Interview: Patricia Dunmore talks about Human Error
- NZ Booklovers
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Patricia Dunmore started her career as a journalist and then moved into publishing in the 1970s with family firm Dunmore Press. She was very active in the women’s movement at the time, and was elected to the local hospital board at age 22. She also joined the NZ Defence Force as an Army Reserve, serving for a number of years.
Later, a spell living in the UK led to work in production and editing, and later in Canada, work for Harlequin-Mills & Boon, before moving back to New Zealand. A move to the Manawatū saw Patricia purchase Heritage Press, a small publisher specialising in historical books and family histories. Patricia has also written many books of her own, across fiction, non-fiction and children’s. Human Error is her 16th book. Patricia talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about Human Error.
It is late in the evening when a fully loaded Dreamliner begins its final approach to Auckland airport after a long flight from Hong Kong, when suddenly the plane vanishes from the radar. No May Day was issued; everything seemed perfectly normal. But the plane, carrying 214 passengers and crew, has vanished. The authorities have no idea why or a clue to where it is. Deep fog is rolling across the Waitakere Ranges and neither the coastguard nor LandSAR know where to search. Even the Chief Air Accident Adviser is stumped. Detective Sergeant Maki Hohepa is part of the Police Disaster Response Unit tasked with unravelling this mystery. But nothing is as it seems. There are unidentified passengers, missing luggage and body parts that lead to a shocking discovery. Is this sabotage by a foreign nation or was it pilot suicide? Could it be drugs-related, or is it something altogether more sinister?
What inspired you to write this book?
I took flying lessons when I was a student and have always loved flying, especially when it’s a bit bumpy or there are strong cross-winds coming in to land at Wellington airport, which makes me think of riding a stroppy horse! So when my daughter was studying at Oxford, she told me about one of her Professor’s pet projects, which was centred on aviation, and the research jumped out at me and gave me the idea for the book.
What research was involved?
I had to read a lot of research papers, study modern aviation safety, and get to grips with modern surveillance systems. Several visitors to my house asked why I had folders labelled Aircraft Guidance Systems on my shelves! It’s one of those situations where you study a huge amount of material, looking for that needle in a haystack, just so you can write a single sentence. But if you write something that involves technology, you have to get your facts right, while at the same time not burdening the reader with too much detail. It’s a fine balance.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
I am a plotter, which is generally essential when writing mysteries or thrillers, but I always have the beginning and the ending as clearly in my head as if I had a video recording before I am really convinced the story will work. Then I block in pivotal points and build from there until I have a framework that works. I use an amazing piece of writing software called Scrivener, which makes this easy, and you can push scenes forward or backwards just with your mouse, until you have things happening in the best sequence. Once I am roughly happy with that, I write scenes, mostly in order, but not necessarily. Some days I have a flash of inspiration, usually while I am gardening or doing something mundane, and so I write that. Later on, I may alter it, or even dump it, but often it works out okay.
If a soundtrack was made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.
It would have to be Aio Ana by Moana & the Tribe from their new album, Ono. The drum beat and the misty music would make a great soundtrack. Fabulous!
Who would you like to see playing the lead characters if your book were made into a movie?
Tauawhi Bonilla, Michael Tuatagaloa Alisa, and Thomasin McKenzie would all be perfect! There are some other strong roles in there as well.
What did you enjoy the most about writing Human Error?
I loved thinking about the possibilities and the red herrings that the Air Accident Inspectors would have to deal with, and how that impacted on the government and on international relations, especially how a small nation like New Zealand would deal with a catastrophic events like this. All of those things made such an interesting contrast to ordinary Kiwi’s lives, and how they cope with disasters.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
I usually just go a bit numb, have a glass of wine and sit outside in the fresh air. Of course, you haven’t really finished the book once you get to the end. That’s when the rewriting and the tough thinking starts. But I always put it aside for a few months and then go back to it later with fresh eyes.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing, which I was given for Christmas. I love gardening books of all kinds, and have quite a collection of new and very old books about compost! Currently, I am reading Jennifer Ackerman’s The Genius of Birds, which is absolutely extraordinary. In fiction, the one I have enjoyed most so far in 2025 is G.B. Ralph’s Murder on Milverton Square. Great fun, and set here in the Manawatu.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
I’ve always had an interest in hyper-new technology, such as things which scientists know are technically possible, but about which not much is known. Coupled with that is a fascination for scientific ethics: that endless question about if someone discovers something they could do in theory, which may or may not be good for humanity, would they do it, just because they could, or would they leave it in the theoretical realm. So my next project is focused around computerized car systems and their vulnerabilities. It will have some spectacular car crashes in it!