Journalist Jody Brettkelly may now call sunny California home, but her debut novel, Bay of Plenty, transports readers to a place close to her heart – the Eastern Bay.

Drawing on her upbringing in Ōhope and Whakatāne, Brettkelly's novel blends the allure of her hometown with the suspense and intrigue of a compelling murder mystery.

Brettkelly's extensive career in journalism spans the globe, from New Zealand, to London and the US. But it was a year spent back in her hometown of Ōhope that provided the spark she needed to finish her first novel.

In Bay of Plenty, the central character, Isla Joyson, is a journalist whose career has crumbled. Returning to her small beach town to investigate a dangerous drug ring involving her parents, Isla unearths unexpected connections to the disappearance of her best friend two decades ago. The novel weaves together mystery, danger, humour, and a slow-burn romance, making it a thrilling read for fans of authors like Tana French, Jane Harper, and Liane Moriarty.

Growing up in Ōhope and going to school at Whakatāne High School, Brettkelly was less a surfer and more an avid reader, “I could read up to a book a day".

Though she always dreamed of writing a novel, her career took her in different directions – first as a barrister, before switching to journalism. Throughout her career, Brettkelly has contributed to national and regional titles, including the Mail on Sunday, London Evening Standard, The Times, and even TravelTV and TalkRadio, while in the US she has had roles with the Huffington Post and San Francisco Chronicle, as well as regional newspapers and magazines.

It was a love of mysteries, particularly those with a connection between past and present events, that inspired Brettkelly’s debut.

“My two favourite places on Earth are London and Ōhope Beach, and I set the novel there.

“My inspiration came from stories where events from decades ago resurface, revealing secrets that are as relevant today as they were then.”

Despite initially starting with a complex plot, Brettkelly found the core of the novel was in Isla's journey as a journalist returning to a small town.

“I did a lot of research on policing, drugs, heroin and a lot of things like that, but I realised the heart of the story was Isla's return and her discovery of how to investigate in a small town.”

Brettkelly said none of the characters in Bay of Plenty are based on real people from Ōhope. Instead, the charm of the area and the character of small-town life serve as inspiration.

“It’s almost like the town itself is a character.”

While living in Ōhope, Brettkelly recalled humorous moments, like when her husband had his first tennis match at the Whakatane Tennis Club.

“The person he was playing came up to the net and said, ‘Do you know your son wasn’t at school this morning?’ . Turned out she was the school attendance officer.”

Such quirky interactions in a tight-knit community gave Brettkelly a deeper insight into Isla's character arc.

“Everyone in a small town is connected in ways we don’t even know about and can’t see. I started to ponder Isla’s character arc, a young woman who grew up in the small beach town but who felt like she had to assume the role of an impartial outsider to investigate.”

The novel, a decade in the making, was only the beginning for Brettkelly. Following its completion, she quickly wrote her second novel in the Isla Joyson series, which took just 10 weeks. Scheduled for release in three months, the second book is set in London, and Brettkelly has already written two more novels, both standalone titles, which are expected to be published soon.

“It has just been such fun to write about Ōhope Beach and some of my favourite places on Earth.”

Bay of Plenty is set to be published at the end of April and is available for preorder on Amazon Kindle: www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYF6VTXD

For more information about Jody Brettkelly’s books, visit her website: jodybrettkelly.com