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Lorraine Henry #1
Paper Cage
Masterton isn’t a big town. The community’s tight, if not always harmonious. So when a child goes missing it’s a big deal for everyone. And when a second kid disappears, the whole town’s holding their own children that little bit tighter.
Lorraine doesn’t have kids, but she has a nephew. She’s holding him a bit tighter, too, because she works for the police, and she knows they don’t have any idea.
Lo’s not a cop, she’s a records clerk. She sits out back among the piles of paper, making connections, remembering things. Working things out that the actual cops don’t want to hear about.
Until the new investigator, Hayes, arrives from Wellington, and realises Lo’s the only person there with answers to any of his questions. Which is just as well—because the clock is running down for the children of the town.
Both a nail-biting thriller and a beautifully written, acutely observed portrait of a community, Paper Cage is the debut from young New Zealand novelist Tom Baragwanath.
Lorraine doesn’t have kids, but she has a nephew. She’s holding him a bit tighter, too, because she works for the police, and she knows they don’t have any idea.
Lo’s not a cop, she’s a records clerk. She sits out back among the piles of paper, making connections, remembering things. Working things out that the actual cops don’t want to hear about.
Until the new investigator, Hayes, arrives from Wellington, and realises Lo’s the only person there with answers to any of his questions. Which is just as well—because the clock is running down for the children of the town.
Both a nail-biting thriller and a beautifully written, acutely observed portrait of a community, Paper Cage is the debut from young New Zealand novelist Tom Baragwanath.
312 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2022
168 people are currently reading
5082 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
June 22, 2024
This is the author’s debut novel. He has already garnered or been shortlisted for several awards. He is the recipient of the 2021 Michael Gifkins Prize, and shortlisted for the 2023 Ngaio Marsh and Ned Kelly Awards.
A Michael Gifkins Prize is an award for an unpublished novel for writers holding New Zealand citizenship or who are permanent residents of New Zealand. He is originally from New Zealand, but currently lives in Paris, France.
A Ngaio Marsh award are literary awards presented annually in New Zealand to recognize excellence. And a Ned Kelly Award are Australia’s leading literary awards for crime writing in both the crime fiction and true crime genres.
This is a story addressing real-world issues in an interesting, but compassionate way through the portrayal of small-town life.
When children go missing, Lorraine Henry, a middle-aged record clerk in rural New Zealand, serving at a small-town police station where her Maori husband Frank once worked, before he died is concerned. But it doesn’t seem to be a priority for the police.
Still, Lorraine is troubled and hoping the police will move on it. They do, eventually. But slowly. They send Detective Justin Hayes to investigate. But when her nephew, Bradley goes missing, it becomes more personal for Lorraine.
Justin and Lorraine work together to try and find answers. It is what they discover that creates a stylish, multi-layered debut worth investigating by readers.
A thrilling atmospheric plot with well-developed characterization. That also hits on sensitive social issues worth understanding.
A Michael Gifkins Prize is an award for an unpublished novel for writers holding New Zealand citizenship or who are permanent residents of New Zealand. He is originally from New Zealand, but currently lives in Paris, France.
A Ngaio Marsh award are literary awards presented annually in New Zealand to recognize excellence. And a Ned Kelly Award are Australia’s leading literary awards for crime writing in both the crime fiction and true crime genres.
This is a story addressing real-world issues in an interesting, but compassionate way through the portrayal of small-town life.
When children go missing, Lorraine Henry, a middle-aged record clerk in rural New Zealand, serving at a small-town police station where her Maori husband Frank once worked, before he died is concerned. But it doesn’t seem to be a priority for the police.
Still, Lorraine is troubled and hoping the police will move on it. They do, eventually. But slowly. They send Detective Justin Hayes to investigate. But when her nephew, Bradley goes missing, it becomes more personal for Lorraine.
Justin and Lorraine work together to try and find answers. It is what they discover that creates a stylish, multi-layered debut worth investigating by readers.
A thrilling atmospheric plot with well-developed characterization. That also hits on sensitive social issues worth understanding.
June 24, 2024
I have such respect for a gentleman author who can credibly get into the head of a woman in her fifties (a Great Aunt) and present her as the leading protagonist. Plus, New Zealand. I’ve never been there, but it’s on my bucket list. The frisson of the white civilization living side by side with the Māori culture is also a winning combination to add to the other struggles that the book illuminates. I felt edified by the story’s combination and conflict between the two cultures. Author Tom Baragwanath, who lives in Paris, is originally from NZ, in Masterson (North Island, Greater Wellington Region). Paper Cage is a juicy literary mystery about missing children, and who to blame. It’s not a constant page-turner; there are times to just slow down to take it all in.
Lorraine Henry is a clerk at the police station in Masterson, and has an eye for detail and critical thinking. When children go missing including her nephew, she is quasi-promoted by a Wellington detective who has come to help solve the case. He notices her adept skills and asks her to help him, side by side. Some of what she does is kept hidden from the police chief, which of course will add some problems of its own.
Paper Cage offers a large and spreading puzzle, red herrings, and stirring bits of Māori customs, such as particular ceremonies and welcoming traditions. The novel also contains many words from the Māori language. I was regularly looking up the words, which added to my enjoyment of the narrative. It would have been helpful, too, if Baragwanath had included a section of Māori language and meaning, but it wasn’t a bother to look them up online.
Racial tensions; the class system (including poverty); addiction; family ties; broken bonds; a clash of cultures; secrets and lies all tumble together in this enjoyable read. The climactic scenes unfold with a gradual but exciting plot twist at the end. It was a mix of formula and deviation from the formula protocol. The setting was almost like a character, too--I was immersed in place and atmosphere. It’s a thinking person’s crime novel, captivating and thoughtful. It’s narrated by Lorraine, and this story could easily fold into a series, if the author is so inclined.
