Sometimes you just have to sit back and acknowledge superior storytelling when you read it by an author who can orchestrate misdirection with consummate skill. J.P. Pomare has put together a crime thriller that stands head and shoulders above most that I have come across in recent times with 17 Years Later.

The Primrose family has been murdered and Bill Kareama, the family chef, has been convicted and imprisoned for the past 17 years for the crime. All the locals are convinced he’s a murderer but Australian podcaster Sloane Abbott isn’t so sure. She’s travelled to New Zealand in the hopes of putting together content for her wildly successful show, the podcast has successfully overturned decisions in the past. The question sits out there…is Bill a murderer?

The story is told from three different viewpoints and across two time periods. Firstly, the investigation into the old crime is told from Sloane Abbott’s point of view in the present day. Secondly, we get an opinionated narrative from Bill’s psychologist and advocate Te Kuru Phillips (TK), which also takes place in the present day and often in response to interaction with Sloane. Finally, we go back 17 years and jump into Bill’s mind as the events leading up to the murders unfold.

Through Bill’s recollection of events we encounter numerous instances of racism, typical of the prejudice that has long blighted New Zealand. Not all of the Primrose family are pleasant people and we’re given potential motives for Bill to have done what he’s been imprisoned for.

TK describes how torn he was when representing Bill: <i>“I had been seeing Bill for about a year when I realised I had become attached to him and emotionally invested in his case. It wasn’t transference, it was something else. I believed him and not just that, I believed in him.”</i>

Sloane manages to convince TK to help her sort through the evidence she has been able to pick up during her brief investigation. She becomes convinced that the slipshod police work has resulted in a wrongful arrest and imprisonment and can see a blockbuster podcast series in the offing as a result.

This cold case investigation conducted by two amateur investigators is wonderfully plotted and whizzes along at a rapid pace. The guilt of Bill Kareama is placed under question very early on and then the list of possible alternative murderers are carefully presented to create an intriguing web of suspects. And Bill’s never discounted among that list too!

As Sloane and TK carefully unpick the knots that the clues are tied up in, the tension builds and there’s an awareness of a growing danger that both are walking into. TK flies out to the UK and France to continue on his part while Sloane works away in New Zealand. Both seem to be walking straight into life-threatening situations.

There are numerous opportunities for misdirection and thrilling cliffhangers here, and J.P. Pomare doesn’t miss any of them. Now, I’m not normally the kind of guy to do this, but the further into the story I got, the more necessary it became to set aside what I was doing and read on to find out how this fantastic crime thriller was going to end.

<i>My thanks to Hachette Australia and NZ via NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC to allow me to read, enjoy and review this book.</i>

17 Years Later
JP Pomare

Kia Ora; this was fun.

“Let me give you a piece of advice from someone who makes a living out of true crime: no one looks innocent in a mugshot.”

I love a book with red herrings and this has plenty. It definitely took some twists towards the end, really ratcheting up in the stakes. It was straightforward and yet so much misdirection and was very very entertaining. Definitely recommend this thought - provoking crime thriller.

‘We are, as psychologists, familiar with many biases, including our own. To counter the effects of a bias, one must first be aware of it and we are just as susceptible as everyone else.’

In the aftermath of the violent slaughter of the wealthy Primrose family, the small idyllic town of Cambridge is scarred and forever changed. All the evidence points directly towards the Primrose family’s live-in chef Bill Ruatara, who is immediately charged with their murders and brought to justice.

I followed her gaze to my chef’s knife behind me, lying on its side near the sink.
“Be careful. It looks very sharp,”

The Primrose murders are now infamous and Bill has served 17 years inside Waikeria prison, never once admitting to the crimes, always stating he didn’t kill them. Bill’s case was heavily prejudiced against him, and undermined a foundation of democracy: that everyone is entitled to a fair defence.

‘It’s so simple. The perfect alibi. The perfect crime.’

When celebrity true-crime podcaster Sloane Abbott takes an interest in the case, it could be the break Bill needs? As Sloane, her team and prison psychologist TK uncover new evidence they become tangled in a complex web of danger and deceit.

‘You see someone who has lost something they love and it makes you take stock, clutch at the things that you care for, things you might have otherwise forgotten.’

With Bill’s innocence far from assured and their own lives at stake, they will risk everything to unearth the truth.

“Violence only comes easy for psychopaths; others live with it forever. They relive it, over and over.”

So good. You need this book, released 31st July 2024.


(REVIEW PUBLISHED 29th July 2024).

This one started off slow for me but soon became an interesting, twisty thriller! It kept me guessing and second guessing myself as to what happened. Definitely a good read!

Bill has been in prison for the murder of the Primrose family. But 17 years later, his psychologist asks for an appeal in the hope that Sloane, a crime podcaster and himself can dig up some new evidence pointing to the real killer.

