When the body of a young mother is found on the banks of New Zealand's
Mataura River, young female police constable Sam Shephard begins an
investigation, with horrifying and very personal implications. Book one
in an addictive, atmospheric new series.
*** SHORTLISTED for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
2019***
***SHORTLISTED for the Ngaio Marsh Award***
'The tensions within a tightknit village, along with various aspects of
Kiwi society, are laid out with real authority, but it is Symon's copper
Sam, self-deprecating and very human, who represents the writer's real
achievement' Guardian
'Lively evocation of small-town life, with a plot that grabs the
reader's attention with a heart-stopping opening and doesn't let go'
The Times
'An achievement that blends heart-stopping thrills with deep, believable
characters in a stark New Zealand setting. It will leave readers
reaching for the next Sam Shephard mystery' Foreword Reviews
When the body of a young mother is found washed up on the banks of the
Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide.
But all is not what it seems.
Sam Shephard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers
the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a
killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the
wife of her former lover. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects
and suspended from duty, she must cast aside her personal feelings and
take matters into her own hands.
To find the murderer ... and clear her name.
A taut, atmospheric and page-turning thriller, Overkill marks the
start of an unputdownable and unforgettable series from one of New
Zealand's finest crime writers.
'A sassy heroine, fabulous sense of place, and rip-roaring stories with
a twist' Kate Mosse
'Symon has created a compelling series lead, and her treatment of
small-town New Zealand is superbly atmospheric. This one's a cracker'
Liam McIlvanney
'Overkill certainly feels like the beginning of something great. It's
a clever first novel and a dark thriller that's well-paced and
well-plotted ... with a satisfying and fitting ending' CultureFly
'Symon nicely balances action, character and story in a well-drawn rural
setting, and realistically speckles the book with light-hearted moments
and humour throughout' Kiwi Crime
'Powerful, coolly assured, and an absolute belter of a read'
LoveReading
'The key to the novel for me is definitely the humorous portrayal of the
one-woman police band, both extremely naïve and too eager to prove
herself in the eyes of her superiors and against the silent backdrop of
her parents' disappointment' Crime Review
'With a twisty plot, a protagonist who shines and beautifully written
observations of the cruellest things, Overkill is crime fiction at its
best and this is an outstanding book. I predict that this series is
going to soar here in the UK and it deserves to' Crime Watch
'The author's style of storytelling is smooth and engaging, making
Overkill very easy to read, which is enough to keep you cranking
through the pages. The ending is a cracker ... We'll look forward to the
next in the series because with the author's storytelling skills, the
first is a pleasure to read' Crime Fiction Lover
'Overkill is Symon's first novel, but it reads like the polished
effort of a genre veteran. More, please' Booklist
