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Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

July 2025

 

Haere mai, welcome to our True Crime / Mystery newsletter. Take a walk on the dark side and discover crimes both real and fictional.

 

WORD Christchurch Festival 2025

Steve Braunias: Inside The Trial Of The Century
Sunday 31 August 12noon to 1pm

Discover the truth behind the headlines. The Polkinghorne case was the most high-profile murder investigation in modern Aotearoa New Zealand history. With unparalleled access to the key players, journalist Steve Braunias reported extensively on the sensational trial and joins Lianne Dalziel in a conversation that offers his unique insight into the investigation, the trial and the astonishing revelations that kept New Zealand transfixed.

With support from Stuff.

Book your tickets
 

Website

Look back at WORD Christchurch Festival 2025

The Festival is over for the year. Read librarian reports on WORD events.

Blog Post

A librarian's dozen: My picks of WORD Christchurch 2025

Donna tells us what she's loving in this year's WORD Christchurch festival programme, on 27-31 August 2025.

Read our WORD coverage
 

Staff List

New For You - Mystery & Thriller - July 2025

Fiction that keeps you guessing - you'll find danger, killers, and unexpected twists in our pick of the newest mystery and thriller titles.

New For You - Mystery/Thriller
 

New titles

Mysteries

 

Thrillers

"59 Minutes" by Seddon, Holly
"The Ascent" by Buccola, Allison
"Agaw-anino" by Pingol, Erik Guzman
"Baby Teeth" by Silvani, Celia
"All We Trust" by Galloway, Gregory
View All
"The Ascent" by Buccola, Allison
View All
 

True crime

"Whack Job" by James, Rachel McCarthy
"This House of Grief" by Garner, Helen, 1942-
"The Mushroom Tapes" by Garner, Helen, 1942-
"Polkinghorne" by Braunias, Steve, 1960-
"The First Murderer I Ever Met" by Dapin, Mark, 1963-
View All
"This House of Grief" by Garner, Helen, 1942-
View All
 

Coming soon

Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh

If you liked the tv show Succession and the movie Crazy Rich Asians you'll love this

 

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

Six old friends reunite at a dinner party. It’s been 25 years since they first met. But not everyone will leave alive!

 

Legacy of Menace: Life in the shadow of the Krays by David Teale

This three-way narrative memoir provides fresh insights on a classic true crime story, wrapped in a compelling family saga of bitter estrangement and ultimate redemption.

 

Top picks

The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale

A riveting tale of violence, misogyny and tabloid frenzy, two journalists competing to solve the notorious Christie murders in postwar London.

 

Website

Best of 2025

Staff pick their favourite books, audiobooks, and movies of 2025 so far.

Staff List

Donna's Best True Crime of 2025

True crime stories, as well as books that exploring criminal and risky behaviour. Faves: Murderland, Story of a Murder, and The Peepshow.

Staff List

Donna's Best Biographies, Memoirs and Personal Essays 2025

Autobiographies, memoirs, biographies, and personal essays enjoyed this year. Favourite? Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson.

Best of 2025 picks
Best of 2025 - so far
 

Recommended reads

Staff List

Mystery - Korean and Japanese Crime

Korean and Japanese crime fiction blends hard-boiled noir and golden age mystery with twisting plots and cultural contexts and histories.

Staff List

Non-Fiction - Injustice and Wrongful Conviction

A staggering number of innocent people are incarcerated yearly. Read moving, thrilling and ultimately inspiring tales of resilience and hope

More recommended mysteries
More recommended true crime
 
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