Return to Blood

Hana Westerman has left Auckland behind, seeking solace and a new beginning in a serene coastal town. After years of serving as a detective, all she desires is a peaceful life. However, this tranquility is shattered when a skeleton is unearthed in the dunes near her home. These remains belong to a young Māori woman who disappeared four years prior, and the discovery reignites memories and connections Hana thought were long buried.

Two decades earlier, a schoolfriend of Hana's was found buried in the exact same location. Although the convicted perpetrator died in prison and seemingly closed the case, doubts linger. Did the police incarcerate the right man, or did he take the fall for someone else's heinous crime? And if he was innocent, why did he plead guilty?

Despite being removed from her former role in the Criminal Investigation Branch, Hana is determined to seek the truth. She reaches out to her ex-husband Jaye, a prominent Detective Inspector, hoping his official capacity might aid her quest for answers. When Jaye excludes her from the investigation, Hana realises that uncovering the truth falls squarely on her shoulders.

PRAISE FOR BETTER THE BLOOD:

'A compelling, atmospheric page turner with an authentic insight into Māori culture' Val McDermid

'A tensely plotted, gritty crime novel that has the courage to force us all to rethink our relationship with the past' Vaseem Khan

'Stunning . . . a gripping mystery, complex and memorable characters, and timely social and cultural commentary. Don’t miss it' David Heska Wanbli Weiden

'As page-turning as it is eye-opening' Ambrose Parry

'Opens a unique window onto a fascinating Antipodean society as only world-class crime fiction can' Deon Meyer

'A striking debut and a significant addition to Indigenous literature' Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

'[A] stellar series launch. Bennett is a writer to watch' Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'A remarkable new detective' Daily Mail

'[A] highly addictive read' My Weekly

'So chilling' Crime Monthly