohio town at the very end of WW2 when two people become caught up in victory celebrations and have a brief romantic encounter, which results in complications which haunt them down through generations. As secrets are exposed some people find that things are not what they had seemed, and that the world they thought they knew was in fact a lie. I loved this book. Saving Elli by Doug Gold. In Nazi occupied Amsterdam, near Anne Frank's house, another Jewish girl was hidden. Her name was Elli. Her father was executed at Mauthausen concentration camp and her mother fled for her life. To save Elli, Resistance couple Frits and Jo Hakkens risked everything, concealing her in a secret space above the ceiling. With shrewd cunning and unflinching courage, they outwitted the Gestapo, survived relentless searches and faced betrayal from those they once trusted. This is an extraordinary story which has a New Zealand connection. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cut Throat Trial by S.J Fleet. I assume that the author's name is a pseudonym as they've published previous books under the moniker of The Secret Barrister – I believe they're a practising lawyer who in those books delivered some witty and interesting commentary on the state of the UK justice system. This novel is set in a courtroom, where three teenagers are on trial for the murder of an elderly man. I didn't know this until I read the book, but a cut throat trial is where there are more than one defendant and they each try to blame the others. The three boys each have their own lawyer, and there is of course a prosecutor, a jury and an arrogant and entitled judge so it's a pretty full court. The story unfolds beautifully as the evidence is laid before the jury, but what might seem straightforward becomes less so, and after their verdict is delivered things are not necessarily what they seem. I really loved it. The Vanishing Place by Zoe Rankin. It's set on the West Coast of the South Island, where a young girl walks out of the bush one day into a very small town where local people realise that they've seen her before – many years ago. She has the same face as another girl who lived there 20 years before and the local policeman makes the connection, works out who she is and then secrets start to unravel. I believe this is the first book by a local author and it's twisty, thrilling and gripping. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer Island by Kristin Hannah: Kristin Hannah is the author of several extremely popular books, including The Nightingale and The Women. They're historical fiction, but this one is contemporary - about a broken mother and daughter relationship. Nora Bridge is a nationally syndicated talk show host who dispenses moral and spiritual advice to her legion of listeners, and whose daughter Ruby is a wannabe stand up comedienne, using her mother as the butt of a lot of her jokes. When Nora is publicly shamed and the two of them are thrown together, family secrets emerge which bring about a reconciliation, and a show of courage that neither knew they had. The Surrogate Mother by Freida McFadden: Abby is desperate for a baby but has been unable to conceive, so when Monica, her new work assistant, offers to act as a surrogate she and her husband are thrilled. Things, though, don't go quite as they'd planned - Abby becomes increasingly sure that Monica's up to no good, but who can she tell and who will listen? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Girl with the Suitcase by Lesley Pearse. Mary and Elizabeth meet in London during WW2, and soon after find themselves in an air raid shelter where they're hit by a bomb, and Elizabeth dies. The hospital staff mistake their identities and give her possessions to Mary, which offers her the chance for total reinvention and a whole new life. This is classic Lesley Pearse - a strong female lead, with tragedy and heartbreak in her past who finds a way to rise above it and make something of herself. Her books are always highly entertaining, and very thoughtful. No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer. Lisette spent three years as Newshub's European correspondent, a stint which coincided with the delayed Japanese Olympics (on the way to Europe), the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the death of the Queen, and many more history making events. It really is a front seat look into the life she lead through those years - moving frantically between countries, travelling with suitcases of heavy protective gear and wads of cash, surviving on adrenaline and very little sleep, and managing the on camera demands of time zone differences. You really feel as though you're there with her and it's a great insight into a job which often looks as though it must be glamorous but was often anything but. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson. This has a hugely implausible premise. Jet Mason is attacked in her kitchen one evening, after which her doctors tell her she'll be dead by an aneurysm in seven days, so she decides to spend the week hunting down her murderer. It took me a little while to get into the rhythm - the black humour, sarcasm, farce, twisted family relationships, and roving suspicion of everyone she knows who might be the killer. But once I did, I adored it. Red Star Down by D.B.John. From the author of Star of the North, this is a thriller at the nexus between North Korea, Russia and Washington which takes in actual events in real life - such as the poisoning of one of North Korea's Kim family at Kuala Lumpur airport, or a real estate mogul becoming President of the United States - all woven into a brilliantly compelling story about three disparate individuals who find themselves right at the heart of all these goings on. I simply couldn't put it down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stars are A Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson. This is the first novel from a New Zealand writer, about a young woman who leaves home after a tragedy and travels the world for a year, running away from the hurt and running towards something she's not quite sure of. Her travels take her to Asia, then Central America where, in Guatemala, she befriends two people who have significant impacts on her life, each in a different way; and though she often thinks about going home she only makes it as far as Tasmania, with so much in her life that's hard to face up to. Polkinghorne by Steve Braunias. From one of our finest writers this is the definitive book on the trial of the century – Philip Polkinghorne, being accused of the murder of his wife Pauline. Much has already been written about it – and of course there's the TV documentary which many people may have seen- but for anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in the case, this book is a must read. It's thorough, insightful, critical and compassionate, and the last chapter in particular is extraordinary. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell. She's a terrific writer of domestic thrillers, and this is about Nina who's mourning the death of her husband, Paddy, after he fell under a train. A year on she receives a gift and a note in the mail from a man who knew Paddy and is sending condolences – which develop into an ongoing relationship, but Nina's daughter is deeply suspicious of this newcomer and starts digging around. Meanwhile, Martha lives in a nearby town where she runs a florist shop and has a baby, and a husband who travels extensively for work and spends long periods of time away from home. As these characters all connect, things turn explosive. We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter. She's best known for the series she wrote with the characters Sara Linton and Will Trent, but this is the start of a brand new series set in a small town in the state of Georgia where there are secrets and lies a plenty. Emmy Clifton is the Deputy Sheriff who starts an investigation when two teenage girls disappear from a 4th of July fireworks display. Karin Slaughter writes great thrillers – there's plenty of misdirection and twists and turns, all while reminding us that even small towns can house a lot of darkness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isola by Allegra Goodman. In the 16th century, Marguerite is born into great wealth but after being orphaned at the age of three a guardian, Roberval, is appointed, who over several years steals her entire fortune. Destitute, her only option is to rely on him for everything and when he takes her on an expedition to sea she falls in love with his servant. Incandescent with rage, Roberval abandons them on a remote, inhospitable island where they're left to fight for survival. Based on actual historical events, this is extraordinary. The Monster of Harrods by Alison Kervin. Turns out that Mohamed al Fayed was a monster and presided over a reign of terror during his ownership of Harrods. Scores of women were offended against and this offending was known by the Metropolitan Police, who colluded with him, and by parliamentarians and the Royal family - but no one ever acted and he went to his grave without justice being done. This is a very dark history of an amazing department store that many of us have loved for a long time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb. He's beloved by loads of readers, especially for his brilliant book I Know this Much is True. This new one is, to a large degree, informed by the years he spent teaching creative writing to incarcerated women in a Connecticut prison. It's the story of a man whose life is in a downward spiral. Corby Ledbetter is out of work and self medicating when he causes a devastating accident which upends both his entire life, and that of his family and sends him to prison. Isolated and fearful, he's desperate for a way back, and for redemption, which neither he nor his family might be prepared to give. Baddest Man by Mark Kriegel. Mike Tyson was boxing's youngest ever heavyweight champion, and this is the story of the first 22 years of his life. I'm no fan of the sport but I'm fascinated by boxers – years ago I read Tyson's autobiography, Undisputed Truth and loved it. This book gives his origin story – the author's written a terrific account of the forces which shaped Tyson and what made him into the extraordinary athlete he became – but also into the baddest man. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan: In 1987, 10 year old Alix and her family are at the beach for the great New Zealand summer, but everything feels a little off - her teenage sister's desperate to run with the in-crowd, her mother's wildly distracted and her father is adrift. Alix befriends another holidaymaker, and they hunt for signs of a girl who went missing years ago, while a creepy neighbour watches everything they do. This hums with foreboding against the sun and sea. It's magnetic. A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich - The author has been a doctor in New Zealand hospitals for the last ten years and describes a system which is itself on life support. It's not just about the under funding and the bureaucracy of our health care, but he also covers the very toxic atmosphere that a lot of the young doctors work in, with senior doctors protecting their patch and demeaning or humiliating the newcomers; and the disparities between public and private healthcare and how so many of these senior doctors do extremely well from working across both, while patients and other health care workers suffer. It's required reading for anyone with an interest in our hospitals and how they work - and how they don't. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, who is well known for terrific books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Daisy Jones and The Six. In 1980, Joan Goodwin becomes one of the first women scientists accepted by NASA for the space shuttle programme where she's part of a close team who work and play together. Vanessa Ford is a brilliant, practical aeronautical engineer and they discover possibilities in their friendship they never knew existed - so when Vanessa's mission goes badly wrong and Joan, in charge of astronaut communications is responsible for bringing her safely back to earth, the tension and emotion is off the chart. As were mine. Inside the Wire by Rhonda Hapi – Smith. Rhonda spent almost 20 years as a prison officer in a number of men's prisons around the country. She's a tough, physically strong woman - she also worked on the Riot Squad - with a hefty dose of compassion who always understood that in order to get the best out of the people in her care she needed to build relationships but take no nonsense. The book is an insight into life inside the prison walls, both for the incarcerated men and for the staff, and it comes from a career of which she is justifiably proud. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Names by Florence Knapp. Cora is married to Gordon, a highly respected doctor, but what goes on in their own home is something entirely different. When she has a baby son she heads off to register his birth, with instructions from Gordon that she's to name the baby after him - but her nine year old daughter has another idea, and Cora has her own preference. The story then splits into three different lines, in each of which the baby boy is given one of these three names and we follow his life until he's 35 years old - and each of the named scenarios shows the impact of a name on a person's life. It's very cleverly done and there's been a lot of international buzz about it. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. This is currently screening at cinemas - the film is based on this book which was originally published in 2018 and has been reissued. It's the true story of Raynor and her husband known as Moth, who in their 50's lose absolutely everything and find themselves homeless and destitute - with Moth also suffering a debilitating illness. In the absence of any other options they decide to walk - more than 600 miles on the UK's South West Coast Path, from Sommerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall. It's an extraordinary story of real courage and endurance, and finding themselves in the process. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly. She's a terrific writer of historical fiction (my favourite of hers is The Lilac Girls) – this time set on Martha's Vineyard in two timelines – present day, when a young woman grieving the death of her mother arrives on the island and discovers things about her mother she never knew; while back during WW2 two sisters are trying to hold it all together as the US army arrives and everything changes for the local inhabitants. Like her other books this is based on real events – this time from the author's own family history. Ocean by David Attenborough and Colin Butfield. There is also a movie of this title playing in cinemas at the moment. Looking back over the course of David Attenborough's lifespan (he's just turned 99) this is a look at eight unique ocean habitats – through coral reefs, mangroves, Oceanic Islands and more. It's an extraordinary insight into what lies beneath the water, and how much it's at risk – although Attenborough does say that while our oceans are fragile they also have an extraordinary capacity to repair themselves which is encouraging. It includes lots of amazing photos. