Stranger than fiction

Press, 4 December 1979, Page 2 (Supplement)

Stranger than fiction

An unusual and somewhat provocative book released recently on the New Zealand market delves into the history of one of the country’s darkest incidents — the murder of seven men by a West Coast farmer. Manhunt, written by H. A. Willis, tells the - story of Stanley Graham and explores in detail the events leading up to the afternoon of October 8, 1941, when Graham embarked on his trail of murders. For twelve days this crazed man held the countryside at bay while the biggest manhunt in New Zealand history, involving army and air force personnel as well as the police, Home Guard and many

civilians, attempted to bring him to justice. Little has been said or written about the Stanley Graham affair for many years. Local residents have preferred to keep their infamous connections to themselves. It was not until 1974 when Howard Willis was researching the grisly story for a television documentary that the possibilities for the publication of a full, unbiased account were seen. Intensive research into archives, police files, newspaper reports and the memories of those personally involved in the tragedy' has culminated in this book — a masterly example of true investigative reporting.

The story is intriguing in itself. Willis's treatment of that story, his build-up of tension and drama, and his easy, conversational style of writing make the book compulsive reading. Once the curiosity is aroused, the story, barely credible but all documented as fact, has an urgency about it which demands the reader’s attention to the very last page.

Most books do not have words like “riveting" printed on their jacket notes. Manhunt does, and justifiably so. It is one of the best-researched, bestsustained and most extraordinary works of non-fic-tion that this reviewer has had the pleasure to read.