Book Review: Rising Tide (Lauren Fraser mysteries Book 2) - Jennifer Palgrave

Nat Spiller, an admired climate change activist, has accidentally drowned. That’s the police verdict. But was it an accident? His partner Ellie thinks otherwise. Pam, Ellie’s aunt, draws a reluctant Lauren Fraser into the mystery.

It's a bit weird to describe a murder mystery as "cosy" - but that's the vibe of this book. It's a sequel to The One That Got Away and follows a similar template. The eponymous Lauren Fraser isn't exactly the town snoop - but she has a knack for sticking her nose into a mystery and wheedling out information from the most truculent suspect.

Part New Zealand travelogue and part eco-justice manifesto. It is a relaxed trip through the scenery of Wellington and the Antarctic, tackling politics and murder with equal aplomb.

The book is written by my wife's mother's cousin and her wife - which may colour my review.