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air by John Boyne. This is the fourth book in a series about the four elements of matter (the preceding titles are Water Earth and Fire), where he takes each element and writes a story around it. This time the novel is set while the protagonists are on a flight, 30,000 feet up in the air, on a trip towards a woman who isn't expecting them. It's story of a father and a son on a moving journey to mend their troubled lives. I love John Boyne and read everything he writes. John and Paul by Ian Leslie. You think you've heard it all before about Paul and John – but this new biography is amazing. It has the music at its heart – the story of two lonely kids both of whom had suffered great grief in their early lives and who formed a really strong bond – and as the author says, when they couldn't talk about a thing they sang it and even after breaking up maintained a musical dialogue at a distance, in songs full of recrimination, regret, and affection. It's full of remarkable insight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. This is the story of Hai, a Vietnamese immigrant to America where he lives in the town of East Gladness, Connecticut where, at the most difficult moment of his life he's befriended by Grazina, an 82 year old Lithuanian widow. They become each other's support person, an unlikely pairing but each of them living lives so far away from the promised American Dream. It's a masterly portrait of life for the underdog, from a world that the author clearly knows well. His previous book, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, was widely applauded and positively reviewed. The Warrior by Christopher Clarey. The subject of this book is Rafa Nadal, with a terrific and very familiar image of him on the cover. The author wrote a previous book called The Master, about Roger Federer, and has covered tennis for many years, having unprecedented access to these top players. It covers Rafa's life from the time he first held a racquet, all the way through to his decision to retire and everything that happened in between. Perfect for followers of tennis, and fans of Nadal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey. Set in England in 1979, identical 13 year old triplets are part of a Government scheme where they're constantly monitored and medicated. They're overseen by Mothers Morning, Afternoon and Night who teach them from the Book of Knowledge, keep records in the Book of Dreams, and write up their misdemeanours in The Book of Guilt. There's a slow, insidious creep to the narrative and when the Minister for Loneliness decides more social interaction would be good for them, they're sent to visit a family who have secrets and a shocking connection to these boys, as they discover that the world they thought they knew is an entire fiction. From the author of the award winning The Axeman's Carnival, this is remarkable. The Good Mistress by Anne Tiernan. Set in Ireland, this is the story of three women who knew one another as young girls and went on to have very separate lives. Juliet is mourning the loss of her lover, Rory, with whom she'd had a long affair, and who died suddenly; Erica is mourning the loss of her husband, and Maeve mourns the loss of the happy marriage she once had which over time has become increasingly unhappy. They meet up again when Juliet travels from her home in Auckland for Rory's funeral, and find they need to reconcile the realities of love, betrayal and the limits of forgiveness. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende. Any new book from the wonderful Isabel Allende is a treat, and this is no exception. It begins in 1866 when an Irish nun becomes pregnant after an encounter with a wealthy Chilean who turns his back on them, and the baby and her mother have to fight for their place in the world. The child, Emilia del Valle, eventually becomes a writer and a journalist, and is eventually sent to cover the Chilean civil war along with a friend and colleague, Eric Whelan. There is history here as well as the romance, which makes it truly fascinating along with the romance. It was an extraordinary time. The Pretender by Jo Harkin. Set in 15th Century England at the juncture between the Plantaganets and the Tudors, this is fiction which is fun, bawdy, historically interesting and never takes itself too seriously. It tells the story of a young boy who through his lifetime is known by a series of names. Firstly, he's John Collett, growing up on a farm from which he's one day uplifted by a couple of noblemen, becoming known as Lambert Simnel and told that he is in fact the 17th Earl of Warwick and will challenge King Henry 7th for the Crown. I loved it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1985: A Novel by Dominic Hoey. Set in Auckland in the mid 80's as the title suggests, this is the story of a young man coming of age in a dysfunctional family in Grey Lynn before it became gentrified, when the area and many of the people who lived in it were rough, not necessarily law abiding and where there seemed sometimes to be no future. Obi and his best friend Al discover a map which they believe leads to treasure, and which they hope will turn their fortunes around. The book is extremely atmospheric of the era, and took me right back. Terrific local fiction. High Heels and Gumboots by Rebecca Hayter. Rebecca is a sailor and a journalist, often combining the two things, who turned her back on Auckland and bought a property in Golden Bay, where she had grown up many years earlier. It's a story about leaving the city and discovering independence and self sufficiency, a strong community to call her own, and finding ways to come to terms with the fractious relationship she had had with her mother, who was something of a legend in the area. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben. A former detective turned private investigator is stunned when the woman he thought had died 22 years ago suddenly appears in the back of a lecture he's giving, and as soon as they make eye contact, disappears. Her death has haunted him all these years but the possibility she could still be alive has never occurred to him – and now he needs to track her down and find out the truth. From the pen (or the keyboard!) of a terrific and well established thriller writer. Northbound by Naomi Arnold. Naomi is a local journalist who decided to walk the entire length of the Te Araroa trail on her own. There have been books from other people about taking on that challenge, but hers is a really gritty, no holds barred account of the slog of it – the mud, the fear, the loneliness and the exhilaration of achieving something so momentous, all by herself. It's clear there's a very caring network on the trail even though the walkers pass one another like ships in the night. There's also a lot of kindness from people around who keep an eye out on them and offer food and support. This book is a lovesong to the trail and the NZ outdoors; and to the power of communities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Death of Us by Abigail Dean. Isabel is a lead protagonist in this story, who throughout much of the book directly addresses the intruder who perpetrated a home invasion on her and her husband Edward when they were 30 years old and happily married, but those days are long gone. More than 20 years later, they reunite to attend the trial of a man finally charged with the crime, trying to reconcile their lives before, and after. This is gripping psychological drama. A Spy at War by Charles Beaumont. Simon Sharman is a former British spy gone rogue to track down the Chechen assassin who murdered his friend and business partner Evie. He's a man alone, but his friends and former colleagues in Whitehall are never far away and it turns out there's much more going on than his solitary pursuit of the bad guy – British intelligence has its fingers in several pies and it takes Simon a while to figure out his place in their schemes. Set amidst the war in Ukraine and the kind of news headlines we've seen for three years now, this story takes you right up close to some of the action and its commentary on US and European politics could be said to be prescient. It's terrific espionage and if, like me, you love David McCloskey and I.S.Berry, this one's for you. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sea Change by Jenny Pattrick. Jenny is a longstanding writer of great New Zealand fiction, perhaps best known for The Denniston Rose some years ago. Her new one is lovely. Set in a small village slightly north of Wellington, which is completely cut off after a massive magnitude 8 earthquake in the South Island's Alpine Fault and a subsequent tsunami, a number of the inhabitants decide to ignore a relocation mandate and manage their own survival. Their plans come under threat when a mercenary property developer sees the opportunity to buy up many of the abandoned houses and build himself a mini empire. Full of characters you can really warm to, and an all too credible premise. No Words for This by Ali Mau. Ali has been a journalist and broadcaster on the NZ scene for many years, and recently was a leader of the local #metoo campaign during which time she met many brave women – and ultimately came to realise that if they could share their stories so could she. She's had a terrific career with many rewarding jobs and raised a family, but her world came crashing down one night when her sister called and opened the can of worms that was their childhood. This is a truly courageous book and beautifully written. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See How They Fall by Rachel Paris. The uber-rich Turner family operate a luxury goods empire from Sydney, where their venal self interest knows no bounds. When their patriarch dies, the heirs call a meeting where things go terribly wrong and their cocooned world becomes the subject of a major police enquiry. Skye married into this money but as things unfold, finds she can't believe what they're capable of. This is truly a world you want no part of, but as the 1 percenters increasingly rule over us, it's a staggering insight into how some of them might have got there. Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams. Sarah is a New Zealander who spent seven years working at Facebook/Meta – a job she entered with high ideals, believing Facebook would be a force for good. What she found, though, was a company where revenue was everything, whose leaders got away with terrible behaviour and who were aware of the disastrous aspects of many of its policies but chose to do nothing. The absence of any kind of moral compass is staggering. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dream State by Eric Puchner. This book starts with the lead up to a wedding, after which the bride makes a momentous decision which then ripples through the lives of her husband, his best friend and the future generations. It's a story about the consequences of the decisions we make, and the subsequent joy, regret and pain which can linger for a lifetime and which help turn us into the people we become, for better or for worse. This is wonderful storytelling. Unveiled by Theophila Pratt. The author was born into the Gloriavale community, with the given name Honey Faithful. She was one of nine siblings and knew from the age of 14 that she wanted more from life – which eventually included being able to change her name. At the age of 18 she refused to sign the Gloriavale Declaration of Commitment and was subsequently evicted. Life in that community has been well documented in other places, but Theophila's story is a timely (and fascinating) reminder of the cult that still exists on the West Coast, and which now has an outpost in India of which her sister was a founding member. This is also the story of a courageous young woman finding her own voice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broken Country by Clare Lesley Hall. Set in a small English farming community in the 1960s, this is the story of a love triangle which goes horribly wrong. Beth and Gabriel were young lovers whose lives then took very different turns and when they reconnect years later, a lot of things have changed. You know from the first page that someone is dead, and the weight of secrets which Beth and her husband Frank are holding becomes insurmountable as a murder trial looms and nothing will ever be the same again. Beautifully written and highly recommended. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. Dominic Salt and his three children live on the remote island of Shearwater where he's the custodian of the world's largest seed bank. A woman is washed ashore in a storm, but her arrival can't be random as the island is so remote and it soon becomes clear she's come searching for something which the family may not want to give her. The isolation, the depth of these characters and the unfurling of the story is couched in some exceptional writing. This book is a miracle. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This author is known and loved for her deeply moving and profound works of fiction (for me, particularly, Purple Hibiscus and Half of a Yellow Sun). This time it's the story of four Nigerian women, and as such spans a wide geography from Africa to America with a great insight into their friendships, loves, regrets and world views. It's very elegant and insightful storytelling – their lives were as authentic to me as those of women I actually know, and I loved it. One Hundred Years of Betty by Debra Oswald. This is the fictional memoir of a woman who, on the eve of her 100th birthday looks back over her life, reflecting on the changes she's seen throughout her century and the many unexpected opportunities that came her way. This was the evolution of a naïve young immigrant to Australia who ended up living a life she could never have imagined – with all its struggle, grief, success, loves, disappointments and surprises. Betty is a very ordinary character who somehow lived an extraordinary life and it's a joy to read. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Comeback Code by Jake Bailey. Jake came to national prominence when, only a few days before he was due to make the end of year speech as Head Boy at Christchurch Boys' High, he was diagnosed with a deadly aggressive cancer – and made the speech anyway. This is his second book – after living through such adversity he then had a lot of questions and studied psychology to look for answers – and in this book he shares his experience and knowledge, providing insights and mechanisms for other people facing major setbacks to help them through it. How to Say Babylon by Safiyah Sinclair. She was the daughter of a radical Rastafarian in Jamaica, who was obsessed with keeping his girls away from the “unclean” world, which they referred to as Babylon. He was a brutal, difficult father and she had a tough childhood, but she also had the soul of a poet which is what she wanted to become (and eventually did). This is an extraordinary memoir about those early years and then finally being able to find her voice and the courage she needed to break free from her father. I think fans of Tara Westover's Educated will love this as much as I did. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz. This is a story in the Orphan X sequence, which I've loved from the very beginning, but this one takes a darker and more personal turn for Evan Smoak, the hero. Because of the nature of his work and the man he was made to be to do that work he's never had friends, but 15 years ago he met a man who became the nearest thing to being a friend – Tommy Stojack – a former gunrunner and Green Beret who now supplies arms and equipment to Evan – but who now betrays him, and friendship rapidly turns to enmity. This is a brilliant thriller. The House of My Mother by Shari Franke. Shari was one of six children in a family which became known on YouTube as 8 Passengers. Her mother Ruby turned her family into performance and filmed and posted everything about their lives, portraying them as being the perfect family when behind the scenes they were anything but. Ruby was a really tough Mum off camera, but when she took up with a relationship coach their abuse of the children escalated, and Ruby and Jodi, the coach, are now serving prison time. This is their story by the eldest daughter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes. Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A recently broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Not to mention a once promising writing career that is now in freefall. So when her real dad - a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago - suddenly appears on her doorstep wanting to make amends, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, friendship, and what it actually means to be family. This is classic Jojo Moyes - warm, funny and highly entertaining. The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz. This very clever book is in fact a sequel, to one she wrote a few years ago called The Plot. They're terrific literary satire. In The Plot, Jacob Finch Bonner is a failed writer, now teaching at a third rate college when he gets the chance to misappropriate the plot of a book from one of his students and becomes a huge literary sensation. Now, in the sequel to this, Jacob's met an untimely end and his wife Anna is picking up the royalty cheques while deciding to write a book herself - because, how hard can it possibly be? And she also hits the big time until one day messages start accusing her of plagiarism and it's clear that somebody out there knows all about her deep dark past and is out to get her. They're great books - I loved them both. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seventh Floor by David McCloskey: This is the sequel to the wonderful Moscow X, which we've talked about on this show. It brings back the wonderful Artemis Procter, a somewhat unorthodox CIA operational chief who's spectacularly fired after years of service when a meet up with the Russians goes wrong, and one of her agents is captured. When he reappears with news that someone on the seventh floor – the CIA executive suite – is a Russian mole, they're determined to root them out but Artemis is persona non grata and the stakes are high. The author's years of working for the CIA give this real insight and authenticity. Total Control by David Baldacci. This is actually the second book he ever wrote, reissued now for an audience which may have missed it (which is entirely possible given the man's prodigious output). It's about Jason and Sidney – he works for a tech corporation and is up to no good, telling Sidney that he needs to travel to LA for work, but his cover story falls to pieces when the plane he was meant to be on crashes, and she believes he's died. When he finally makes contact she discovers he's caught up in a vast work related conspiracy which sends her on the run, desperate for their survival. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S.Berry. Like the books of David McCloskey of which I'm so fond (Damascus Station, Moscow X) – the author I.S.Berry also worked for the CIA, which gives this book a real sense of authenticity and knowing what she's writing about. Shane Collins is a CIA operative based in Bahrain. He's jaded, nearing compulsory retirement age and has no illusions about his own shortcomings. His job in Bahrain is to feed intel back to America about Iran's involvement in an Arab spring type uprising but this is a really murky world where things might not be as they seem and everyone's expendable. Throw in the 2011 implosion of Bahrain and it's dynamite. If you like a top shelf spy thriller, look no further. This is the real deal. Jackie Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborelli. Much has been written about Jackie Kennedy Onassis, but this book expertly goes behind the scenes to tell the story of the woman who once said that she had three lives – public, private and secret. The author delves into them all, after decades of interviews with family members, friends, lovers and colleagues and the result is a very personal insight into the woman who married a serial philanderer who went on to become President; who suffered lifelong trauma after his assassination; and whose life was coloured by complex relationships, many of them under constant scrutiny by media and the world at large. It's absolutely fascinating. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home Seeking by Karissa Chen. This is one of those big, epic sweeping stories which starts in one place and finishes up a long way away. Suchi and Haiwen are good friends and then teenage lovers in Shanghai during the Civil War. When Haiwen volunteers to go and do National Service (a gesture he makes so that his brother won't have to) they lose track of each other. Life and the years then intervene so that it's sixty years before they recognise each other in Los Angeles and slowly start to re-establish their connection. There's a lot to this book – about identity, families, finding a place in the world and what one might have to sacrifice in order to do that. Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow. In 1987 Scott Turow wrote Presumed Innocent, which knocked my socks off at the time – it was so, so good. Some years later he wrote a second book, Innocent, but here's the one I've been waiting for which captures the essence of that first one all these (38!!) years later. Rusty Sabin is now older. Over the course of his career he's been a prosecuting attorney, a judge, and even a defendant and convicted felon. Now he's essentially retired, living in a small town and settled in a great relationship when suddenly all that is threatened when the son of his partner is accused of murder and Rusty steps up to help out. Great family and courtroom drama – the first in this series predated John Grisham by 4 years. Scott Turow really was a trailblazer and he's still going strong. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Note by Alafair Burke. Three friends with complicated histories and very different personalities decide to have a getaway catch up in the Hamptons and are looking forward to a weekend of drinking, eating and good times as an antidote to the pressures of their regular lives. They're headed out for dinner but when a beautiful looking couple in another car steals the parking space they were patiently waiting for, they get riled up and after a night enjoying far too much alcohol one of them plays a prank on the occupants of that car. Turns out it's not so funny – it all goes horribly wrong and when the police turn up, their pasts come back to haunt them. The Wedding Party by Rebecca Heath. A group of old friends. A grieving mother. A lying bride. Adele and Jason are childhood sweethearts and their wedding day on the sunny Australian coast is a chance to reunite and celebrate with friends and family. But Adele isn't telling the truth about her relationship, and some of the wedding party – still reeling from a tragic death in the group a decade before – hold secrets of their own. What happened on the jetty all those years ago was an accident, everyone agrees. Or do they? This is told from various points of view, all of which make it clear – there's trouble in paradise. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To mark the end of the year, Joan MacKenzie has outlined her favourite fiction books for 2024. Her top five consists of: The Peacock and the Sparrow by I.S.Berry Moscow X by David McClosky Time of the Child by Niall Williams Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey Southern Man by Greg Iles The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To mark the end of the year, Joan Mackenzie has outlined her favourite non-fiction books for 2024. Her top five consists of: More Salad by the Two Raw Sisters The Last Secret Agent – Pippa Latour with Jude Dobson Kingmaker by Sonya Purnell A Life Less Punishing by Matt Heath The Siege by Ben McIntyre LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To mark the end of the year, Joan Mackenzie has outlined her favourite kids' books for 2024. Her top five consists of: Lisa Carrington Chases a Champion by Lisa Carrington and Scott Pearson Kuwi's Fluey Huwi by Kat Quin Detective Beans: Case of Missing Hat by Li Chen The Grimmelings by Rachael King Children of the Rush # 3 by James Russell LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston. This is a novel based on the infamous 1993 Waco siege between the FBI and a cult known as the Branch Davidians (named after David Koresh, their leader). A cult has been established in the same area, led by a charlatan named Perry Cullen who is known as The Lamb, and the story centres on two star crossed teenagers who are caught up amongst it. Jaye's mother is a devotee of The Lamb and she and Jaye are living in the compound, while Roy's Dad is the local sheriff who's becoming increasingly worried about the cult stockpiling weapons and the potential for disaster. The kids find themselves at the centre of something apocalyptic. Cher: The Memoir, Part One. This is Cher's account of her life up until the early 1980s - there's so much material it's been split into two books and the second will come next year. It's a fascinating read - her family background and upbringing were unconventional, to say the least, along with the story of her marriages to Sonny Bono and Greg Allman, and the highs and lows of her early professional life. As we all know, she's had - and is still having - an extraordinary career, which is well worth reading about. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time of the Child by Niall Williams. Set in a small Irish village, this tells the story of Dr Jack Troy who lives quietly with his unmarried daughter Ronnie. Their lives are changed forever just before Christmas in 1962 when an abandoned baby is found and handed to him, and instead of passing the child on to the correct authorities he finds he simply cannot give her up. I cannot say enough how wonderful this book is - it's a masterclass in writing and I thought it was sublime. The Voice Inside by John Farnham. The famous Australian singer - who still holds the record for the biggest selling album ever in Australia (Whispering Jack) has written a memoir about his life and career, and about triumph over adversity. There was a period where his record company turned their backs on him and it looked as though his career might be over, but he managed a comeback - and has also survived a nasty cancer scare. Listeners may recall that his song The Voice was used as the anthem for the referendum held last year, and brought him to a whole new prominence. Above all, he's a proud survivor. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School holidays kick off this weekend and with that Whitcoulls has announced their annual Top 50 Kids' Books list. This year nearly a quarter of the titles included are new to the list, and more than a third come from New Zealand authors. So, if your kid is a bookworm and needs something to occupy your mind, Whitcoulls Book Manager Joan Mackenzie breaks down the list.

The list was voted on by readers, with New Zealand authors featuring more prominently than ever, including Ockham award-winning novelist Emily Perkins and Fungi by Liv Sisson.

A Pasifika card game that is helping weave meaningful conversations is now available in Whitcoulls.