This update is bought to you mostly by the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards as the reading list is with the longlisting reviewers now.
The list (which might still have some changes) is live on AustCrime as the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Reading List. There are a number of people on the initial consideration panel, so we don't have to read absolutely everything on the list, but I do try to read as many of them as I can. Which should perhaps go some way to explaining why the reviewing piles are behind.
Every year the awards flush some very unexpected gems - the shortlist from the last couple of years are perfect examples of how diverse:
It's been a privilege to read so many great books.
Needless to say, a lot of the books added to the site recently are from this year. There's also been some great upcoming books arriving as well. These include:
The Body Next Door, Zane Lovitt and a catch up of Keigo Higashino's books (which I've been wanting to read for ages).
In general the last fortnight of activity is an ongoing roll of new posts. Later week there should be a couple of new reviews of some of the NZ entries going live - Home Truths and Return to Blood (provided the bushfire storms keep themselves to a minimum).