Author talk: The Black Monk with Charlotte Grimshaw

Following the success of her bestselling memoir The Mirror Book, acclaimed New Zealand author Charlotte Grimshaw returns to fiction with The Black Monk, a gripping psychological thriller that blends family drama with dark, unsettling mystery. Set in Auckland, the novel follows Alice Lidell as she struggles to support a brother spiralling into addiction while confronting the uncertainties of her own past. As the mysterious figure of the Black Monk casts his shadow over the story, Charlotte explores the fragile boundaries between truth and deception, the weight of shame, and the stories people construct to make sense of their lives and survive difficult circumstances. In conversation with Tāhuna Queenstown writer Jane Bloomfield, Charlotte will discuss the inspiration behind her latest novel and the challenges of exploring complex family relationships, addiction and psychological darkness through fiction. The discussion will also consider how our understanding of the past can shape the present, and what happens when the stories we tell ourselves begin to unravel. Charlotte is the author of 11 acclaimed books spanning novels, short stories and memoir. Her fiction has earned numerous honours, including the Montana Award for Fiction for Opportunity, while her bestselling memoir The Mirror Book was shortlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Her novel Soon was also adapted for television as The Bad Seed. Jane Bloomfield is the author of the much-loved Lily Max children's trilogy. Her debut novel was shortlisted for the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults and received a Storylines Notable Book Award. Her creative non-fiction and poetry have appeared in numerous literary publications, including the Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2026. A regular interviewer at the Queenstown Festival, Jane brings extensive experience in conversations with writers and authors. Join Charlotte and Jane for an intriguing exploration of the dark corners of family life, the complexities of human behaviour and the compelling mysteries at the heart of The Black Monk.