WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.200 Hey, everyone. Welcome to the show. Great to 00:00:02.200 --> 00:00:06.459 be here. Imagine stepping into a land of immense 00:00:06.459 --> 00:00:09.779 beauty where the promise and a fresh start is 00:00:09.779 --> 00:00:12.859 constantly shadowed by echoes of the past and 00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:17.039 the raw, untamed nature of a nation just finding 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:20.480 its feet. Mm -hmm. That's really the heart of 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.679 it, isn't it? This tension. It is. And that's 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:25.500 the compelling world we're diving into today 00:00:25.500 --> 00:00:28.699 thanks to Wendy M. Wilson's Not the Faintest 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:31.000 Trace. Yeah. What strikes you right away is how 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:33.500 Wilson puts that hope, you know, the settlers 00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:37.039 hope right up against the challenges of actually 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.500 building a life in 19th century New Zealand. 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:41.820 Exactly. It's this historical mystery, but it's 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:43.859 got adventure, a bit of romance woven in there, 00:00:43.899 --> 00:00:46.299 too. Right. Right from the start. And, you know, 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:48.679 this deep dive actually comes as a special request. 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:51.420 Our friend Lucas Fiedler on YouTube suggested 00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:53.560 it. So, Lucas, thanks so much for the great suggestion. 00:00:53.799 --> 00:00:56.240 Yeah. Good one, Lucas. Within like the first 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.359 few pages, you're not just getting a mystery 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:00.820 plot. You're dropped right into this historical 00:01:00.820 --> 00:01:03.840 fiction setting that explores, well, the human 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:06.500 condition against this fascinating backdrop. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.280 It really draws you in. It does. And hey, if 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:11.079 you're enjoying this kind of deep dive, please 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:12.920 do hit that like button and subscribe. It really 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:14.700 helps us share these talks with more people. 00:01:14.840 --> 00:01:17.000 Definitely helps. And it's, you know, a really 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.519 smart way to write using the mystery hook to 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:23.000 get into these deeper themes about. People adapting 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:25.659 to a totally new world. And the cultural interactions 00:01:25.659 --> 00:01:29.040 or lack thereof sometimes. Oh, absolutely. The 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:33.180 complexities there. So our source today is not 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:35.599 the faintest trace. It's the first book in the 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:38.299 Sergeant Frank Hardy Mysteries series. We've 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:40.060 put an Amazon link in the description if you 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:41.939 want to check it out. And it really sets up the 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:45.159 main players. It does. It introduces Sergeant 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.400 Frank Hardy, former Imperial soldier, now with 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:50.560 the armed constabulary, and Mete Jensen, this 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:54.180 really resilient. young Danish immigrant. And 00:01:54.180 --> 00:01:56.280 their lives just get tangled up together as they 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:58.780 navigate this changing New Zealand, caught up 00:01:58.780 --> 00:02:01.739 in all these events. Yeah. What Wilson does so 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:04.000 well, I think, is use their personal stories 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.599 to hint at these bigger things, you know, cultural 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:09.479 clashes, that basic human need to belong somewhere. 