Set in the 1880's when Tauranga was a raw fishing village, this novel explores Victorian society where domination of woman was the norm and adultery and illegitimate birth a scandal from which ones reputation never recovered. In January 1886 Anna Hamilton meets free-thinking Violet Sutton who has recently arrived in Tauranga from London. Anna is married to the manager of the local Bank of New Zealand whilst Violet has been rescued from the scandal of an illegitimate child by an older man who married her for her proven breeding potential. When Violet has an illicit love affair with charming bachelor and National Bank manager Rupert Beckford (the ‘Magenta Man’) a tragic chain of events ensue.

The name 'Magenta Man' was inspired by a term for a local red headed man recorded by Athenree Homestead's Adela Stewart in her book, 'My Simple Life in New Zealand'. Sweeping through the Tarawera Eruption (1886) and New Zealand's Long Depression (1885-1900) this book was inspired by letters from the author's own family archives which have been expanded into an engaging tale of lust, small mindedness, revenge, daily drudgery, frustration, despair, friendship and hope. Much thought and detail have gone into its production with dated chapters, quotes from newspapers and journals from the time (especially the local 'Bay of Plenty Times'), notes, acknowledgements and 'Essential Tips for Victorian Life'. It's so lovely to read a novel about the town of which I live and as my ancestors arrived in the Bay of Plenty in 1875 it helped to remind me of the mindset of those living here at the time. A really enjoyable novel, much impressed. ( )