It always feels like such a treat to read a JP Pomare book. This one was a bit slow to reel me in but once I got a grip on all the characters and the scene, I was riveted. The second half of the book had me solidly reading through without a break - I really couldn't put it down! The author has cleverly penned this novel in such a way that you feel like you need to go back after to see what you missed. I would recommend reading this book as much as possible in one go in order to keep track of what is happening as it is the little details that are important!

The thing I love most about crime fiction is guessing who the guilty party is as early on in the story as I can and then getting to the end to see if I was right. There's great satisfaction in getting to the end and being correct l but there's nothing I love more than being wrong and hoo boy did I get this one wrong, J. P. Pomare got me good!!

Sloane Abbott is a famous true crime podcaster looking for her next big case to report on when she stumbles upon the murders of the Primrose Family 17 years ago. The entire family were killed in their home and their live in chef arrested a short time later. 17 years later Bill Ruatara has always proclaimed his innocence. Guilty or not, the more Sloan dives into the case with Bill's psychologist TK Phillips, the more convinced she is that Bill never received a fair trial. Is Bill as guilty as everyone believes him to be or has the wrong person been sitting in jail?

Told from multiple POVs 17 Years Later follows Sloan and TK as they investigate the case and Bill 17 years ago as he starts his job with the Primrose Family right up until the night of the crime.

This book was a slow burn to start off with as there were a lot of characters to be introduced and back stories to be told but once it got going it was a wild ride to the end with so many awesome twists and turns that kept me up way past my bedtime. There was no way I was waiting until tomorrow to know how the story would end.

J. P. Pomares best one yet! Pop this on your wishlist/TBR and grab yourself a copy as soon as it's released on Thursdsy (1st August) I promise you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Hachette Australia and NetGalley for sending me the ebook for this wonderful story.

J.P, you've done it again! 

17 YEARS LATER is a masterclass in suspense and storytelling. Set in a small New Zealand town, the story skillfully alternates between two timelines: the present day and events from 17 years ago. Australian journalist and true crime podcast host Solane Abbott investigates the tragic demise of the Primrose family. As she uncovers inconsistencies in the prosecution of Bill Kareama, the narrative reveals deeper issues of social class, and racial prejudice, keeping readers on edge.

If you’re contemplating which of J.P's books to start with, this is the one! It embodies everything that makes J.P's writing exceptional—layered characters, suspenseful twists, and gripping mystery. 17 YEARS LATER feels like a thrilling game of Twister, where every revelation takes you in a new direction. I was so engrossed that I read 80% of it in one sitting, staying up until midnight to uncover the truth. It’s one of the few books that’s kept me up like that, along with J.P's earlier work, In The Clearing.

Another highlight for me was spotting the 'easter eggs' J.P includes, paying tribute to his previous works and influences. This time, I noticed a nod to Tell Me Lies and appreciated the homage to his family, fellow crime writer Michael Robotham, and the late Ngaio Marsh. There was even a Taylor Swift reference in there! These subtle references add a delightful layer to the reading experience.

Thank you to @hachetteaus and @netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of my most anticipated book of 2024!

J.P. Pomare's 17 Years Later is a gripping page-turner that kept me guessing until the very end. Set in the small rural town of Cambridge, NZ, the story follows Sloane as she investigates the murder of the wealthy Primrose family 17 years ago for her popular podcast, Legacy. The family’s chef, Bill Kareama, was convicted within hours and imprisoned for the crime, but as Sloane digs deeper, she uncovers a possible miscarriage of justice and becomes determined to uncover the truth.

The narrative unfolds through alternating chapters from Sloane, Bill, and Bill’s former prison psychologist, TK. This storytelling technique hooked me immediately, making everyone’s motives a tantalising mystery. The setting in the North Island’s Cambridge is vividly portrayed, adding a rich backdrop that enhances the story's atmosphere.

J.P. skilfully weaves in subtle explorations of darker themes from New Zealand’s history, such as racism, colonialism, and classism, without detracting from the main crime narrative. This adds depth and complexity to the plot, making it more than just a whodunit.

17 Years Later showcases J.P.’s skill as a storyteller. The plot is perfectly crafted, and the characters are expertly developed, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with an entertaining and unexpected reveal.

This book is my new favourite from the Kiwi born author and it's a must-read for fans of suspenseful, well-crafted mysteries.

Pomare has struck again with yet another absolutely amazing thrilling and twisty read! Unputdownable is a word and one that describes my exact feelings when reading this book! Literally filled with twists that become jaw dropping moments. Leaving you unravelling your mind because you were of the mindset that you had it all worked out! Wrong!..... And along comes Pomare and drops yet another twist you were far from expecting!

Seventeen years Bill Ruatara has been behind bars for the murders of the Primrose family. While they slept soundly in their beds, the live in chef of this wealthy family slaughtered them all. Bill was brought to trial and sentenced to jail.

