Mahu Fire

Mahu #3

by Neil S. Plakcy

A Hawai'ian Mystery

Mahu Fire begins six months after Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapaka'a's return to Honolulu from his undercover assignment on the North Shore. He's becoming more comfortable with his visibility as Honolulu's only openly gay homicide detective, including mentoring a group of gay teens.

Kimo, his family and friends are attending a local charity event in support of gay marriage when a bomb disrupts the gala. Kimo is determined to find out who feels strongly enough against the issue to kill-- but it's possible that his high profile will stand in his way.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Crime, Gay

308 pages, ebook

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.

Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.

I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.

It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.

I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.

My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.

I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.

Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.

My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.

I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.

Reviews

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very flowing read. Once again, Plakcy did not disappoint. I like the quiet writing without the emotional manipulation which make my eyes roll.

The Kimo I saw in this book has grown more into himself than the Kimo I met in the first book. I like the growth, the strength, the understanding, the development. He is allowing himself to be what he is. But I also like that he is not pushy. He accepts himself and those around him for what they are. A lesson to be learnt here I think.

The story itself is a well-balanced mixture of criminal activity, police investigation and heroics, action and Kimo’s life (including fun times as well). Plus, what have now become an integral part of the series, some family and friends. Jimmy story development was quite touching. I had some doubts whether it was plausible that the help given by Kimo’s friends would be accepted by his superiors. I will have to see how the stories continue to develop.

Looking forward to more Kimo soon.


Pele Hawaiian Goddess of Fire

BR with Rosa - thanks for the company

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mahu Fire was the second mystery I wrote-- though before it was published I realized I needed to write Mahu Surfer.

I hope that I learned a lot about writing and pacing in the course of writing this book. Originally it was written in the third person, and included scenes from the villains' perspective-- but my editor convinced me that I should focus on Kimo, so I spent hours at Starbucks revising on a tight schedule.

I love the fireworks that occur when Kimo meets sexy fire investigator Mike Riccardi, and that part of the book was great fun to write.

[Rosa, really · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mystery

Kimo investigates fires, a bombing and murder in the gay community, which is organizing support for gay marriage.

The Romance

There is one! And it's so sweet. And despite the mustache, the guy sounds hot. Which is always nice.

The Family

Family plays a large part in this novel. I love Kimo's family. Some of them may not be totally comfortable with his sexuality. (Kimo remarks that if he brings a male friend around his family give them the side eye, seeming to wonder what they "do" together. Uh, I believe I could recommend several - thousand - books that may help them with that.) Some weren't immediately supportive when he came out. However, his family love & support him no matter what. They have a complex family dynamic that I find realistic. Well, with less yelling and stomping out of the room.

Kimo

Just a fantastic character. Plakcy subtlety shows that Kimo constantly works on being true to himself. Reminds me that it's something you have to work on day to day, not something that just suddenly happens.

The author

Neil Plakcy is a subtle writer. Kimo is an very open character, but Plakcy doesn't use him to paint his themes in bold strokes (ugh, thank god he's not that cliched either). It's just so relaxing to read his books. However, if you like your books with a little more action and romance I've heard Have Body, Will Guard is pretty good.

BTW, not much surfing in this one, but look! It's so cool!



Thanks for the BR, Sofia! Mwah!

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't very taken with the first two Mahu books, but I guess there is a reason for the term "Third time's the charm".

Mahu Fire interests me quicky with both the case (which, like my friend points out that it is more of a social issue rather than simple crime) and the characters. I'm warming up to Kimo now, the moment that the book opens with him volunteering at Gay Teen Center and later on helping a gay teenager who is being kicked out by his family. I fall more in love with Tommy's family, most especially his father. I enjoy his moment of having a crush with Mike Riccardi, a fireman who ends up working with him ... and definitely look forward to more romance in the next books.

By the way, I'm not a detailed person (AT ALL) but I do notice that Kimo's age-difference with his two brothers change in each book. In first book and this one, they're 8 and 6 years different, while in book #2 they're 10 and 8 years different. What's up with that?

Best line: "Somebody shot my cock", because it makes me go, WHAAAAT?? Only to realize that the man means THAT (real) cock as in chicken :p

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, these are getting better as they go, they could still use some editing to cut down on the repetitious phrases and words but the characters are growing on me. Mike Riccardi, the sexy new closeted love interest for Kimo is one that i'm not sure about though. Him being closeted works on one level because Kimo understands what that likes, but on the other hand, with Kimo being so recently out, I don't want this relationship to push him back towards the closet.

[Lady Lauren Explorer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25!

