Happy Birthday Bev Robitai

Just a quick note to wish New Zealand mystery writer Bev Robitai a Happy Birthday. I stumbled across Robitai and her work online last year, and read and enjoyed MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, her debut novel, a theatre-set cosy-style mystery (see my review here, Reactions to Reading review here).

I've since met Robitai at a few Auckland-based book events, and she's a great supporter of New Zealand writing, as well as being a talented author herself. Along with getting her own books published, she has helped other local authors get their projects into ebook and paperback form, and available on sites like Smashwords, as well as distributed to stores through independent channels.

Robitai's second book, originally entitled EYE FOR AN EYE, was released earlier this year. The tale of a woman hunting down a conman who has ruined many lives has recently been re-released with a new cover, and a new title, 22 WAYS TO GET REVENGE.

Feel free to join me in wishing Robitai a very happy birthday here on Crime Watch, or on her author Facebook page here. Or, if you feel like it, perhaps give her a present she'd really appreciate, by trying one of her books, and then leaving some feedback or a review for her - I can certainly recommend MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW as a light, fun read with a great theatrical setting.

9mm: An interview with Bev Robitai

The 9mm series has been on a bit of slow burn in the past few months, but don't worry, it will continue to be a regular feature here on Crime Watch (hopefully an increasingly regular feature moving forward, rather than the once every few weeks thing it's become recently).

Today, for the 57th instalment of the popular series, I am sharing my 9mm interview with New Zealand mystery writer Bev Robitai, who lives on Auckland's North Shore. I first came across Robitai's work last year, when I read her theatre-set debut mystery MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, having purchased the ebook from Smashwords. You can read my review of that novel here, and another well-written review here (Reactions to Reading).

Robitai is a photographer for publications in New Zealand and overseas and a freelance writer for magazines like Next. Born in the United Kingdom, she has lived on Auckland's North Shore for 12 years, and spent the prior two decades in Nelson (my hometown). Although MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW is set in a fictional town, it was inspired by Robitai's experiences in the Nelson theatre community.

Robitai released her second mystery novel, AN EYE FOR AN EYE, in April (read more here), and I understand she is working on more crime novels too. You can read more about her at her website here.

But for now, Robitai stares down the barrel of 9mm.

9MM: AN INTERVIEW WITH BEV ROBITAI

Who is your favourite recurring crime fiction hero/detective?
I’m enjoying the unfolding of Jack Reacher as Lee Child reveals more of his story in each book. He was such an enigma at first. I’m also falling back in love with Ngaio Marsh’s Roderick Alleyn – he’s so intelligent, charming, and funny.

What was the very first book you remember reading and really loving, and why?
Hm, I guess you mean something more advanced than Orlando the Marmalade Cat? Then Swallows & Amazons and all Arthur Ransome’s stories. I read them on the sofa with my mum and learned to speed-read so she didn’t turn the page before I’d finished.

Before your debut crime novel, what else had you written (if anything) unpublished manuscripts, short stories, articles?
Plenty of published non-fiction articles. I’ve attempted a romance or two but got stuck on how to keep two intelligent characters apart until the end. It’s so hard to think of plausible reasons two perfectly sane people couldn’t sort out their differences! Short stories I’ve never liked much because if I enjoy a character I want to live with them for a whole book.

Outside of writing, and touring and promotional commitments, what do you really like to do, leisure and activity-wise.
READ! My greatest luxury is pushing everything else aside to dive into a great crime novel. Second choice – photography. At least that gets me out in the fresh air, and has been a secondary career for a good few years. I love theatre production too for the variety of creative skills it uses.

What is one thing that visitors to your hometown should do, that isn't in the tourist brochures, or perhaps they wouldn’t initially consider?
My real hometown is Staines in England and I’d send visitors to the little ‘village green’ beside the Thames on the day the swan-uppers go by. A slice of medieval history in a lovely riverside setting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Upping

If your life was a movie, which actor could you see playing you?
If I pick a young Goldie Hawn because my husband likes her, then can I pick who’d play him…that seems fair, doesn’t it? I’d choose Richard Gere. No wait, Mark Harmon - he’s got more sense of fun. Oh no wait, I want David Tennant. Yes!

Of your books, which is your favourite, and why?
The one I’m writing at the moment, Body on the Stage, because I love the surprises when the characters become friends and interact. And I get to write all the comedy lines! Eye for an Eye was my first finished book and I’m still excited with it, even though Murder in the Second Row was published first and has had all the attention so far.

