The Kotuku Creek Chronicles (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798230424307)

These three comic novels revolve around a gold strike in the local creek, the sudden appearance of a geyser and the theft of a valuable stamp, threatening damnation and salvation for the sleepy New Zealand coastal community of Kotuku. In the first chronicle the 1980s government restructuring has closed the post office, the petrol pumps and the railway station. Ex-postmaster Jack Cavanagh and struggling storekeeper Ron Atkinson are trying to unify the villagers and the retirement home snobs to save the last vestige of village life, the bowling club, target of property developer and drug pusher Bob Rogers. The gold-seekers overwhelming the village offer Bob further potential, but he goes too far when he tries to ransom Jack's daughter. A generation later an earthquake creates a massive geyser that inspires a tourist invasion and exploitation by Bob Rogers and government agencies, opposed by local Maori protecting their land. Jack Cavanagh just wants to find his missing grandson Jason and friend the ex-stationmaster Rangi Rangihau. A mistreated, pie-pilfering Great Dane is Jack's best chance, if he can entice it out of hiding. The final chronicle set in 1949 has a swarm of fortune hunters looking for a missing and very valuable Kotuku stamp, including the young Bob Rogers and other unscrupulous criminals employing arson, intimidation and the kidnapping of Jack Cavanagh's son in pursuit of the stamp. The chronicles depict villagers defending their peaceful lifestyle against threats from outside exploiters, a parable perhaps for the resilience of ordinary Kiwi blokes and fiery females.

The Listener identified 'a veritable Milkwoodful of characters', in 'a shaggy sheep tale' that is 'a bit of a dag'. Daily Telegraph: 'Colourful characters and dialogue add plenty of indigenous flavour to this cleverly crafted tale.' Marlborough Express: 'Smart pace ... many twists and turns.'