00:02:09.979 --> 00:02:12.740 And just how strong people can be when things 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:16.479 get tough, really tough. Right. So for this deep 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.340 dive, we're looking at excerpts from the first 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:22.400 edition. Our mission, really, is to unpack the 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:25.259 foundations of the story, the key relationships, 00:02:25.620 --> 00:02:28.259 the historical context. Yeah, the cultural stuff 00:02:28.259 --> 00:02:30.419 that really shapes everything. Exactly. And the 00:02:30.419 --> 00:02:32.620 events that kind of kick it all off. Okay, let's 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:34.900 start maybe by unpacking the central figures 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:37.199 and the world they're in. Sounds good. The whole 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.400 series basically follows Sergeant Frank Hardy 00:02:39.400 --> 00:02:42.000 and Mette Jensen, right? Trying to find their 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.080 place in this 19th century New Zealand. Yeah, 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.780 it's more than just crime solving. It's about 00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:49.319 their lives, their journeys in this developing 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.590 country. Definitely. And Hardy, he's carrying 00:02:52.590 --> 00:02:54.870 some weight from his past. Yeah. Former Imperial 00:02:54.870 --> 00:02:57.750 Army Sergeant, then armed constabulary. And involved 00:02:57.750 --> 00:03:00.169 in chasing Ha Ha before. That's clearly marked 00:03:00.169 --> 00:03:01.830 him. Yeah, you get that sense. Do you think that 00:03:01.830 --> 00:03:05.110 background makes him more understanding of the 00:03:05.110 --> 00:03:08.370 settler's fears or maybe less so compared to 00:03:08.370 --> 00:03:11.030 someone without that baggage? That's a good question. 00:03:11.449 --> 00:03:14.449 Maybe both. Like, he gets the danger because 00:03:14.449 --> 00:03:18.349 he's seen conflict. But maybe he also sees it's 00:03:18.349 --> 00:03:20.930 not so black and white. Because he was part of 00:03:20.930 --> 00:03:24.310 it. More nuanced, maybe. Yeah, possibly. And 00:03:24.310 --> 00:03:26.729 then there's Mete Jensen, young woman, came all 00:03:26.729 --> 00:03:28.770 the way from Scandinavia. With her sister Maren 00:03:28.770 --> 00:03:30.909 and brother -in -law Peter Sorensen. And Wilson 00:03:30.909 --> 00:03:33.509 gives us these lovely little details, you know, 00:03:33.509 --> 00:03:36.590 connecting her back to Denmark. Her apron, memories. 00:03:36.909 --> 00:03:39.590 That longing for sugar. It sounds so simple, 00:03:39.610 --> 00:03:41.550 but it says a lot. It really does. It grounds 00:03:41.550 --> 00:03:44.330 her, shows what she's lost, but also highlights 00:03:44.330 --> 00:03:49.639 the difference in this new place. Yeah. The hardships 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.939 makes her feel very real. Yeah, relatable. And 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:54.419 where are they living? It's this little clearing, 00:03:54.500 --> 00:03:57.120 right? Near a sawmill carved out of the bush. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:04:00.319 And the bush itself feels huge, kind of threatening. 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:02.639 Yeah, the settlers see it that way, whispers 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:04.919 of trolls. And the very real fear of ha -ha. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.240 And then there's a town, Palmerston, nearby, 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:09.620 but still feels a bit distant from their clearing. 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:12.840 That contrast works so well. The small, exposed 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:15.259 clearing against the massive sort of unknown 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:19.180 bush creates vulnerability instantly. Yeah, highlights 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:22.060 that pioneer struggle and that fear of the ha 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:24.660 -ha is always simmering under the surface. Which, 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:27.680 you know, wasn't unfounded historically. The 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:31.379 conflict was real. So Metzir's fear, when it 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:34.259 comes up, it's rooted in something genuine for 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:36.139 the time. Okay, so this is where things really 00:04:36.139 --> 00:04:38.540 start moving. These early encounters ramp up 00:04:38.540 --> 00:04:42.490 the tension. Mete has this... Pretty intense 00:04:42.490 --> 00:04:44.790 moment in the bush. By the piglet. Yeah, she 00:04:44.790 --> 00:04:47.629 kills a wild piglet for food shows. She's tough, 00:04:47.649 --> 00:04:51.009 resourceful. But then, bam, she runs into a Maori 00:04:51.009 --> 00:04:54.410 man and a Hera. With the facial moco. And instantly, 00:04:54.449 --> 00:04:57.360 her fear just spikes. Ha ha. That scene just 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.660 lays bare the cultural divide, doesn't it? Her 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:02.199 instant leap to danger because of the moco. It 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.360 shows the prejudice, the lack of understanding. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:07.240 Yeah, fear and, well, bad information doing their 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:09.860 work. Definitely. And then, almost right after, 00:05:09.939 --> 00:05:12.639 she bumps into Sergeant Frank Hardy in the same 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:15.639 bush. Talk about timing. And she's still spooked. 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.939 So she actually mistakes him for the memory man 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.899 at first. Oh, wow. Awkward. Totally. Leading 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:24.339 to this moment of, like, relief. but also major 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:26.740 embarrassment when it gets sorted out. And we 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:28.620 get a little peek at Frank's first impression 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:31.339 of her in all this chaos. And that first impression 00:05:31.339 --> 00:05:33.660 matters, right, for how their relationship develops. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:37.620 He sees her scared, yes, but also capable. She 00:05:37.620 --> 00:05:40.180 just killed a pig. Right. Even when she's vulnerable, 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:42.399 there's that strength. Sets the stage for, you 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:45.660 know, respect maybe and something more later. 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:47.800 Yeah, definitely. And this whole sequence just 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.259 hammers home the settler's anxiety, the misconceptions 00:05:50.259 --> 00:05:53.269 about. Maury people. Especially the ha -ha fear. 00:05:53.610 --> 00:05:56.250 Marin voices it. The kids have stories about 00:05:56.250 --> 00:05:58.490 trolls. Which is probably their way of processing 00:05:58.490 --> 00:06:00.970 the adult's fear. Probably. And you contrast 00:06:00.970 --> 00:06:03.290 all that with Frank, whose view seems, well, 00:06:03.370 --> 00:06:05.589 more grounded, more informed, maybe from his 00:06:05.589 --> 00:06:08.129 past. Exactly. His history lets him see past 00:06:08.129 --> 00:06:10.949 the simple, fear -based stories some of the newer 00:06:10.949 --> 00:06:13.110 settlers are telling. He gets the complexity 00:06:13.110 --> 00:06:15.870 a bit more. So now this background of uncertainty, 00:06:16.189 --> 00:06:19.009 it gets another layer. A real mystery kicks in 00:06:19.009 --> 00:06:21.550 that pulls Frank and Matt together. The missing 00:06:21.550 --> 00:06:24.870 boys. Yeah, two young Scandinavian guys, Paul 00:06:24.870 --> 00:06:28.550 Nissen and Jens Lund. The ya -ya. They vanished 00:06:28.550 --> 00:06:30.689 after crossing the river near their cousin Nude's 00:06:30.689 --> 00:06:33.069 tent. And right away, there are theories flying 00:06:33.069 --> 00:06:36.829 around. Drowned, or taken by Ha -Ha, caps right 00:06:36.829 --> 00:06:39.509 back into those existing fears. Shows the different 00:06:39.509 --> 00:06:41.899 dangers they fell surrounded by. And Frank gets 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:44.160 pulled into the search, asked by the relatives, 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:47.420 Neeson and Sorenson. Which leads them to Nude, 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:50.319 the cousin. And that meeting with Nude is interesting. 00:06:50.540 --> 00:06:53.160 He's really cagey about admitting he gave the 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:55.540 boys alcohol. Yeah, that hesitation is a big 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:58.040 clue, isn't it? It points towards maybe an accident 00:06:58.040 --> 00:07:01.079 fueled by drink, human error, not necessarily 00:07:01.079 --> 00:07:03.300 something more sinister. Or maybe something he 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:05.600 feels guilty about, wants to hide. Possibly. 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:08.379 Adds that layer of potential cover -up. And then 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:11.550 the search turns up something grim. Paul's body 00:07:11.550 --> 00:07:13.569 is found in the river. Identified by his watch 00:07:13.569 --> 00:07:17.170 and shirt. Confirmed drowning. But Jens is still 00:07:17.170 --> 00:07:20.370 missing. So, partial answers, but still this 00:07:20.370 --> 00:07:23.389 hanging question mark keeps attention high. Who 00:07:23.389 --> 00:07:26.930 knows what happened to Jens? Exactly. Now, alongside 00:07:26.930 --> 00:07:29.810 this mystery, Wilson keeps exploring these cultural 00:07:29.810 --> 00:07:32.449 interactions. The misunderstandings. Like the 00:07:32.449 --> 00:07:35.370 visit to the Pepiopa. Right. Frank and Mete go 00:07:35.370 --> 00:07:37.889 there looking for info on the boys. And Frank's 00:07:37.889 --> 00:07:40.379 ability to speak Maori. his knowledge of customs, 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:43.519 it's crucial here. It totally changes the dynamic. 