What was your initial reaction, and how did you celebrate, when you were first accepted for publication? Or when you first saw your debut story in book form on a bookseller’s shelf?
My biggest thrill was seeing my book in the library. It’s a proper book when it’s in the library! It’s pretty cool seeing it on the shelves in Borders too, but seeing several copies as ‘out on loan’ in the library catalogue is hugely satisfying. It was a great buzz seeing it mentioned on Crime Watch too, thanks for that! J

What is the strangest or most unusual experience you have had at a book signing, author event, or literary festival?
I launched Murder in the Second Row in Nelson, in the theatre I’d used as the setting. An old boyfriend I hadn’t seen for 30 years drove all the way up from Christchurch to surprise me, and I didn’t even recognise him until my husband brought him over to where I was signing books and introduced him. That felt a bit weird! It’s hard to compete with C.J. Box’s answer to this question though – what a classic.

Thank you Bev Robitai. We really appreciate you taking the time to talk with Crime Watch.

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Have you read MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, or EYE FOR AN EYE? What do you think of Robitai's writing? Do you like crime fiction set in the theatre?

An Anzac crime gathering...

Last night award-winning Australian crime writer Michael Robotham spoke at Takapuna Library (another terrific event run by Helen Woodhouse and the team there). I will write a bit more about the evening later, but for now thought I would share this photo with you, as it's something of an Anzac crime fiction gathering. Going left to right:

• Myself, your humble crime fiction blogger, reviewer, and interviewer;


• Michael Robotham;


• New Zealand crime writer Stephen Ross, who has written several short stories for publications like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and who was recently a finalist for both the Edgar Award and the Derringer Award in the short story category; and


• Emerging New Zealand crime writer Bev Robitai (MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW).

It was a great evening, and good to catch up not just with Michael Robotham, but some other crime fiction writers too. Have you read any of Michael, Stephen or Bev's books/stories?

North Shore writer Bev Robitai releases her second mystery

Last year I came across a new-to-me New Zealand mystery writer, Bev Robitaille, who writes under the name Bev Robitai.

Robitai is a photographer for publications in New Zealand and overseas and a freelance writer for magazines like Next. Born in the UK, she has lived on Auckland's North Shore for 12 years, and spent the prior two decades in Nelson (my hometown). Her first crime novel, MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, was launched at the Theatre Royal in Nelson last year.

I read and enjoyed her debut cosy-style theatre-set mystery - read my WildTomato review of MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW here. You can read a review by Bernadette of Reactions to Reading here.

Now Robitai has released her second mystery novel, entitled EYE FOR AN EYE. Here's the description: "It’s a long way from her home on a quiet farm in the Marlborough Sounds to the bustle of downtown Toronto, but Robyn Taylor is a fearless and practical woman who can turn her hand to anything, including some very inventive punishments when necessary. When she discovers that Colwyn Symons has defrauded her family of thousands of dollars, leading to her father’s death, she has to take action. His enjoyment of the high-rolling lifestyle in the big city will come to an abrupt end if she can only get her hands on him.

Mike Kent, a Canadian insurance investigator, persuades Robyn to help gather evidence that will put an end to Colwyn’s continuing frauds, but both of them underestimate Colwyn’s cold-blooded greed. When she faces kidnapping and attempted murder, Robyn’s survival skills are severely tested."

You can purchase an electronic version of EYE FOR AN EYE or MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW (in a variety of formats - Kindle, html, .pdf etc), for US$3.90 from Smashwords (see here).

One night in Ponsonby

Last night I attended a lively books event at Dymocks Ponsonby, celebrating Roy Vaughan’s first novel, THE MERELEIGH RECORD CLUB TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND (now available in paperback as well as hardcover).

It was great to see a good crowd of 40-50 people there, especially as Vaughan’s book is published by a small New York publisher, and hasn’t been widely available in New Zealand in stores. Vaughan is a former officer in the British and New Zealand Merchant Navies, and journalist for the New Zealand Herald (amongst other roles), who has now started a series of thriller novels, alongside his work as a travel agent specialising in overseas educational tours (eg school trips to Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands, etc).

There were several New Zealand Herald staff, former and current, in attendance, including former editor Peter Scherer who shared some of his thoughts on Roy and his writing in an introduction to the evening. It was great to see current Herald editor John Roughan also there. There were a few local writers in attendance also, including Charlotte Grimshaw (whose earliest work was crime/noir-ish, eg PROVOCATION), Bev Robitai (MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW), and Pauline Hayes (MURDER NOT SO SWEET) - see photo below of Roy, Bev, and myself. Great to see everyone there supporting books and writing.

It was a cracker of an Auckland late summer evening outside, so things got a little hot and stuffy in the store thanks to the large crowd, but drinks in hand we were entertained by first Scherer, then a reading from THE MERELEIGH RECORD CLUB TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND - a scene on board an ocean-going vessel where a passenger falls overboard, chosen because it demonstrated Vaughan’s use of his own maritime background in the novel - and then Vaughan himself talking about his journey to writing this novel, and his upcoming work. Vaughan also unexpectedly gave both myself and Crime Watch and Graham Beattie of Beattie’s Book Blog a nice bouquet - he had some nice things to say about how the support or acknowledgement of others who aren’t friends or family can mean a great deal for writers.

