Marlborough Man

Nick Chester is working as a sergeant for the Havelock police in the Marlborough Sound, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. If the river isn’t flooded and the land hasn’t slipped, it’s paradise. Unless you are also hiding from a ruthless man with a grudge, in which case, remote beauty has its own kind of danger. In the last couple of weeks, two locals have vanished. Their bodies are found, but the Pied Piper is still at large.

Marlborough Man is a gripping story about the hunter and the hunted, and about what happens when evil takes hold in a small town.

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

‘This is a story of perversion and vengeance, made more gripping by the fact that it is set in one of the most beautiful places on earth … It is a fascinating mix that only a skilled writer should attempt. Alan Carter succeeds admirably.’ Queensland Reviewers Collective

‘Carter’s laconic style and small-town chills are excellently placed to ease you into a long winter in front of the fire.’ Readings

‘Marlborough Man weaves local politics, culture and crime into a story that is gripping and at times brimming with Kiwi humour. The scenery, so beautifully described, could almost be a character in the story.’ Writing WA

‘Plenty of action, some well-wrought characterisation and nice evocations of the Marlborough Sounds make for a good solid Kiwi book.’ New Zealand Listener

‘There’s nary a hitch in Marlborough Man. The characters work, the plot is cleverly executed and the sense of place is visceral. There’s touches of humour and self-inflicted jeopardy which are perfectly justifiable … an absolute stand out book …’ Australian Crime Fiction

‘… a terrific read!’ Fullers Bookshop

‘Carter is back to his best in [Marlborough Man] …’ Herald Sun

‘Chester is a brilliantly realised flawed protagonist, inflected with the direct wit of northern England … The writing is extremely vivid in its evocation of scenery and character. At times this makes for disturbing reading, not because of gory detail, but because the characters are so well rendered that we can’t fail to feel the cost of the violence. This establishes a momentum that makes the book hard to put down. Marlborough Man is crime fiction at its best.’ The Australian

‘A well written, tension-filled and accurate portrait of a man struggling with his past …’ Otago Daily Times

‘… crime writing has never been better.’ [Five stars] Kuttners Choice

‘… a fast-paced, gritty and witty tale … [Marlborough Man] will keep you gripped into the wee small hours.’Maureen Eppen

‘Marlborough Man is an unrelenting, incredibly readable book that will
hold you through a whole day … Carter has paced this novel brilliantly, and when Nick Chester’s nightmare moment arrives, the crescendo is breathtaking.’ Bookoccino

‘… a roller coaster ride of false leads and red herrings … Carter draws the reader to his characters, flaws and all …’ Fremantle Herald

‘… [New Zealand is] vividly described, in both a beautiful yet haunting way …’ Dircksey

‘What makes a great thriller is nerve-wracking plotting, rich atmospheric settings, and complex characters – Marlborough Man has the lot …’ Kiwi Crime

‘This is a cracker of a novel, pacey and sharp … I found Marlborough Man compelling from start to finish. Highly recommended…’ Landfall Review Online

‘Carter is a first-class wordsmith with a particular talent for authentic dialogue. The novel’s setting wholly embraces the people and action, and the overall effect is powerful and persuasive.’ Ngaio Marsh Award judges

‘The crime aspects of the novel are well handled, with dogged police work inching the team ever closer to catching the killer. But it is the human aspects of the story that make you understand the characters and care about them. Marlborough Man is a very complete novel.’ New Zealand Review of Books Pukapuka Aotearoa