I had put off reading this Man Booker prize winning book for a year or two and am sorry I didn’t pick it up sooner. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton is so many things but first and foremost it is a great read. The story starts as Walter Moody interrupts a meeting of 12 men discussing an event-is it a murder, a swindle, or an unknown crime. Catton interestingly uses the 12 zodiac signs as a descriptor of the 12 men and their characters and actions in the unfolding narrative.

Taking place in New Zealand in the 1860’s during the gold rush-a man is missing, a man is impersonated, an old murder is unearthed, opium is used, there is a shipwreck, a Maori tribesman plays his part, an indentured Chinese man tells his story and two star crossed lovers find/lose/find each other. I loved Catton’s parody of the 19th century novel – each chapter commencing with a brief description of what to would transpire.

Although I had some initial concerns on the flow of the narrative once I found the rhythm of the story it flowed really well and as the various crimes are elaborated and all the twists and turns are followed I couldn’t put the book down.