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Summoned to the Honolulu hilltop mansion of radio pitchman Barry Buckingham, presumably to trace his missing wife, the Surfing Detective is in for the letdown of his career. Kai Cook is hired to track another lost family member. A dog.
Despite his qualms, Kai would seem a natural for the case, since the golden retriever named Kula is a famous surfing dog. Yet the PI knows nothing about finding missing pets. But he does know where to find help—Maile Barnes, an ex-K9 cop and kindred spirit with the keys to unlock the dark underworld of animal theft in the islands.
Then a questionable tip takes Kai to a late-night rendezvous, his tipster winds up dead, and the detective himself becomes a suspect. Can he clear his name and find the murderer before he strikes again? The PI tracks the illusive retriever from O‘ahu to the Big Island to Maui, but the killer is one step ahead—other players linked to the dog’s disappearance keep turning up dead.
Is a ghost from Barry Buckingham’s past behind the murders? Or is Kai’s client just a misunderstood man with a lost pet? To solve this third case in the Surfing Detective series, Kai Cooke must do what he never does—take on a partner. Teaming up with the headstrong K9 cop is his only shot to liberate the famous surfing dog, who is somehow always at the center of this mystery.
Despite his qualms, Kai would seem a natural for the case, since the golden retriever named Kula is a famous surfing dog. Yet the PI knows nothing about finding missing pets. But he does know where to find help—Maile Barnes, an ex-K9 cop and kindred spirit with the keys to unlock the dark underworld of animal theft in the islands.
Then a questionable tip takes Kai to a late-night rendezvous, his tipster winds up dead, and the detective himself becomes a suspect. Can he clear his name and find the murderer before he strikes again? The PI tracks the illusive retriever from O‘ahu to the Big Island to Maui, but the killer is one step ahead—other players linked to the dog’s disappearance keep turning up dead.
Is a ghost from Barry Buckingham’s past behind the murders? Or is Kai’s client just a misunderstood man with a lost pet? To solve this third case in the Surfing Detective series, Kai Cooke must do what he never does—take on a partner. Teaming up with the headstrong K9 cop is his only shot to liberate the famous surfing dog, who is somehow always at the center of this mystery.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2010
137 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Chip Hughes
23 books26 followersChip Hughes learned to surf in San Diego in the late 1960s. He earned a Ph.D. in English at Indiana University in 1981 and taught American literature, film, writing, and popular fiction for nearly three decades at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His
non-fiction publications include two books on John Steinbeck and numerous essays and reviews.
An active member of the Private Eye Writers of America, Chip launched the Surfing Detective mystery series in 2004 with Murder on Moloka‘i. Since 2011 the series has been published exclusively by Slate Ridge Press.
When not working on the series, Chip enjoys walking and running with his wife and companion of thirty-five years, surfing with his buddy, practicing the piano, getting together with Porsche club friends, and hanging out with his golden retriever. He tries to live "green" with recycling, solar panels, and an electric car. He generally eats vegetarian. Chip and his wife split their time between homes in Hawai‘i and upstate New York.
non-fiction publications include two books on John Steinbeck and numerous essays and reviews.
An active member of the Private Eye Writers of America, Chip launched the Surfing Detective mystery series in 2004 with Murder on Moloka‘i. Since 2011 the series has been published exclusively by Slate Ridge Press.
When not working on the series, Chip enjoys walking and running with his wife and companion of thirty-five years, surfing with his buddy, practicing the piano, getting together with Porsche club friends, and hanging out with his golden retriever. He tries to live "green" with recycling, solar panels, and an electric car. He generally eats vegetarian. Chip and his wife split their time between homes in Hawai‘i and upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 21, 2016
I want to address the animal abuse segments of this book which apparently is causing a lot of folks to not even read the book. What this author did was to bring awareness to a very serious problem. We have a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill eerily like the one written about in Kula. In the book, these places are shut down, thanks to Kai's efforts. In real life, these puppy mills are still there. Should you read the book? That is obviously up to you. If you are interested in rescuing a dog, why not check with your local animal shelter or do a Google search for a specific breed. We got ours from Heart Bandits American Eskimo Rescue.
October 6, 2015
Animal Abuse and Murdering Lowlifes
Sometimes things are not what they seem. A lost dog turns out to be a story a lot more convoluted than what it first appears.
Sometimes things are not what they seem. A lost dog turns out to be a story a lot more convoluted than what it first appears.
November 8, 2017
Oh, I cannot WAIT to write this review!
