Kiwi crime queen Vanda Symon talks to Craig Sisterson about accidental heroines and playing with swords.

There's the boy who kills sheep and gouges out their eyes. There's the young man who wishes literally to eat his girlfriend but who angrily denies he is a Hannibal Lecter figure.

Paul Torday produces an intriguing page-turner that won't fail to surprise.

This work of speculative fiction arrives on New Zealand shelves with the degree of hype usually reserved for angst-ridden teen vamps or boy wizards.

Graham Beattie reveals his top pick of his past month's reading.

Paul Auster writes splendidly about disaffected, damaged people, usually alienated from society in some way, often isolated, physically and/or psychologically.

Yes, another coffee table book on New Zealand, but this one is a bit unique.

After an interregnum of six years following the "retirement" of Justin Paton (the quotation marks are an intriguing addition by the publisher) in 2004, during which "guest editors" steered the ship, Landfall has a permanent editor again.

Rhoda Janzen's memoir may be light on laughs, but it's heavy on affection.

Even though 2011 is still new, I suspect this debut novel from US author Susan Henderson will be one of my standout reads of the year.

Rocketing up the New York Times Bestseller list, this book has been praised for its intricate plot, its scope and daring, and its bold and sweeping narrative.

There are some genuinely entertaining moments in this homage to advertising's "golden age", no question. The odd bit of craziness, too, though nothing particularly lewd, salacious or revealing.

Carl Nixon's first two books signalled a writer worth watching. His new work, Settlers' Creek, is a Pandora's box.

How much you'll enjoy this novel from American actor and comedian Steve Martin will depend on how engaged you are with recent art history.

Mary Lambie is a well-known broadcaster and businesswoman.

Unfinished business is the theme of the new novel from best-selling author Kim Edwards.

Peter Simpson reviews three new books about NZ artists.

One of New Zealand's best-loved chefs has updated some of our favourite recipes with a healthy twist.

Books can help explain the challenge of transitions, says Margie Elley-Brown

A great parenting debate is about to be reopened as authors publish books with clashing prescriptions. But will parents be any the wiser?

If you're fascinated by the extraordinary creativity of the ancient Greeks, who 2500 years ago laid the foundations of Western civilisation, then this is the perfect book to take on a pilgrimage to modern Greece.