Ōkiwi brown

by Cristina Sanders

The Burke and Hare anatomy murders of 1828 terrify Edinburgh, until Burke is hanged and Hare disappears. Over a decade later, in the early days of New Zealand colonial settlement, a whaler washes up on the eastern shores of Port Nicholson. He calls himself Ōkiwi Brown, sets up a pub with an evil reputation and takes in a woman abandoned on his beach. Nearby, children sing dark nursery rhymes of murder.
One afternoon, Õkiwi is visited by a pair of ex-soldiers, a bosun looking for a fight, and itinerant worker William Leckie with his young daughter, Mary. When a body is discovered on the beach, it could be that a drunken man has drowned. But perhaps the gathered witnesses know something more.

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2024

About the author

Cristina Sanders is an historical novelist, book reviewer and trail runner who grew up in Wellington and now lives in Hawke’s Bay.

She is a volunteer crew member for the Spirit of Adventure Trust, and a board member of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

Reviews

[HC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. This is terrific writing by an author who clearly knows how to bring the details and mysteries of the past to life. This is the third book of hers that I've read, and all are excellent. I hope she soon becomes better known.

[Fiona Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written re-imagining of an early myth of Aotearoa, Ōkiwi Brown reads like a collection of anecdotes from the point of view of each character, in the vein of Steinbeck. Murderous details are balanced with some nice descriptive passages and humour.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the conversation between the judge and the attorney general on the last page of the last chapter. Classic mic drop.

Cristina Sanders' novels give a rich sense of early settlers' life in Wellington. As a city, we're privileged to have her fictionalising our history.

[Jo-Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another notch in Sanders belt of New Zealand 1800's historical fiction, this one branching out into thriller territory. I found this particular story challenging to digest, as the tone and plot are heavy with characters that are evil or at the relentless mercy of the elements in which they are trying to survive. There is very little joy or hope to go around.

[Tamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a well written book and really gave me a sense of what it would have been like living in colonial Aotearoa.

[Paige Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made history interesting 👌 ❤️