First, if you have read many of my reviews, then you know that I so not like, at all, first person books. Well, this is another. But the clincher is, like many others have said, the animal abuse written into the story with the main character doing nothing about it, all because he wants to solve his case first! I'm not sure that I even should have given this story two stars because I didn't really care for the writing style, either, and the Hawaiian lingo, even though it was correct, just didn't grab me, you know? The author seems like he wants to be another old time PI writing author with his style reminiscent of some other author, I just don't remember the name. Nevertheless, nothing stood out to me past the nonchalant attitude about the scum bags that abused animals. And the author claims to have two retrievers...goody for him! I'm sorry that I bought his book! GRRR!
First, if you have read many of my reviews, then you know that I so not like, at all, first person books. Well, this is another. But the clincher is, like many others have said, the animal abuse written into the story with the main character doing nothing about it, all because he wants to solve his case first! I'm not sure that I even should have given this story two stars because I didn't really care for the writing style, either, and the Hawaiian lingo, even though it was correct, just didn't grab me, you know? The author seems like he wants to be another old time PI writing author with his style reminiscent of some other author, I just don't remember the name. Nevertheless, nothing stood out to me past the nonchalant attitude about the scum bags that abused animals. And the author claims to have two retrievers...goody for him! I'm sorry that I bought his book! GRRR!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
Due to warnings about graphic animal abuse in this book, I had avoided reading it for several years. I just read it and I’m glad I did. I am a dog lover and involved in dog rescue. While this book describes dogs living in horrific conditions in two different puppy mills, there is no violence directed at the animals. This book brings to light some of the problems with for-profit dog breeding and – SPOILER ALERT – Kai and his lady friend Maile succeed in shutting down both puppy mills, having the owners arrested, AND help get the dogs to a no-kill shelter. This author knows Hawaii. He writes authentically about the islands without waxing poetic - no flowery prose, just good, solid story telling. A well-paced tale of mystery and suspense without swearing, graphic violence, or graphic sex. A great story from beginning to end.
January 10, 2021
Subtitled “A Surfing Detective Mystery”, and set in Hawaii where a down-on-his-luck PI, Kai Cooke, is paid $1000 to locate Kula, a kidnapped Golden Retriever. It’s a fairly standard PI novel although never dark, as Cooke surfs to think and reflect and travels to Maui and the Big Island from his base in Honolulu as puppy farms, then a kidnapped daughter of the dodgy ex-Aussie who hired him, leads to a suspiciously cop-free resolution helped by a young ex-cop pet detective. Straightforward but quite engaging. Read in Hawaii 3.5 stars
July 4, 2018
Doggone Good Tale
Chip Hughes' action packed writing gets your attention in the first paragraph and holds it through to the end. His descriptive writing style lets you see the characters and the scenery as if you were right there. I highly recommend Kula and I plan to check out more books in the Surfing Detective series.
Chip Hughes' action packed writing gets your attention in the first paragraph and holds it through to the end. His descriptive writing style lets you see the characters and the scenery as if you were right there. I highly recommend Kula and I plan to check out more books in the Surfing Detective series.
June 20, 2021
Good story
I am attracted to stories about dogs and this mystery doesn't disappoint! Kai, a surfer/detective is hired to locate Kula, a surfing dog. There are several twists and turns in this book, and his relationship with Maile allows him to rescue the dog. But that's not how the story ends...
I am attracted to stories about dogs and this mystery doesn't disappoint! Kai, a surfer/detective is hired to locate Kula, a surfing dog. There are several twists and turns in this book, and his relationship with Maile allows him to rescue the dog. But that's not how the story ends...
October 12, 2017
Kula: Beautiful Name, Famous Dog
This is a great story! It is packed with lots of action, a few kidnappings, dognappings and a hero that is just trying to make a living. Enjoy this 5 Star Read!
This is a great story! It is packed with lots of action, a few kidnappings, dognappings and a hero that is just trying to make a living. Enjoy this 5 Star Read!
March 8, 2018
His wife has been missing but, he comes wanting help when his dog has gone missing. An unusual plot, and about abuse of dogs, and he teams up with a partner to figure this one out.Different, of what all he got into taking this case, of a famous dog.
November 19, 2019
Okay, but not enthralling
This is a quick read with an unusual background. The characters don’t really come to life so it doesn’t engender any emotion or commitment to them. I don’t feel any inclination to read more in the series.
This is a quick read with an unusual background. The characters don’t really come to life so it doesn’t engender any emotion or commitment to them. I don’t feel any inclination to read more in the series.
August 1, 2021
surf to the end
seemed like a fluff detective story at first. got more intriguing and interesting as things changed and with good descriptions and explanation about things Hawaiian . Enjoyable, not real deep or heavy, we’ll paced, especially starting about the middle
seemed like a fluff detective story at first. got more intriguing and interesting as things changed and with good descriptions and explanation about things Hawaiian . Enjoyable, not real deep or heavy, we’ll paced, especially starting about the middle
August 8, 2023
Excellent!
The author covered a very real issue, pet napping and the scum that do this. Of course murder and mayhem are included. The story flows well and love the characters . Will go back and read the first two.
