Wrongdoings
Based: 1943 – Winton, Southland, New Zealand
About the book:
Marine Randolph Harrington, the charismatic and handsome saxophonist of a visiting United States Marines jazz band, is found murdered by the banks of the Ōreti River.
Detective Inspector John MacBride is about to retire, and the complex murder investigation is the last thing he needs. He has his own demons, the after-effects of fighting with the NZ Expeditionary Force in WWI. The highly respected investigator fears he’ll break down before he can solve the case with only his inexperienced Detective Constable and two old-school Detectives from Dunedin to help.
Outright hostility and red herrings clutter their investigation but there’s no bigger obstacle than Lieutenant-Colonel Warren, the murdered Marine’s bullish commanding officer, determined to protect the reputation of the US Marines at all costs. Marine Harrington has left behind a string of broken hearts and stories of contraband activities while he was in Southland. His fellow band members offer differing accounts of Harrington’s character, while the besotted young women with whom Harrington was involved have their own stories to tell.
Will Detective Inspector MacBride and his team uncover the murderer before the US Marines return to their South Pacific deployment, and before MacBride’s mental health deteriorates beyond repair?
Buy the book: Please contact the author through this site
About the author:
L A Joye is the pseudonym for mythological fiction writer, Lauren Sleeman as she ventures into the world of writing crime fiction, another long-time passion of hers.
Many of the themes in her books reflect the insight and experience she gained in her work as a Jungian Psychotherapist. Born in Southland and proud of her southern roots, Lauren wrote Wrongdoings as a homage to the influences of the south she grew up with. After spending some years living in both Sydney and Auckland, she moved back to her childhood holiday home in the picturesque location of Wānaka, New Zealand/Aotearoa where she writes fulltime.
Review by Graeme Lay
The year is 1943, the month May, the place Winton, Southland. On a bank of the Oreti River the body of a young man has been found. The victim died a violent death, probably inflicted by a ‘kindling axe’. A lack of blood at the riverbank scene indicates that the victim was killed elsewhere and the body later hauled to the riverbank.
These are the grisly, baffling circumstances which open the murder-mystery novel Wrongdoings, by LA Joye (Lauren Sleeman).
Enter the police officers in charge of the investigation; soon-to-retire Detective Inspector John MacBride, a mentally damaged veteran of the First World War, and his assistant, the much younger Detective Constable Colin Abercrombie. Diligent, decent coppers of the old school, MacBride and Abercrombie begin their investigations.
There is much to admire in Wrongdoings, most notably its evocation of 1943 wartime rural New Zealand, as exemplified by its hauntingly beautiful cover image. Real events are woven dexterously into the who-dunnit: the effects of Great War shellshock on MacBride, the schism between the wartime lives of United States servicemen and ordinary Kiwis, the Hyde rail disaster of 1943. Dialogue is authentically rendered, the cast of colourful characters dexterously drawn.
The reader will never look at Southland in the same way again.
Graeme Lay (11/2/2025)
Other Accolades
LA Joye’s novel, Wrongdoings, has been recognised as part of New Zealand’s vibrant crime and thriller writing scene. She has been invited to speak on the prestigious “Lawbreakers by the Lake” panel at Wānaka Library as part of the 2025 Mystery in the Library series. This event celebrates some of Otago’s finest storytelling talent, featuring a discussion alongside established authors including two-time Ngaio Marsh Award finalist Paddy Richardson, historical thriller novelist Wendy Parkins, and children’s mystery writer Kate Gordon-Smith.
LA Joye’s inclusion in this panel highlights the compelling and immersive storytelling of Wrongdoings, solidifying her place in New Zealand’s #yeahnoir crime fiction community. As part of this event, she will share insights into her writing process, themes, and inspirations, offering a fascinating look into the world of crime and mystery fiction.
Join LA Joye at the Wānaka Library on Thursday, 8 May 2025, for an evening of thrilling conversation.
Interview: LA Joye Talks About Wrongdoings with NZ Booklovers
For a deeper look into Wrongdoings, check out LA Joye’s interview with NZ Booklovers, where she discusses the themes, inspirations, and writing process behind her gripping psychological thriller. In the conversation, she explores how her background as a psychotherapist informs her storytelling, the complexities of her characters, and what makes Wrongdoings a standout in New Zealand’s crime fiction scene.
Whether you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, love hearing about the craft of writing, or want insight into the why behind the story, this interview is well worth a read.
Read the full interview here: NZ Booklovers Interview