This book by Sara E. Johnson is set in Rotorura, New Zealand (south end of the north island) where my husband and I visited several years back, so I was predisposed to like it for that reason alone. The protagonist, Alexa Glock, is a forensic odontologist. I'll let Library Journal's plot summary and recommendations stand in for mine.
"American Alexa Glock is a forensics expert who finished a job in Auckland, New Zealand, and hopes to find a temporary job to extend her work permit. When she learns about an unidentified man whose body was found in the mud pits in Rotorua, she offers to help the local police force. Alexa is trained in odontology, the study of teeth, which might help since the man's head was boiled in the mud. As the police investigate the victim, it's clear he violated the sacred lands of the Maori, a large population on the island. Many think he deserved to die for stepping on a sacred island without permission. Forewarned, Alexa is sent to the island to investigate. When her lab assistant is attacked and a Maori man is murdered, she and the investigating team try to determine whether the Maori are responsible or someone is trying to frame them...There's a strong sense of place, history, and Maori culture in this compelling debut novel. The mystery combines forensic investigation with the rich details of a fascinating culture."
Publishers Weekly was somewhat less positive about character development but still concluded, "Johnson provides a fascinating view of New Zealand and insights into the Maori culture, ... [and] armchair travelers will have fun."
Kirkus was even less favorable: "Johnson’s debut heroine is as hard as the bones she investigates to get a sense of. Her unsatisfying backstory, coupled with a potential romance that fades in and out, makes her hard to root for." While I understand and somewhat concur with their criticism, I nevertheless really enjoyed the book.
