Michael Bennett Claims Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel

Author and screenwriter Michael Bennett has been awarded the prestigious Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel for his work, Return to Blood. The announcement came during a ceremony held at the Tūranga library in Christchurch on the evening of October 5, 2023. This award recognizes excellence in crime, thriller, mystery, suspense, and true crime writing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Judges praised Bennett’s latest novel for its “excellent characters, nuanced plot, and important themes.” Return to Blood is the second installment in his acclaimed detective series, featuring the character Hana Westerman. Bennett’s first novel in the series, Better the Blood, received the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel.

Accolades and Previous Works

Bennett, originally from Reefton and now residing in Auckland, has a diverse background in storytelling. He previously wrote and served as executive producer for the TVNZ series Vegas. His earlier work, In Dark Places, which explored the wrongful conviction of Teina Pora in 1992, won the Best Non-Fiction category at the Ngaio Marsh Awards in 2017.

Other notable winners at this year’s ceremony included The Crewe Murders, authored by former investigative journalist Kirsty Johnston and James Hollings, an Associate Professor of Journalism at Massey University. Their book revisits the unsolved murders of Harvey and Jeannette Crewe in Pukekawa in 1970, a case that has remained unresolved despite multiple trials and a royal commission that identified police corruption.

Emerging Voices in Literature

Wendy Parkins was honored with the award for Best First Novel for her work, The Defiance of Frances Dickinson. The judges noted that her novel immerses readers in an era with attitudes that resonate disturbingly in today’s society. Parkins joins the ranks of previous winners such as JP Pomare, Jacqueline Bublitz, and last year’s recipient, Claire Baylis.

Established in 2010 by journalist and legal editor Craig Sisterson, the Ngaio Marsh Awards have been celebrating literary excellence for over a decade. The awards honor Dame Ngaio Marsh, one of the four “queens of crime” from the golden age of detective fiction, who lived and worked in Christchurch.

This year’s awards underline the vibrant literary scene in New Zealand, showcasing both established authors and emerging talents in the genre. As the Ngaio Marsh Awards continue to evolve, they remain a vital platform for recognizing the contributions of writers who captivate readers with their intricate narratives and compelling characters.