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Aloha, Lady Blue: A Mystery
This riveting new mystery series pays loving homage to legendary author John D. MacDonald. Stryker McBride is a former crime reporter who lives on a hugely expensive houseboat, “the Travis McGee.” When Stryker receives an unexpected SOS call from a sultry beauty queen, he agrees to look into the suspicious death of the woman’s grandfather. As Stryker investigates, he encounters a cast of characters as diverse as Hawaii itself, including Auntie Kealoha, a charming entertainer turned mobster, and her 400 pound right-hand man, a Chinese-Hawaiian named Tiny Maunakea. Soon, Stryker discovers a deadly secret buried deep in the heart of Hawaii that has consequences much larger than one old man’s death.
Vivid and exhilarating, Aloha, Lady Blue transports you right to the heart of an island paradise populated with exotic women, glorious scenery, and whispered scandals. Memminger brings Hawaii to life so vividly that you can almost hear the pounding of the surf and catch the scent of plumeria on the breeze. Fans of John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series will be swept away by this delicious, action-packed tale.
Vivid and exhilarating, Aloha, Lady Blue transports you right to the heart of an island paradise populated with exotic women, glorious scenery, and whispered scandals. Memminger brings Hawaii to life so vividly that you can almost hear the pounding of the surf and catch the scent of plumeria on the breeze. Fans of John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series will be swept away by this delicious, action-packed tale.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 21, 2013
Charley Memminger's debut novel Aloha, Lady Blue has a vivid portrayal of Hawaii life and a keen understanding of the people who live there. His prose is very descriptive. The island people and criminals are portrayed convincingly.
Channelling his inner John D. MacDonald, the famous author of the Travis McGee private eye novels, Memminger has also written a mystery. His private detective Stryker McBride, is a retired newspaperman. While investigating a story, a dirty cop shot McBride and his source. The source died, McBride survived, but has been on the sidelines of life, nursing his wounds and hardly working as a security guard at a marina, while living on a houseboat stuck on dry land. His dogs provide all the security the marina needs. The dogs are a minor amusement in the story as is the names of some of the characters.
Bored, Stryker receives a call from Amber Kam, a former beauty queen and minor starlet, a scion of a wealthy Chinese immigrant family. Amber wants Stryker to investigate the death of her grandfather, Wai Lo Fat, who drowned in 6 inches of water in a taro plant field. Stryker agrees to look into his death and even when Amber fires him, keeps on looking because his newspaper genes suggest there is nefarious doings afoot.
It seems that Wai Lo Fat, was a member of a secret Chinese society and one of the owners of Four Gates, a major local land developer. The taro patch, in the middle of a very expensive beachfront area has never been developed.
When Strkyer finds that one of the other owners of Four Gates has also died under odd circumstances, his investigation heats up. A kung fu expert, Danny Chang, who may be working for a Chinese gang beats him up for asking too many questions and one of the biggest gangsters on the island, the incongruous Auntie Kealoha and her behemoth of a gun man want to talk to him. The book circles back detailing more of Stryker's life and his run-ins with the local criminal element. After McBride visits the dirty cop in jail, more deaths ensue.
Its up to McBride, the local coroner, Melba McCall, a possible love interest, and McBride's pal Blue Ho'okane to figure out why so many people are interested in stopping McBride from investigating Wai Lo Fat's death.
The problem here is the plot. Its sort of "Chinatown" the movie, the famous movie about the Los Angeles land grab, but Jimmy Hoffa's body is buried somewhere in Hawaii. There are Japanese prisoners of war issues,Chinese gangs, the military, a mad scientist and germ warfare all mixed together in a relatively short book, which requires a lot of explanations in the book.
The plot was just too over the top. Original, but not believable.
Channelling his inner John D. MacDonald, the famous author of the Travis McGee private eye novels, Memminger has also written a mystery. His private detective Stryker McBride, is a retired newspaperman. While investigating a story, a dirty cop shot McBride and his source. The source died, McBride survived, but has been on the sidelines of life, nursing his wounds and hardly working as a security guard at a marina, while living on a houseboat stuck on dry land. His dogs provide all the security the marina needs. The dogs are a minor amusement in the story as is the names of some of the characters.
Bored, Stryker receives a call from Amber Kam, a former beauty queen and minor starlet, a scion of a wealthy Chinese immigrant family. Amber wants Stryker to investigate the death of her grandfather, Wai Lo Fat, who drowned in 6 inches of water in a taro plant field. Stryker agrees to look into his death and even when Amber fires him, keeps on looking because his newspaper genes suggest there is nefarious doings afoot.
It seems that Wai Lo Fat, was a member of a secret Chinese society and one of the owners of Four Gates, a major local land developer. The taro patch, in the middle of a very expensive beachfront area has never been developed.
