What do you think?
Rate this book
Matakana #1
Something is Rotten
Matakana
(stative) be wary, watchful, on the lookout.
When budding writer Brent Taylor dies a horrific death in the Auckland University Library, his friend, sex worker Jade Amaro, refuses to believe it is suicide. She seeks help from Sam Hallberg, a former government advisor on terrorism, now working as a mechanic.
As Sam reluctantly agrees to look into the death, a hunt for a lost manuscript leads him ever deeper into a complex case of corruption and deceit. Meanwhile, Sam’s friend, brilliant business journalist Lynette Church, embarks on an investigation of dirty political dealings with major global implications, and with ties to the Iraq War.
It soon becomes clear that something is indeed very rotten…
Beginning in New Zealand, a small, clean and green country at the end of the earth, then winding its way around the globe, this clear-sighted and tense thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. Something is Rotten is beautifully written morality tale with Shakespearean twists and turns.
(stative) be wary, watchful, on the lookout.
When budding writer Brent Taylor dies a horrific death in the Auckland University Library, his friend, sex worker Jade Amaro, refuses to believe it is suicide. She seeks help from Sam Hallberg, a former government advisor on terrorism, now working as a mechanic.
As Sam reluctantly agrees to look into the death, a hunt for a lost manuscript leads him ever deeper into a complex case of corruption and deceit. Meanwhile, Sam’s friend, brilliant business journalist Lynette Church, embarks on an investigation of dirty political dealings with major global implications, and with ties to the Iraq War.
It soon becomes clear that something is indeed very rotten…
Beginning in New Zealand, a small, clean and green country at the end of the earth, then winding its way around the globe, this clear-sighted and tense thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. Something is Rotten is beautifully written morality tale with Shakespearean twists and turns.
- GenresCrime
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2015
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 4, 2018
Late one night at the University library, a troubled man tumbles headlong over the guardrail and is impaled on the glass of the stairwell far below. So begins this intriguing debut from Adam Sarafis, the pen-name for a collaboration between acclaimed Swedish-born novelist Linda Olsson and award-winning young playwright Thomas Sainsbury.
Sam Hallberg is muddling through life as a mechanic, having given away his role as a government terrorism advisor following a personal tragedy. When he’s beseeched by Jade, a young sex worker, to investigate the death of her friend (ruled a suicide by authorities), he reluctantly becomes involved in a hunt for answers, and a missing manuscript. Is it just Jade’s grief talking, or is something really rotten? Simultaneously, Sam’s friend, business journalist Lynette Church, is getting stonewalled by the powerful as she delves into dirty politics in relation New Zealand’s meat exports to Europe.
Something is Rotten is an assured first offering, combining page-turning storytelling with some thought-provoking themes, including how we deal with tragedy, the nexus between politics, big business, and the media, and the power imbalances in society. I look forward to the next in the series.
Sam Hallberg is muddling through life as a mechanic, having given away his role as a government terrorism advisor following a personal tragedy. When he’s beseeched by Jade, a young sex worker, to investigate the death of her friend (ruled a suicide by authorities), he reluctantly becomes involved in a hunt for answers, and a missing manuscript. Is it just Jade’s grief talking, or is something really rotten? Simultaneously, Sam’s friend, business journalist Lynette Church, is getting stonewalled by the powerful as she delves into dirty politics in relation New Zealand’s meat exports to Europe.
Something is Rotten is an assured first offering, combining page-turning storytelling with some thought-provoking themes, including how we deal with tragedy, the nexus between politics, big business, and the media, and the power imbalances in society. I look forward to the next in the series.
December 17, 2015
Betyg: 3,5 av 5.
Linda Olsson har tidigare gett ut fyra stycken romaner, och jag har läst två av dom, ”Nu ska jag sjunga dig milda sånger” (som fick högsta betyget av mig), och ”Det goda inom oss”.
Nu har hon gett ut en thriller tillsammans med Thomas Sainsbury, och när dom skriver tillsammans så kallar dom sig då för Adam Sarafis. Boken är första delen i en planerad trilogi.
Boken var välskriven och lättläst. Och det är ju alltid trevligt att läsa böcker som utspelar sig i lite annorlunda miljö. Den här handlar om Nya Zeeland, och det är ju inte så ofta som jag läser om.
Jag tyckte om boken, även om det kanske inte var någon fullpoängare direkt, enligt mig. Men tillräckligt bra för att jag nog också vill läsa dom två följande böckerna i serien.
Linda Olsson har tidigare gett ut fyra stycken romaner, och jag har läst två av dom, ”Nu ska jag sjunga dig milda sånger” (som fick högsta betyget av mig), och ”Det goda inom oss”.