It was good to see much of the crowd hang around after the speeches ended, mixing and mingling, discussing books and writing, and getting Vaughan to sign copies of his debut thriller. It is always great so those who love books - writers, booksellers, readers, reviewers - come together with events like last night’s. Hopefully there will be more such events in future for our local writers, as well as visiting international stars.

Kudos to Andrew Rumbles and his team at Dymocks Ponsonby for putting on a good event, supporting local writers, and looking after the attendees. THE MERELEIGH RECORD CLUB TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND was published by a small New York-based publisher, and for those of you overseas is available on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Book Depository. Readers in New Zealand could also contact Andrew at Dymocks Ponsonby (Ponsonby@dymocks.co.nz), who might be able to help source copies locally - the book sold like hot cakes last night, if you’re lucky there might have been a couple of copies left (possibly signed).

You can read my 9mm author interview with Roy Vaughan, from June 2010, here.

Review: MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW by Bev Robitai

Murder in the Second Row
By Bev Robitai
Reviewed by Craig Sisterson

Photographer Bev Robitaille spent much of the 1980s and 1990s in Nelson, heavily involved in local theatre. When her first murder mystery was published recently (under the name Robitai), she returned to Nelson to launch the book at the Theatre Royal, the inspiration for the fictional ‘Regent Theatre’ of her story.

Theatre manager Jessica Jones is trying to keep the historic t going, under attack from mounting repair bills, fickle audiences, and developers and councillors keen on bulldozing the landmark building in order to put up a modern shopping mall that could bring business to Whetford, a fictional regional centre that echoes many aspects of real-life Nelson. Hope rests on the upcoming production of Agatha Christie’s ‘Appointment with Death’, but preparations are thrown into chaos when young harlot Tamara Fitzpatrick is found dead in the theatre during rehearsals. In true showbiz fashion, the show must go on, and Jessica has to juggle the production, a police investigation, her attraction to one of the detectives, and an escalating series of crazed threats being made against the theatre.

Robitai’s first effort is a well-constructed ‘cosy’ mystery of the Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh style, filled with a cast of interesting character and a few plot twists. Her theatre setting is a real strength - she evokes the details and atmosphere very well, giving readers a nice ‘peek behind the curtain’ - and she has a smooth writing style that keeps the pages flowing.

This review was originally published in the January 2011 issue of WildTomato magazine

You can purchase an electronic version of MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW (in a variety of formats - Kindle, html, .pdf etc), for US$3.90 from Smashwords (see here).

Do you like the sound of MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW? Do you enjoy mysteries based around the theatre? Thoughts and comments welcome.

MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW: another 2010 Kiwi crime fiction debut!

I was trawling around the Internet in the past couple of days, looking for some New Zealand crime fiction-related content, when I stumbled upon another New Zealand-based author who had published a debut murder mystery this year.

Bev Robitaille is a photographer for publications in New Zealand and overseas and a freelance writer for magazines like Next. Born in the UK, she has lived on Auckland's North Shore for 12 years, and spent the prior two decades in Nelson (my hometown). Her first crime novel, MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, was launched at the Theatre Royal in Nelson earlier this year (the eagle-eyed among you will have noted the name discrepency on the book jacket - Robitaille has published her murder mystery under the name Bev Robitai). Here is the blurb for the debut mystery:

"There are many things that can go wrong between casting a show and Opening Night. Finding a body in the second row is just one of them.

Jessica Jones is well aware that the old Regent Theatre is at crisis point. As theatre manager she is responsible for most of the productions staged there, and this show is the last chance to prove that the place can make enough money to be worth saving.

Rehearsals begin, and it’s not long before hot little Tamara Fitzpatrick is distracting all the guys under 70 with her wicked ways. Someone disapproves, and Tamara is found dead in the auditorium after the promotional photoshoot.

Now Jessica has to cope with finding a replacement for Tamara, and finding a new rehearsal venue. And as if life wasn’t complicated enough, Jack Matherson, the police officer heading the investigation, seems to be taking an unusual interest in her."

There is of course a great tradition of mixing murder mysteries and the theatre. Our very own Dame Ngaio Marsh, who was awarded her "damery" for services to theatre - she played a strong role in resurrecting the flagging theatre scene in New Zealand, set several of her Inspector Alleyn mysteries in theatre-related locations. I am currently reading MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW, having purchased an ebook copy on Smashwords (a good option for overseas readers of Crime Watch; it's available at a very reasonable price there).

For those in New Zealand who'd like a hard copy of the book, I understand that Borders Albany is stocking the book, and it is also available for order from online booksellers Wheelers.

It's great to see more New Zealand-written crime fiction hitting booksellers shelves (online and physical). Maybe it's just my skewed perspective, but I really do think we have something building here downunder, and its great to see.

Do you like the sound of MURDER IN THE SECOND ROW? Do you like murder mysteries set in the world of theatre? If you've read it, what do you think? Thoughts and comments welcome.