Paul Cleave, author of The Quiet People, chooses six thrillers that will immediately transport you to New Zealand.

Ben Sanders, By Any Means – A Devereaux and Hale thriller that kicks off with a lone shooter firing across a packed street and killing a man. Is the dead man a target or an unintended victim?

Set in Takapuna Beach – this is the kind of beach NZ is famous for. Long stretches of calm water, lots of Pohutukawa, and a volcano on the horizon too! Stunning.

Chris Gill, Boy Fallen – A chilling, powerful mystery centring around the murder of a young teenager.

Set in Hokitika Gorge – it’s hard to get water this blue, all surrounded by some of the most beautiful forests in the South Island. Go hiking, go camping, become one with nature and soak it all in.

Vanda Symon, Containment – Book three in the award-winning Sam Shephard series. Dunedin’s favourite young detective is drawn into a perplexing investigation when shipping containers wash up on the beach, and a body is discovered.

Set in Aramoana Beach – it’s easy to think NZ is 50 percent beach and 50 percent forest. Aramoana Beach is a beautiful sandy beach a short scenic drive from Dunedin, home to seals and royal albatrosses, with water cold enough to give the ice bucket challenge a run for its money.

Charity Norman, See You in September – A powerful story of family, faith and finding yourself … an unputdownable thriller that sees a young woman swept up by the rituals and beliefs of an idyllic farming community.

Set in Rotorua – full of hot pools, and perfect for mountain biking, zorbing, hiking, golf, fishing, and lots of cool restaurants. It’s hard to find yourself being bored in beautiful Rotorua.

Madeleine Eskedahl, Blood on Vines – The Matakana Series. The murder of an ex-wine maker sets off a series of attacks, as four friends are picked off one by one.

Set in Matakana – Welcome to wine country! Here boutique wineries showcase a diverse range of grape varieties that reflect a unique sense of place, climate, and community, with nearby coastlines with beautiful white sandy beaches.

R.W.R. McDonald, The Nancys – WINNER of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel … funny, dark, chilling and, above all, heart-warming thriller.

Set in South Otago – From small rural towns to green rolling farmland, wild surf beaches and marine wildlife (including penguins), to waterfalls and walking in its native bush … South Otago has everything. On a clear night you can see a gazillion stars and, on a rare occasion, the green fringes of Aurora Australis.

Paul Cleave is author of The Quiet People, out on 25^th November, Orenda Books.