Review: Better the Blood

I’ve discovered in recent years that I love a good crime novel. Problems can arise, however, when the books become too pro-police and ignore so many issues present in today’s world. So, I was immediately captivated by Michael Bennett’s Better the Blood when I first heard about it earlier this year. It’s the first book in his Hana Westerman series and it, admittedly, took me some time to read it. I found the audiobook recently (thanks, local library!) and thought listening to a New Zealand set mystery would be a good time. And I was right. I was completely and totally captivated by this book and I cannot wait to read more.

Here’s the book’s description:

A DETECTIVE IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH

Hana Westerman is a tenacious Māori detective juggling single motherhood and the pressures of her career in Auckland’s Central Investigation Branch. When she’s led to a crime scene by a mysterious video, she discovers a man hanging in a secret room. As Hana and her team work to track down the killer, other deaths lead her to think that they are searching for New Zealand’s first serial killer.

A KILLER IN SEARCH OF RETRIBUTION

With little to go on, Hana must use all her experience as a police officer to try and find a motive to these apparently unrelated murders. What she eventually discovers is a link to an historic crime that leads back to the brutal bloody colonisation of New Zealand.

A CLASH BETWEEN CULTURE AND DUTY

When the pursuit becomes frighteningly personal, Hana realises that her heritage and knowledge are their only keys to finding the killer.

THE PAST NEVER TRULY STAYS BURIED

But as the murders continue, it seems that the killer’s agenda of revenge may include Hana – and her family . . .

WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE OF PARADISE.

New Zealand, like Canada and so many other colonized nations, has a lot of shady stories in their history. I’m still learning so much about my country’s past so what I know about New Zealand’s is even more limited. But I do know they’ve been dealing with many of the same issues Canada has been, namely, how to deal with the very real fact that the majority of the land most of us live on was stolen from people who were (purposely) misled about the treaties and agreements they were signing. It was so interesting, then, to read a book about a Māori woman who works in a profession that is not known for treating minorities well. While I, as a white woman, have no idea what it’s like to discriminated against because of the colour of my skin, I do pay attention to the world around me and I felt like the way Bennett portrayed Hana and her world was accurate and the emotions I felt throughout were a rollercoaster, to put it mildly. It was so well done.

Bennett is a member of both the Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Whakaue Māori iwi (tribe). While I would have loved a female author writing a female detective, the fact that a Māori author was writing a Māori detective was a huge draw for me. (And Bennett wrote Hana very well - nothing jumped out at me as awkward or cringey. Win!) He writes in the author’s note that the mountain and the iwi he described in this book were fictional, though they’re drawn from many real locations and iwi. You could tell he was really taking care with his story.

The way Bennett wove together Māori stories and characters, a thrilling mystery, and a historical connection was so, so good. The novel was layered and it all helped make it into a story I did not want to stop reading. The pacing was bang on and I was on the edge of my seat as I felt like I was racing alongside Hana to track down the killer before he struck again. (Pro tip: if you listen to this while driving, um, watch your speed.)

And the ending! (Which I will not talk about in detail because spoilers, duh.) Everything is wrapped up so there are no cliffhangers, but it’s a perfect ending for a continuing series. I want to drop every other title on my TBR to see what Hana and her family is doing in the next book (Return to Blood, for those interested).

Hana was such a great character to read. I wanted to be her friend, honestly. She’s smart and wickedly good at her job, even as she struggles with her identity and past actions. I don’t think this book would work nearly as well if there wasn’t a badass character at the heart of it.

Better than Blood was a crime mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Michael Bennett has created a series with a main character you can’t help but stand behind and I cannot wait to read the next book in the Hana Westerman series. If you’re a mystery reader, you need to add this book to your TBR.

*A copy of this book was provided by the Canadian distributor, Publishers Group Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*