Molten Mud Murder is published by the excellent Poisoned Pen Press, a small press that is dedicated to mystery fiction. This is author Johnson's first novel and the first in a projected series.

American protagonist, Alexa, is a forensics examiner whose specialty is teeth. She has come to New Zealand on a fellowship, falls in love with the country and wants to stay longer. She manages to insert herself into the murder case involving a city counselor.

What I struggled with a little: Alexa took many risks that felt plot driven. Some mysteries, such as what happened to her friend, Mary, were not fully solved. Perhaps that is for another book.

What I liked: The setting on the North Island of New Zealand and the ways in which the landscape is brought vividly to life. The information about tribal Maori customs and rituals. That there was a back story for Alexa. The hint of romance between her and Bruce, the Senior, a term for the chief detective. The details on forensic examination.

This mystery should appeal to armchair travelers, lovers of New Zealand and those who enjoy action packed mysteries. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this proof in return for an honest review. I look forward to the author's next book.

This is a murder mystery set in New Zealand. I loved the setting and descriptions. It really brought the place alive for me. I did find it a little odd how the main character inserted herself into the investigation and I didn't really warm to her at all. The story was interesting and a solid police procedural

Molten Mud Murder, despite the alliterative title, is not a cozy mystery, more along the lines of a police procedural. Alexa is an American Forensic Odontologist with a work visa, who finds herself between jobs in New Zealand. She becomes attached to a police department investigating a murder involving a man being murdered and dumped in boiling mud. The case needs to handled with cultural sensitivity as it involves trespasses onto protected Maori lands, the handling of remains, and the thefts of artifacts for the black market. Alexa has issues of her own from her past but doesn’t allow them to stop her from immersing herself in solving the case.

Very nicely developed sense of place, and in many parts real feelings of menace are allowed to develop as Alexa investigates or finds herself isolated or working alone. The character of Alexa is well drawn and the pacing pulls the reader along through the story. Well done mystery read. I would think it would especially appeal to fans of The Ruth Galloway Series by Elly Griffiths. Due to be published September 3rd, 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press.

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