This was an enjoyable detective story/thriller with a few extra elements. The main 'extra' was that the reader gets to learn (or at least read, if your memory is like mine) a whole load of Maori words and also some customs. That made it more interesting and added some depth, as did the issue of racism.
The book was easy to read and after a while turned into a real page turner; I really wanted to know what happened next.
There were a couple of less good points, at least in my opinion. How likely is it that someone would accidentally come across someone's search history? Why didn't the divers use drysuits (which are much warmer)? The incident with the magpie was a little too predictable. What was the point of the first arrest?
Nevertheless, those were minor points and I enjoyed reading the book.

I really enjoyed the first two Hana Westerman books and while I enjoyed reading more about the Māori culture and getting to know more about Hana’s friends and family I felt Like Carved in Blood was lacking in anything very exciting or thrilling and was more of a filler piece to give Hana a reason to rejoin the force so she could once again be the center of something dangerous and exciting. I will definitely be reading the next Hana Westerman because I really enjoy Bennett’s writing, and I am hoping for more of a police procedural than a family saga.

I love this book. From a UK perspective if you like any of the police crime series like Line of Duty or perhaps even some of the Harlen Coben books, then you will enjoy Carved in Blood. It twists and turns with the characters lives interweaving in a way that at times is predictable but at others you least expect. I really appreciated how the females in the storyline came together despite the complexity of their situation.

An intense, elaborate and brutal continuation of the Hana Westerman Thriller series. I would recommend reading this book without reading the synopsis, but as to be expected with Michael Benett’s books, the allure to his work isn’t necessarily who commits these crimes, but <i>why</i>.

I requested an ARC of this in exchange for review, so thank you Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of this through Net Galley.

The third instalment in this series follows Hana alongside the characters we’ve all grown to love over the course of the other books, along with some new and well-written additions to the whānau. As to be expected, Hana is dragged straight back out of her happy place and somewhat episodic peaceful life to pursue justice.

Bennett returns by reminding readers of his background as a screenwriter, crafting each chapter as a vivid scene from an episode with rich imagery, compelling twists and turns, complex characters and an addictive pace that kept me both eager and hungry to turn the page.

As a wahine Māori, I’m always so enamoured by how Bennett includes Te Ao Māori in his work. This entire series delves into this nuanced and well-written conflict Hana, a wahine Māori faces as a former police officer despite her understanding of the injustices many Māori have with the justice system. We also see different elements of her life intertwined with Te Ao Māori, like being back on her papakāinga, her pā, and with her hapū and wider community. Matariki, tā moko and kirituhi were beautifully handled in inviting readers into those experiences, and I hope those not familiar with Te Ao Māori can come to appreciate them without feeling overwhelmed.

I think my favourite element of this book was its exploration into the characters, as it often is with Bennett’s work. He has this extraordinary ability to shape such complex, multifaceted characters who feel so deeply human, flawed and real – then fully embraces it.

I know this hasn’t released at the time I post this, but hooked and eagerly anticipating the next instalment.

4.5

(2.5 stars)
Carved in Blood is the second book I have read by Michael Bennett. Initially I was drawn in by the Māori culture threaded through the books, with lots of in-language words that are explained in the text: Pāua are large, edible sea snails, known elsewhere as abalone. They're a protected species... The best divers call pāua 'black gold'". This time I found the writing clunky rather than atmospheric: "Everyone knows what a visit to the Desert Road means. The Desert Road is an area in the central plateau of the North Island that's as bleak and barren as the name suggests."

This book definitely requires you to have read the preceding book(s) in the Hana Westerman series to understand the relationships and why the shooting of Jaye matters. There are plenty of (also clunky) references back to events that happened in these books: "He was badly injured in the course of her final investigation, losing his lower leg when a boobytrapped vehicle exploded." I think as a result it felt less about solving a crime and more 'days of our lives' with Hana's relationships at the forefront.

