• On leave, and out of his head with boredom, NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna joins biologist Jules Asher, on a Conservation Department deer culling expedition to New Zealand’s southernmost national park, where soaring peaks give way to valleys gouged from clay and rock, and icy rivers bleed into watery canyons too deep to fathom. Despite covering an area the size of the Serengeti, only eighteen people live in the isolated region, so it’s a surprise when the hunters stumble on the nation’s Turehu tribe, becoming some of only a handful to ever encounter the elusive ghost people. But a band of mercenaries saw them first, and, hell-bent on exploiting the tribes’ survivors, they’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way. As a soldier, McKenna is duty-bound to protect all New Zealanders, but after centuries of persecution will the Turehu allow him to help them? Besides, there is something else lurking in the sounds, and it has its own agenda. When the waters clear, will anyone be allowed to leave?

    “Murray pretty much nails small unit tactics.” Justin Coates, author of The Apocalypse Drive “A fantastic blend of military fiction, a very real primordial monster, and powerful mythology.” Paul Mannering, author of Hard Corps, Hell’s Teeth, and Eat.

     
  • Kidnap At Mystery Island

    Kidnap at Mystery Island

    Set in a time after the great global Environment Revolution of 2072, readers enter a high-tech world of eco criminals, artificial islands, global warming, rising seas, and patrolling coastal rangers. Like other children of his generation, Dom has a special talent chosen by his parents at conception. He is a human chameleon - possessing the ability to blend into any surroundings and become almost invisible. Unfortunately his Anti-Ec father is a mining billionaire set on ignoring new planet-saving laws who kidnaps a young girl, Zoe. Will Zoe who is a mind-reader and her sisters, who also have remarkable talents, be able to outwit the ruthless mining billionaire.

    Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award Winner 2021 ​​​​​​Shortlisted for the 2023 NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults - Best First Book NZSA Award  
  • Letters from Elsewhere

    This genre-blending collection is rich in characters who aren’t always what they seem at first glance. Space pirates, Fire Elves and living grotesques take us on journeys across the multiverse and deep into the hidden crevices of the mind. These stories interrogate what it is to be monstrous; and along the way, they confront the patriarchy and explore the spectrum of sexuality. If you like your fantasy and science fiction a bit dark, laced with humour and sometimes spicy, these stories will entertain, disturb and challenge you. “Jacqui Greaves titillates with this outstanding collection of speculative encounters, visits and ventures by otherworldly beings, each tale sharpening our understanding of the human condition and the tiny role we play in the universe. Cosmic, cautionary, and compelling, served up with a sprinkle of humour and a good dose of sauce, Letters from Elsewhere is a satisfyingly good read.” —Lee Murray, five-time Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of Grotesque: Monster Stories.
  • Freya is half blind, poor and lives in land-locked Medar. An unlikely heroine. So when she finds a mysterious tablet telling her about a beautiful land beyond the Wall free from the evil Master, she doesn’t think anybody will believe her. The same day, her family learns they have been selected to live in the Golden City, ruled over by the Master. But instead of entering the City with her family, Freya instead finds herself condemned to death by the Guards. At the last minute Freya is rescued by an invisible Watcher. What follows is an incredible journey, pursued by guards, that takes Freya to the very edge of the only world she has ever known. Will she unlock the clues hidden in the tablet? The key to the long lost path to Tyrelia — and freedom — is in her hands.
  • A desperate odyssey through a dystopic future
    Mika Tāura arrives in New York in the middle of a storm, where she accidentally kills a motorist and lands herself with an injured child. What’s more, she’s missed her rendezvous. Stan has problems of his own. Several of them just broke into his apartment and tried to kill him, which may explain why he hitching a ride in Mika’s armoured waka seems like a good idea. Besides, her business is taking her across to the West Coast, and so – conveniently – is his. On the run, Mika, Stan and the girl flee across the country to Stan’s reservation home, where they encounter a couple who may be the key to Mika’s mission. But time is running out, for the travelers and for those they left behind.
