Gith

by Chris Else

A fascinating novel about small - town communities, which is also a love story and a whodunit. Ken McUrran runs a service station in a small town. He's an ordinary kiwi bloke who wants an ordinary kiwi life. Trouble is, a young Austrian hitch - hiker disappears. Ken's niece, Gith, has seen which car gave the young woman back - packer a ride. Trouble is, because of a serious car accident, Gith can't talk properly. Ken is the only person who can understand her, let alone believe her. He sets out to prove to the police - and the world - that she is right. Trouble is, the town is big on gossip and Gith and Ken have a secret of their own. An unorthodox love story and a page - turning whodunit, written with heart and intelligence, Gith puts our values and our prejudices under the microscope.

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Merryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the voice of the main character, Ken. He was supposed to be in his early thirties but came across as someone in his mid fifties. The book was slow and ponderous until the last 30 pages when suddenly all the action happened and the story was resolved.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great small town NZ murder mystery. A good read, some quirky insights into small minded NZ, and great twists along the way.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it, great character development and I like the way the story unfolds. The mystery element makes it a pageturner. I found the last couple of chapters quite different to the rest of the book, and the resolution seemed a bit forced - it all tied up a bit too nicely. But felt very enveloped by the writing, and I loved the NZ-small town feel. Could have been Patea, Dannevirke, Bulls, Putaruru...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read with a bit of detective and a bit of human interest. Believably kiwi without being too much.