While the book does try to address systemic racism against New Zealand's Māori, it's all done by telling rather than showing: "She knows fifty-three per cent of the prison population is Māori. Māori are only seventeen per cent of the New Zealand population." Probably the best bit of descriptive writing in the book was about tā moko, traditional Māori tattooing that tells the story of someone's identity, lineage and connection to culture: "The lines carved into his skin, his whakapapa, the connections between him and the generations of ancestors whose blood had been handed down and now runs in his veins." If Bennett had taken the time to integrate these elements into the narrative more seamlessly, this would be a better book.

Another great entry in this series. They are dark and this one is very emotional and tense but really well done. I look forward to many more adventures.

This was a strong third entry in the Hana Westerman series, it had that thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this book. The characters had that same feel and worked with the storyline going on. Michael Bennett always writes a strong writing style and was glad I got to continue this series.

My appreciation for this series is unparalleled as it deepens my knowledge of Māori culture and sheds light on the systemic challenges Māori folks continue to face. This novel also explores immigrant communities in New Zealand, providing insight into the immigrant experience, especially in situations where interpretation is needed for crucial communication.

This is the 3rd novel in the Hana Westerman Thriller universe and I enjoyed returning back to the group of characters that I have grown so attached to. I definitely recommend reading the first 2 books in the series first to gain context of the characters and the state of their relationships since it has been a labor of love to get to this stage.

The engagement of Addison and PLUS 1 and all the events that follow are a whirlwind of a journey in finding out who was the assailant and how justice will be served. With multiple POVs, it occasionally felt as if a lot was happening, but I appreciated the context it provided since it offered a unique and engaging reading experience. This book felt like a bridge to the next in the series, however, I appreciated the setup and am excited for the upcoming installments.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with an ARC of this ebook!

This was my first introduction to Michael Bennett’s series, and I was drawn to the opportunity to explore a story deeply rooted in Māori culture, set during the sacred Matariki celebrations. The premise was compelling: Hana Westerman’s tranquil life is shattered when her ex-husband is shot, pulling her into an investigation involving organised crime, old undercover cases, and themes of loyalty and justice.

While the cultural insights and family dynamics added depth, the execution didn’t quite meet my expectations. The plot felt somewhat predictable, and some subplot threads, while promising, weren’t fully explored. I found myself wishing for greater complexity and cohesion to match the richness of the cultural and thematic backdrop.

That said, I believe fans of the series will enjoy reconnecting with Hana and her world, and this book offers an interesting glimpse into Māori traditions. For those seeking a culturally rich mystery, it’s worth considering, even if it didn’t fully resonate with me.

I’d love to hear how others found this instalment or how it compares to earlier books in the series!

Carved in Blood is set to be released on 15 July 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an uncorrected proof of Carved in Blood in exchange for my honest review.

#CarvedInBlood #MichaelBennett #NetGalley #ARCReview #MāoriCulture

Carved in blood was an amazing read, Michael Bennett managed to fit so much thriller and drama into only a couple of hundred pages .

I requested this book from NetGalley because I like to read novels set in a different culture, and the blurb promised this. Had I received it as a library book, I would have dnf’d by the 15% point, given its annoying writing style—the use of the present tense rather than the far more common, and easier to understand, past tense. As receiving a NetGalley book entails providing a review, I persevered, using a start and stop reading style. I’d read a few chapters, stop and read another book, then read a few more chapters, stop when I got bored, etc., until I finally finished.

There are numerous Māori words and phrases scattered throughout the book, but at no point did I experience the feeling of being immersed in the cultural context. There were speeches about the prejudices that the dark-skinned natives experienced, but it was all “tell”, no “show”. There were a few well-written scenes, but they were scenes, not in-depth explorations of how the characters felt, or how their backgrounds affected their psychological coping mechanisms. I felt that I was reading an amateurish attempt at producing a thriller. Stock villain, who was identified by the Māori protagonist at the 65% point. Then a chase, with an incomplete ending.

