This story is set in New Brighton, Christchurch. It opens at the close of 1980. The South shore is still a small coastal community, on a spit. When four days before Christmas, a teenage boy discovers the body of a seventeen year old girl washed up on the beach, it has a huge impact this small close-knit community.
The book is narrated by a friend of the boy. He and their group of friends become obsessed with the death of the local girl and set up their own investigations to try and uncover who would have committed this heinous crime. The book alternates between the ensuing months and twenty five years later. it considers the impact that this event had on their own lives and also looks at the events of the year 1981,i.e. the controversial Springbok Tour, which divided our nation. I
This was Carl Nixon's first novel and he continues to impress me with his ability to depict a time and place and accurate portrayal of people. ( )

Ein junges Mädchen, tot am Strand,
der Schock war groß, als man es fand:
die Jungen aus der Nachbarschaft
suchen den Täter, der entschwand.

Dieses Buch ist ein Gedicht,
gleichwohl es kein Gedichtband ist:
ist die Geschichte eines Mordes,
der stattfand fernen Ortes.

Brillant geschrieben & gut übersetzt,
und schön gestaltet, nicht zuletzt,
schenkt ein dem Leser reinen Wein:
das gute Buch – so soll es sein. ( )

Strange little story - a readable first person narrative about the obsession a group of young men share about a murder in their community which they continue to hold into middle age. Set in South New Brighton. 1981 "Springbok Tour" as background. What does it say about the average Kiwi male? ( )