The author covered a very real issue, pet napping and the scum that do this. Of course murder and mayhem are included. The story flows well and love the characters . Will go back and read the first two.
July 12, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway! I love surfing and love dogs! This was an easy read with animals & murder & mystery!
August 26, 2017
Hawaii and dogs
Hawaii and dogs make a great combination! I have enjoyed all three of these books and I am sure that I will read his next one
Hawaii and dogs make a great combination! I have enjoyed all three of these books and I am sure that I will read his next one
November 18, 2018
It was a good book but it ended so abruptly, like I did not get the end of the book when I downloaded it.
December 30, 2019
Ok but just ok
May 17, 2022
Entertaining
This was better than his first book, and now I have to read the third to find out if he gets the girl
This was better than his first book, and now I have to read the third to find out if he gets the girl
August 10, 2023
Enjoyable, Action-Packed!
Hughes tells a good story with realistic characters and scenes. Pages keep turning and what happens next was always a surprise!
Hughes tells a good story with realistic characters and scenes. Pages keep turning and what happens next was always a surprise!
October 20, 2023
Kula -
Highly unlikely actions and scenarios but it was a fun read none the less. So the book receives 4 stars from me.
Highly unlikely actions and scenarios but it was a fun read none the less. So the book receives 4 stars from me.
August 16, 2024
Goldens rule!
July 31, 2025
I couldn't get into this book. Using a different language and then explaining the words was off-putting to me.
September 17, 2016
Surfing Dogs are great
Having lived in Hawaii for four years I thought this book would be a great way to revisit the Islands. I was a little disappointed. The surfing descriptions were very good and I could envision then with no problem. I think my major distraction was the pidgin language used. I can verify that some people still speak like that but not many. The story line was OK, the characters interesting, and who can resist a dog as the main character? For a quick change of pace from Michael Connelly this was a good book.
Having lived in Hawaii for four years I thought this book would be a great way to revisit the Islands. I was a little disappointed. The surfing descriptions were very good and I could envision then with no problem. I think my major distraction was the pidgin language used. I can verify that some people still speak like that but not many. The story line was OK, the characters interesting, and who can resist a dog as the main character? For a quick change of pace from Michael Connelly this was a good book.
February 15, 2017
Enjoyable mystery
Had this book in my collection for a while to read , glad I finally got round to reading it. Missing family pet , two murders ?missing person ? Blackmail. Very enjoyable well done.
Had this book in my collection for a while to read , glad I finally got round to reading it. Missing family pet , two murders ?missing person ? Blackmail. Very enjoyable well done.
March 8, 2014
Our protagonist is a surfing private detective in Hawaii. This book is #3 in a series. He's running low on scratch, when he accepts an unusual assignment. A local rich precious metals broker wants him to find his dog, a strawberry blonde golden retriever that also surfs. Turns out the client, an Australian, has a jaded past. His former partner did serious prison time, blaming him, and is blackmailing him. The client's wife had already disappeared, then the dog, and finally his daughter. Our hero also recovers abused dogs from a man who would sell stolen canines to the highest budder, often for fighting. The hero has some romantic adventures which are nicely marbled into the plot mix. No complete closure, since this is one of an ongoing series of adventures. Nice light reading for those days when you just cannot fathom picking up a copy of "War and Peace." None of the sci-fi, paranormal, or just downright improbable themes that seem to mess up what otherwise would be great crime mystery novels of recent vintage. Maybe I'm just too old of a dog to learn new tricks. Good page-turner, some colorful glimpses of the islands.
June 14, 2014
People say I train dogs, but in many ways I train people.
- Cesar Millan
Chip Hughes sends Kai Cooke, the Surfing Detective, into the heartwrenching world of dog fighting that plagues the Hawaiian islands. Yet he leaves it in the background, giving Kai the opporutnity to demonstrate his sleuthing skills, act as a big brother to a neglected teenager, and team up with a sexy partner. (And this is a cozy mystery, so there is a happy ending for the animals). Hughes delivers a fast paced action adventure with vivid descriptions of Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui. The author introduces readers to a capable heroine who can handle the criminal element as well as Kai's romantic overtures. And then there is Kula - a dog worth the rescue.
KULA will appeal to readers who appreciate cozy mysteries, tropical settings, and animal lovers. I purchased a copy of KULA for my personal enjoyment.
- Cesar Millan
Chip Hughes sends Kai Cooke, the Surfing Detective, into the heartwrenching world of dog fighting that plagues the Hawaiian islands. Yet he leaves it in the background, giving Kai the opporutnity to demonstrate his sleuthing skills, act as a big brother to a neglected teenager, and team up with a sexy partner. (And this is a cozy mystery, so there is a happy ending for the animals). Hughes delivers a fast paced action adventure with vivid descriptions of Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui. The author introduces readers to a capable heroine who can handle the criminal element as well as Kai's romantic overtures. And then there is Kula - a dog worth the rescue.
KULA will appeal to readers who appreciate cozy mysteries, tropical settings, and animal lovers. I purchased a copy of KULA for my personal enjoyment.
Read
August 1, 2011This book made me want to drive to Waimanalo and get a plate lunch and share it with my cat. It also made me realize for the first time that I have been confusing labradors and retrievers. Mr. Hughes is an acquaintance of mine (I once did some editing on his first book), and though he lives in posh Lanikai, portrayed in the book, he paints the seedier parts of Kailua (which I know quite well) accurately. I'm not much on dog books, but this is a tolerable one, and very easy to read. There are also three cat characters, and Chip takes care to give each of them a distinct feline essence. He also makes good use of the tiresome gold dealers who have sprung up in the islands recently, their annoying insert ads spilling out of the daily paper. If you like dogs, if you like Kailua, if you like surfing, check this one out.
October 4, 2012
This is by far the best of Chip Hughes's books. The missing dog at the heart of the story kept me riveted though the scenes depicted of puppy mills and abused, starving dogs disturbed me. It was especially upsetting that Kai left these dogs in such dire circumstances for several days when he should have helped them sooner.
Hughes has some frankly ugly use of language such as describing Kai's mistress as smelling like ripe cheese in a mousetrap. That doesn't sound pleasant or attractive but he apparently cannot wait to go home and bang her. Call me old-fashioned but that kinda turned my stomach.
Kai's new love interest, Maile Barnes is one of the most riveting female character I've seen for a long time. Hopefully Kai hasn't wrecked things with her by bonking stinky cheese woman - and, I hope, Maile smells a whole lot better.
Hughes has some frankly ugly use of language such as describing Kai's mistress as smelling like ripe cheese in a mousetrap. That doesn't sound pleasant or attractive but he apparently cannot wait to go home and bang her. Call me old-fashioned but that kinda turned my stomach.
Kai's new love interest, Maile Barnes is one of the most riveting female character I've seen for a long time. Hopefully Kai hasn't wrecked things with her by bonking stinky cheese woman - and, I hope, Maile smells a whole lot better.
Read
October 17, 2012 Overall, I enjoyed this book. The main character, Kai, had mixed feelings about the case he was on. When he's hired to find a dog, he's not very happy. He doesn't want to be marked as a pet detective. He complains to himself about doing this, but never out loud, because he needs the money. As the story goes on, Kai realizes that he misses his old dog. There are a few flashbacks of his dog, who he lost when he was a boy. The further Kai goes into this case, the more he starts to care about the dog he's trying to find.
While searching for Kula, the dog, Kai meets people that mistreat animals. He starts to see how much he hates people like that, and he considers actually becoming a pet detective, but dismisses the idea. Throughout this book Kai is confronted with his feelings, and by the end he realizes that maybe having a pet would be a good idea for him.
While searching for Kula, the dog, Kai meets people that mistreat animals. He starts to see how much he hates people like that, and he considers actually becoming a pet detective, but dismisses the idea. Throughout this book Kai is confronted with his feelings, and by the end he realizes that maybe having a pet would be a good idea for him.
December 21, 2012
Now this is great beach read. A surfing detective?! Can't miss. I found the book in Hawaii and it was fun to follow Kai Cooke around familiar places and have him introduce me to some new ones.
The book is fast paced, and easy to read. Like any good detective book, the plots brings you along and isn't too predictable or completely outlandish. Finding Kula and uncovering the seedy pet theft world is the best part of the book. Occasionally it makes attempts to pull at heart strings that didn't quite work for me. And many scenes with Barry Buckingham are outlandish. But my tolerance is pretty high for a detective novel when I like the setting/context, it is written well, has good dialogue, and the detective(s) are good characters.
The book is fast paced, and easy to read. Like any good detective book, the plots brings you along and isn't too predictable or completely outlandish. Finding Kula and uncovering the seedy pet theft world is the best part of the book. Occasionally it makes attempts to pull at heart strings that didn't quite work for me. And many scenes with Barry Buckingham are outlandish. But my tolerance is pretty high for a detective novel when I like the setting/context, it is written well, has good dialogue, and the detective(s) are good characters.
May 7, 2016
I liked it very much. It was my first book in this series but I have already obtained the next two in the series. I like the private investigator and especially liked his love of dogs. He gets the dog missing assignment by mistake. He doesn't find lost dogs but during the hunt for the missing wife, the missing dog, and later the missing daughter, he reignites a long (high school) simmering feeling with a local pet finder. The book leaves you hanging wondering if the two get back together after all these years and after the hostile phone call from a wealthy wife he has been 'seeing' after hours. I hope his groveling works.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews