It's refreshing and interesting to read a crime story set in New Zealand. The reader will learn much about the day-to-day lives of people with Maori heritage. The novel benefits from having footnotes explaining the Maori language and culture throughout the text rather than at the end of the book.
Return to Blood is as much a character driven novel as a crime story - which I found satisfying but which may not appeal quite as much to readers looking to sink their teeth into the ins and outs of the crime and its investigation. The side plots involving Hana's daughter and her non-binary friend Plus1; and the wayward son of Hana's cousin were both handled with non-judgemental respect.
Return to Blood is a sequel but works very well as a stand alone book. Thanks to S&S and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

(3.5 stars)
Return to Blood is a distinctly Kiwi crime novel where ex-detective Hana Westerman investigates the death of a young Māori woman, Kiri Thomas, in her hometown, Tātā Bay. Yes, you read that right: while you can quit the force, apparently it's hard to not meddle when something terrible happens in your own backyard. Besides, this crime has similarities to a young woman Hana knew who was murdered twenty years earlier, and Hana is now working as a private investigator...

While Return to Blood is the second book in the Hana Westerman series by New Zealand author, Michael Bennett, you don't need to have read the first to enjoy it. There are lots of references to the case that made Hana quit, which i assume is covered in the earlier book, but not to the point of them being either annoying or required knowledge: "On Hana's last case as a cop, as she and Stan closed in on the killer they were pursuing, a booby-trapped vehicle had exploded, taking off Stan's lower leg and nearly claiming his life."

What I liked about this book was the integration of Māori lifestyle and language, with explanations provided on the page rather than in a glossary at the end of the novel. It'll have you salivating for "pani popo, Samoan cream doughnuts". While crime solving is definitely going on, mostly it's about Hana's interpersonal relationships with her father, sister, nephew and daughter. What I found interesting was the killer's motivation, seeing videos of men hurting women and reading it as them regaining "their self respect, their power, their dignity. By hurting women." It was a very odd reading of what making someone smaller than you afraid should make you feel: "He'd wonder, how would that be? Having the power to make another human feel fear. In all his years on earth he'd never had any kind of strength, agency, power, to make anyone feel anything." If this is true, we must make sure men realise that making a woman afraid is not powerful, it's weak and ugly, something to be ashamed of.

Set in New Zealand, Return To Blood is the second book to feature Hana Westerman, the lead detective who was instrumental in identifying and bringing to ground a serial killer in the earlier Better the Blood. Following the trauma from that case Hana has left the police force and has moved from the busier city of Auckland back to the quieter, more serene Tata Bay.

While enjoying a quiet interlude on one of the beaches of Tata Bay with her family, Hana’s daughter, Addison, stumbles upon the remains of a young woman who had been buried in the dunes. It’s clear the person had been murdered and it turns out the victim is Kiri Thomas, a young Maori woman who disappeared 4 years earlier.

Kiri’s is not the first body to be found in these dunes. Another young local woman, Paige Meadows, had been murdered and buried in the same spot 21 years earlier. A man by the name of Tama Hall had confessed to killing Paige and had been gaoled for the crime. But Tama is long dead and there were doubts over his guilt with strong suspicions being that he had falsely confessed to the crime. The concern, with this second body, is whoever committed the first may also have committed the second.

Hana, former homicide detective that she is, can’t let the case go, even though she has absolutely no authority to investigate. Addison, being the person who found the body, is also invested in the outcome and feels a strong need to follow up on Kiri and how she came to be killed in such a manner. Separately, they do a little digging, then a little more, just enough to totally piss off the homicide cops working the case and to get themselves into trouble.

Unlike the earlier book in the series, Return To Blood is a slow burn that focuses far more fully on Maori culture, traditional values and family responsibilities. To that end, we’re given some tremendous insights into the characters who have been brought forward and given greater depth, particularly Addison and her non-binary best friend PLUS 1.