Lorraine Henry is a clerk at the police station in Masterson, and has an eye for detail and critical thinking. When children go missing including her nephew, she is quasi-promoted by a Wellington detective who has come to help solve the case. He notices her adept skills and asks her to help him, side by side. Some of what she does is kept hidden from the police chief, which of course will add some problems of its own.
Paper Cage offers a large and spreading puzzle, red herrings, and stirring bits of Māori customs, such as particular ceremonies and welcoming traditions. The novel also contains many words from the Māori language. I was regularly looking up the words, which added to my enjoyment of the narrative. It would have been helpful, too, if Baragwanath had included a section of Māori language and meaning, but it wasn’t a bother to look them up online.
Racial tensions; the class system (including poverty); addiction; family ties; broken bonds; a clash of cultures; secrets and lies all tumble together in this enjoyable read. The climactic scenes unfold with a gradual but exciting plot twist at the end. It was a mix of formula and deviation from the formula protocol. The setting was almost like a character, too--I was immersed in place and atmosphere. It’s a thinking person’s crime novel, captivating and thoughtful. It’s narrated by Lorraine, and this story could easily fold into a series, if the author is so inclined.
October 19, 2022
An excellent New Zealand crime/thriller set in a small community. Two children have gone missing and then the nephew of Lorraine, the files clerk at the local police station is also taken. It’s well told, and I was drawn into the book by the attention to detail with regards to the characters and the nature and attitudes of the small town, especially race, class, gangs, drugs, family relationships and education. A great read.
February 14, 2024
꒰ 📖 : paper cage ! ⊹˚. ☆
⤷ 3.75 stars
“three now. lord, help us. two could be a coincidence but three is too much to ignore, even here.”
📝 | firstly, i’d like to thank netgalley and knopf doubleday publishing group for providing me with an ebook arc in exchange for my honest opinions and review.
happy publication day to tom baragwanath’s debut full length novel !!!
— paper cage is a thrilling, gripping, and thought-provoking mystery based in new zealand. it follows the story of the faithful narrator, lorraine henry as she changes from the person she once was as a police station records clerk who simply kept her head down to a fierce protector and rescuer who would do anything for her family, even if it means uncovering the darker parts of her small, tight-knit town of masterton.
— despite lorraine henry’s occupation at the masterton police station, she tends to keep to herself and mind her business– sitting at her desk and her computer, remembering information, sorting files, and keeping up on organization. her life, although a little dreary and mundane, is uneventful, tranquil, and most importantly, secure. that is, until, tragic news rocks the town of masterton and its residence: two māori children have gone missing, precious kīngi and hēmi larkin. lorraine cannot help but pay attention to the news, especially since she has her niece sheena and her nephew bradley to look after.
much to her dismay, it seems as though the cops at the police station she’s employed at are not doing much in terms of finding the children. and in a cruel twist of fate, sheena and lorraine’s very own bradley, is the next child claimed by this unknown abductor. after losing one of her only remaining family members, a now jaded and determined aunty lo teams up with a charming, intelligent justin hayes, a detective specifically sent out from wellington to aid the police station in the cases, to help find the missing children and bring them back to their homes by any means necessary.
— i had the pleasure of picking up paper cage before its publication; it was a treat. tom baragwanath has masterfully crafted a riveting plot line filled with twists and turns i would have never expected or anticipated. this small town had some really big secrets and it was fascinating to see the story unravel, carefully adding another piece to the puzzle of it all. this is an impeccable full-length debut.
this book was able to balance both social and cultural issues tastefully (one of the main issues being how racism affects and impacts investigations but also drugs and gangs) and maintain the momentum of an invigoratingly mysterious plot fueled by complex characters. the writing provided a poignant showcase of the relationship between the white and māori communities, accurately depicting the apathy white characters showed when māori children went missing.
— i found myself learning a lot about new zealand, their native wildlife, and most importantly the māori people, their culture, and their customs. i left the book feeling more educated about a new part of the world i wasn’t all that familiar with. and although i truly enjoyed paper cage for its plot, learning bits and pieces of the rich history of the location was ultimately the highlight for me.
— although paper cage wasn’t a perfect read for me (as it fell short in terms of the kidnapper’s true intentions for the crimes, had an abrupt, somewhat confusing ending, and changed narrators halfway through with no clarification) i still highly, highly recommend this book to any mystery or thriller enthusiasts. i especially recommend this to any readers who enjoyed holly jackson’s a good girl’s guide to murder as the plot and its twists were similar to the series. i cannot wait to read more of the author’s future works and i’m excited to see where he goes from here !!!
⤷ 3.75 stars
“three now. lord, help us. two could be a coincidence but three is too much to ignore, even here.”
📝 | firstly, i’d like to thank netgalley and knopf doubleday publishing group for providing me with an ebook arc in exchange for my honest opinions and review.
happy publication day to tom baragwanath’s debut full length novel !!!
— paper cage is a thrilling, gripping, and thought-provoking mystery based in new zealand. it follows the story of the faithful narrator, lorraine henry as she changes from the person she once was as a police station records clerk who simply kept her head down to a fierce protector and rescuer who would do anything for her family, even if it means uncovering the darker parts of her small, tight-knit town of masterton.
