We’re excited to be giving away two copies of The Burn Card by Simon Lendrum to our GrownUps members!
To be in the draw, simply make sure you’re a GrownUps member, signed up to our newsletter, and fill in your details at the bottom of the page.
About The Burn Card
Quasi-private investigator O’Malley and his smart, grounded girlfriend Claire are back, navigating the criminal underbelly of Auckland.
The pair were introduced in The Slow Roll, the debut novel from Auckland author Simon Lendrum. The manuscript, which was plucked from the slush pile, went on to garner critical acclaim and won the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction 2023 and was also shortlisted for both the Best Novel and Best First Novel in the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Awards.
“Getting The Slow Roll published was a dream come true,” says Simon. “The reaction from critics and readers confirmed that there’s a demand for the ongoing stories of an ex-con poker-playing detective and his far smarter partner in life and crime. The Burn Card is the second it the series and I can’t wait for readers to get reacquainted with O’Malley and Claire.”
Following up such a successful debut was a daunting task and not without its challenges, but Simon says he’s pleased with the result, which can be enjoyed as a standalone title.
“I wrestled with what to repeat, in terms of character, history and the like, what to ditch and how to move the story on, without abandoning the DNA of the first book.”
The Burn Card, sees O’Malley continuing to make his living in card rooms, devoting his spare time to helping those who the police can’t or won’t assist. Looking for clues to an unexplained death while trying to keep a young woman safe from a local drug manufacturer, O’Malley finds himself confronted by his past, and existential questions of guilt and penance.
Saving the girl and solving the mysterious death, O’Malley comes one step closer to saving himself.
About the Author
Simon Lendrum grew up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North of England, gradually moving south after leaving school. He went to Cambridge first, then progressed to London, starting a career in advertising. In 2004, he took the bigger leap and moved to Auckland, the place he now calls home.
Simon published his first novel in 2022. The Slow Roll was described as ‘a stunning crime novel with real emotional heft’ and ‘one of the best, most confident and polished local crime debuts in recent memory’. Simon continues to work in the advertising industry and is currently CEO of the Commercial Communications Council, representing the advertising industry’s interests in Aotearoa New Zealand.
You must be logged in to enter this competition.
Not a member? Join now
Terms and conditions
You must be a GrownUps member and subscribed to our newsletter to be eligible to enter.
The competition closes on 9th September 2026. Winners will be notified via email by 10th September 2026.
It is your responsibility to provide a correct New Zealand postal address for prize delivery. GrownUps is not responsible for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
Winners will be drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
GrownUps employees and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.
By entering, you agree to GrownUps using your name on social media as a winner of the competition.
One entry per household.
The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or other items.
You must reside in New Zealand, as the prize can only be delivered within New Zealand.
You must be over 50 years of age to enter. Please ensure your membership details are up to date in your dashboard.
Join the Discussion
Type out your comment here:
You must be logged in to post a comment.