  • Dream cars have no registration plate. One evening, just before tea, Adam’s mum pops out for the milk and doesn’t come back, launching a frantic nationwide search. After weeks with no leads, the television crews drift away, the police start asking hairy questions, and Adam’s dad starts seeing someone else. Adam’s life is falling apart. But perhaps it was already unravelling and Adam just hadn’t seen the signs? He’s spending so much time in the counsellor’s office, he’s beginning to think he’s a head-case. Then he meets Skye, who it seems has misplaced a parent too, and things start to look up. That is, until a body is found… A poignant coming of age story from award winning author, Lee Murray.
  • In the Shadows of London's Highgate Cemetery, Ngaroma stands before her great-great-grandfather's crypt, unknowingly about to unravel a tale that spans two centuries and two hemispheres. Victorian New Zealand sets the stage for and extraordinary story of two brothers bound by blood but divided by empire. Hōhepa, born to a British captain and a Māori mother, navigates a precarious path between two worlds during a time of mounting colonial tensions. Meanwhile, in England, his half-brother Colin, a gifted landscape painter, confronts the suffocating constraints of Victorian society as he struggles to live authentically in a world that denies his true nature and desires. Their unlikely bond challenges the rigid social boundaries of their era, proving that the heart knows no bounds. Now, in 2010, Ngaroma's discovery in that London cemetery will bridge the generations, revealing how love, sacrifice, and forgiveness shaped her family's legacy across oceans and decades. Based on the author's own family history, this richly woven narrative continues the story begin in Finding Miriama, exploring how the choices of our ancestors echo through time.
  • The Extraordinary Story of the Europeans Who Lived as Māori in early New Zealand

    This book describes one of the most extraordinary and fascinating stories in NZ history. In the early part of the last century several thousand runaway seamen and escaped convicts settled in Māori communities. Jacky Mamon, John Rutherford, Charlotte Badger and many others – this is their largely untold story. They were regarded as unsavoury renegades by the European settlers, but amongst Māori they were usually welcomed. Many Pākehā Māori took wives and were treated as Māori, others were treated as slaves. Some received the moko, the facial or body tattoo. Others became virtual white chiefs and fought in battle with their adopted tribe. A few even fought against European soldiers, advising their fellow fighters about European infantry and artillery tactics. In this, the first-ever book devoted solely to the Pākehā Māori, Trevor Bentley describes in fascinating detail how the strangers entered Māori communities, adapted to tribal life and played a significant role in the merging of the two cultures.
  • The forgotten story of New Zealand's White Slaves

    Slavery in the popular imagination has always been associated with the enslavement of Africans, and with good reason. Slavery however, is universal and not something that only white people did to black people. Throughout history, slavery has been practiced in many different forms and Māori slavery readily fits definitions of slavery elsewhere in world. This book discusses Pākehā (European) vassals or demi-slaves. Its main focus is the Europeans who lived and sometimes died as slaves in tribal New Zealand between the 1790s and 1880s. It examines when, where, why and how Māori obtained these slaves and the types of Europeans seized. It explores the diverse slave roles performed by white slaves, their sale prices and the immediate and long term physical and psychological effects of their servitude. Using published histories by hapū and iwi historians and writings on customary law by Māori scholars, captivity narratives by returned Pākehā slaves, and contemporary accounts about white slaves in newspapers, journals, letters and logs historian Trevor Bentley paints a vivid picture of the interaction between Māori and Pākehā and life in the early days of the colony.

  • Pedro has changed his name even though he belongs to a herd where everyone has the same name and the chief would not let him change his. Now he has a dilemma. If he keeps his new name the chief will throw him out of the herd, but if he changes his name back to Zeb he won’t have the feeling that he can now achieve anything he wants to, because of his new name. Pedro and his parents decide to leave the herd and find that life on the African savannah on their own is dangerous. This is a sequel to "Zeb's Search" but can be read alone. ISBN: 978-0473453916
  • Stinky mud, a wild bull, cute calves, road works, and the beach—these are all part of Pop and Zac’s busy week with the blue truck. Come and join them on their adventure. Gordon Miller’s illustrations add interest and humour to this picture book which is enjoyed by the children and their parents. ISBN: 978-0-473351-13-7
  • POWERFUL PUNCTUATION is a self-published, small, handy reference for those punctuation dilemmas we so often wonder about. Most of your questions about basic punctuation will be answered in this little book.
