Book set in Dunedin, NZ – The Ringmaster – Vanda Symon

Submitted: 14th February 2019

Dunedin Noir. Sam Shephard returns

Only book two, but this is firmly up to be a real BookTrail favourite. Not only are these two books great police procedurals, but the added wit and sass from the main character Sam Shepherd makes this stand out.

The Ringmaster looks at a series of murders in Dunedin – a quiet and unassuming town in New Zealand. But the circus is in town and so people start to assume that the two are somehow linked. The police want to take a closer look…

“The circus was set up at the pub end and had that unmistakable carnival look, with strings of colored lighting, enormous inflatable clowns, brightly painted animal trailers and the double-peaked, damned impressive big top that dominated the scene.”

BookTrail Travel to The Ringmaster locations

The Ringmaster Vanda Symons

Setting: Dunedin, the Botanical Gardens and the dark side of the circus…

BookTrail Travel to The Ringmaster locations

Bookreview

There is a lot to like about Sam Shephard. A LOT to like. She’s takes no prisoners (well she’s a policewoman so she does, but you know what I mean), she’s sassy and no nonsense and has some great one liners and put-downs. She’s back in The Ringmaster, after the brilliant first novel Overkill, and this proves that the first book was no fluke.

When there are a series of murders in towns where the circus seems to have visited..there is a link surely? There’s been one woman found in the Botanical Gardens. (That opening chapter is chilling since it starts so nicely and ends in death). More bodies to come.

This is an entertaining read and interesting police procedural. The settings in and around Dunedin are well evoked and well used in the story . The book would make an interesting if not gruesome trail of the city. I might not want to go to the Botanical Gardens now. Great to see such iconic and beautiful sites used for fictional crime. It always makes things seem so much worse!

Vanda has a nice sense of style and timing to these novels. Easy to read but gripping at the same time. Evocative of time and place. I really want to go to Dunedin now. I would recognise it and feel like I knew it from Vanda’s writing.

It was interesting to see how the police force in another country operate too and see how a city looks upon a visiting circus as ‘outsiders’. How do we judge travellers and the travelling circus? Automatically assume they are up to no good, mistreating the animals and abusing the hospitality of the local townspeople?

Sam tackles work hierarchy issues and personal challenges whilst working on the case and there are a few twists and turns along the way. It makes for very interesting reading although I do think longer and few chapters would help the flow of the novel even more.

Ah Sam, I do enjoy working with you. Another great case. Roll up for the next one!