Better The Blood by Michael Bennett [Paperback]

In Auckland, New Zealand, Detective Senior Sergeant Hana Westerman, a Māori police officer and single mother, is drawn into a disturbing murder investigation when a mysterious video leads her to the body of a man hanging in a concealed room.

As more killings occur, Hana realizes the murders are not random. The killer appears to be targeting people connected to buried secrets from the past and is deliberately leaving clues for her. To solve the case, Hana must confront tensions between her role as a police detective and her Māori cultural heritage, as well as unresolved aspects of her own history.

The deeper she digs, the more personal the investigation becomes. The killer's quest for revenge is rooted in historical injustices and old wounds, and Hana soon discovers that she and her family may be among the intended targets.

Set against the backdrop of contemporary New Zealand, the novel combines a gripping murder mystery with an exploration of Māori identity, culture, family, and the lasting impact of the past.