Although I did enjoy reading it for what it was, I thought there would be more explicit steam, but it was more figurative I guess like it told us that they were doing something without explicitly telling us they were doing something


I didn’t realize that the story was mainly focused on the investigation, like it should be then the romance, even though the romance did take a sort of backseat.

Maybe next month or so I will read the fourth or fifth in the series cause I know that one has the infidelity in it but right now I’m just gonna go back to a nice steamy romance.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its taken me a long time to start reading this series but it is getting better and better with each book.
I like how we have alot about Kimo's home life and family as well as the mystery.
This time Kimo starts to see a fireman called Mike and its an issue because Mike is so far in the closet it will be interesting to see how it pans out

[F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series I enjoy but have read totally out of order.
In this book we are introduced to Mike Riccardi, a fireman. Unfortunately he is still in the closet so Kimo is wary of forming a relationship.
Read the book to find out what a fire-bombing, a dead chicken, the murder of an old man and a revivalist church have in common. Watch Kimo unravel the threads.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing the second book of the Mahu series, Mahu Surfer, I couldn't wait to read this third one. By the end of the second book, I'd fallen quite in love with the world of homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka, although I wasn't sure how much I would love the main character. In this third on, Mahu Fire, Kimo returns to investigate a series of related crimes involving gay bashing and fire. He took a personal interest in the investigation because he, his friends and family almost became victims of one of the biggest crimes, a bombing during an event that supports gay marriage in Hawai'i. Now that he is a well-known member of the gay community, he has not only his job at stake in the investigation but also his privacy and personal reputation as a gay cop.

I find this third book quite a change from the first two. Perhaps because the first two books are so close in their timeline, and this book happened some time after the events in Mahu and Surfer, I find myself looking at a familiar set of characters that are not so familiar anymore. This doesn't mean they have changed, but as the characters develop, the readers get to dig deeper into their lives and personalities that we can all look at them as new people, instead of just recurring characters. Kimo's brothers, for example, Lui and Haoa, are perfect examples of this. Both of them were quite two-dimensional in the first two books but since they are more fleshed out in the third one, we get to see them in a different light. And Kimo's father, who is a prominent figure since Mahu, is now a very vivid presence in his life. Meanwhile, the Chinese teenager with the blond mohawk that got involved in the case in the first book, Jimmy Ah Wong, has returned to become a star in a supporting role in the story of Kimo's life.

What's interesting here is that there's a completely new character in the mix, Mike Ricardi, the fireman who investigates the fires related to Kimo's case. He's Kimo's main love interest and is the first one Kimo considers seriously to be a permanent lover, instead of just a friend with benefits. Mike is in the closet, just as Kimo once was, and there were moments when I felt sorry for Kimo. To fall for a guy who resided in the same dark place he had finally managed to escape from? It must have been hard on Kimo.

And it is hard. Their relationship isn't all about fun and games (although, for once in this series, Plakcy gives us a few rather detailed erotic scenes between them) and that's what sets Mike apart from Kimo's other lovers. But Plakcy avoids making them and their relationship from being too complicated. I simply despise stories where authors deliberately make their characters lives a living hell just for the sake of bringing angst into the mixture. Life is often not that complicated, although it is certainly hard, so by making Kimo and Mike's relationship a bit rocky but not dripping with angst, Plakcy is keeping everything real.

So on the romance side, it's very interesting to see what's going on. But on the mystery side, not so much. Perhaps because I am now used to of the stories in the series, I was able to predict who the villain (or, villains) was. They were pretty much stock villains - typical characters that are only special because they committed crime. I wasn't as interested in them as I was for the villains in the previous books. Then again, the Mahu series is an investigative crime series... it's not the result that matters, but the process that does. Plakcy takes the procedural approach to explore the mystery and didn't go to the sensational route with many plot twists and whatnot. I may be a minority in this but I actually quite like that approach.

In any case, this is so much more of a human story than a crime story. This is a book that establishes Kimo's character in his world after his turbulent new beginnings and it serves as a bridge, I suppose, between the first two (which may be counted as one) story to the next one, Mahu Vice.

I enjoyed it, perhaps not as much as I did Surfer, but this is still an excellent story and deserve to be read.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

Person A: Knock, knock.
Person B: Who’s there?
Person A: Me-ma.
Person B: Me Mahu.
Person A: Oh, you mahu? No touch me!

This kind of dumb joke was typical for schoolyards in Hawaii, where I grew up.

The term Mahu has been used in Hawaii as long as I can remember to describe a homosexual male. A mahu also usually dresses like a woman (basically a tranny). And mahus were sometimes prostitutes as well. So when the Minneapolis Public Library suggested this book on its home page, I admit I was puzzled and intrigued.

