The Leaning Man immediately transported me back to my home town of Wellington. It’s not often I find myself riveted by a crime fiction set in our capital!
A former cop, her dead friend and a missing phone set the scene for this bold new page-turner.
Author Anne Harré introduces Stella who has returned to New Zealand for her parents fortieth wedding anniversary. Stella left the Police force when she found herself in an ethical dilemma and made a few bad decisions. She moved to London and began working as a private detective.
Back in Wellington, after an evening of celebrations, Stella’s best friend Teri is found dead in a central city laneway. Stella is quick to dismiss the theory of suicide and is determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.
Stella soon finds herself drawn into Wellington’s dark underbelly and joins the race to find Terri’s missing phone before others do. She is relentless and will not stop until the mystery is solved. Along the way, Stella reconnects with friends, former colleagues and meets an eclectic mix of locals who may (or may not) be able to help.
Anne lives in Wellington and The Leaning Man is her first book. Read an extract here.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Cuba Press, RRP $37.00