Best of New Zealand crime fiction, Year II

 The Kiwi crime king, Craig Sisterson, sends word that a shortlist has been chosen for the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for best New Zealand crime novel. The 2011 finalists are:

• Blood Men by Paul Cleave (Random House);

• Captured by Neil Cross (Simon & Schuster);

• Hunting Blind by Paddy Richardson (Penguin);

• Slaughter Falls by Alix Bosco (Penguin).

I was a judge in last year's contest, and novels by Cross and Bosco were among my choices for the shortlist (Bosco's Cut & Run won). Cleave is a respected name in New Zealand crime writing, and Richardson is new to me, so I have a nice mix of the old and the new to look forward to on this year's list.

The winner will be announced Aug. 21.

© Peter Rozovsky 2011