I’m fond of a good murder mystery story and so became very excited when of my favourite writers published her second such novel late last year. It’s called Hooked Up and its author is South African born Fiona Sussman who now resides here in New Zealand.
It’s a follow up of sorts from her previous book The Doctor’s Wife, in that the police detective who solved that murder, Ramesh Bandara, is assigned to the new one.
Hooked Up is a little different to its predecessor in that it is more of a police procedural. We get to know the various characters and victims, (yes more than one dead body shows up), through the police investigation rather than through their own separate storylines. The book also takes a much deeper dive into the psychology, methodology and insecurities of its leading man Bandara and his enigmatic friend and colleague Hillary Stark.
I won’t give too much away but the essential plot is this: Bandara is assigned to investigate a murder in the small beachside town of Mangawhai north of Auckland in New Zealand. As the investigation unfolds, it is discovered that the victim was once a contestant on a trashy reality TV dating show called ‘Hooked Up’ that aired some years previously. This bit of information creates a complex web of intrigue and an ever growing list of suspects and further victims.
Sounds juicy yeah? Well it is. Sussman is a very good writer and holds her own when it comes to plot twists, red herrings and just good old fashioned mayhem. One of her particular skills which I have mentioned in previous reviews is her ability to make even incidental characters seem real and this novel is the same. She is not afraid to use some stereotyping such as a ‘rapacious TV Producer’, but even that character has depth and humour which lifts her out of being a caricature.
One of the books strengths is being rooted very much in the geography and culture of Aotearoa. Sussman’s vivid descriptions of various locations in the Auckland Region and the use of kiwi vernacular cements it very firmly as a local story while also having appeal for an international audience.
Hooked Up is a clever, witty, and satisfying whodunit that is full of social commentary, interesting characters and a fair dollop satire directed towards the often ridiculous premise of reality television.
It is the perfect read on one of these glorious summer evenings.