Kimo Kanapa’aka is a detective working on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. (I loved Hawaii-50 and am looking forward to the remake, so a cop thriller based in Hawaii is a interest of mine. This is my first male/male romance novel, however.) Kimo has recently been outed on television by his brother and is still dealing with the fallout at work, though his family is totally accepting. Kimo’s at an event to promote gay marriage when there’s a bomb and several people are injured and one death. Kimo rescues a woman, and encounters a sexy firefighter. The mystery is okay, and does tie in several unsolved cases that Kimo’s working on.

This book was written by a gay man about a gay man. Okay, should be fairly accurate about life as a gay man, right? How the heck will I ever know? I’ve read some lesbian fiction before, Sarah Waters’ Tipping The Velvet is the best one, but this is my first male/male romance novel billed as such. I totally followed Lackey’s Heralds of Valdemar series with Vanyel. Except it wasn’t really a romance novel, or maybe it is.

“Our eyes met, and I knew. Maybe Mike Riccardi didn’t know it himself yet; maybe he knew but he just wasn’t admitting it. But in that glance, when our eyes locked on each other, I knew. This hunky fireman with the sexy mustache and dancing eyes was just as gay as I was.”

I just found the dialogue between the two lovers kinda juvenile. Just crude references to boners, bones, tools, etc. Maybe my husband would like to talk like that, but I won’t let him, because we’re adults and the innuendos get old after a while.

I was stunned and troubled a little by the lens thru which everyone views Kimo. The gay prejudice is very real, I get it now in a way I didn’t before. I just wish this was a better book.

But it was written by Floridian man about a man living in Hawaii. The Hawaiian references were inadequate, simply from the title. It’s not frangipani – it’s plumeria. Kimo is not a mahu, he’s just homosexual. It’s not The Tranny Detective - but given the sexual language, maybe it should be titled The Tranny Dick.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series can be frustrating. Do I enjoy them? Yes and no. It's a fun story where I don't have to think for very much, but at the same time, the writing can be cheesy and the twists are always fairly obvious - though to be fair, sometimes I feel like I'm watching Showgirls or Mommy Dearest with all of the high melodrama, and I can't help but laugh.

This is the third book in the Mahu series, and like the others before it, Plakcy looks to have his character face another facet of gay identity. In the first one, Kimo came out of the closet. In the second, Kimo learned to accept himself and live as a gay person. In this edition, Kimo begins his very first big-boy relationship. Of course, it veers into melodrama, with supporting characters who are more cartoonish than people, but I'll say what I said about the first two books in the series: as a mystery, this isn't very satisfying. But as a character study, it's a lot of fun.

I understand why Kimo's intelligence is always slightly below ours - it's always satisfying when we can figure things out ahead of the main character. But this time around it was bordering on the ridiculous - when I know what's coming 100 pages ahead of time, it makes it seem like Kimo is an idiot. And don't even get me started on the case itself, or all of the ways that he bungles the investigation. Or the way he talks to the kids in the first chapter. As a teacher, that was making me cringe in embarrassment.

But then you have his first relationship, and although it's a bit after school special perfect, it was fun. Though it is kind of frustrating that all of the gay characters are either struggling with their identities (because they're not drag queens and they're not okay with it!) or prostitutes (literally). And a lot of it seems to be unnecessary explanations, but I will admit to my hypocrisy on that regard - I enjoy the Hawaiian explanations (not so much for the third go around, though), but the gay explanations drive me up the wall, probably because I already know all of that information.

It's a fun book. If you've read the other ones, you might as well read this one, too, though it's probably the most melodramatic of the three. And as always, there's always one thing that happens that I don't expect, which makes the book a bit more interesting. It's not great literature, but it's an enjoyable way to kill a few hours, and reading for pleasure is the most important reason to read a book in the first place.

[Lady*M · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Kimo back on the job and his family and friends were the things the previous book was missing, especially since family and friends make such a big part of Kimo's character. It was also great to see Kimo growing as a gay man and helping the gay teenagers. I like how he tried to teach them important things by using himself as an example. His relationship with Johnny and his attempts to help the boy showed just how big a heart Kimo has. Another plus was the fact that Kimo wasn't following his little head as usual - this time he decided to explore the relationship with Mike, handsome firefighter. Mike is in the closet and it is not an easy thing, but Kimo also understands Mike's fears since he experienced them himself.

The story was more police procedural than a mystery, since it was pretty obvious who was responsible for the murders and arsons, but all the stages of the investigation were well done and the ending was really exciting.

The only reason why this wasn't a 5-star read is editing. I can't believe there wasn't a single person at MLR Press to catch such glaring mistakes as the age difference between Kimo and his brothers.

Overall, this was a very fun read and I'm now continuing with the stories from Mahu Men which cover the events after this novel and before Mahu Vice. Highly recommended.

[A.J. Llewellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Kimo very much but his family life continues to be more appealing than his tepid romance or his unconvincing police work. Hard to believe one cop could be assigned a huge investigation involving multiple arsons and homicides.
I'm continually surprised at the lack of mystery to Kimo's mysteries...or the authenticity of the islands. Once again, I was staggered at the plot problems in this and did send the author an email listing them. The little boy's age keeps changing for one thing. A major character's name from book 1 is inexplicably changed here.
Most disturbingly, Kimo takes his recently widowed best friend to a gay event when the place is fire bombed. He forgets all about her, rushing to save his new squeeze.
He never even bothers to call and see if she made it out of the inferno alive. Just calls her several weeks later for coffee!
I stopped believing in Kimo as a hero after that.
There were many other inconsistencies (and Hawaiian inaccuracies) that continue to crop up in the Mahu books.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series and so it isn't a surprise to find that I like this one as well. First of all I love the way each book transports me to Hawaii and to the sun, the sand, sea, and surf. When I read these books I can feel the heat of Hawaii on my skin and I feel that I am there in the hustle and bustle that can be found on Oahu. But it isnt just the island that I am drawn into. I am also pulled into mystery, family life, emerging love, work place politics and the wider GLBT struggle for rights.

Mahu Fire is a good story. I think the way this book manages to pull all these diverse aspects together and make them a comprehensive and engaging whole is amazing. I like finding a series that resonates with me on different levels and that can transport me to other places and draw me into other lives. This book and this series does all of that for me.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mahu Fire is the third volume of this terrific mystery series by Neil Plakcy. The series two main characters, Kimo Kanapa'aka, a Honolulu homicide detective, and Mike Riccardi, a fire investigator, are both particularly likable. The character development throughout the series including Kimo’s family and their friends, continues to fascinate.

Having said that, Mahu Fire ventures into areas of rough sex, physical and psychological abuse, and truly extreme prejudice beyond anything in either of the earlier two books in the series.

Even with that caveat, the mystery and the romance continue to be totally satisfying. On to volume 4!

[Relly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

4.25 ⭐️

Reread

This series feels like it’s hit it’s groove with this one. I found it the best so far and it didn’t take me long to get invested in the story and characters.

I liked that Kimo struggles with his identity as the “gay cop” and wants to be known for more than that. I also really liked that he gives back to the lgbt kids at the community centre.

The story was engaging and the introduction of Mike was fantastic. It’s nice to see Kimo really interested in someone, not just sex.

Looking forward to the next one.

[Lori S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.

[Quartknee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The case itself is super easy to figure out in the earliest chapters, so it's more of a procedural 'howcatchum' which is very different from the first two stories.

The politics feel very heavy-handed and get preachy in several parts. I'm sure that gay marriage was an important topic when this book was written, but it's a very dated intrusion into the story. I lived through that history, and I remember gay opinions on the topic panned the gamut from 'why are you trying to be straight' or 'that's a corporate queen issue' to things like, 'get government out of the marriage business altogether/civil partnerships for all.' Rebranding the topic to marriage equality reframed the issue from a special right for gays who could get straight married to gays wanting an equal equivalent. Some of these sentiments are hinted at in the story, but not enough to save the characters and narrator from taking on a self-righteous tone at times.

The first two installments of this series were so solid, and maybe they set the bar too high for this one. Integrating the family into the case felt very forced in a few spots. Especially during the climactic sequence, Kimo's boss even mentions how unusual/beyond protocol is to involve the family in rescue efforts. Still, he was desperate to save his step-daughter, which supports the theme of 'family,' which runs throughout this series. Now that I think of it, we're three books in, and I don't think I've heard a single person nor the narrator use the term, 'ohana' yet.

[Lois - Who Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kimo has found a possible romantic partner! And he is a hot fireman!

When there is a bombing at an event in support of gay marriage, Kimo is quickly caught up in the mystery. His parents, brothers, and sister-in-laws are in attendance and Kimo takes the bombing personally because of that. Because of the bombing Kimo meets Mike, a fireman who is on the scene as part of the investigation, and they just click.

Kimo is really coming into his own and learning to live out of the closet and be honest about what he wants. What he really wants is a stable monogamous relationship and there is a chance that Mike just might be the man for that.

