Kia ora e te whānau and welcome to Kaituhi Kōrero. In this episode Jess chats with New Zealand best-selling crime writer Madeleine Eskedahl about her love of crime fiction, why she sets stories in Aotearoa, and how place and community shape her work.
They discuss what reading really is, an escape and a way to become engulfed in story, and practical tips for keeping readers hooked, including relatable characters, realistic detail, and strong settings. Madeleine explains why the Matakana area inspires her: its coastline, vineyards, small-community dynamics and local rumours provide rich material for storytelling.
Madeleine introduces the Matakana series, including Sergeant Bill Granger and constable Nico Sopoaga, and talks about balancing authenticity with pace, the value of beta readers (including an ex‑police adviser), and the joys and challenges of writing crime fiction.
They also highlight Madeleine’s new release, Angels of Clay, out on 12 October. So grab a cuppa, get comfy, and dive in.
Author Details
Website: https://www.madeleineeskedahlauthor.com/
Instagram: @madeleineeskedahlauthor
The Kaituhi Kōrero Team
Host: Jessica Jack
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.