  • Primed For Evil is the next highly anticipated thriller from the author of Savage Point. When Detective Inspector Ian Anderson receives a chilling message on a lazy Sunday morning, he meets death in the form of a beautiful young factory worker, Jess Barton. Her mangled body leaves few clues for the dedicated detective. It is a complex case, with suspicion falling on many of the factory workers, and becomes infinitely more complicated as new facts are uncovered. With pressure mounting from his superior officer to arrest someone... anyone... coupled with family problems haunting him, he is in a desperate race to uncover the truth. As he searches for the real killer, he unearths dark, long kept family secrets. As one by one these secrets are uncovered, who will be destroyed next. And will they open the door to deadly danger for the seasoned detective and his team?
  • A moving and exciting adventure story for 9-12 year olds, set against the sweeping landscape of the North Island's volcanic plateau and Desert Road, Restless Spirit tells the story of a wild white Kaimanawa stallion who cannot be tamed and the two young troubled teens who come to love him. Lara is new in town and resents it — Kahu is a talented carver, outwardly cocky and confident but riddled with doubts and fears. Hunters slaughter the young stallion?s family and he learns to fear and distrust humans, but when a brutish trainer targets the white stallion during the annual DOC muster, he must learn to trust Lara and Kahu if they are to have any chance of saving him. To accomplish this, Lara and Kahu must both reach out — Lara to her peers and her estranged mother, and Kahu must reveal his hidden talent. Both must also face the reality that to help the stallion, they must ultimately lose him. Parallel to their journey, the white stallion must face and overcome his fears. He must call on the strength and wisdom of his ancestors and place his trust in Lara and Kahu.
  • A Broken Spell series fantasy short story (sidequel) Stranded, confused and furious with Brave's family for dragging her into a creepy alternate universe situation, Riley wants out! No chance. Lost in the Inner Heat of Arvalonia with a big attitude and some other-worldly creatures for company, she's determined to survive. Will a chance meeting with True and her fleeing classmates save Riley's sass, or be her downfall? A bite-sized sidequel short story set in The Broken Spell series universe, this is a quick read with a fast pace. Readers of The Dangers of Being Brave & True will know Riley as Brave’s former schoolmate and reluctant inter-world traveller. Riley’s Revenge is the story of her arrival in the world of Arvalonia. Experience the vast sands of the Inner Heat and see familiar characters through her eyes. Expect an alternate world, a misunderstood anti-hero and plenty of attitude.
  • The story unfolds in Book 4… The ancient past smashes it's way to the surface, crunching and mauling a whole new scary reality in book 4 of The Broken Spell series. Brave puts Kingsfort castle in his rear view mirror to discover how much hard work it takes to go from reluctant prince to kingly warrior. True is forced to face the foggy mysteries of Cordobria while struggling to battle her way from the clutches of the Ascenders and their ruthless emperor. Brace yourself for transformation, potential allies, ruthless new enemies and an awful lot of teeth. If you're looking for a calm, cosy beach read, the next book in the Broken Spell series is not for you. #grindragon.
  • It’s midsummer night, Litha, and the triplet witches have traversed the veil between the realms to collect their dues from the humans. Rather than the roaring bonfire and naked revellers they expect, they discover the human realm is vastly changed and only a ragtag group of rebels awaits them. Captured by the mad monk and stripped of their magic, the witches are caught in a deadly race against unseen forces to save themselves, their new acolytes, and the realms from a never-ending winter.  Rose Moon is an erotic fantasy, suitable for adults only.
  • Te Ara Mo Te Rongopai — the Gateway of the Gospel
    New Zealand’s colonial history began when Samuel Marsden found his young Maori friend Ruatara near death on a convict ship bound for Australia. Five years earlier Northland chiefs, Te Pahi and Hongi Hika, concerned about the negative influence of whalers and traders on the Maori people, had invited Marsden to New Zealand. The Boyd burning delayed this plan; it was now too dangerous to bring settlers to New Zealand. Once in Australia Marsden cared for Ruatara on his farm at Paramatta. Later he helped Ruatara introduce European agricultural skills to Rangihoua Pa at Oihi Bay in the Bay of Islands. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brought peace between tribes, a peace also facilitated by the successful introduction of wheat and vegetable crops. Join Ruatara and Marsden on their adventures as they begin this shared journey towards a better New Zealand-Aotearoa. Simon Fletcher’s illustrations bring more life to this historical story, for ten to fourteen year-olds and older. ISBN: 978-0-473351-12-0
  • A killer is watching... A bride's wedding ends in tragedy when her matron of honour is brutally murdered. Detective Inspector Ian Anderson leads the investigation. He will need all his skills to find the killer whose identity and trademarks are as mysterious as the motive behind the crime. He suspects two business owners in the city of having secrets they don't want unearthed. But are they capable of murder? With chilling precision, the ruthless killer continues his murderous rampage as D.I. Anderson desperately looks for clues to solve the case before another person he cares about is targeted. This explosive new thriller by the author of the September series is set in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
  • Saving Sam is about a sad and lonely boy and the dog he grows to love. The book was inspired by my old dog, Layla , who passed away several years ago. Just like the Layla in the book, she was nervy and frightened at times. But she was also a gentle and kindly soul who loved kids and understood they'd never hurt her. She seemed to know if they were hurting too... Ben's mother is dead, his father is in jail, and his older brother is heading off the rails at a million kilometres an hour. The social worker is fast running out of options, when the boys' aunt and uncle reluctantly agree to take them in. Just as well: they were the last on her list. Ben's uncle has bought a guard dog from a man at the pub, but she's useless — afraid of loud voices and frightened of her own shadow — and he's decided to have her put down. Ben and the unwanted dog recognize each other for what they are — damaged goods — and find some comfort and companionship together, which slowly grows into love and trust. That love will be needed when Ben's brother gets into seriously bad trouble, and Ben's trust in his dog is put to the ultimate test.
  • In the shadow of loss, hope flickers. For Tracey Hansen, the tragic death of her fiancé, Gary, left her world shattered. Seeking solace in a quiet New Zealand cottage, she clings to memories of their whirlwind romance and the life they’d planned. But even in her grief, Tracey yearns for more than the confines of sorrow. A daring solo road trip across the United States becomes her lifeline—a journey to rediscover herself, her dreams, and the possibility of love. From the dazzling lights of Disneyland to the breathtaking peaks of New Mexico, Tracey’s adventures lead her to colourful characters, daring experiences, and unexpected truths. Meeting Julie and Carl, an adventurous couple, she finds camaraderie in shared thrills and quiet reflections. But it’s Hank Carrington, a charming yet haunted man she met on the road, that sets her heart racing. Hank, too, battles a past weighed down by heartbreak. Drawn to Tracey’s quiet strength, he opens himself to a future he hadn’t dared to hope for. Together, they share tender moments and whispered promises. But ghosts of the past and the realities of living worlds apart threaten their fragile bond. Will Tracey find the courage to embrace love again? Can Hank prove that even after heartbreak, life offers second chances? September Promise is a stirring romantic thriller about loss, resilience, and the power of daring to believe in love again.
  • Can the truth free her from the shadows of deception? In the heart of picturesque Tauranga, New Zealand, Tracey Carrington’s life crumbles when her husband Hank’s sudden departure is followed by a terrifying home invasion. Alone and vulnerable, Tracey is left grappling with unanswered questions and an unshakable sense of danger. What secrets was Hank keeping, and could they be tied to the masked intruder who shattered her peace? As she seeks solace with her best friend Maryanne and returns to work at Alec’s cycle shop, the threads of Tracey’s once-idyllic life begin to fray. Alec, her steadfast coworker, offers more than support, but his growing feelings for her complicate her already fragile emotions. When Hank is found dead under suspicious circumstances, the mystery deepens. With Detective Anderson uncovering unsettling connections to Hank’s past and a potential murder weapon, Tracey is forced to confront the chilling possibility that her husband was the intended target all along. Every clue leads her closer to a truth that could destroy everything—or free her Balancing her grief, newfound pregnancy, and Alec’s quiet devotion, Tracey battles to rebuild her life. But as her attacker circles ever closer, she must decide if she’s ready to risk everything—her heart, her safety, and her future—to uncover the secrets that could bring justice for Hank and save her own life. Fast-paced, emotionally gripping, and filled with twists,September Shadows is a romantic thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page.
  • Trusting anyone is difficult when danger lurks around every cornerIn the picturesque coastal town of Tauranga, New Zealand, Maryanne Rowland’s quiet life as a single mother is shattered by a chilling attack on her home. As strange and sinister events unfold, Maryanne finds herself at the center of a dangerous web of threats, sabotage, and unanswered questions. When a mysterious rifle links her troubles to O’Reilly, a volatile local with a grudge, Maryanne must protect her spirited daughter, Sarah, at all costs. Turning to Detective Ian Anderson, an old flame, reignites unresolved feelings, but Ian isn’t the only one vying for her heart. Daniel, a charismatic newcomer, offers Maryanne a chance at love—but trusting anyone proves difficult. Just as Maryanne begins to piece together the mystery, her world is turned upside down—Sarah vanishes without a trace. With time running out and the police scrambling for leads, Maryanne takes matters into her own hands, delving into the shadowy secrets of her town and confronting her deepest fears. Meanwhile, Sarah’s courage is put to the test as she battles against her captor, refusing to give up hope. Romance collides with suspense in a story of resilience, love, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. With danger closing in and no one left to trust, can Maryanne uncover the truth before it’s too late? Perfect for fans of romantic thrillers that combine heart-pounding tension with heartfelt emotion, September Smokescreen is a gripping tale of betrayal, survival, and the unbreakable bond between mother and child.
  • Six science fiction and fantasy novellas from Aotearoa New Zealand
    Interdimensional forests, atomic ghosts and future tech gone horribly wrong abound in this collection of six works by acclaimed New Zealand sci fi and fantasy writers. Tim Jones explores desperation and betrayal on New Zealand’s shores in his climate refugee novella, Landfall AC Buchanan tells a story of creatures and people displaced in time and space in Bree’s Dinosaur Grant Stone’s tale of jealous muses and musical prodigy: The Last. Lee Murray and Piper Mejia’s sci-fi adventure Mika throws the reader into an odyssey through a dystopic USA. A husband with a secret in IK Paterson-Harkness’ Pocket Wife. Grief, ghosts, and atoms: Octavia Cade explores Ernest Rutherford's discoveries of loss in The Ghost of Matter. From award-winning boutique publisher Paper Road Press.
  • The Adventures of Crimson and the Guardian BOOK ONE: The Battle of the Snake Crimson, the last of the secretive and elusive medieval unicorns, steps into young orphaned Kinsey’s path and life. Within minutes Kinsey finds herself battling a huge and dangerous snake-like river monster with nothing but a magical cloak and a dagger. somehow she survives, and with her sense of adventure awakened, she agrees to travel with Crimson on an incredible journey towards more danger and peril than she could ever imagine. Kinsey must overcome a band of monsters called jagotchies before rescuing the kidnapped leader of the dwarfs and helping save the life of a young troll-like creature, a Shadow-Blood. As she travels closer to the battlefield where the nation’s enemy is gathering his forces, she has to avoid wolf-like creatures called mungas intent on tearing her limb to limb, escape the clutches of the small but deadly bobaho and kill a giant dragon to rescue Crimson from a band of shape-shifters. At every encounter, Kinsey discovers more about the cloak's magic secrets, and surprises herself with her own abilities. But war is looming, and old enemies and warriors are gathering their forces. Has she learned enough to be able to defeat the deadliest enemy of all—the man called the Snake?
  • Join Brave (13) and True (17) on an epic quest through a magical world to escape a sinister foe in the first gripping book in The Broken Spell series – The Dangers of Being Brave & True. In an Element of Magic, experience Brave’s struggles to master the elements at Kingsfort Mage Academy and follow True’s perilous journey to discover her unique talents. In Guardians of the Spell (Book 3) uncover secrets, lies and an ancient threat to the kingdom’s protective spell, when a lurking menace begins to rise again.   Included: Book 1: The Dangers of Being Brave & True Book 2: An Element of Magic Book 3: Guardians of the Spell The first three eBooks of the Broken Spell series are conveniently bundled into a magical eBook box set. Perfect for fans of elemental magic, slowly emerging powers and coming-of-age tales, The Broken Spell series has friendship at the heart of every story. Note: Book 4 releases November 2025. The Broken Spell series will total six books when completed.
  • The Carbonite's Daughter

    To lead or to breed? Calista has this choice, but before she can make a decision she needs to leave the protection of the tunnels and chance her life outside, where radiation kills and people wither—so she is told. Who can she believe—her father or the MICs (Men In Charge)? Fear battles with her desire for adventure, and if she stays another insemination looms. Set in dystopian New Zealand, post a Nuclear Dawn, this is a story of growth and discovery and the realisation that things aren’t always as they seem.
  • Crime-stopping adventure kids Logan, Meeka, Poet and Ninja-Nate find themselves caught up in a deadly crime ring mystery in the most unexpected place: Meeka’s mansion-like home, where everyone has secrets, even Meeka. When Logan, Ninja-Nate and Poet visit their new friend Meeka in her over-the-top wealthy home, they were expecting some fun and laughter. Instead, Meeka is obviously hiding something. She even acts like she wishes they weren’t there. Meeka has a secret she can’t share, and things turn from bad to desperate when her father ignores her and her problems. Only one person sees the danger everyone is in as the evil mastermind from the kids past closes in on them. But there is nothing they can do to stop him and before too long, Nate is kidnapped. As Nate's life hangs in the balance, Logan, Meeka and Poet know what they must do. Go and rescue Ninja-Nate. No matter what the risk. Even if it means running straight into deadly danger. Who will save them this time?
  • The Kingsfort family is exiled royalty, once powerful rulers of an other-world monarchy where connection to the elements equals status, favour and control. Their only son will be the 40th king of Arvalonia when he turns 16. Pity they ‘forgot’ to tell him. Wrenched from Earth, thirteen-year-old Brave Kingsfort lands alone in a wild new world. On the run from a ruthless dictator and torn from everything he knows and loves, his unpredictable talent for connecting to the elements is the least of his worries until he discovers it might be his only way out. Seventeen-year-old True Harboursfort is determined to prove she’s more than her parents’ bargaining chip. When her plans for elemental advancement are sabotaged and the callous decision at the heart of her dysfunctional family is revealed, everything changes. Including herself. Beyond recognition. It’s terrifying. So why does it feel so good? Forced to make an alliance, Brave and True must overcome their families’ lies to trust one another and survive. All the while, deeply guarded mysteries lurk in the shadows, waiting to reshape their world forever. ISBN: 978-1738595570
  • 'Tell us where you've got the nugget and this will go well for you,' the tall man with the horrible voice rasped. Rumour is flying around the west coast gold fields that tom McGee has struck it rich and found a nugget of gold as big as a man's fist. So no one is surprised when next his campsite is found wrecked and abandoned. Men have been killed for a lot less on the tough goldfields of 1860s New Zealand. But one person is convinced tom is not dead. His headstrong daughter, Charlotte. Solving the mystery is not her first task, though. First, she must get to the coast. A skilful horse rider, she disguises herself as a boy and joins a cattle drive across the Southern Alps. to survive the dangerous drive over Arthur's Pass and to keep her identity hidden from the vicious trail boss, she'll need the help of her dog, her horse, and her father's friend, tama. She knows she can do it — she has to — but what will she find? And will her new American friend, Joseph, help or hinder her quest? Charlie is in for the ride of her life — and the stakes couldn't be higher.
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