Hibiscus Coast

Emma Taupere is back in Auckland after a stint learning painting in Shanghai. Her ex-boyfriend Siaki has talked her into working on his latest scheme. Siaki is involved in an international scam to steal two Goldies from Auckland Museum and replace them with forgeries. Emma is the forger. Siaki is the New Zealand go-between. Emma lives out her days in an apartment on Princes Wharf, on Auckland's Viaduct Harbour, surrounded by priceless artworks. She reluctantly gets drawn in to finding her cousin Ani a job. Ani is a gawky teenager - unsure of herself, her friends and her life. One night Ani finds herself unwittingly caught up in the scam, becoming more involved than she ever wished to be. Soon afterwards Emma is on the run and in real danger. The stakes keep getting higher. Hibiscus Coast is set in a meticulously depicted art world, inhabited by ruthless collectors who will do anything to own certain paintings - even resort to crime.