Stephanie Johnson — Kind

Random House New Zealand 2023 Paperback, 336pp. High on the Southern Alps of New Zealand lies a fallen man, like 'a black exclamation mark on a white page, Kiwi-noir face down in the snow'. Is he still alive? This funny, fearless, thought-provoking novel trains its sights on us. Kerry-Anne is kind, unlike her foster sister Joleen, who is a different kind of person altogether. Being locked down for Joleen will mean behind bars. For Kerry-Anne's ex-husband, the National MP Lyall Hull, lockdown will also take on a new meaning when he goes on a cycle trip instead of staying at home. From lockdown in the Bay of Islands, Kerry-Anne tries to work out what both are up to. Will anyone come up smelling of roses? 'Johnson has always had an eye for topicality' - Steve Braunias. Annotations on front page otherwise good. (ISBN: 9781761047145). Good.