Nu har hon gett ut en thriller tillsammans med Thomas Sainsbury, och när dom skriver tillsammans så kallar dom sig då för Adam Sarafis. Boken är första delen i en planerad trilogi.
Boken var välskriven och lättläst. Och det är ju alltid trevligt att läsa böcker som utspelar sig i lite annorlunda miljö. Den här handlar om Nya Zeeland, och det är ju inte så ofta som jag läser om.
Jag tyckte om boken, även om det kanske inte var någon fullpoängare direkt, enligt mig. Men tillräckligt bra för att jag nog också vill läsa dom två följande böckerna i serien.
January 21, 2024
Den kom bag på mig!
Tror jeg hev den ud fra hylden på biblioteket, fordi den (modsat alt for mange krimier) har en ok pæn forside. Dog med en fjollet titel, så jeg turde ikke sætte håbet for højt!
Den er velskrevet, en rigtig pageturner, interessant og urovækkende.
For dem der elsker en politisk thriller!
Tror jeg hev den ud fra hylden på biblioteket, fordi den (modsat alt for mange krimier) har en ok pæn forside. Dog med en fjollet titel, så jeg turde ikke sætte håbet for højt!
Den er velskrevet, en rigtig pageturner, interessant og urovækkende.
For dem der elsker en politisk thriller!
March 31, 2017
Lättläst och oerhört spännande thriller som utspelar sig på Nya Zeeland. Var väldigt intressant att läsa en bok som utspelade sig där. Länk till recensionen: http://ewelinasbokblogg.blogspot.se/2...
May 1, 2016
Idealism and realism battle it out and guess what, realism wins. Surprisingly unbelievable in places. But an interesting read so 3 stars.
January 9, 2016
Life can change in an instant and when you least expect it. Brent Taylor a budding writer who has just sent through his manuscript has been killed horrifically in the Auckland University Library. Who and Why are a mystery to all.
Something is Rotten is the first crime fiction released by Echo Publishing, and is the first book in the new Matakana series.
Matakana (stative verb) be wary, watchful, on the lookout
Brent's mysterious death has been deemed a suicide alleged that he fell down the stairs at the university where he worked at night.
His friend Jade, a sex worker, knows this can not be true as she was with him through his recent battles over the last year and he was happy with his life and the work he had completed on his manuscript, there is no way he would commit suicide now.
Jade is unsure how to prove that Brent was horrifically murdered seeks help from Sam, after a referral from a friend of a friend. Sam assists in the investigation including the detailing of the manuscripts that Brent was working on in the lead up to his death, the manuscripts leading him into a more mysterious scenario and severe corruption.
Through many links it becomes apparently that something bigger is happening and something is definitely rotting away......
Read my full review - http://www.sweetlittlepretties.com/20...
Something is Rotten is the first crime fiction released by Echo Publishing, and is the first book in the new Matakana series.
Matakana (stative verb) be wary, watchful, on the lookout
Brent's mysterious death has been deemed a suicide alleged that he fell down the stairs at the university where he worked at night.
His friend Jade, a sex worker, knows this can not be true as she was with him through his recent battles over the last year and he was happy with his life and the work he had completed on his manuscript, there is no way he would commit suicide now.
Jade is unsure how to prove that Brent was horrifically murdered seeks help from Sam, after a referral from a friend of a friend. Sam assists in the investigation including the detailing of the manuscripts that Brent was working on in the lead up to his death, the manuscripts leading him into a more mysterious scenario and severe corruption.
Through many links it becomes apparently that something bigger is happening and something is definitely rotting away......
Read my full review - http://www.sweetlittlepretties.com/20...
December 14, 2019
En roman med rod i New Zealand var okay at læse til en afveksling, men, indholdet af romanen virker trivielt og ikke sådan rigtigt wauw. Det er en okay fremdrift i historien som udspiller sig i Auckland og London og romanen er let læst. Jeg tænker ikke umiddelbart at jeg kommer til at læse de øvrige bind i triologien.
May 5, 2015
What a fantastic debut crime fiction novel from Adam Sarafis! The twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing, and who doesn't love a bit of suspense.
Looking forward to the next one...
Looking forward to the next one...
October 25, 2015
Jag tyckte att den här var lättläst och lite av en bladvändare. Utspelar sig i Nya Zeeland som känns nytt och spännande! Pang på pch ett bra driv i boken.
February 1, 2016
Underlig ujævn og til tider meget kompliceret krimi, der udspilles i New Zealand. De to interessante hovedpersoner kunne ikke redde historien.
September 28, 2017
An excellent read with a good outcome for the person who deserved some luck.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews