‘Expansive in its reach, and stunningly singular in its detail, this literary thriller heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in New Zealand storytelling.’

‘Paper Cage has all the sharp points of a great crime story and all the tragedy of ordinary lives hit hard. I couldn’t put it down.’

‘I really enjoyed Paper Cage. Its world feels real and its characters and relationships drew me in. Lorraine Henry is a refreshingly different crime fiction protagonist.’

‘A compelling mystery and an atmospheric dive into small-town psychology…Tom Baragwanath has mastered the craft of literary crime: this is well-paced and vividly written detective fiction with a Chandleresque grittiness to its depiction of a community in crisis.’

‘Thrilling…Lorraine is a perfect heroine: she’s tough, unflinching and gets the job done…A gritty crime novel that has all the fun literary techniques of a thriller with an added layer of feminist commentary.’

‘Aotearoa/New Zealand…has a rich history of crime writing, with huge names such as Ngaio Marsh, Alan Carter and Paul Thomas producing some fabulous reads over the last century. To this stable we can add newcomer Tom Baragwanath.’

‘A tightly written, slow burning thriller…One senses there’s much more to come from Baragwanath. He’s a fascinating talent and one to watch.’

‘A thrilling, deep dive into community and what it means. Loved this new voice.’

‘This novel does what great crime fiction does—brings a community, with all of its complexities, to life—and while doing so deals with entrenched and persistent issues of colonialism, sexism and ageing in a way that is both absorbing and thought-provoking.’

‘Just the kind of dark, disturbing, gritty, and unusual treat thriller lovers are looking for.’

‘A perfectly pitched and plotted cracker of a debut…The author’s observations are as clear-eyed and intelligent as his endearingly down-to-earth [protagonist] Lorraine.’

‘A compelling crime thriller.’

‘An ambitious mystery that uses the form to make some trenchant statements about contemporary society…All the essential elements of the genre are here and turned to use in exploring the bigger issues.’

‘Cleverly paced, putting Lo and her world at the centre of the action, Paper Cage is a character-driven crime novel with a visceral sense of place and community and a solid plot. Author Baragwanath has incorporated institutional racism, prejudice, social deprivation, and good people just trying to get ahead into a storyline that’s very engaging, without papering over the obvious cracks in the world he is describing.’

‘A stylishly written missing kids mystery, a compelling window on a fractured community, and a cast of characters I was fully invested in. Paper Cage is an impressive debut.‘

‘A stylishly written missing kids mystery, a compelling window on a fractured community, and a cast of characters I was fully invested in. Paper Cage is an impressive debut.’

‘In weaving together a lived-in portrait of small-town New Zealand with a truly crackling mystery, Baragwanath proves himself a writer to watch.’

‘A twisty thriller which provides us with a window into a riven community in small-town New Zealand where racial and cultural loyalties divide as much as they unite. Dark, gritty and beautifully written, Paper Cage is a triumph from first to last.’

‘An astonishing debut [with] a wonderfully flawed central character…Full of heart and determination. Excellently constructed…and all wrapped up in wonderfully flowing prose. Such a standout novel.’

‘A gripping and hauntingly beautiful exploration of a small town in crisis, offering deep insight into the human condition. A superb read.’

‘Baragwanath’s provocative first novel is riveting and shocking. The air is thick with moreporks (owls) and kererus (pigeons) coming home to roost.’

‘Baragwanath makes ample use of his setting, fleshing out the book with scenes of exotic wildlife and mutable weather…When violence erupts, it is shocking, and the book culminates in a thrilling and heroic sequence. The file lady, once she claws her way out of her paper cage, displays the strength and fury of a tigress defending her young.’

‘Magnetic…This beautifully constructed plot has already won awards, and it is easy to see why with a protagonist who is impossible not to root for…Breathtakingly compelling.’

‘In this haunting, finely wrought book, Baragwanath illuminates the extraordinary strength of an ordinary woman.’