From NZ cop-turned-novelist CHRIS BLAKE comes Softly Calls the Devil, a dark, gripping, intricate crime thriller set on the South Island’s wild and remote west coast.
Read on for an extract …
ABOUT THE BOOK
Things are going well for Matt Buchanan. After some hard times, life is peaceful as sole-charge constable for the small, isolated settlement of Haast on New Zealand’s wild West Coast. He’s made friends among the locals, won their trust. He keeps their little world safe. And he’s working in spectacular surroundings – the fierce Tasman Sea, the dense beech forest, the dark, cold swamps, the snowy Southern Alps.
But then his much-loved predecessor, Gus, is discovered beside a river with a bullet through his head. He’d been looking into a disturbing murder-suicide from 1978: the parents’ bodies were found, but not their daughter’s. Suspecting a darker truth, Matt is certain the answers can’t be too far away in this close-knit community. How does former forest service ranger Liam, with his gang links, fit into the story? What about Joe, the alcoholic hermit whose knowledge and intelligence seem so at odds with his appearance and lifestyle?
Tensions rise, there are more deaths, people are threatened, memories surface of a cult that went horribly wrong … Even when support arrives, Matt finds himself pursuing a case that’s well outside his remit and is taking him to places he’d sooner not revisit. Also part of an increasingly terrifying situation are an over-curious journalist and a woman who could be someone special.
Matt has managed to shun his own demons, and is desperate not to face them again, but when confronted by the devil himself, he must take action, rediscover something of the person he was – for his own sake and to save those he loves.
**********
PROLOGUE
January, 2002 Desert Road
Our Holden burned up the long, straight strip of highway that disappeared into heat haze on the horizon. The bitumen was blinding and I was glad of my sunnies. Heading north, we were currently somewhere between the Waiouru army camp and Tūrangi, on the enormous, golden flat plain that was the Central Plateau. Tussock stretched for kilometres in every direction. To our right the brown hills of the Kaimanawa Ranges, and to my left and slightly behind, the three snow- capped mountains of the Tongariro National Park, stood watch. Shihad was blasting out of the speakers, and I was smiling.
Shane was driving. Focused, but with a permanent grin. An experienced detective, he’d been my mentor for a while. The day I’d joined frontline, he’d said that if I ever wanted anything, to let him know. I wasn’t sure who he was, but later found out he’d been a friend of my parents when they were younger. Without ever calling in the favour, I’d finally joined CIB and ended up on his team.
We’d been down in Bulls interviewing witnesses for an old mass-allegation child abuse case. We’d made some inroads, and with statements in hand, were heading for our overnight accommodation in Taupō. But I was actually keener to get home. Hailey had just started school, was loving it, and I couldn’t have my wife taking all the glory. But it was late, Auckland would be another five hours away and Shane was good company on the piss.
I wasn’t green, but I wasn’t an old hand either. Having been around long enough to do most things, but not long enough to know if I was doing them right, I drifted somewhere between confident and questioning my ability.
As we approached the end of the plateau, I could see a small white truck, one of those van-height things, pulled over on the left. Beyond it, the land started to duck and dive into wilder green scrubland, as the plain began a steep drop down towards the shores of Lake Taupō.
As we passed, I could see two men in the cab, looking pretty rough. They seemed to be having a heated discussion, and as I came eye to eye with them, they stared, and stared hard. So alert, so aware that they processed the presence of police and that they were being observed. I gave Shane a glance, and saw he’d had the same reaction. He brought the Holden to a stop, swung round and took off back the way we’d come.
As we drew level with the truck, the guys were arguing properly, one of them jabbing a finger at our car. Shane turned again and lined up behind them, twisting on our red and blue flashing lights to legitimise the stop.
I picked up the radio. ‘Comms, A-N Charlie, 3T.’
The comms operator came back immediately. ‘A-N Charlie, Comms, go ahead.’
‘3T State Highway One, northern Desert Road, northbound.’
When the operator asked for the registration, I gave it, and that the vehicle was two-up.
I got a response for a Mitsubishi truck, registered to an address in the South Island. Bit strange.
Shane calmly took everything in, then nodded at me. I got out, retucking my business shirt into my suit pants. I checked my handcuffs were on my belt and cradled my notebook under an arm.
I heard a sharp click-clack of heavy metal on metal as Shane actioned his Glock, then holstered it. This was unusual. Only CIB and the frontline sergeants’ cars carried firearms, but we rarely took them out and only had the one. Maybe he was just being cautious on unfamiliar turf.
I approached the driver, pulling out my notebook, unthreat- ening. I saw a guy in his thirties, long dark hair, unshaven.
He eyed me warily. ‘Afternoon, officer. Is there a problem?’ He handed me his driver’s licence and I glanced at it quickly.
‘Not at all. Are you guys alright? Stuck in the middle of nowhere.’
It was then I noticed the front-seat passenger, or, more accurately, his leg, which was jiggling up and down. He was younger, sandy hair long and curly, anxiety on his sweaty face. The leg kept going. But I returned my attention to the driver as he spoke.
‘Just taking a rest. Been a long drive. We came over on the ferry this morning, been driving all day.’
That fitted with the South Island origin. I was starting to lose interest, but began copying his licence details into my notebook anyway. I heard movement over in the passenger seat but kept on writing.
But then Shane’s voice split the air and my little standard- procedure world turned to shit. ‘Stop! Stop! Stop! Drop the gun!’ A loud boom cracked around me and I heard glass shatter.
A small spray of red whipped across the inside of the cab windscreen.
I instinctively ducked down and away, moving back towards our car. ‘What’s happened? Shane!’
I could still hear his voice, but he wasn’t talking to me. ‘Hands on your head! Get out! Out onto the road! Do it now!’ The driver stepped out in front of me, staring across the cab to where Shane must be standing, moving slowly and deliberately onto the ground.
Shane moved in front of the truck, into my line of sight, and I could see he was holding his Glock with two hands, aimed right at the driver’s chest.
I got behind the guy, cuffed him and sat him against the tyre.
I repeated my question. ‘What the fuck just happened?’
‘He went for a shotgun.’ Shane waved me over to the other side of the vehicle.
I moved around the front of the truck, seeing the blood inside the windscreen and the broken glass where Shane’s round must have exited the cab.
The sandy-haired guy was slumped over, blood leaking from his head. There was a bullet hole in the passenger window. I opened the door, dug my fingers into the guy’s carotid, felt nothing. Then I saw the shotgun in his lap.
Jesus Christ.
Looking closer, I saw that the pistol round had punched through the edge of his head, taking a large chunk out of the front. I shook my head to regain some clarity, as the realisation that I’d just been involved in a police shooting started to hit me. Shit.
I took a few deep breaths, then returned to the roadside. Shane was calm and in control and we had a quick chat. He arrested the driver for unlawful possession of a firearm. I dropped back to our Holden and gave a sitrep.
The comms operator was disbelieving. ‘Sorry, Charlie, confirming shots fired by police, one dead, one in custody?’
‘Affirm, that’s correct. Can we get some units for scene control, local CIB and ambulance?’
Once I was back with Shane, he nodded at the driver. ‘Stick with him, Matt, I’m just going to check the back before this whole thing gets locked down.’
He disappeared behind the truck, fucking about with handles and levers, making a racket. I heard the screech and scrape as he got one of the doors open.
I heard a muffled yell, ‘Holy fu–’, then the sound of retching. He came back towards me, walking fast, shaking his head, then stopped, stared at the ground and threw up on his shoes. Hands on his knees, panting, he stared up at me. ‘Go look.’
Before I could even adjust to the dim light, the smell hit me and I began to retch. It was a combination of shit, chemicals and death. I briefly glanced in, took in the buckets, the plastic sheeting.
Then I joined Shane and vomited on the roadside.
**********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Blake was born and raised in Auckland. He served briefly in the New Zealand Army’s Reserve Force before joining the New Zealand Police in 2006.
His debut novel, The Sound of Her Voice (published under the pseudonym Nathan Blackwell), was a double finalist in the 2018 Ngaio Marsh Awards for best novel and best first novel. Chris was an assistant storyboarder for season two of the crime drama television series, The Gulf, released in 2021.
Follow Chris Blake on Instagram
(5/5)
From the very first few pages of Softly Calls the Devil, I was completely drawn in. The opening prologue grabs your attention and doesn’t let go, pulling you in deep. The unexpected police stop on a remote road leads to a horrendous discovery that just hooks you in.
The writing flows seamlessly, weaving the storyline into moments that are both emotional and confronting from start to finish. This mirrors the landscape it’s set in: calm one moment, then dark and unsettling the next.
The characters are superb, each with real depth. Matt Buchanan is the lone-charge constable at the heart of the story and a fascinating mix of strength and vulnerability. You can feel the weight of his past and the quiet conflict in every decision he makes. The locals he encounters are just as compelling mysterious, flawed, and entirely believable. Each one adds to the sense that there’s far more to the town than meets the eye.
I loved following the clues myself and trying to figure things out along the way.
The atmosphere, the tension, and the characters all come together to create an unforgettable read. Highly recommended!
(5/5)
Constable Matt Buchannan is a perfectly-written character. Living a quieter life in a small, isolated settlement after more stressful times, he’s happy. Loving the location, he’s fitting in with the locals as their solo cop. Very quickly this changes, the necessity is dire, he must think like the capable Detective he once was.
Chris Blake knows how to write the skilled and flawed man. The one behind gun and the badge, the bloke that can have a beer at the local and the soldier, the soldier holding the M4 rifle for survival. The motivation and feeling of holding a weapon that can kill, the power and the reality it holds communicated to the page remarkably.
He conveys what it feels like to be hunted, and to be the hunter.
Flowing seamlessly, the narrative reflecting this is not the movies, interweaving horrifically convincing scenes of terror and real physical pain. Vivid descriptions of surrounding areas were intricate to this well plotted novel, the local players blended perfectly to form each of their roles in supporting the race to survival. More than a police procedural, it encompassed all the meaty parts in between that will undoubtedly have you turning the pages quickly as I did.
(4/5)
I really enjoyed the book. I found myself engaged with the characters, especially Matt Buchanan, and curious about where the story was going to take them. The language helped provide context and setting for the story. The chapters were relatively short, which seemed to more the novel along more quickly.
The hints scattered throughout were tantalising, but every time I thought I’d sussed out the ending, the narrative would twist off into another direction all together, keeping me guessing.
My only difficulty with the book was the large number of minor characters introduced throughout the story. At times it was hard to keep straight who fit in where, so I was occasionally flicking back through previous chapters to re-establish the links.
Otherwise, Softly Calls the Devil was a solid thriller, which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
(4/5)
Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake is a complex crime novel set in rural and remote parts of New Zealand. The author writes well and I was totally engaged from the prologue; he had me immediately wanting more of the story.
There is a weight of evil woven through the story from the beginning through the use of landscape description and links to Greek mythology, even before the true horror of the crimes emerge. It was a tangled tale, involving a lot of characters and I did need to concentrate and recap occasionally to keep track of it all. But the complicated plot kept me guessing and the conclusion was satisfying. I’d like some of my friends to read this now, so I can discuss a few points with them.
The landscape itself was almost a character in the story and the author obviously is very connected to the land. He transports you there so vividly.
I’d give this book four or of five stars, and recommend it to crime readers.
(4/5)
A cracking NZ Noir, a bit blokey, but still enjoyed by a 70+ female. Reminiscent of Garry Disher’s Hirsch, Matt Buchanan is a likeable copper with a history, who finds himself in the middle of some unfinished business relating to an old case.
A rollercoaster of a plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Particularly enjoyable is the imagery: the landscape is a vivid participant in this story.
I enjoyed Softly Calls the Devil and I’ve already recommended as a good read.
(4/5)
Softly Call the Devil is an easy but compelling read by New Zealand author Chris Blake. I love the short (2-5 page) chapters. If you’re after a gripping, fast-moving crime thriller, you’ll enjoy this tale of murders, as I indeed did.
Set in picturesque coastal areas of New Zealand, once we are introduced to most of the characters, the story rips along at a fast pace. All the while, we spiral deeper and deeper into “ghosts of the past” which are no doubt linked to the present day murders.
The likeable detective (the narrator) Matt Buchanan, delves into the lives of all the characters we meet in the book, and some are not who they appear to be, as we find out as the story progresses.
There’s plenty of twists and turns as Matt endeavours to link the “old” and “new” murders. I was shocked at the surprise “bloody” ending. Thoroughly recommended.
(3/5)
The author really captured the small town lifestyle in a way that only someone who has lived and experienced this could. I appreciated the casual writing style and the shorter chapters, this made the book really enjoyable and easy to read. The language was a little coarse at times and might not appeal to all readers. This is the only thing I found a bit off-putting (at first), but you do get used to it.
(3/5)
Softly Calls the Devil is a gritty and atmospheric crime novel that offers a fresh take on the classic detective story.
Chris Blake’s background in the police force lends a sense of authenticity and credibility to the story’s procedural details and dialogue. While the large cast of characters sometimes made the narrative feel a little crowded, I found the lead, Matt Buchanan, to be a likeable and morally grounded protagonist.
The novel opens with an intriguing prologue that immediately pulled me in, though I found that the pacing faltered somewhat in the following chapters. Similarly, the romance subplot felt rushed, lacking the depth of the central crime thread.
Despite this, Softly Calls the Devil delivers enough tension, realism, and twists to satisfy any crime fiction lover, with the final chapters building to a satisfying conclusion.
(4/5)
The prologue had me intrigued from the start and I knew this book was going to hold my interest.
A storyline of a past crime in 1978 was brought to light and so began the investigation
into the case. New lines of enquiries have opened up, along with a spate of recent deaths, that are intertwined and connected. Matt Buchanan is in charge of the case and follows the leads and his gut instinct. He unravels the clues and hunts down the killer.
Softly Calls the Devil is a crime story that has all the right elements.
(4/5)
Softly Calls the Devil was a cracking read, with a good pace and some twists and turns. There are quite a lot of characters, but the plot was very unpredictable and held my attention enough to keep track.
I found the brutality and descriptions of torture confronting in some parts, but it rang true and made for a very realistic look at the underbelly. No doubt the author’s experience in the police force adds authenticity.
I would happily read more novels about Matt Buchanan, who is a likeable character with intelligence and integrity. It was also refreshing to read a crime novel where all the police are good, honest, capable and get on with each other.
If you like a good crime and police procedural story, you will love this book.
(4/5)
Softly Calls the Devil is a great read – an antipodean mystery with lots of twists and misdirects. Set on the South Island of New Zealand, the author conveys presents the isolation and splendour of the region as an important character in this excellent police procedural. There is a laconic sense of humour infused throughout, which adds to the enjoyment of spending time with policeman Matt Buchanan and other local characters.
(4/5)
Softly Calls The Devil by Chris Blake is gritty and compelling, with an intricate plot, a cast of compelling and complex characters, and set in a location that enhances the story and makes you feel like you are there.
Matt Buchanan is nuanced and believable as the burnt-out homicide detective with too many bodies in his past to allow him to sleep peacefully at night. However, this leaves him uniquely skilled to deal with the dark underbelly of his new small hometown. You can tell that author Chris Blake, a former police officer, knows how to make the reader feel the story every step of the way.
This new NZ crime thriller starts off as a slow burn, but once it gets going it just doesn’t let up until the very last page.
I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
(2/5)
Ok, I struggled to finish this book. It took a long time to get into it and it was hard working out which characters were which. A lot of the places names were hard to read. Guess if I was a kiwi I might have enjoyed the book more. Personally I didn’t like it, didn’t understand the plot and would definitely not recommend. Sorry.
(4/5)
I found this detective novel Softly Calls the Devil by Chris Blake thoroughly absorbing, I enjoyed it.
The story was set on NZ West Coast known for it’s wild, rugged landscape, the writer’s imagery drew me in straight away, wanting to read big chunks at a time.
The story line was intriguing and I see the author drew from his experience in the police force.
It’s a good paced read for anyone who loves detective/mystery with a gutsy flavour. I shall now look out for Chris Blakes first novel.
(4/5)
I enjoyed Chris’ first book The Sound of her Voice, written under the name Nathan Blackwell. Now using his own name this former undercover police officer has again delivered an action-packed story featuring Matt Buchanan from his first novel.
Matt is now the sole charge constable of a police station in Haast, a tiny town on the West Coast of New Zealand. He’s enjoying his new role in a quieter environment, making friends and settling into life at a slower pace. When his predecessor is found dead with a bullet in his head his quiet life is shattered. He starts to look at what Gus was himself looking into and finds his death might be linked to that. Soon tensions in the town are running high and with more deaths Matt is suddenly dealing with more than just finding the murderer but also facing some old demons.
I found the storytelling very parochial and wonder how the lingo would fare on an overseas audience. It wasn’t until the character of Matt started to do some real investigations that for me the story really kicked into gear and I found myself turning the pages as the story took off.
A good read even though it took a while for me to get into the story.
(4/5)
I enjoyed this book. As a lover of crime fiction I was not disappointed. Matt Buchanan is a likable if flawed character, and Chris Blake brings the community of Haast to life as well as the surrounding landscape.
A great back story of unsolved crimes and secrets which pulls you in from the start with a lot of good twists and turns that kept me guessing. Hope we see more of Matt Buchanan.
In the tradition of ‘The Dry’ this would make a great movie.
Softly Calls the Devil is the debut novel by former policeman Chris Blake. It’s set in a small town in New Zealand where not everything is at it seems. Constable Matt Buchanan starts investigating the murder of Gus, the former constable and soon secrets from the past soon to unravel. As Matt digs deeper into Gus’s murder and killings from over 40 years before, he learns that everything is connected.
Softly Calls the Devil is a terrific mystery and quite a page turner. I love the setting and Matt is a fantastic MMC. It’s well written and readers of the genre will love it. Highly recommended
This book had me from the very first sentence/paragraph.
Just the right amount of mystery and action to keep me reading and wanting to know what was going on and what would happen. With Constable Matt Buchanan desperately trying to find out the mystery of murders that occurred on Haast, New Zealand, both from years ago and in the present day, he has a suspicion that everything was somehow connected.
This is not my usual genre of reading, but I am just starting to read various mystery novels and I really enjoyed Softly Calls the Devil.
I loved that the book included a lot of technical terms in the police world, and various references to everyday living and listening to music while driving.