Murder in Paradise: A Christmas in Hawaii Turns to Tragedy

by Chris Loos, Rick Castberg

The shocking true story of the murder of 23–year–old Dana Ireland and the nine–year investigation that became Hawaii's most publicised murder case. By all accounts, 23–year–old Dana Ireland would have been successful at whatever she chose to do with her life. But she didn't get that chance. On Christmas Eve, 1991, this blonde–haired, blue–eyed young woman set off on her bicycle. As she was riding back to the holiday meal, three local youths decided to celebrate Christmas in a different way. They followed her in their car, then rammed her bike, kidnapped, raped, and beat her, and left her for dead on an isolated spot overlooking the ocean. In a community where many residents left their doors unlocked, people were shocked and terrified by this random, brutal act of violence. Worse still was that if the authorities hadn't taken so long to get to the victim, she might have lived. As months and years went by, frustration turned to outrage when police failed to arrest anyone for Dana's murder. But from his home in Springfield, Virginia, John Ireland started his own dogged investigation and crusade for justice. And nine years after his daughter's murder, after one of the most complicated cases the state had ever seen, three men were convicted. Here is a dramatic true story.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

392 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

Reviews

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good but it's hard to say you "loved" a true crime story. The crime happens on the Big Island of Hawaii, in a remote area far from the typical vacationer's paradise. Dana Ireland is a young 23 year old girl in love with the paradise that is Hawaii and the family is enjoying Christmas with an older daughter that had made her home there. Shortly before dinner on Christmas Eve in 1991, Dana rode her bicycle to a friend's house to invite him to Christmas dinner, but on her return trip she was hit by a car, beaten and raped and left for dead. A woman hears her cries and tries to help, but the emergency system and roads on that remote side of the island cause delays in getting her medical assistance and she dies in the hospital. From there the story goes on to describe the parents efforts to obtain justice for their daughter and better emergency communication for the islands. Evidence is minimal and DNA does not match any of the suspects, but through the unrelenting involvement of Dana's father and the determination of the Hawaiian detective, the case goes to court and the men are convicted; however, the DNA evidence remains a mystery.

[Wai'ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good overview of the tragic case I grew up hearing during my childhood. this horrible tragedy happened just a few miles from where I was raised and grew up. I attended the same schools as the defendants, was taught to swim at the same beaches that were mentioned and spent my youth walking those same secluded coastal roads. this story changed my home town and the whole state as it did for all those involved, and I feel this book painted a fairly accurate portrayal of all that occurred not just in the court room but in our small hometown, and all of Hawai'i. vivid descriptions of people, places and surroundings added to the depth of the book and the overall telling of the case. I found the ending to be on point and true to the case itself, "what about the dna?" it's something the whole community wonders and eagerly awaits for the answer still.

[Rachel Aranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This overview of a 1991 running into, beating, rape, murder a young woman on a Hawaiian island was decently written. This case had a lack of witnesses of the incident, shifting confession, and lack of forensic evidence made this case a nightmare for Hawaii Police Department. As a reader I appreciate the writer being from the area the murder took place, but I feel she could have been more organized in her writing. It would have been nice if she had gone more in depth into the case.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first got published. It had a different book cover then-these monsters weren't on the cover so directly. I am not a true crime fan at all. I cried my eyes out reading this. I was also so angry. This is the only true crime I have read since and this story has never left my mind or heart. Her story had an impact on me and I have also always been super cautious when I am out alone because of what this girl went through. So sad. After my reading this I continue to avoid the true crime genre.

[Naomi Bruneau]

This is hard to rate bc it was written so long ago and soooo much more has come out since it was written. I was in high school when Dana Ireland was murdered on the island I grew up on and it really shook me. I’ve been following this story for decades. I try to watch and read everything I can about the case but I don’t think there will ever be closure.

[Mars G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely. The authors were very helpful in painting a picture and as someone who is in CJS academia, the legal details about jury selection were exciting to me. It painted a broader picture for your average Joe or Josephine True Crime Reader.

[Richard Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The problem is the story is not true. Since this book was written the men implicated and convicted have been exonerated. They did not do it and the case remains unsolved. A tragic murder was compounded by a false conviction. This book celebrates the conviction of men who were later cleared

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In beautiful Hawaii on Christmas eve 1991 23 year old Dana Ireland was riding her bike from her boyfriend's place to her parents place when a nightmare unfolded. Three strangers kidnapped, raped, beat her and left her to die. She was alive when good samaritans found her but latter died on Christmas day. If you like detailed courtroom true crime books, this book is for you, I don't but I did find the book easy to read.

[Taylor Lasconia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall i would rate this book a four star. It was a great book if you are into the whole crime scene . It is basically just a book based on a true story murder case that happened in Hawaii , on christmas eve. Not so much does it explain the murder itself but the trials and troubles one family had to go through to get their justice. I recommend to anyboyd interested in c.s.i .

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a true (sad) story about Dana Ireland who was brutally raped and murdered in Hawaii. Unfortunately, with numerous issues, it took the legal team several years to finally convict three who were involved while one more is still at large.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a true story and was really interesting