When I was still in NZ I knew the author of this article, Nalani Singh, only as “that Kiwi who wrote all those angel books that never circulate” - so I found it kind of weird (but good!) to see Madness of Sunshine become a hotly anticipated release with 60-person wait lists here in the Midwestern US.

I wish this article was a little less self-promotional on her part - who are those other Kiwi writers who sat in a cafe with her and discussed the possibility of an NZ Noir genre? What about other books that could be in this budding genre, like Michael Bennett’s Better the Blood, or the majority of Paul Cleave’s bibliography? A discussion for a later time, I suppose.

Why, indeed: Despite the sub-head on linked piece Nalini Singh is pitching her books, not making a case for NZ noir.

I read little crime fiction but I’m very keen the books I’ve read by Chad Taylor, another New Zealand crime writer. I don’t know if they have all of whatever traits are considered indicative of noir–Departure Lounge mightn’t have any of them–but they all have criminal protagonists and are atmospheric and bleak and good.

This could have been a good article but Singh seems to have used the opportunity to promote her books instead (with the subtlety of a brick).

This could have been a good article but Singh seems to have used the opportunity to promote her books instead (with the subtlety of a brick).

yeah, singh really missed the mark here. it’s a shame the article didn’t focus on the actual characteristics of NZ noir. chad taylor’s work is worth checking out though, atmospheric and bleak for sure.

yeah, singh really missed the mark here. it’s a shame the article didn’t focus on the actual characteristics of NZ noir. chad taylor’s work is worth checking out though, atmospheric and bleak for sure.