Death on Demand (Tito Ihaka)

Thomas’s three Ihaka novels in the mid-1990s (Old School Tie, Inside Dope, and Guerilla Season, re-released in one volume, The Ihaka Trilogy, in 2010) tore New Zealand crime writing from the cosy confines of the classic British-style murder mystery into mayhem-filled modernity. “Elmore Leonard on acid,” was the reaction of one overseas critic. But then Ihaka disappeared. And readers have had to wait 15 years for Thomas to bring the hulking Maori detective, an anarchic knight errant of a copper, back to the pageAnd in Death on Demand, we have to wait a little while longer before Ihaka makes an appearance. The crime novel kick-starts with a prologue filled with seemingly unrelated vignettes: a young man follows an older woman out of town; four middle-aged men share secrets on a boys’ weekend; a rich Auckland woman dies in a hit-and-run accident; a media lothario is mugged; an elderly widow falls; a bored wife seeks out some excitement; and a man faces his mortality. Of course, all of this becomes important as the cracking storyline unfolds. So where is Ihaka, and where has he been all these years?Exiled to the Wairarapa, it turns out. Thanks to his handling of the hit-and-run death, coupled with a bathroom brawl with a colleague. But when the dying husband of the hit-and-run victim demands to see him, Ihaka is recalled to Auckland, where his long-held suspicions are vindicated by a confession: the husband hired a hit man to kill his wife. The problem? The hit man’s identity is unknown. Then the husband is murdered, and more deaths follow. Ihaka finds himself dancing around police politics and old grudges as part of an investigation complicated by blackmail, gang activities, and much more.Overall, Death on Demand is a very enjoyable read, mixing helter-skelter action and storylines with witty dialogue and fascinating characters. Thomas creates a delightful hyper-reality that is still believable, and puts the memorable and intriguing Ihaka – “unkempt, overweight, intemperate, unruly, unorthodox and profane” – front and centre far more than in the earlier trilogy. Older, and perhaps a shade wiser, Ihaka still gives readers that feeling of a time bomb waiting to detonate. That anything could happen. Thomas dances us along a tightrope of intrigue, and it’s a heck of a fun ride.

Excellent. Very rarely do I give 5 stars to a book, and I read two crime fiction books a week. Not read anything by this author before but will definitely download the next one.I've traveled on North and South islands, so enjoyed relating to some of the descriptions. Very involved and keeps you reading. Don't hesitate buy it and enjoy a great read and then look for more. Like another reviewer says it's a shame some of his earlier work is not published in UK.

A MAORI detective? What will they think of next?I was completely lost on the New Zealand place names, but the originality of the fearsome central character helped to overcome that.As an example of the way the central character does business, he elbows an antagonistic and critical colleague in the gents' toilets and poleaxes him so that the latter collapses into the urinal.That's right - you've guessed it! He then proceeds to pee on the unconscious unfortunate.The plot is a wee bit involved and the theme would probably suit a male reader in their twenties or late teens.However, I might be tempted to read anothe of Paul Thomas' efforts but they seem very thin on the ground, unfortunately.

I really enjoyed this booked about a Maori cop and found it hard to put down. The character was interesting, the plot kept me turning the pages and the writing was excellent. My only issue with the book is a few words that I didn't understand due to NZ having some different words to the UK so perhaps a glossary would have been helpful??? Luckily, I have a Maori friend who was able to tell me what the words meant so this did not spoil the book for me but others may not have a Maori friend. I highly recommend this book.

Enjoy y ed this read although a bit long and rambling. Apart from that we'll written with a good sense of humour

Terrific plot and characters, and I loved the New Zealand setting. As an expat Kiwi, I thought the local touches were just right, the speech, the outlook on life, everything. I'd like to read more by this author, but the books don't seem easy to come by.

Paul Thomas is one of the most complete authors out there.Great insights into the human condition , his books cover the full emotional spectrum, sometimes all at once.Do yourself a favour, he has been under the radar over here for too long

Well developed characters and interesting social contexts make this a thoroughly enjoyable novel.