I received this ARC via Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press in return for an honest review. This was a great mystery, set in New Zealand. American Alexa Glock is a forensic specialist, with a speciality in teeth. Finishing an internship, she sets off for a smaller NZ community, Rotorua, to pay her respects to the family of a friend who'd been killed in a car accident. The boiled body of a man is found, head down, in a mud pit; Alexa represents herself as a forensic expert (which she is) and the 'called-in' expert (which she isn't). She ends up as a forensic specialist on contract with the police department to solve the murder. The initial situation points to it being a Maori ritualistic killing but Alexa starts investigating and, assisting Detective Inspector Horne with realizing there is a much, much larger picture to be revealed. Ms. Johnson lived in New Zealand for a year; her experiences support an excellent story and appear to be respectful of the Maori culture and customs. I learned a great deal from the book, in addition to a well crafted mystery. I hope more books about Alexa and Rotorua are forthcoming!

A totally different take on mysteries with a New Zealand background. It didn't take me long to get into this book with wonderful combination of mystery with a hint of romance. I received an e-book Advance Reader's Copy in return for an unbiased review.

Alexa Glock is a forensics expert visiting New Zealand. When a body is found found in a boiling mud pit in Rotorua, she sees this as an opportunity to stay in the country to help identify the victim, using her own area of specialty, odontology. Working with local DI Bruce Horne and his team, Alexa learns the victim was a city councilman, much disliked for his disrespect of the local Maori. The punishment for trespassing on their sacred island is purported to be death or possession, so Alexa travels to the island to try to uncover the truth. There’s much to like in this mystery, the beautiful setting, the fascinating culture and beliefs of the Maori people and a smart, savvy heroine