It is no surprise who is up to no good as we meet the religious crazies in the beginning of the book, although there are a few twists and turns. Once again, we have people using the bible to support their own reasons for hating others and even go so far to believe that God is on their side while they kill people. This book may be a decade old, but that, unfortunately, has not changed.

I am really rooting for Kimo and Mike – I really want him to have his guy.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This was my least favorite installment so far. In fact, I think I'm going to call it quits on this series now.

The mystery drove me crazy because it was sooooooo obvious who the killer was, and Kimo seemed like an idiot for not figuring it out sooner. There's a little writing quirk the author uses when Kimo's missing something right in front of his face, and I wasn't a fan of it in the first two books, but it was much more egregious here.

I still enjoyed the setting, and I'm glad we finally learned where the (derogatory) term Mahu comes from, but there's a longer-term storyline introduced here that I don't think I want to continue with. It just didn't work for me, and reading ahead to the summaries and reviews of the next two books, it doesn't sound like that's going to change.

I would still recommend the first two books in the series if it sounds like something that interests you, mainly for the setting and the OwnVoices perspective on internalized homophobia.

[BeckieLouLou]

DNF series. Completed book one. Audiobook. Series following the same homicide detective main character. Book one is narrated by Joel Leslie who did a great job with the MANY characters, a vast majority who have accents. Book two is a different narrator, Stan Jenson, who sounds like a 100 year old reading from a rocking chair. He is also reading at a pace that seems like he just wants to get this done, one of the most unappealing narrations I have come across. This is supposed to be a sexy surfer cop in great shape, somewhere in his late 20s/early 30s. The voice does not match at all and is unpleasant. Same voice/narrator for book 3. not good.

Book one laid out a great backstory and character, making the reader look forward to learning more and starting a journey. I’ll have to pick this back up when I feel like reading with my eyes, instead of with my ears.

Hawaii, homicide detective, m/m, series 13 books.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third installment of the Mahu series, Mahu Fire really sees the drama kick up a notch. Kimo Kanapa'aka continues his role as detective with the Honolulu Police Department, which brings his attention to a series of arsons at LGBT-related locations. Things get explosive not only in the crime scenes but also in the bedroom as Kimo gets to know a new character. On top of the intense investigation, romance is added into the mix as well, in a refreshing way.

Mahu Fire is as compulsive a read as the first two in the series. With compelling characters, gritty and intense investigations, and unexpected twists -- it's all woven together perfectly for a thoroughly satisfying read.

[JR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing, Well Balanced Mystery


Kimo has a new love interest, a firefighter . This time it looks like the real thing. The dynamics of their relationship is the heart and soul of this story, and the reader can't help but root for Kimo to have found his soul mate. He is also faced with murders, bombings and a church that doesn't seem to be on the up and up.
Once again, Mr. Plakcy has given his readers an intriguing, well balanced mystery, interspersed with the main character growing comfortable in his skin.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Very Well Written And Thought Provoking"

This is the 3d book of the series and the first book I've read by this author. This is a gay story of Kimo Kanapa's learning that he is gay, accepting himself and getting busy solving crimes as a detective in Hawaii. The author has done an amazing job sharing life experiences of his main character. I'm so thankful I've read this realistic story of inequality.

[DeeNeez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just recently found this series, and I’m really enjoying Kimo and his family. And finally, it looks like a love interest in Mike, one hot fireman. Kimo has grown so much in his self identity as a gay man, a cop and a local celebrity. Yet, will there be future problems with Mike, who is still in the closet? The identity of the killer and arsons wasn’t so hard to figure out, but it was still a great read having Kimo solve the mystery. Looking forward to the next book!

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Book 2, I said I wasn't going to read any more. I love cozy mysteries, but I love them without explicit sex scenes. While I completely understand the reason for the sex scenes in the first two, they just aren't for me.

But the stories are that good. Sure, in book 3 I still had to skip over a paragraph or three from time to time, but *most* every paragraph in the book has a significant purpose, and all lead the story in the right direction.

On to Book 4.

[Lisa Pett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t much of a mystery reader but I read Mahu and enjoyed the coming-out tale mixed with a cultural police mystery and LOVED Mahu Surfer, which hooked me on the series.

I liked that Kimo continues to develop as a character and is finding true romance as well.

I enjoy the setting and these are fun reads.

[Matty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a long time since I've read a Mahu book so I was very excited to get this for Christmas. I wish the editing was a bit better, the dialogue a little more believable, and I'm not quite convinced the Kimo is actually a good detective, but regardless I still really enjoy this world and these characters.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

I just finished this page turner! Well written, great story telling! T like the twist and turns that the writer has done to keep me engage in the story! Well done!