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:46.360 Instead of suspicion, they actually get a welcoming 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.980 reception, largely because Frank knows how to 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:51.100 approach them respectfully. They meet Moana, 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:54.339 the chief's wife, and others, and it's surprisingly 00:07:54.339 --> 00:07:57.300 warm. A real contrast to the fear Mette felt 00:07:57.300 --> 00:07:59.360 earlier. And there's that lovely bit of cultural 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.720 exchange. Mette learns about the earth oven cooking. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:07.139 And she gets a Morere name, Heinromati, summer 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:10.430 maid. Because of her hair. That's such a powerful 00:08:10.430 --> 00:08:12.589 moment. It's not just friendly, it's like a symbol 00:08:12.589 --> 00:08:14.709 of potential connection, pushing back against 00:08:14.709 --> 00:08:17.129 the fear. Yeah, it signifies acceptance, bridging 00:08:17.129 --> 00:08:19.829 that gap. Shows what's possible with open interaction. 00:08:20.209 --> 00:08:23.089 But then, the tension snaps right back. Anahira 00:08:23.089 --> 00:08:25.899 shows up again. Performing the Kamadehaka. And 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:29.060 Met's fear instantly returns. It really highlights 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:31.980 the gap, the settlers seeing a war dance, not 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.059 understanding the Hakka's real significance. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.720 And Frank's reaction is key there. He's armed, 00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:40.080 it's tense, but he doesn't shoot. He holds back. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.919 Shows his growing understanding, maybe? Respect? 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:45.759 Even when it looks threatening from a settler 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.080 viewpoint. Definitely. It underlines that theme 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:50.759 of overcoming prejudice with knowledge. Okay, 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:53.000 so the narrative then shifts a bit, introduces 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:56.450 a threat from, well... Within the settler community 00:08:56.450 --> 00:08:59.029 itself. Gottlieb Carlson. Yeah, this road worker. 00:08:59.190 --> 00:09:01.909 He meets Mette at the Monrad's dance, dances 00:09:01.909 --> 00:09:04.529 with her, and then develops this creepy obsession. 00:09:04.889 --> 00:09:07.049 It's a different kind of danger. Not the unknown 00:09:07.049 --> 00:09:09.690 bush or the other culture, but something unpleasant 00:09:09.690 --> 00:09:12.370 right there among them shows the social complexities. 00:09:12.710 --> 00:09:14.889 And it escalates fast. He doesn't just make her 00:09:14.889 --> 00:09:17.149 uncomfortable. He attacks her at her home. Which 00:09:17.149 --> 00:09:19.330 leads to Frank stepping in. Yeah, physical fight 00:09:19.330 --> 00:09:21.870 between Carlson and Frank. Frank defending Mette. 00:09:22.139 --> 00:09:24.720 really cements Carlson as the villain here and 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.240 raises the stakes personally for Frank and Matt. 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:31.080 And the stakes get really high later. Carlson 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:34.399 ambushes them in the Manawatu Gorge, of all places. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:37.519 Super treacherous spot. Oh, that scene is intense. 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:39.820 He tries to force them off a cliff. It's pure 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.480 survival mode. And the resolution, Frank uses 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:45.779 a tomahawk. In self -defense, yeah. Strikes Carlson, 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:48.179 who falls into the river. It's incredibly dramatic. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:50.960 You can just picture the terror trapped there. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.480 It's a huge turning point. Forces them to rely 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:56.279 on each other completely. Shows their grit under 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:58.720 pressure. And the irony of Frank using a tomahawk, 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:01.220 given the settlers' fear of them. Right. And 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:04.360 then later, a body is found in the river. Carlson's. 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.940 But initially, they think it might be one of 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:09.480 the missing boys. More confusion, more uncertainty. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:12.100 Just layers upon layers of unease in the community. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:16.360 Mistaken identity. loss. It really paints a picture. 00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:19.940 So amidst all this danger and mystery, you really 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:22.340 see this bond forming between Frank and Matt. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:24.860 Definitely. Sharing these intense experiences, 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:27.980 the search, the pause visit, the ambush. It pushes 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:29.820 them together. You see moments where they support 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:32.100 each other. Hints of deeper feelings starting. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:35.100 It makes sense, doesn't it? Facing danger like 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:38.580 that, vulnerability, it can forge powerful connections, 00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:40.899 even between people from different worlds. And 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:43.789 you see their courage, their resilience. qualities 00:10:43.789 --> 00:10:46.549 that would draw people together. And Mete, she 00:10:46.549 --> 00:10:48.889 really grows, doesn't she? From killing that 00:10:48.889 --> 00:10:51.970 piglet early on to facing Carlson down. Yeah, 00:10:52.009 --> 00:10:54.210 she starts as this young immigrant in a scary 00:10:54.210 --> 00:10:56.929 new place, but she finds this incredible strength, 00:10:57.210 --> 00:11:00.429 adapts, fights back. Well, Frank's dealing with 00:11:00.429 --> 00:11:03.350 his own stuff too. His past, maybe unresolved 00:11:03.350 --> 00:11:04.929 things about his brother we learn more about. 00:11:05.149 --> 00:11:07.250 And these obvious growing feelings for Mete. 00:11:07.649 --> 00:11:10.509 He's wrestling with it all. Adds depth to him. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:14.000 His soldier past, maybe some trauma, mixing with 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.399 these new emotions, his role here. How does the 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.259 past affect new relationships? And then there's 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:21.220 that really moving part with Marin, Mette's sister, 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:23.759 the difficult childbirth. And she has twin boys. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:26.519 And she names them Paul and Jens after the missing 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:31.539 young men. Wow. It's heavy, but also hopeful. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:35.340 Like honoring the lost, but looking forward to 00:11:35.340 --> 00:11:39.269 rebirth, maybe. Yeah, a powerful symbol. Now, 00:11:39.350 --> 00:11:41.909 shifting gears slightly, Wilson also weaves in 00:11:41.909 --> 00:11:45.049 the bigger picture, the politics, the society 00:11:45.049 --> 00:11:48.190 of the time. Just touches, but important ones, 00:11:48.350 --> 00:11:51.970 like government policies on Maori land, the settlers 00:11:51.970 --> 00:11:54.929 arriving. Sir Julius Vogel gets a mention. Right. 00:11:55.009 --> 00:11:57.649 It grounds the personal stories in that larger 00:11:57.649 --> 00:12:01.350 historical context. Colonization, changing land, 00:12:01.610 --> 00:12:04.009 cultural friction. It's all there in the background. 00:12:04.269 --> 00:12:06.870 We also see the armed constabulary's role. The 00:12:06.870 --> 00:12:09.889 social divides. Attitudes towards Maori, immigrants, 00:12:10.009 --> 00:12:12.570 even Chinese workers are hinted at. And the practical 00:12:12.570 --> 00:12:14.929 stuff, like building roads through the 70 -mile 00:12:14.929 --> 00:12:17.690 bush, shows the physical transformation happening. 00:12:17.909 --> 00:12:20.149 Paints a picture of a nation really under construction, 00:12:20.370 --> 00:12:23.350 with all the associated tensions. Exactly. Okay, 00:12:23.450 --> 00:12:26.389 let's loop back to Anahera, the Maori man Mette 00:12:26.389 --> 00:12:29.029 first feared. Yeah, he becomes much more complex 00:12:29.029 --> 00:12:31.289 as we learn more. Turns out his actions aren't 00:12:31.289 --> 00:12:34.169 random, they're driven by revenge. for past wrongs, 00:12:34.169 --> 00:12:36.730 terrible injustices. Specifically, a chief being 00:12:36.730 --> 00:12:39.529 killed violently, women and children mistreated 00:12:39.529 --> 00:12:43.309 by colonial forces. It makes him not necessarily 00:12:43.309 --> 00:12:46.960 justified, but understandable. driven by grief 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.000 and history, a reminder that the past isn't past. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.899 Absolutely. He's not just a scary native. He's 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:55.179 a person reacting to deep historical wounds, 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:57.720 highlights the consequences of those conflicts. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.419 And we hear about a specific horrific incident, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.179 a Corporal Adams desecrating the chief's head. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:05.480 Which seems to be the catalyst for Anahira's 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.539 specific rage. It's brutal. And it explains the 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:10.980 depth of his need for retribution. And his attacks 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:14.720 are targeted. He goes after Frank, but also Captain 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:17.039 Porter. Another former soldier involved in that 00:13:17.039 --> 00:13:19.399 past conflict. Shows how interconnected it all 00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:23.259 is. Past actions echoing down, endangering people 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:25.399 in the present. Yeah, the past is never really 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:28.179 buried. So Ennegar's arc, at least in these early 00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:30.659 parts, ends with his capture at the Papua Pah. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:32.679 And the implication is he's headed for prison 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:34.980 in Whanganui. Which resolves the immediate threat 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:37.789 he posed. But maybe not the underlying issues 00:13:37.789 --> 00:13:40.289 his story represents. This historical injustice, 00:13:40.750 --> 00:13:44.149 the conflict that remains. Okay, so wrapping 00:13:44.149 --> 00:13:47.529 up this deep dive into the start of Not the Faintest 00:13:47.529 --> 00:13:51.230 Trace, we've met Frank and met... seen their 00:13:51.230 --> 00:13:54.110 world take shape in 19th century New Zealand. 00:13:54.250 --> 00:13:56.850 Explored those initial encounters, the community 00:13:56.850 --> 00:13:59.129 tensions, the mystery of the missing boys. And 00:13:59.129 --> 00:14:02.190 Wilson weaves it all together so well. The mystery 00:14:02.190 --> 00:14:04.509 plot with the history, the cultural context. 00:14:04.909 --> 00:14:07.210 Gives you a real feel for the challenges and 00:14:07.210 --> 00:14:09.730 I guess the opportunities of that colonial life. 00:14:09.889 --> 00:14:12.250 And we've seen the start of Frank and Met's relationship 00:14:12.250 --> 00:14:15.500 blooming amidst all the chaos. Yeah. And those 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:18.200 key themes really stand out. Cultural understanding 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.279 versus misunderstanding, the realities of life 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:23.779 for settlers in Mori, and just that human resilience, 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.179 finding your way when things are tough. It really 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.799 makes you think about that period, the human 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.179 stories within it. So maybe a few things for 00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:33.779 listeners to chew on after this. How do Matt's 00:14:33.779 --> 00:14:36.500 initial fears and the settlers' prejudices stack 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:38.919 up against how things actually play out when 00:14:38.919 --> 00:14:41.139 they interact with Mori characters later? That's 00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:44.539 a good one. And what about Metzi's journey? adapting 00:14:44.539 --> 00:14:46.799 to New Zealand, but holding on to her Danish 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:50.519 roots. What does that say about resilience and 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:54.320 finding your identity in a new place? Ooh, yeah. 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:59.279 And Frank. With his past, his feelings for Met, 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:02.399 What kind of future could even be possible for 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:05.240 them in this changing landscape? Lots to think 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.940 about. Definitely questions that make you want 00:15:06.940 --> 00:15:09.299 to keep reading. Absolutely. And huge thanks 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:11.200 again to Lucas Fiedler for pointing us towards 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:13.360 this book. Yeah, it was a really great exploration. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:15.759 Thanks, Lucas. We definitely encourage everyone 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:18.200 listening to grab a copy of Not the Faintest 00:15:18.200 --> 00:15:21.000 Trace, the Amazon links in the description. Dive 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.059 into the Sergeant Frank Hardy mysteries. Let 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:25.059 us know what you think. Yeah. Share your thoughts 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:27.299 in the comments and tell us what else you'd like 00:15:27.299 --> 00:15:28.799 us to cover in future Deep Dives.