Val McDermid in Christchurch and Auckland

Further to my post last week revealing that 2010 Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid will be here in New Zealand in late August, here are the details of her public events in Christchurch and Auckland:

An afternoon event with Val McDermid

Sunday 22 August 4.30pm

Our City O-Tautahi, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch

Tickets $12.Contact Ruth on (03) 384 4721 or Morrin on (03) 329 9789

An Evening with Val McDermid

Tuesday 24 August 6pm

The Women’s Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Entry $5 at the door.

RSVP (for catering purposes) to:

Phone (09) 376 4399; email: books@womensbookshop.co.nz, secure website: http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/

I am likely to be heading along to the event at The Women's Bookshop, which is a renowned bookstore here in Auckland.

I understand there may still be other events to be added to McDermid's itinerary while she is here in New Zealand, and I will keep you informed as any further news or details come to hand.

McDermid, who last year was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, is visiting New Zealand in support of her latest thriller, TRICK OF THE DARK, which will be released in New Zealand in early August. The synopsis of this new novel (from the author's website), says:

"When Charlie Flint is sent a mysterious package of press cuttings about a brutal murder, it instantly grabs her attention. The murder occurred in the grounds of her old Oxford college – a groom battered to death just hours after his wedding. As his bride and wedding guests sipped champagne, his alleged killers were slipping his bloodstained body into the river.
Charlie doesn’t know who sent the package, or why, but she can’t get the crime out of her head. And with her professional life as a clinical psychiatrist in tatters, she has plenty of time on her hands to investigate.

But as she delves deeper, and steps back into the closeted, mysterious world of Oxford colleges, she realises that there is much more to this crime than meets the eye. And every step she takes towards the truth is a step closer to danger…"

You can read an excerpt from TRICK OF THE DARK here.

Will you be heading along to any of McDermid's NZ events? Have you read her novels? What do you think of the start of TRICK OF THE DARK? I'd love to hear your thoughts.