The Only Secret Left to Keep

Detective Ngaire Blakes, Book 3

By: Katherine Hayton

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio

Sometimes, a secret is all you have left.

Detective Ngaire Blakes is back on the case when a skeletonized murder victim is discovered - a crime that took place during the Springbok Tours of 1981. A period that pitted father against son, town against city, and police against protesters.

When the victim is identified as Sam Andie, a young African American man transplanted from the States to NZ by his family, Ngaire must investigate whether racial motives were behind the death. In line with evidence from the forensic pathologist, a police baton could easily have been the murder weapon. Or was his death connected to Sam's girlfriend - a young woman convicted of a savage double homicide in the same week that Sam disappeared?

With files missing, memories hazy, and a strident false confession muddying the waters, Ngaire must sift through the detritus if she hopes to find the truth hiding deep beneath the lies.

©2017 Katherine Hayton (P)2019 Tantor

Historically accurate but mixed styles

I was very surprised to hear a book set in my home town and drawing on events I experienced first hand. I did not attend the game but I did march in anti tour protests in spite of my family and friends supporting the tour. I wanted to like the book but I couldn’t finish it. Part police procedural part gay rights part love story part regret. Too many themes for me