1.5 rating, moved up.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.

This was a great book! I think it was entertaining, fast paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen. I like the way this author tells the story, and how that characters are written. I did enjoy this book!



Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC.

This was my first time reading a novel involving both New Zealand and Maori culture. Having read other indigenous novels I had hope that I would enjoy it. I did not realize until I finished the book, that it was the 3rd in a series.

Aside from the setting and culture of the many characters, I found the overall feeling to be typical of a crime thriller. I enjoyed the book but I found the mystery to be a little underwhelming and fairly predictable. I find this with many crime thriller novels, there are only a few that stand out and I find them to be best in class.

Regarding Maori and New Zealand culture, I found this to be very interesting. I wish that more could have been included to help understand some of the sayings and traditions. Had I read the first two in the series, I may have found more of this and understood more.

Regarding the author, now that I know more about him, I would like to explore some of his other writings. I believe he has things to say that need to be heard. Overall a nice introduction to him as an author.

What a cool book!! While I haven’t read others by Bennett in this series, I found it easy enough to pick up and jump into this series. This is tense & atmospheric— a TRUE thriller. The dynamics between Jaye and his ex wife was engaging and I loved the focus on Māori culture. More books should be set in New Zealand!

Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, for the ARC for Carved in Blood. This is the third book in the Hana Westerman series. Its location is New Zealand, emphasizing Maori history, culture, folklore and traditions. Issues addressed are grief, sorrow, revenge, anger, the causes of evil, the tendency to scapegoat a Maori for crimes, a criminal organization, and whether actions should involve a belief in what is right versus legal restrictions. The book is due to be published July 25th, 2025.

Addison, the daughter of Hana and her ex-husband, DI Jaye, a highly admired and respected detective from the earlier books, has just announced her upcoming marriage to PLUS1, and it is time for a celebration. The constellation Maharaiki has just appeared in the winter sky, signifying a time of gladness and new beginnings.

This is not a spoiler, as it is described in the book's synopsis. The peace and tranquillity of the small town is soon shattered. Jaye is in the back of a convenience store, choosing a bottle of champagne to celebrate his daughter's engagement. A man, his face covered, enters and leaves the manager battered and bleeding. As Jaye returns to the front, he is shot twice in vital areas and lies in hospital in an induced coma. The identity of the victim casts a personal cloud over Hana, their daughter Addison, Jaye's new wife Melissa, his colleagues in the police force, and the entire community. The police are determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.

A man with a background in crime is connected with a Chinese gangster syndicate. This psychopath, Erwin Randall, only feels the emotion of anger and the thrill of killing. He is brilliant and has studied and realistically displays the other emotions but cannot feel them. The gangsters have set up a young Maori man to make him appear guilty of the shooting. He is pursued by the police, who are determined to arrest and charge him; Addison receives phone calls indicating the police are mistaken, and their suspect is soon found dead.

Senior Police Officer Elisa Grey has been assigned to the case. Hana, a former Maori police detective, resigned from the Auckland CIB at the close of the first book and is leading a peaceful life. She is now temporarily restored to the police force in order to help. Was Jaye a random victim, or was he targeted? Hana, Addison, and Melissa remain grief-stricken. Sean, a young officer, lost his leg in the first book. In the second book, he was strenuously practicing on an artificial leg to restore his position in an active role instead of being confined to paperwork. He is furious about Jaye being shot and having loud, inappropriate outbursts of anger. He has been on sleeping pills and steroids. With the help of Hana, the identity of the actual shooter is revealed, but they must recover the gun to prove Erwin guilty in court. After a difficult search, the gun is recovered, but its owner has fled overseas. Hana accepts her former official position in the police force, as she believes she has unfinished business. A sequel seems inevitable.

This well-written series highlights Maori culture and folklore with exciting and well-constructed mysteries. I recommend reading the earlier books to better understand the characters and background.