The Stars are A Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson. This is the first novel from a New Zealand writer, about a young woman who leaves home after a tragedy and travels the world for a year, running away from the hurt and running towards something she’s not quite sure of. Her travels take her to Asia, then Central America where, in Guatemala, she befriends two people who have significant impacts on her life, each in a different way; and though she often thinks about going home she only makes it as far as Tasmania, with so much in her life that’s hard to face up to.

Polkinghorne by Steve Braunias. From one of our finest writers this is the definitive book on the trial of the century – Philip Polkinghorne, being accused of the murder of his wife Pauline. Much has already been written about it – and of course there’s the TV documentary which many people may have seen- but for anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in the case, this book is a must read. It’s thorough, insightful, critical and compassionate, and the last chapter in particular is extraordinary. 

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