Dinah Holman named a National Indie Excellence Award finalist

Dinah Holman with fellow Ngaio Marsh
Award longlistee Ben Atkins at the recent
Murder in the Library event in Takapuna 

Ngaio Marsh Award longlistee Dinah Holman has received another accolade for her debut novel as she has been named a finalist for the US-based National Indie Excellence Awards.

"I am delighted to be a finalist in the NIE Awards," says Holman, whose book A HISTORY OF CRIME: THE SOUTHERN DOUBLE CROSS is one of six finalists in the thriller category. Holman's first novel (the heritage planner and biographer has written non-fiction books) interweaves real and fictional crimes in 1880s New Zealand, exploring the seamy side of Victorian society, with echoes that resonate into the present day in this novel of misunderstanding and betrayal.

Radio New Zealand called A HISTORY OF CRIME: THE SOUTHERN DOUBLE-CROSS an “ingenious first novel” that “resounds with the ring of truth” as it examines colonial greed.

The Ngaio Marsh Award judges have said: “full of interesting historical aspects” ... “a fascinating read” that “combines history and mystery” and “does Kiwi readers a service by illuminating a period of colonial history and reminding us that crime and corruption are nothing new”.

The National Indie Excellence® Awards (NIEA) were created to help establish self-publishing as a proud, legitimate, and strong facet of the publishing industry. NIEA is proud to be a champion of self-publishers and small & independent presses that go the extra mile to produce books of excellence in every aspect. More information about the awards can be found here. Congratulations to Dinah Holman!