The Ngaio Marsh Award, in association with WORD Christchurch and The Press, is pleased to announce that whodunit and who-won-it will be revealed at an entertaining event at The Court Theatre on 4 October. The Court Jesters will improvise a murder mystery on the spot and read tantalising excerpts from the finalists’ books, before announcing the winner. Who will take out this prestigious national award?

Five Minutes Alone, Paul Cleave
The Petticoat Men, Barbara Ewing
Swimming in the Dark, Paddy Richardson
The Children’s Pond, Tina Shaw
Fallout, Paul Thomas

The Ngaio Marsh Award is made annually for the best crime, mystery, or thriller novel written by a New Zealand citizen or resident. This year’s winner will receive the Ngaio Marsh Award trophy, a set of Dame Ngaio’s novels courtesy of her publisher HarperCollins, and a cash prize provided by WORD Christchurch.

WORD Christchurch will also be giving away a set of the finalists’ novels to an attendee on the night.

For more information and ticketing, contact WORD Christchurch at admin@wordchristchurch.co.nz