— despite lorraine henry’s occupation at the masterton police station, she tends to keep to herself and mind her business– sitting at her desk and her computer, remembering information, sorting files, and keeping up on organization. her life, although a little dreary and mundane, is uneventful, tranquil, and most importantly, secure. that is, until, tragic news rocks the town of masterton and its residence: two māori children have gone missing, precious kīngi and hēmi larkin. lorraine cannot help but pay attention to the news, especially since she has her niece sheena and her nephew bradley to look after.
much to her dismay, it seems as though the cops at the police station she’s employed at are not doing much in terms of finding the children. and in a cruel twist of fate, sheena and lorraine’s very own bradley, is the next child claimed by this unknown abductor. after losing one of her only remaining family members, a now jaded and determined aunty lo teams up with a charming, intelligent justin hayes, a detective specifically sent out from wellington to aid the police station in the cases, to help find the missing children and bring them back to their homes by any means necessary.
— i had the pleasure of picking up paper cage before its publication; it was a treat. tom baragwanath has masterfully crafted a riveting plot line filled with twists and turns i would have never expected or anticipated. this small town had some really big secrets and it was fascinating to see the story unravel, carefully adding another piece to the puzzle of it all. this is an impeccable full-length debut.
this book was able to balance both social and cultural issues tastefully (one of the main issues being how racism affects and impacts investigations but also drugs and gangs) and maintain the momentum of an invigoratingly mysterious plot fueled by complex characters. the writing provided a poignant showcase of the relationship between the white and māori communities, accurately depicting the apathy white characters showed when māori children went missing.
— i found myself learning a lot about new zealand, their native wildlife, and most importantly the māori people, their culture, and their customs. i left the book feeling more educated about a new part of the world i wasn’t all that familiar with. and although i truly enjoyed paper cage for its plot, learning bits and pieces of the rich history of the location was ultimately the highlight for me.
— although paper cage wasn’t a perfect read for me (as it fell short in terms of the kidnapper’s true intentions for the crimes, had an abrupt, somewhat confusing ending, and changed narrators halfway through with no clarification) i still highly, highly recommend this book to any mystery or thriller enthusiasts. i especially recommend this to any readers who enjoyed holly jackson’s a good girl’s guide to murder as the plot and its twists were similar to the series. i cannot wait to read more of the author’s future works and i’m excited to see where he goes from here !!!
Read
May 31, 2024The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Paper Cage
'Expansive in its reach, and stunningly singular in its detail, this literary thriller heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in New Zealand storytelling.’
Fiona Sussman
‘Paper Cage has all the sharp points of a great crime story and all the tragedy of ordinary lives hit hard. I couldn’t put it down.’
Gigi Fenster, author of A Good Winter
‘I really enjoyed Paper Cage. Its world feels real and its characters and relationships drew me in. Lorraine Henry is a refreshingly different crime fiction protagonist.’
Shelley Burr
'Thrilling…Lorraine is a perfect heroine: she’s tough, unflinching and gets the job done…A gritty crime novel that has all the fun literary techniques of a thriller with an added layer of feminist commentary.’
Danielle Bagnato, Books+Publishing
‘Aotearoa/New Zealand…has a rich history of crime writing, with huge names such as Ngaio Marsh, Alan Carter and Paul Thomas producing some fabulous reads over the last century. To this stable we can add newcomer Tom Baragwanath.’
Readings
‘A tightly written, slow burning thriller…One senses there’s much more to come from Baragwanath. He’s a fascinating talent and one to watch.’the
Greg Fleming, Kete
‘A thrilling, deep dive into community and what it means. Loved this new voice.’
Great Escape Books
‘This novel does what great crime fiction does—brings a community, with all of its complexities, to life—and while doing so deals with entrenched and persistent issues of colonialism, sexism and ageing in a way that is both absorbing and thought-provoking.’
Robert Goodman, Pile by the Bed
‘A compelling mystery and an atmospheric dive into small-town psychology…Tom Baragwanath has mastered the craft of literary crime: this is well-paced and vividly written detective fiction with a Chandleresque grittiness to its depiction of a community in crisis.’
Age/SMH
‘A perfectly pitched and plotted cracker of a debut…The author’s observations are as clear-eyed and intelligent as his endearingly down-to-earth [protagonist] Lorraine.’
Michele Hewitson, New Zealand Listener
‘A compelling crime thriller.’
Canberra Times
‘An ambitious mystery that uses the form to make some trenchant statements about contemporary society…All the essential elements of the genre are here and turned to use in exploring the bigger issues.’
North & South
‘Cleverly paced, putting Lo and her world at the centre of the action, Paper Cage is a character-driven crime novel with a visceral sense of place and community and a solid plot. Author Baragwanath has incorporated institutional racism, prejudice, social deprivation, and good people just trying to get ahead into a storyline that’s very engaging, without papering over the obvious cracks in the world he is describing.’
Newtown Review of Books
‘Just the kind of dark, disturbing, gritty, and unusual treat thriller lovers are looking for.’
Kirkus [starred review]
‘A stylishly written missing kids mystery, a compelling window on a fractured community, and a cast of characters I was fully invested in. Paper Cage is an impressive debut.’
Emma Styles, author of No Country For Girls
‘Baragwanath’s provocative first novel is riveting and shocking. The air is thick with moreporks (owls) and kererus (pigeons) coming home to roost.’
Times
‘Magnetic...This beautifully constructed plot has already won awards, and it is easy to see why with a protagonist who is impossible not to root for…Breathtakingly compelling.’
Daily Mail
‘In this haunting, finely wrought book, Baragwanath illuminates the extraordinary strength of an ordinary woman.’
Air Mail
‘Baragwanath makes ample use of his setting, fleshing out the book with scenes of exotic wildlife and mutable weather…When violence erupts, it is shocking, and the book culminates in a thrilling and heroic sequence. The file lady, once she claws her way out of her paper cage, displays the strength and fury of a tigress defending her young.’
Wall Street Journal
‘4.5 stars. A refreshing protagonist, subtle exploration of some real-world issues, acute portrayal of small-town life, and some beautiful writing all blend to earn Paris-based Kiwi Tom Baragwanath’s first novel a place on the top shelf of crime debuts from recent years…Bodes well for (hopefully) many more tales from a talented new voice.’
Good Reading
'Expansive in its reach, and stunningly singular in its detail, this literary thriller heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in New Zealand storytelling.’
Fiona Sussman
‘Paper Cage has all the sharp points of a great crime story and all the tragedy of ordinary lives hit hard. I couldn’t put it down.’
Gigi Fenster, author of A Good Winter
‘I really enjoyed Paper Cage. Its world feels real and its characters and relationships drew me in. Lorraine Henry is a refreshingly different crime fiction protagonist.’
Shelley Burr
'Thrilling…Lorraine is a perfect heroine: she’s tough, unflinching and gets the job done…A gritty crime novel that has all the fun literary techniques of a thriller with an added layer of feminist commentary.’
Danielle Bagnato, Books+Publishing
‘Aotearoa/New Zealand…has a rich history of crime writing, with huge names such as Ngaio Marsh, Alan Carter and Paul Thomas producing some fabulous reads over the last century. To this stable we can add newcomer Tom Baragwanath.’
Readings
‘A tightly written, slow burning thriller…One senses there’s much more to come from Baragwanath. He’s a fascinating talent and one to watch.’the
Greg Fleming, Kete
‘A thrilling, deep dive into community and what it means. Loved this new voice.’
Great Escape Books
‘This novel does what great crime fiction does—brings a community, with all of its complexities, to life—and while doing so deals with entrenched and persistent issues of colonialism, sexism and ageing in a way that is both absorbing and thought-provoking.’
Robert Goodman, Pile by the Bed
‘A compelling mystery and an atmospheric dive into small-town psychology…Tom Baragwanath has mastered the craft of literary crime: this is well-paced and vividly written detective fiction with a Chandleresque grittiness to its depiction of a community in crisis.’
Age/SMH
‘A perfectly pitched and plotted cracker of a debut…The author’s observations are as clear-eyed and intelligent as his endearingly down-to-earth [protagonist] Lorraine.’
Michele Hewitson, New Zealand Listener
‘A compelling crime thriller.’
Canberra Times
‘An ambitious mystery that uses the form to make some trenchant statements about contemporary society…All the essential elements of the genre are here and turned to use in exploring the bigger issues.’
North & South
‘Cleverly paced, putting Lo and her world at the centre of the action, Paper Cage is a character-driven crime novel with a visceral sense of place and community and a solid plot. Author Baragwanath has incorporated institutional racism, prejudice, social deprivation, and good people just trying to get ahead into a storyline that’s very engaging, without papering over the obvious cracks in the world he is describing.’
Newtown Review of Books
‘Just the kind of dark, disturbing, gritty, and unusual treat thriller lovers are looking for.’
Kirkus [starred review]
‘A stylishly written missing kids mystery, a compelling window on a fractured community, and a cast of characters I was fully invested in. Paper Cage is an impressive debut.’
Emma Styles, author of No Country For Girls
‘Baragwanath’s provocative first novel is riveting and shocking. The air is thick with moreporks (owls) and kererus (pigeons) coming home to roost.’
Times
‘Magnetic...This beautifully constructed plot has already won awards, and it is easy to see why with a protagonist who is impossible not to root for…Breathtakingly compelling.’
Daily Mail
‘In this haunting, finely wrought book, Baragwanath illuminates the extraordinary strength of an ordinary woman.’
Air Mail
‘Baragwanath makes ample use of his setting, fleshing out the book with scenes of exotic wildlife and mutable weather…When violence erupts, it is shocking, and the book culminates in a thrilling and heroic sequence. The file lady, once she claws her way out of her paper cage, displays the strength and fury of a tigress defending her young.’
Wall Street Journal
‘4.5 stars. A refreshing protagonist, subtle exploration of some real-world issues, acute portrayal of small-town life, and some beautiful writing all blend to earn Paris-based Kiwi Tom Baragwanath’s first novel a place on the top shelf of crime debuts from recent years…Bodes well for (hopefully) many more tales from a talented new voice.’
Good Reading
October 14, 2022
Holy hell this is such a great book! No wonder it won a prize, such unexpectedly good writing with a meaningful plot
October 6, 2024
2.5 This is sort of a weird one that I didn't really care for, but in the end, I felt like the idea and the setting were interesting. In New Zealand, very young children have disappeared, but they're from outcast families in indigenous communities, living in poverty and addiction. A somewhat dumpy police records clerk seems to be the only one trying to discover the truth and a detective from the capital joins her. It's a procedural for the first half of the book and has a thriller setpiece second half.
But I had two problems. First, it's just badly written. The gritty New Zealand underbelly perspective is very interesting but the characters are all underdeveloped. It's a setting with nothing going on. Then when it shifts into the thriller plot, the villain has the same problem. There's an idea behind what's happening to these children but the execution is awkward. It had some interesting ideas, but I didn't care about any of the characters and the argument is clunky.
But I had two problems. First, it's just badly written. The gritty New Zealand underbelly perspective is very interesting but the characters are all underdeveloped. It's a setting with nothing going on. Then when it shifts into the thriller plot, the villain has the same problem. There's an idea behind what's happening to these children but the execution is awkward. It had some interesting ideas, but I didn't care about any of the characters and the argument is clunky.
January 23, 2023
Set in New Zealand with a very local flavour. Interesting story with quite a few complex issues. Some very dramatic moments!
July 29, 2022
"The air is thick with the tang of mutton, a salty musk that lingers high in the nose." Tom Baragwanath has lovely descriptive writing that swirls around the action in his first crime thriller. It's set in the town of Masterton in New Zealand, where the author grew up. The lead protagonist is Lorraine Henry—Aunty Lo—a records clerk at the local police station. The station is being flummoxed by a series of missing kids: "You can ignore one missing kid if you try hard enough. But two? Two's something else. Even with names like Precious and Hēmi, two gets attention." When her nephew, Bradley, joins the list of the missing, the struggles to find them gets personal.
"The mirror shows new grey at my temples, and my cheeks look like last week's bread forgotten in the bag." Lorraine is an unlikely hero, widowed by an accident to her husband Frank. She's Pākehā, he was Māori. Nobody's rich. The town has a swathe of social problems, from poverty to drugs and other gang-related crime: "the threat of violence hangs over the streets like the low hum of electricity." Is it a fit place to raise children is the novel's gently asked premise. I'll leave you to find out in this worthwhile and wonderfully different novel about New Zealand and the people who inhabit it. I very much enjoyed reading Paper Cage over four (too fast) nights, and would happily pick up another Tom Baragwanath book.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for sending me a copy to read.
"The mirror shows new grey at my temples, and my cheeks look like last week's bread forgotten in the bag." Lorraine is an unlikely hero, widowed by an accident to her husband Frank. She's Pākehā, he was Māori. Nobody's rich. The town has a swathe of social problems, from poverty to drugs and other gang-related crime: "the threat of violence hangs over the streets like the low hum of electricity." Is it a fit place to raise children is the novel's gently asked premise. I'll leave you to find out in this worthwhile and wonderfully different novel about New Zealand and the people who inhabit it. I very much enjoyed reading Paper Cage over four (too fast) nights, and would happily pick up another Tom Baragwanath book.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for sending me a copy to read.
May 29, 2024
This story is set in New Zealand in a small Maori community in which Lorraine lives. She is a records keeper at the local police station and tries to stay out of the work of the policemen. But when children in her community begin to go missing, it's difficult to stay quiet.
The story is interesting enough, but it is not fast-paced. There are some red herrings early on and it takes a while to get to the real culprit. Once we know what's happening, it's not exactly englightening.
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
The story is interesting enough, but it is not fast-paced. There are some red herrings early on and it takes a while to get to the real culprit. Once we know what's happening, it's not exactly englightening.
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
February 4, 2023
It's so nice reading a book set back at home :')
This is quite a complex mystery that asks questions about the environment in which we bring up children, without making too many judgments. I enjoyed the small town setting and how real the characters felt. Will be keeping an eye on this author for future works.
This is quite a complex mystery that asks questions about the environment in which we bring up children, without making too many judgments. I enjoyed the small town setting and how real the characters felt. Will be keeping an eye on this author for future works.
December 28, 2023
This prizewinning debut from New Zealand! A community of
How far would you go to keep your family safe?
Lorraine Henry is part of a Māori clan by marriage and keeps her head down in her basement clerk role at the local police. When 2 local kids disappear within weeks, Lorraine gets overly involved and draws the ire of her Chief. But Masterson is a small town and Lorraine has the connections needed to work with the Māori and their assistance is sorely needed. When her own nephew disappears, Lorraine will stop at nothing to find him.
Baragwanath creates an atmospheric mystery thriller while weaving in the social issues imposed upon Māori as well as highlighting the culture of community and care. A fantastic novel! #Knopf #Pantheon #Vintage #Anchor #KnopfPantheonVintageAnchor #papercage #tombaragwanath
How far would you go to keep your family safe?
Lorraine Henry is part of a Māori clan by marriage and keeps her head down in her basement clerk role at the local police. When 2 local kids disappear within weeks, Lorraine gets overly involved and draws the ire of her Chief. But Masterson is a small town and Lorraine has the connections needed to work with the Māori and their assistance is sorely needed. When her own nephew disappears, Lorraine will stop at nothing to find him.
Baragwanath creates an atmospheric mystery thriller while weaving in the social issues imposed upon Māori as well as highlighting the culture of community and care. A fantastic novel! #Knopf #Pantheon #Vintage #Anchor #KnopfPantheonVintageAnchor #papercage #tombaragwanath
October 9, 2022
A fantastic read, my only reservation being the ending, where justice briefly takes what’s becoming a familiar path of DIY, sigh.
Main character Lorraine, Lo, Aunty Lo to her Māori in-laws, is such a great creation, the underdog fully realised, caught in serious meshes of family and clan ties, workplace prejudice and her own far superior grasp of events. The presentation of Masterton and small town life is a far cry from NZ tourist brochures advocating days at charming wineries etc. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the disparity.
Lots of conflicting pressures at work here - historical, cultural, personal. It’s well written, atmospheric and extremely entertaining, I liked it a lot and look forward to more from this author.
Main character Lorraine, Lo, Aunty Lo to her Māori in-laws, is such a great creation, the underdog fully realised, caught in serious meshes of family and clan ties, workplace prejudice and her own far superior grasp of events. The presentation of Masterton and small town life is a far cry from NZ tourist brochures advocating days at charming wineries etc. You don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the disparity.
Lots of conflicting pressures at work here - historical, cultural, personal. It’s well written, atmospheric and extremely entertaining, I liked it a lot and look forward to more from this author.
September 10, 2023
An excellent New Zealand thriller. A great audio book. Recommend
May 31, 2024
Just about the best compliment I can give is that I thought this male author wrote the female protagonist really well. And also wrote what it's like to be injured and in pain really well. I wish I had a book club to discuss this with! This was a very good thriller with complicated characters and no real right answers to the multitude of societal problems and inequalities.
February 9, 2023
A small town riddled with social problems, from poverty to drugs and gang violence, and amongst it all is Aunty Lo, not your average protagonist, but one with gusto and a heart bigger than her town.
When Lo’s grand nephew is the latest child to go missing in Masterton, she decides to take matters further into her own hands. When she has the help of an out of town cop (we love Justin too!) who just wants answers and isn’t getting them from the local police, she finds herself in more danger than she anticipated but will do whatever needs to be done to find her nephew and the other missing kids.
The social commentary on social, family and race issues is threaded throughout the book with a surface level look into the white saviour complex. And gosh I think we’ve found a guy that can write a great female protagonist!
What a cracker of a debut! I can’t wait to read more from Tom Barangwanath.
With thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for an ebook copy of the book.
When Lo’s grand nephew is the latest child to go missing in Masterton, she decides to take matters further into her own hands. When she has the help of an out of town cop (we love Justin too!) who just wants answers and isn’t getting them from the local police, she finds herself in more danger than she anticipated but will do whatever needs to be done to find her nephew and the other missing kids.
The social commentary on social, family and race issues is threaded throughout the book with a surface level look into the white saviour complex. And gosh I think we’ve found a guy that can write a great female protagonist!
What a cracker of a debut! I can’t wait to read more from Tom Barangwanath.
With thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for an ebook copy of the book.
December 23, 2025
2.75 rounded up ⭐
This novel randomly found me on Libby so I went for it. YOLO. It's a solid story and gives me "True Detective" vibes which drew me in immediately. The setting and tone feel authentic and gritty. The twist is a little easy to spot but enjoyed it all the same. Overall, it's quick and intriguing but lost me a little and I honestly couldn't identify some of the characters by the end (that were key to the plot) and that's a sign that I wasn't fully invested ORRRRRR the characters aren't fully developed. Or both.
Interesting story but feels lived in and done.
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This novel randomly found me on Libby so I went for it. YOLO. It's a solid story and gives me "True Detective" vibes which drew me in immediately. The setting and tone feel authentic and gritty. The twist is a little easy to spot but enjoyed it all the same. Overall, it's quick and intriguing but lost me a little and I honestly couldn't identify some of the characters by the end (that were key to the plot) and that's a sign that I wasn't fully invested ORRRRRR the characters aren't fully developed. Or both.
Interesting story but feels lived in and done.
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July 27, 2024
Children start to end up missing in drug infested, poverty stricken, gang - related Masterton - a small town in New Zealand. The cops are pretty inept and obviously understaffed to put an effort in finding these kids.
Lorraine Henry works as a record clerk for the local police when her nephew Bradley disappears. Bound and determined Lorraine vows to bring the kids home safe and teams up with a visiting detective when things get dangerous.
This debut novel by Tom Baragwanath is up for many awards and it should be. The more I read the easier I got hooked. Great pacing.
Lorraine Henry works as a record clerk for the local police when her nephew Bradley disappears. Bound and determined Lorraine vows to bring the kids home safe and teams up with a visiting detective when things get dangerous.
This debut novel by Tom Baragwanath is up for many awards and it should be. The more I read the easier I got hooked. Great pacing.
October 6, 2025
NZ Crime fiction set in Masterton! Can’t get much better
August 22, 2022
Beautifully written. The author builds an intimate and vivid world in small town Masterton - a place many New Zealanders visit often but may not truly know or understand.
At the same time a gripping thriller, intricate character study, and commentary on class and ethnicity in New Zealand.
I truly couldn't put it down, and only wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
Please read this!
At the same time a gripping thriller, intricate character study, and commentary on class and ethnicity in New Zealand.
I truly couldn't put it down, and only wish I could read it for the first time all over again.
Please read this!
August 21, 2022
What a great read! I enjoyed this tremendously. Standouts were the protagonist who I thought was brilliantly written, exceptional given I don't usually don't find female leads convincing when written by men, the pacing of the book, the nature of the environment described in NZ which I found great, and then the anticipation and momentum building. I'd read again just to enjoy the descriptions of the characters and world creation.
December 31, 2024
This was a great read and even better being set in the Wairararapa. I couldn't put it down.
October 7, 2022
http://jessjustreads.com
Set in a secluded New Zealand community, Tom Baragwanath’s Paper Cage is a suspenseful crime thriller about a string of disappearances, with police department records clerk Lorraine taking centre stage.
After a couple of children go missing in a small, close-knit New Zealand town, Lorraine takes the case under her wing. Her colleagues seem incompetent and unable to connect the clues, and so when someone in Lorraine’s family is abducted, she takes matters into her own hands – using her intelligence and determination to crack the mystery.
“He sets a hand to my arm; his expression is like light through murky water. He’s close enough for me to see my reflection in his eyes: a round grey woman held in miniature.”
Lorraine is a rather unexpected protagonist in a small-town crime story. Usually, it’s the troubled detective driving the story – often male – and it was refreshing to read a different perspective in this genre. Lorraine rises above what others expect of her, ignoring the distrust and the snide remarks and focusing on the case. As such, there is a definite feminist undertone to the novel.
From NZ-born writer Tom – now living in Paris – Paper Cage is a slow-burn thriller, presenting quite a large but three-dimensional set of characters that orbit around Lorraine. The second half of the novel is much more fast-paced, when Lorraine starts to become more involved in the case and lead us toward the culprit.
“I climb to my feet and head into the hall, feeling their eyes follow me. Truth be told, it’s a relief to get out of that room, even if it means a long morning scouring through the files.”
While on the surface this is a mystery about the disappearance of a few children in a close-knit New Zealand community, at its core Paper Cage explores racism, violence, drugs and alcohol abuse in small suburban towns.
This is quite an expansive list of themes to underpin a crime novel and as such, the plot does deviate quite a bit in the middle of the book and the story became a little convoluted and difficult to engage with. The disappearances of the children felt a little on the backburner while Lorraine’s attention is distracted by Sheena (her niece) and Keith (Sheena’s partner).
“A flicker of hesitation shoots across the detective’s face. We come in through the back, into the anonymous crackle of radio from the communications room. Hayes unlocks the interview room, and I do what I can to make Sheena comfortable.”
With descriptive, vivid writing and recommended for crime and thriller readers, Paper Cage’s readership skews 25+
Thank you to the publishing company for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Set in a secluded New Zealand community, Tom Baragwanath’s Paper Cage is a suspenseful crime thriller about a string of disappearances, with police department records clerk Lorraine taking centre stage.
After a couple of children go missing in a small, close-knit New Zealand town, Lorraine takes the case under her wing. Her colleagues seem incompetent and unable to connect the clues, and so when someone in Lorraine’s family is abducted, she takes matters into her own hands – using her intelligence and determination to crack the mystery.
“He sets a hand to my arm; his expression is like light through murky water. He’s close enough for me to see my reflection in his eyes: a round grey woman held in miniature.”
Lorraine is a rather unexpected protagonist in a small-town crime story. Usually, it’s the troubled detective driving the story – often male – and it was refreshing to read a different perspective in this genre. Lorraine rises above what others expect of her, ignoring the distrust and the snide remarks and focusing on the case. As such, there is a definite feminist undertone to the novel.
From NZ-born writer Tom – now living in Paris – Paper Cage is a slow-burn thriller, presenting quite a large but three-dimensional set of characters that orbit around Lorraine. The second half of the novel is much more fast-paced, when Lorraine starts to become more involved in the case and lead us toward the culprit.
“I climb to my feet and head into the hall, feeling their eyes follow me. Truth be told, it’s a relief to get out of that room, even if it means a long morning scouring through the files.”
While on the surface this is a mystery about the disappearance of a few children in a close-knit New Zealand community, at its core Paper Cage explores racism, violence, drugs and alcohol abuse in small suburban towns.
This is quite an expansive list of themes to underpin a crime novel and as such, the plot does deviate quite a bit in the middle of the book and the story became a little convoluted and difficult to engage with. The disappearances of the children felt a little on the backburner while Lorraine’s attention is distracted by Sheena (her niece) and Keith (Sheena’s partner).
“A flicker of hesitation shoots across the detective’s face. We come in through the back, into the anonymous crackle of radio from the communications room. Hayes unlocks the interview room, and I do what I can to make Sheena comfortable.”
With descriptive, vivid writing and recommended for crime and thriller readers, Paper Cage’s readership skews 25+
Thank you to the publishing company for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2024
A refreshing protagonist, subtle exploration of some real-world issues, acute portrayal of small-town life, and some beautiful writing all blend to earn Paris-based Kiwi Tom Baragwanath’s first novel a place on the top shelf of crime debuts from recent years.
Lorraine Henry is a middle-aged records clerk in rural New Zealand, serving at the small-town police station where her Māori husband Frank worked and died. She sneaks rent money to her niece, Sheena, who she raised after her sister and brother-in-law died in an accident. Sheena’s her own woman now, though, complete with young son, a gang member boyfriend, and a drug habit. Lorraine lives alone, and is largely overlooked by her police colleagues and the wider community, other than new neighbour Patty. When two local children go missing and the Masterton police are moving slowly, Detective Justin Hayes is sent from the capital to get things going. He sees Lorraine’s value, brings her in on the case, only for a standoff between police and gang members to go badly wrong. Lorraine is put on leave, with her boss saying her role may be made redundant.
While the police blame the missing kids on local gangs, Lorraine and Hayes keep digging. Overall Paper Cage is a stylish, multi-layered debut that introduces a fascinating heroine, and bodes well for (hopefully) many more tales from a talented new voice.
Lorraine Henry is a middle-aged records clerk in rural New Zealand, serving at the small-town police station where her Māori husband Frank worked and died. She sneaks rent money to her niece, Sheena, who she raised after her sister and brother-in-law died in an accident. Sheena’s her own woman now, though, complete with young son, a gang member boyfriend, and a drug habit. Lorraine lives alone, and is largely overlooked by her police colleagues and the wider community, other than new neighbour Patty. When two local children go missing and the Masterton police are moving slowly, Detective Justin Hayes is sent from the capital to get things going. He sees Lorraine’s value, brings her in on the case, only for a standoff between police and gang members to go badly wrong. Lorraine is put on leave, with her boss saying her role may be made redundant.
While the police blame the missing kids on local gangs, Lorraine and Hayes keep digging. Overall Paper Cage is a stylish, multi-layered debut that introduces a fascinating heroine, and bodes well for (hopefully) many more tales from a talented new voice.
October 11, 2022
What a fantastic debut by the author. This book’s cover and it’s premise does little to the story because it’s not all about children being kidnapped. The book goes deep into communities, gang wars and racial elements that come unexpected.
Lorraine is the desk clerk at the local cop shop. She sees things. She hears things. When two children go missing, she makes sure that her niece, Sheena protects her son Bradley, who Lorraine loves and adores. Sheena is in trouble. Her relationship with a local leader isn’t accepted by Lorraine but Sheena is ignorant of her aunt’s advice.
On his birthday, Bradley is kidnapped too. Lorraine tries so hard to find out where the boy is, in a cycle in which she questions herself a lot about family.
Halfway through the book, I realised the truth of a character and the actual reason for all the kidnapping so there wasn’t much of an element of surprise. But I think author didn’t actually want the reader to surprised by a suspense, but wanted the readers to focus more on the reasonings. In a way, author justified his story by bringing so many deep social issues that exist in such communities. Also, I found Lorraine to be a bit too selfish, and didn’t show much emotions about others in her hunt for her Bradley but I think that purely highlights how much she loves that boy.
I wish the author focused more upon the families of the kidnapped children at the end, to show the reader whether there is a change, whether they understood why everything happened. But I think, it’s up to the reader to decide, where the lives of the children went.
Overall, a deeply moving book that hooked me in from the start.
Lorraine is the desk clerk at the local cop shop. She sees things. She hears things. When two children go missing, she makes sure that her niece, Sheena protects her son Bradley, who Lorraine loves and adores. Sheena is in trouble. Her relationship with a local leader isn’t accepted by Lorraine but Sheena is ignorant of her aunt’s advice.
On his birthday, Bradley is kidnapped too. Lorraine tries so hard to find out where the boy is, in a cycle in which she questions herself a lot about family.
Halfway through the book, I realised the truth of a character and the actual reason for all the kidnapping so there wasn’t much of an element of surprise. But I think author didn’t actually want the reader to surprised by a suspense, but wanted the readers to focus more on the reasonings. In a way, author justified his story by bringing so many deep social issues that exist in such communities. Also, I found Lorraine to be a bit too selfish, and didn’t show much emotions about others in her hunt for her Bradley but I think that purely highlights how much she loves that boy.
I wish the author focused more upon the families of the kidnapped children at the end, to show the reader whether there is a change, whether they understood why everything happened. But I think, it’s up to the reader to decide, where the lives of the children went.
Overall, a deeply moving book that hooked me in from the start.
April 3, 2024
The office lady at the local police station pretty much becomes the lead detective in the case of a couple of missing children 🤣
The premise is so silly that, even if the writing was decent and the characters not so bland, it would still be impossible to take as seriously as the author tries so hard to make it.
The premise is so silly that, even if the writing was decent and the characters not so bland, it would still be impossible to take as seriously as the author tries so hard to make it.
November 16, 2022
Couldn't put it down😁😁
December 26, 2022
Great characters and story
August 8, 2023
This book gripped me from start..
An overlooked member of a police station, who remembers all she sees and as a file clerk she sees it all.
Two children go missing, and a detective comes in from Wellington..
He speaks to her in the hallway and finds out more from her, in five minutes than from the whole squad room, after two hours.
Then a third child disappears, but this time it is Lorraine’s grand nephew…
She gets desperate when the rest of the police station seems to give up, but the detective comes to her for help and together they find suspects and go on a road that ends in tragedy.
She has a new friendly neighbour, Patty, but Lorraine realises that Patty has been giving the perpetrator information from her while they were sharing a meal and drink at the end of day.
The book ends in a ragged, bumpy way…
She is imprisoned then suddenly her nephew is helping her escape, and release the other kids and helping to drive a manual car even though she is injured.
Then the kids are returned to their parents… some more welcoming than others.. the police swoop in and ask a few questions but Lorraine has an agenda.. she wants to speak to Patty herself.
Several chapters are from the view of one of the children, which is a little confusing in between this police investigation story.
So I enjoyed the book but I felt the ending was rushed and incomplete.
An overlooked member of a police station, who remembers all she sees and as a file clerk she sees it all.
Two children go missing, and a detective comes in from Wellington..
He speaks to her in the hallway and finds out more from her, in five minutes than from the whole squad room, after two hours.
Then a third child disappears, but this time it is Lorraine’s grand nephew…
She gets desperate when the rest of the police station seems to give up, but the detective comes to her for help and together they find suspects and go on a road that ends in tragedy.
She has a new friendly neighbour, Patty, but Lorraine realises that Patty has been giving the perpetrator information from her while they were sharing a meal and drink at the end of day.
The book ends in a ragged, bumpy way…
She is imprisoned then suddenly her nephew is helping her escape, and release the other kids and helping to drive a manual car even though she is injured.
Then the kids are returned to their parents… some more welcoming than others.. the police swoop in and ask a few questions but Lorraine has an agenda.. she wants to speak to Patty herself.
Several chapters are from the view of one of the children, which is a little confusing in between this police investigation story.
So I enjoyed the book but I felt the ending was rushed and incomplete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2024
This mystery is set in a small town in New Zealand. Main character Lorraine is a middle aged woman who works as a file clerk in the police station. When children in her small town start going missing, she can’t help but worry, especially when it becomes personal to her family, and is enlisted due to her local knowledge by an out of town detective who has come to help with the investigation.
This was a quick and compelling mystery, with twists I did not see coming. However, for this US reader, this very New Zealand book was a bit hard to read between the Maori words, NZ slang, and other local knowledge that it felt like the book expected you to know, which took me out of the story sometimes because I had to google a lot. So although I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down, I’m giving it 3.75 stars just for the slightly difficult reading experience.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this one (out now); all opinions are my own.
This was a quick and compelling mystery, with twists I did not see coming. However, for this US reader, this very New Zealand book was a bit hard to read between the Maori words, NZ slang, and other local knowledge that it felt like the book expected you to know, which took me out of the story sometimes because I had to google a lot. So although I really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down, I’m giving it 3.75 stars just for the slightly difficult reading experience.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this one (out now); all opinions are my own.
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