The start of spring has been anything but quiet. Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of spending time at Schrödinger’s Books in Petone, meeting readers, talking about stories, and selling The Birthmark Murders in bitterly cold wind. Who said it is spring?!

It was a great afternoon of laughter, questions, and yes—sales. As Vespasianus put it back in Ancient Rome, pecunia non olet—money does not stink. And in case you’re wondering, no, my book is definitely not a urinal.

Do I love each character equally?

One reader asked me a question that has stuck: Do I sympathise with my nastier characters? My answer is: it depends.

I have deep compassion for “faulty” people—the ones pushed over the edge by cruelty, greed, or power wielded against them. But when it comes to the wealthy, educated, and powerful who think they’re untouchable? I don’t give a flying fuck.

In The Birthmark Murders, that line is drawn quite visibly. Some villains got rich backstories because their fall had meaning. Others were just arseholes who didn’t deserve a single line more than necessary. Forgotten on the page, as in life.

A library event is on the cards

This coming Wednesday, 10 September, I’m honoured to be speaking at the War Memorial Library at 6 pm. Susanne, the wonderful librarian there, organised the event, and I’m curious to see how many will turn up. Public appearances always surprise me—you never quite know who will walk through the door.

Meanwhile, the writing desk is far from quiet. I’m already at work on the fourth book in the Pekka Wall series. But before we get there, I have two launches lined up: Handful – The Boy at the End of the Rainbow on 30 September, followed swiftly by The Triumvirate Murders – Death as a Business Expense on 30 October. A busy month or two, in a busy year. My only hope? That I can keep you turning pages.

Until then—keep reading, keep questioning, and remember: empathy has its limits.

—Janus

Janus Lucky
www.januslucky.com

Get The Birthmark Murders from below:

👉 Amazon
👉 Apple Books
👉 Books.by – for those who like things a bit more indie

And local Schrödinger’s Books In Petone is selling my book both on-site and by mail across New Zealand.

and of course, Kobo.