We are very pleased to be giving away two copies of Stephen Tester’s book ‘Kiss of Death’, to our GrownUps members.
All you need to do to enter the draw is be a GrownUps member, make sure you’re signed up to our newsletter and fill in your details near the bottom of the page!
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About Kiss of Death
An exciting new voice arrives on the New Zealand literary scene, with Kiss of Death, the first-ever historical legal thriller to be published in New Zealand.
Wellington author Stephen Tester began his working life as a barrister, but his love of history led him into secondary school teaching and writing in his spare time. The result is a fast-paced and fascinating courtroom drama featuring a young female lawyer in the early days of the “Empire City”, at the end of World War I.
Lorna McDougal is the only female barrister and solicitor in Wellington. Treated with contempt by her male colleagues, she devotes her time to feminist activist causes and frequently clashes with members of the reactionary “old guard” — male and female alike. Lorna’s big moment comes when the Armistice Day celebrations turn into a major event for the Spanish flu. The legal fraternity is decimated and Lorna is one of the few litigation lawyers still standing.
Wellington in 1918 was a bustling metropolis of 100,000 people, nearly all of whom turned out for the Armistice celebrations on 12 November. These celebrations became a super-spreader event for the Spanish flu and that forms a powerful — and very Covid-reminiscent — backdrop to the story. Thousands of revellers crowded the city to celebrate the end of the Great War, but only a few days later, the streets were deserted except for grocers’ lorries converted into ambulances, or post office lorries transporting the dead to Karori Cemetery.
Meanwhile, hundreds of women volunteered as nurses in temporary hospitals such as at St Patrick’s College. When a rich flu-ridden socialite seeks to end her loveless marriage by kissing her convalescing husband, the infection spreads through his ruined lungs which are already ravaged by German mustard gas on the western front, and Lorna is instructed to act for the Crown in the resultant murder trial. The main courtroom setting in the novel still exists much as it was then, and is now known as the Old High Court in Wellington.
This is a compelling read, both funny and poignant, and touches on themes that have major relevance to our society today. But while the author enjoys a chance to satirise Edwardian high society, he also gets down and dirty in the rough backstreets of the Aro Valley, addressing issues from poverty to gay rights.
It’s a memorable story and bodes well for this new talent. Kiss of Death is published by Heritage Press on 14 March 2024, and distributed through Upstart at an RRP of $34.99. Available in good bookstores nationwide.
Terms and conditions
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- You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
- Competition closes on the 3rd April 2024, winners will be notified via email by 4th April 2024.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be sent. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
- Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
- GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
- By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
- One entry per household.
- Prize in non transferrable.
- You must reside in New Zealand – the prize can only be redeemed within New Zealand.
- You must be over 50 years of age to enter, please check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.