But I felt that, with such a heavy focus placed on the characters, the murder mystery was largely overshadowed until quite late in the piece. This is a shame because it’s clearly not a straightforward case, there’s obviously still a killer out there somewhere and this could have been used to ramp the tension up to a greater extent.

I’m a crime reader and like to immerse myself in the nuts and bolts of the case, trying to figure out how it happened and who did it. I had nothing to get my teeth into in that respect for the majority of the book. The fact that Better the Blood was so much more balanced when it came to the crime side and the rich Maori tradition, I was expecting more of the same in this sequel and was a little disappointed when it didn’t eventuate.

As an Australian my knowledge of Maori culture is sadly lacking and I appreciated the starred footnotes explaining the Maori language used throughout the book and the cultural references that were so well explained.

Hana Westerman remains a sharp and highly competent criminalist, a dedicated mother and loving daughter. I think I prefer her when she was a police detective and the authority she commanded in that role. Perhaps there’s further growth in store in the future.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for a digital ARC that allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.

When Addison Westerman, daughter of ex detective Hana Westerman, discovered skeletal bones in the dunes, the body was suspected to be that of a young Māori woman, Kiri Thomas, who had vanished four years previously. When this was confirmed, Hana, although no longer on the force, couldn't help herself investigating. Another young woman had been murdered twenty years previously, her body buried in the dunes and although the murderer had been caught - he'd confessed - the similarities were such than Hana suspected a wrong conviction all those years ago. Her father, Eru, had never believed his friend guilty either.

As Hana quietly investigated, her good friend - who was also an ex-cop, now a PI - tried to persuade her to give the information to the force and stop. But Hana couldn't, and gradually she drew closer to danger...

Return to Blood is the 2nd in A Hana Westerman Thriller series by New Zealand author Michael Bennett. I didn't read the first one, but this one stands alone quite easily. I was disappointed by the lack of focus on the crime/s, which is the idea of a crime/mystery, surely! I felt there was too much about the Māori lifestyle, and various aspects of it, and although interesting to begin with, it became too much. The end was the best part overall, with an exciting twist which I hadn't seen coming.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to read an eARC of Return to Blood, the latest Hana Westerman novel from Michael Bennett.

Following on from Better the Blood, Hana has left the police force and returned to her coastal hometown. As with all retired cops, a discovery of skeletal remains in the sand dunes leads Hana investigating two murders that seem connected.

The characters are further developed, and this time we get to meet Eru, Hana’s dad. He was definitely favourite character this round! I could see this being made into a miniseries, or movie.

It’s so cool being able to read a solid crime novel that’s set in my hometown of Tāmaki Makaurau. As with the first book, there is te reo Māori incorporated throughout the book. There are translations for Māori words, as well as some things that are uniquely “kiwi”. My favourite part of the book was learning more about Māori gods and mythology.

I definitely didn’t see the ending coming, and the last 20% was chefs kiss with the suspense and mystery. Highly recommended for anyone who likes crime novels!

Return to Blood is a brilliant encompassing cultural mystery/ crime story. Michael Bennett has done a wonderful job of weaving Māori cultural, language and tradition into a modern crime thriller.

The plot follows a couple of different timelines;

There is the present day where Hana, a former detective and mother of 18 year old Addison has just moved from Auckland city to small town Tātā Bay, where her father Eru lives.

Then there is that of Kiri a young 17 year old who gets tangled up in drugs some bad situations and is murdered 5 years earlier.

I really loved the addition of Māori culture and traditions it is very well done and informative with translated footnotes. I also enjoyed the introduction of PLUS 1, Addison’s best friend and a non binary character. I was very impressed with the way they were integrated into the storyline, with respect and normality. Everything about the plot, characters, culture and traditions were done so well and so tastefully. I really enjoyed Bennett’s storytelling and can’t wait to see what else he brings us.

Reviews will be posted on my other sites by the end of April 3rd.