Andrea Jutson

In 2005, Jutson's debut novel Senseless was published - a psychic-tinged crime thriller set in Auckland, which introduced reluctant medium and English immigrant James Paxton. Paxton finds the body of a man bludgeoned to death, a dead man who then asks him to track down his killer, for the sake of his daughter. Jutson's debut received good reviews, including a comment from major New Zealand newspaper The Sunday Star-Times comparing her to Ruth Rendell and Jeffery Deaver.[4]

In 2008 Jutson released the follow-up to Senseless, again featuring Paxton and Detective Constable Andy Stirling. In The Darkness Looking Back, Paxton and Stirling find themselves knee-deep in another murder mystery after a pizza delivery boy stumbles across a body at a house in the Auckland suburbs.[5] Stirling, stumped by the grisly but seemingly motiveless crime, visits Paxton, hoping for ‘unofficial’ help. When another bashed and stabbed body is found by another delivery-person, the case quickly takes a more sinister twist, especially when it becomes apparent a game-playing serial killer is targeting unfaithful women. Paxton’s involvement is leaked to the media and public hysteria ensues – complicating both Paxton’s personal life, and an already difficult investigation for Stirling and his NZ Police colleagues.[6]

The Paxton series was cancelled after two novels. Jutson has since begun two young adult novels and two further works of crime fiction.[7]

• 2005: Senseless
• 2008: The Darkness Looking Back

"I loved how I could visualise every scene from the book and the locations weren’t your average Auckland icons, either... Andrea Jutson writes with authority and compassion ...Senseless is a strong, thoughtful crime novel that stands out from the crowd" Clea Marshall, nzgirl magazine [8]

"One of the best things ... is Jutson’s depiction and use of Paxton and his psychic abilities. Neither contrived nor clichéd, Paxton is a fascinating and reasonably complex character - not a cardboard cutout of the average “psychic” tabloid columnist or wannabe TV celebrity... Topped off nicely by moments of humour and domesticity that provide a breather from the dark deeds, it’s an enjoyable local read for crime fiction fans." Craig Sisterson, NZLawyer magazine [9]

• NZ Book Month blog