This NZ author died last week, so I felt it only appropriate to read the one title of hers in my TBR pile.
This story is set about 1980, when the Minister of Cultural Links and Trade, an ex Waikato dairy farmer called Hamish Carew, sets off on a 'Swing Around' of New Zealand's Asian neighbours, Hong Kong and Malaysia. With him are his wife Molly and two young officials, Fred Manders and Violet Redpath.
What should have been a routine trip, is beset with problems. Molly doesn't like shopping and is worried about their only daughters involvement with the married sharemilker on their farm. Freddy is consumed with bitterness at the wife who has left him and the superiors who have sidelined his career and Violet unattached and efficient becomes destabilised as unexpected events occur.
I found this a pleasant undemanding read, which quietly laughs at the self-important posturing of government ministers. It would not be my favourite of hers, but nonetheless, I was pleased to have one of her books on my shelves unread, to read in her memory. ( )

Wow this was such a brilliant book it blew me away. What a shame her books are so hard to get hold of - I will have to try anyway. This was fab from start to finish, telling the story of the New Zealand Minister for Culture, Links and Trade on an official visit to Hong Kong and Malaysia with his entourage in tow. Quite a novelty really as we don't get to hear much about Antipodean politics in the UK; they only really feature on the radar when the Aussie Prime Minister launches into an expletive-riddled tirade, or gooses the Queen.

This book will do little to dispel any preconceived ideas about earthy language amongst politicians 'down under', and so much the better. It's written in an exuberant, witty style with some great dialogue, loads of swearing, believable characters and a superb offbeat romance.Of all the books that have accompanied me into Costa Coffee, this has come the closest to having me ejected for an unseemly display of mirth that would have put Stuart Hall to shame. I really can't say anything negative about it, except perhaps that the end came too soon. I only wish they could have carried on touring the Pacific Rim into perpetuity! ( )