Bernard Beckett Books in Order

Michael Patts moves to Langton hoping to leave trouble behind. But the arrival of Lester coincides with a surge of hatred in the town, drawing Michael into the very conflicts his fresh start was meant to escape.

Samuel is determined to make this his year and win the attention of popular Carissa. Rivalries, trouble at home and Carissa’s own difficulties soon challenge his carefully laid plans and his growing confidence in himself.

Sixteen-year-old Sharon wants to escape school failures and the burden of caring for her little brother. Justin offers a tempting route to money and freedom, but the dangerous world he introduces could destroy everything she hopes to gain.

After the Second World War, Colin is sent away from London to a distant country without understanding why. On the run with Dougal, he must depend on their friendship as both boys search for safety and belonging.

Sixteen-year-old science enthusiast Malcolm chooses sex as the subject of his latest documentary. His investigation draws him into other teenagers’ tangled relationships while a disapproving school principal threatens to shut the whole project down.

Bernard Beckett questions whether science can answer every question about existence. Exploring consciousness, evolution, artificial intelligence and religion, he argues for a skepticism that recognizes both the power of scientific explanation and the limits of its reach.

On election day in New Zealand, a burglary, a university dispute and rising racial tensions set strangers on intersecting paths. Over forty-eight hours, a biology lecturer’s secret helps pull their increasingly volatile lives toward a shared reckoning.

Marko wakes in a psychiatric ward convinced that his doctor plans to kill him. As he writes about a journey shattered by an earthquake, he must work out whom to trust and how much time remains.

Tristan and Grace lie trapped in an overturned car, injured and uncertain whether help will arrive. Through the night they revisit the choices that brought them together, questioning freedom, love and the possibility of controlling their lives.

Bored teenagers Peter and Charlotte launch an online campaign against a powerful fast-food corporation. Their growing following brings attention and influence, but the company’s calculated response tests their principles and exposes the dangers behind their rebellion.

After an accident leaves Theo with severe brain damage, his twin Rene must decide whether to authorize an experimental procedure. The prospect of saving his brother raises troubling questions about identity, consent and the price of a new life.

Twins Stefan and Arlo discover a girl hiding in an abandoned house who needs help rescuing her sister. Following her through an impossible tunnel takes them into a parallel world where their courage and loyalty face unfamiliar tests.