An exceptional thriller that is not only as haunting as many of the Nordic noir but offers a glimpse in the heartbreaking (and on many levels infuriating) history of New Zealand and the Maori.
Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

Started out really interesting and I was drawn into it immediately. But the ending was sorely lacking. Anticlimactic

Book Title: Better the Blood
Author: Michael Bennett
Narrators: Miriama McDowell and Richard Ta Are
Publisher: RB Media
Genre: Historical Fiction, Crimes against New Zealand’s –Indigenous people
Pub Date: January 10, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars

Story is based in Auckland, New Zealand – in addition to a crime fiction as also is the story of t horrors of Maori history, of the indigenous and how their life experiences continue to be a nightmare in the present.
Maori Detective Senior Sergeant Hana Westerman is investigating the crime committed by a white law student who drugged and raped a young native girl. Although he is found guilty, he faced no punishment.
Hana is a fabulous character – a single parent dealing with the pressures of her job as well as the injustices to her culture.


They say knowledge is power and I certainly learned something but there is so much sadness and not an enjoyable read. Reading the blood soaked past was difficult.
I know that there are so many injustices in this world and I feel so helpless but hopefully knowledge is powerful!
Narrator Miriama McDowell does an amazing job in performing Hana as well as speaking the Maori language.
I enjoyed the author’s note and telling us what parts were actual and which were more a vision of his imagination; the acknowledgements were also informative.

Want to thank NetGalley and RB Media for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 10, 2023

A very good mystery/thriller.

I loved the background and Māori traditions that were described. As someone who would like to visit New Zealand I had a feeling I would like the setting.

The characters were really well thought-out as well. I’m excited to see where this author goes next.

4 stars

This is an entertaining mystery/thriller that caught my attention because the focus is on Maori characters, and I'm sad to say that I've had incredibly limited exposure to this population in literature. Since I want to change that, this was an obvious yes on my immediate to-listen agenda. I was not disappointed.

Hana, the m.c., is both Maori and in law enforcement, and this juxtaposition between what is clearly referred to as a conflict of interest in multiple cases is the highlight of the novel. Hana's struggles are made more compelling by her attachment to multiple cases and to how those cases are impacted by various characters' identities. In short, a Maori victim is highly unlikely to receive justice, and a Maori person who has committed a crime is quite likely to face exclusively reasonable consequences. It's not a new concept - unfortunately - for most people, as we can make connections to unfair identity-based treatment across cultures, but a lot of the content here was really new to me. It's true that this is a compelling piece of fiction, but the added bonus really comes from the nonfictional commentary, keen sense of visuals and images, and solid attention to the setting.

This is a great audiobook, and I recommend this version when/where accessible. Folks who enjoy a solid mystery/thriller but especially are interested in these cultural elements should snap up this one.

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett is the first book I read this year and what a great start to 2023 it is!

This debut novel is so much more than a thriller. This novel explores the history of the Māori people in New Zealand and the injustices of police / Māori conflict and the brutality of colonization.

“Colonization stole the land from under our peoples’ feet, ripped away our rights, relegated us to the underclass, the imprisoned class, the landless class.”

About halfway through the story we learn who the antagonist is and, while we empathize with him as he is trying to right historic wrongs, he has chosen a horrific way to seek justice.

“Utu is the seeking of balance. You are following the way of rãnaki - perpetuating violence, keeping vengeance alive."

I loved listening to this book. There is so much of the Māori language woven throughout and the narrators did a wonderful job.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ALC. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and learning about history through fiction. I would love to find out that this is the first of a series of books featuring Hana Westerman as detective!

Hannah is a leading DI at the Oakland PD and when a serial killer starts targeting those related to soldiers in a 10 type taken in the 1800s she knows she is up against a formidable foe. He is slick and cunning he has a plan and lives by a code. Hannah is Maury and her daughter Addison is a famous rapper for the Maury movement and those indigenous New Zealanders wanting to get their power back and although Addison hasn’t had any real world experience with the things she preaches about she certainly has real world opinions and doesn’t think twice about telling them to her mom and her dad who is a Caucasian New Zealander and her mom‘s boss. They are no longer together but remain friends and sometimes more depending on Hannah‘s mood despite the fact he has a wife and two stepchildren. this whole case starting from a video but it will end all to real. Can Hannah catch Rocky before he kills his last victim? This is a very compelling listen and although there were a few things I questioned while listening to the book but doesn’t take away from the enjoyment in the mystery that really to me wasn’t a mystery but more an action packed fight to the finish and while I thoroughly enjoyed. If you love new fresh voices and cop dramas you need to read better the blood by Michael Bennett you will not be disappointed. I found the story very interesting I love the two different narrators and thought they did an awesome awesome job. I highly recommend this audiobook. I received it from NetGalley and publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Interesting on so many levels -- plot, culture, characters, ethics.


Review copy provided by publisher.