We’re excited to be giving away two copies of The Humiliation of Millicent Salmond by Jenny Lynch 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 Humiliation of Millicent Salmond
Tales of ambition, greed, love, and betrayal from 87-year-old Jenny Lynch, former editor of the NZ Woman’s Weekly
A fed-up housewife plans the perfect murder . . . a woman scorned seeks revenge . . . a callous nurse breaks a deathbed promise . . . a domestic tyrant makes a shocking discovery . . . a knitting needle becomes a lethal weapon.
These are among 22 deliciously twisted ‘tales of the unexpected’ that delve into the devious corners of human behaviour. Jenny Lynch brings sly humour, sharp observation and a sting in the tail to every story. From quiet desperation to outrageous rebellion, this is a collection rich in wit, tension and brilliantly offbeat turns.
The Humiliation of Millicent Salmond takes the element of surprise that captivated readers of her first novel, The Secrets They Kept and takes it to a bold new level.
PRAISE FOR THE SECRETS THEY KEPT:
‘What is revealed is surprising, even a little shocking. And totally unexpected. Exactly the satisfying conclusion one expects from an entertaining read.’ —Landfall
‘An accomplished, compelling debut with a surprising plot line.’ —NZ Booklovers
Author Note
For much of my life I have been fascinated by human behaviour. As a child I listened at closed doors — eager to know what exciting, dreadful or disgusting things adults were discussing in hushed voices behind them. Curiosity of this sort eventually led me to journalism. Over several decades I met newsmakers who ranged from business executives to pop stars and psychics — and some people who still make me shiver when I think of them. I wondered why quiet heroes often got so little reward while unpleasant, self-serving people appeared to prosper. Or did they? For, as time went on, I discovered that life can turn the tables — in totally unexpected ways.
Some of the 22 stories in The Humiliation of Millicent Salmond were sparked by my own strange experiences, or those of people I encountered over the years. But the plots themselves simply ‘arrived’ out of the blue. Almost all have had a long gestation. I wrote a draft of each tale as it ‘arrived’ then put it in a folder with the others. The favourable reception to my first novel, a mystery titled The Secrets They Kept, encouraged me to think that readers might be ready for a new level of surprise and intrigue.
About the Author
Jenny Lynch is a former editor of the NZ Woman’s Weekly. She has also been an actor, photographic model and a Playboy bunny.
She has lived and worked in the USA, Canada and Australia and is the author of four non-fiction books including a fashion history, Ready To Wear: The changing shape of New Zealand fashion and a memoir Under the Covers: Secrets of a Magazine Editor. The Secrets They Kept was her first work of fiction.
Jenny’s journalistic career spanned more than 30 years. A host of interviews – from celebrities to psychics – gave her insights into the vagaries of human behaviour that are reflected in the characters in the pages of her novel. So, too, did a six-month ‘adventure’ at Melbourne’s ‘The Playboy’, a nightclub run by a shady underworld figure.
Before joining the Weekly in 1976 as assistant editor to legendary Jean Wishart and later taking over the reins herself she was a feature writer on the Weekly News, Sunday Herald and Thursday magazine. Jenny is now a sought-after public speaker on subjects such as the golden years of journalism, the hits and misses of 20th-century fashion, and the peculiarities of early 20th-century magazine advertising.
Jenny was educated at Epsom Girls Grammar in Auckland and Moorhead Senior High and Concordia College, in Minnesota, USA.
She lives in Auckland with her husband, Dr Gavin Ellis, a researcher and former editor-in-chief of the New Zealand Herald.
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Terms and conditions
You must be a GrownUps member and subscribed to our newsletter to be eligible to enter.
The competition closes on 17th December 2025. Winners will be notified via email by 18th December 2025.
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.
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