But was he really given a fair trial? Was he really the one who committed this brutal crime? Sloane Abbott, a true-crime podcaster suddenly takes an interest in his case and before long, a little digging uncovers evidence that may just prove Bill to be innocent!

Crime thriller fans, you'll be wanting to put this on top of your buying list when it hits the shelves on 31 July 2024!

17 Years Later by JP Pomare is his best book yet.

I have always been a fan of Pomare's work, but this one was truly above and beyond. I was absolutely hooked.

It is one of those crime books where you keep thinking you know who did it, but then you second guess yourself - over and over again.

A sea of red herrings, this will likely be featured in my best books of the year.

Who killed the primrose family? That's a mystery to find out, it could have been the chef, au pair, gardener, the ex girlfriend's brother 🤷‍♀️ 17 years later took me down a twisty mystery road which left me mind blown and questioning everyone on who the murderer was. With TK back in the game to Sloane and the Legacy team solving the mystery, this book will leave you wanting more.

Thank you Hachette for letting me read this early e-book version.

I am writing this review just after finishing, while everything is fresh in my mind. The problem is i’m still trying to catch up with all the events especially as I drew closer to the end where the pace and level of suspense intensified dramatically and left me scrambling to draw breath (and missed out on sleep)! So much happens within this story and the pace varies between slow to turbo boost mode, as the answers to what happened 17 years earlier are pieced together. A private chef (Bill) locked away for stabbing the New Zealand family he worked for; the psychologist who nearly destroyed his life trying to help Bill, and an Australia true crime podcaster chasing after her next story to gain justice over what looked like poor handling of the case … all blend together with multiple suspicious characters none of whom had previously been carefully investigated. This was my first book to read by J. P. Pompare and it was rich with New Zealand culture and history which is a place that I loved when visiting briefly but would still benefit from learning so much more about. The story was elaborate, detailed, fresh, relevant and totally insane as far as the dance I was led on; it is one that will linger on my mind long after finishing and be thankful I went on this wild adventure. I realised that most of the characters were unlikeable which can sometimes create disconnect when reading, and yet I didn’t find this at all and instead was fascinated to keep reading and learn if Bill was innocent or if he just had a bad deal with the investigation and trial but belonged right where he was 17 years later! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Hachette Australia and New Zealand for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for my review. Book due out in Australia on 31st July 2024.

This one had me hooked from the start. My questions were endless and the twists kept on twisting . The ending fell a little flat for me but don’t let that deter you from reading this one 🤩 I loved the podcast aspect to this story. Being it showed a different investigative side to police work, I was really intrigued and interested in how they did it all.

17 Years Later is a brilliant page-turner, and possibly the greatest crime thriller I've read in years.

Sloane - a famous Podcaster- is delving into the murders of the Primrose murders which took place 17 years earlier. The killer has already been determined, convicted and imprisoned. But Sloane is not certain that procedural fairness was applied and the killer had just trial. Did he really kill the whole family?

Th evidence she uncovers and the twists throughout her investigation will leave you on the edge of your seat.

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

TAUT: ’17 YEARS LATER’ BY J.P. POMARE

J.P.Pomare – Kiwi-born Australian author – writes taut, twisty crime thrillers. 17 Years Later is definitely that, imbued with a sense of darkness and with questions about the mystery at its heart: who really killed the Primrose family seventeen years ago?

Set in a small town on New Zealand’s North Island, the narrative is told from several different perspectives and voices.

There is Bill Kareama, the Primrose’s live-in private chef, delighted to be offered this amazing chance to kick-start his career and make good money while cooking for the wealthy family. When the shocking murders of Simon Primrose, his wife Gwen, daughter Elle and son Chester are discovered, Bill is the prime suspect – in large part due to the fact that the murder weapon is one of his chef’s knives. We hear Bill’s own account of the events leading up to his arrest, the trial and his imprisonment.

Into the town of Cambridge arrives Sloane Abbott, a successful journalist with a popular true-crime podcast. She is determined to investigate the crime because she has heard stories about how the original investigation failed to seriously consider any other suspects and overlooked evidence. Did Bill and the Primrose family receive justice? If not, seventeen years is a long time for the wrong man to be imprisoned. And troublingly, is it possible that here a killer still at large?

We hear from Fleur, the French au pair, who shares a cottage on the Primrose estate with Bill. What is her role in the family and why does she stay with them, given that the children no longer really need a nanny?

TK was Bill’s psychologist who devoted years of his life to finding the truth about what happened. He is dragged unwillingly back into the mystery by Sloane’s dogged persistence.

All of these characters are well drawn, as is the setting of a regional New Zealand town where many of the locals just want to forget the whole thing. There are plenty of twists and an action-packed ending; the story unravelling between the various players, keeping me guessing to the end.

I was engrossed by 17 Years Later and gobbled it up quickly. A very satisfying read.

17 Years Later is published by Hachette Australia in July 2024.

My thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for a copy to read and review.

Once again J.P. Pomare has produced a magnificent crime thriller! 17 Years Later is arguably an incredibly gripping story with an unexpected and unusual approach.

Sloane is a journalist who researches and presents crime podcasts. Her newest one is set in New Zealand where a convicted mass murderer, Bill, would be out on remand if he would confess his guilt - but he continues to proclaim his innocence.

Sloane, with her team and in conjunction with Bill’s ex-psychologist TK, follow up on all possible leads and even seemingly impossible leads in their search for the truth. The pace is varied but by the end it is galloping along, with the reader barely able to take a breath.

Highly recommended read.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from Hachette Australia & New Zealand via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#17YearsLater #NetGalley

Holy heck, what a ride!
This was my first J.P. Pomare read and it won't be my last. I didn't want to put the book down until I found out what truly happened. As someone who has been a fan of true crime podcasts, it was fascinating looking at the process from behind the scenes. This book kept me guessing, one minute I would think it was one suspect and the next it would be someone else. There were several moments towards the end of the book that kept me on the edge of my seat. Fantastic suspenseful read.

Incredibly crafted mystery with twists that give you whiplash. I had no idea where the story was going and just when I thought I figured it out it took me in a different direction. Brilliant writing!!

It’s just as well that I don’t exclusively read thrillers, and it’s just as well that JP Pomare is not more prolific than he currently is (just enough of a wait and just enough to keep the readers going! 🫶🏼), or I might be a permanent ball of tension. And a legit zombie, at the rate of just-one-more-chapter late nights that turn into late late late nights slash way too early in the morning I experience courtesy of his books!

He’s consistent, that’s for sure, and 17 YEARS LATER proves that yet again. The story takes us to a rural Cambridge residence, where a shocking crime once took place. Each member of the family was found dead, stabbed one by one. The killer is in jail, having been apprehended soon after. At least that’s what everyone had thought… 17 years ago, Bill Kareama’s psychologist Te Kuru got too caught up trying to prove Bill’s innocence that he ended up losing almost everything that mattered. He swore it wouldn’t happen again, except popular true crime podcaster Sloane is in from Melbourne and she’s got her eyes set on this case.

This was a thoroughly riveting read that goes beyond the surface to explore themes of racism, colonisation, white privilege, and story sovereignty. In the vein of Pomare’s previous works, he has the ability to hone in on topics that are relevant to the times we live in, and tap into the all-too-believable sources of fear that lurk. It’s almost manipulative, what good writers/podcasters/storytellers do, to take from real pain and seizing on what is most sure to drive heart rates (and ratings) up. The book touches on the moral grey zone between ethics and morality, the soulless-ness that imbues narratives that come out of it, alongside opportunities for redemption and justice when human dignity is honoured.

Of note, it was extra unnerving to read a book set in a familiar town. I could picture every bit in a way that made for a vivid, if terrifying, experience 😬 The places, the people, the collective psychology, the power dynamics, the rolling Waikato fog, the way things can change yet stay the same; it all permeated into the fabric of the text. And maybe it come to life in a movie rendition someday, who knows!

I also really enjoyed the homage paid to crime literature by this Ngaio Marsh Award-winning writer, again like a giving back, including a sly addition to her bibliography, a murder mystery that may have inspired the crime at the centre of this book…

In the meantime, I’m glad I have two more of his backlist to catch up on while we await the next one, whenever that may be!

Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for my copy of this book, loved every minute!

I really enjoyed it. It started off good and continued to get more exciting the more I read.

A family is murdered and their personal chef is sent to jail. A pod-caster and Bill’s lawyer investigate the case together. Is Bill innocent or guilty? When I started the book I thought he was innocent but I changed my mind so many times throughout that I lost count. When I was sure I knew where the story was heading I would soon find out I was wrong.

Another amazing book by J P Pomare.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I do believe that I have new favourite book from this author, and all his books are just fabulous. 17 Years Later grabbed me right from the start and I struggle to put to down. I took it to the football with me to sneak a few pages in before and in between quarters! I needed to know how it is was going to all play out. So many times, I thought I knew but I never have guessed that ending!!

17 years ago, the Primrose family were murdered in their home, in the quiet little town of Cambridge in New Zealand. The family’s chef was arrested a few hours later and has been in prison ever since. Now, Sloane Abbott, host of the hugely popular podcast, Legacy, is looking into the story, believing that Bill Kareama was not given a fair trial. You will not believe what she uncovers.

This book was just so bingeable!! We hear the story from the present day with Sloane investigating and talking to people involved as well as Bill’s from when he started working for the family. We discover that not everything was as it seemed.

Thank you so much to Hachette Australia for sending me this gorgeous ARC to read.