When Strkyer finds that one of the other owners of Four Gates has also died under odd circumstances, his investigation heats up. A kung fu expert, Danny Chang, who may be working for a Chinese gang beats him up for asking too many questions and one of the biggest gangsters on the island, the incongruous Auntie Kealoha and her behemoth of a gun man want to talk to him. The book circles back detailing more of Stryker's life and his run-ins with the local criminal element. After McBride visits the dirty cop in jail, more deaths ensue.
Its up to McBride, the local coroner, Melba McCall, a possible love interest, and McBride's pal Blue Ho'okane to figure out why so many people are interested in stopping McBride from investigating Wai Lo Fat's death.
The problem here is the plot. Its sort of "Chinatown" the movie, the famous movie about the Los Angeles land grab, but Jimmy Hoffa's body is buried somewhere in Hawaii. There are Japanese prisoners of war issues,Chinese gangs, the military, a mad scientist and germ warfare all mixed together in a relatively short book, which requires a lot of explanations in the book.
The plot was just too over the top. Original, but not believable.
February 10, 2013
Fans of Charley Memminger, Hawaii’s national-award-winning humor columnist (“Honolulu Lite”), will love his first novel, “Aloha, Lady Blue.” Although the intricately woven plot of this thriller will keep you turning the pages way past your bedtime through a series of bizarre and entertainingly crafted episodes, the author’s funny streak will keep you smiling too. The elderly Chinese victim of the crime that Memminger’s hero, Stryker McBride, is trying to solve is called Wai Lo Fat. McBride describes his “first meal of the day, which I had come to refer to as Honey Bunches of Budweiser because it sounded healthier than ‘swigging beer for breakfast.’” The appeal of the novel is deepened by its ample serious side: the insights it provides into the not-always-pretty history and delicious multi-ethnic culture of the Aloha State, as well as its look at the seamy side of paradise, something Memminger knows well thanks to his years as an investigative reporter (unparalleled training for a future humor columnist!) who had his share of up-close-and-personal encounters with some of the more notorious denizens of the Islands’ underworld. Two thumbs up for “Aloha, Lady Blue” – and if I had more thumbs, they’d be up too!
March 12, 2013
For Travis McGee fans, the choice of reading this book is a no-brainer. Memminger is an award winning humorist whose columns I always enjoyed. This is his first in a series of riffs on John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee character. In the first few chapters, the pace seemed a bit herky-jerky. By the time one gets about a third of the way into it, it becomes hard to put it down. Be prepared to lose some sleep trying to find out what's going to happen next. Given my love of sea turtles I wasn't real thrilled with the protagonist popping a beer cap at a passing sea turtle. However, the two dogs more than make up for that. Kane and Lono are Memminger's homage to Zeus and Apollo from the Magnum P.I. series - just named after more culturally appropriate gods. Set on Oahu, Memminger brings in lots of local color and cultural references without letting any of that slow the pace. In the vein of Corcoran, White, and Cunningham, Memminger is a powerful new player in this genre. Charley, you just might be my new favorite author.
November 9, 2012
Aloha Lady Blue is a smart, funny mystery that introduces Stryker McBride, a kind of modern day Travis McGee living in Hawaii instead of Fl. It is very fitting that McBride, an unemployed ex-investigative reporter, lives on a houseboat that he has named The Travis McGee. I loved the dialogue, the story, the quirky characters and the exotic backdrop. Charley Memminger knows Hawaii and he knows how to keep you entertained from the first page to the last.
March 6, 2019
"Aloha, Lady Blue" - written by Charley Memminger and published in 2013 by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St Martin's Publishing Group. "For a thirty-nine-year-old male with a titanium shoulder and a scar from a bullet wound who considered beer one of the four major food groups, I was in pretty good shape." Meet Stryker McBride, a former journalist who is caretaker of a marina in Hawaii, living aboard his yacht The Travis McGee. That right there was what caused me to pick up this mystery thriller, having read and enjoyed quite a few of John D MacDonald's books many years ago. This reincarnation finds McBride following the trails of a few dead bodies while keeping up with his surfing, drinking and womanizing. The book is not really politically correct, but I didn't find it objectionable - neither was Travis McGee! The plot is interesting enough and there's lots of local history to read about, but I did find it too wordy at the end, more than I needed to know. Makes me want to get back to Travis McGee though and see how he has weathered the years!
February 19, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Aloha, Lady Blue : A Mystery, February 18, 2013
By Nanakulikane - See all my reviews
This review is from: Aloha, Lady Blue: A Mystery (Kindle Edition)
For those of us who live in Hawaii and know the phrase 'Ono Grindz' as that applies to food, this is the book version for locals. Memminger definitely hits all the sweet spots and then some, plus he takes the time to explain to haole's,(outsiders), things they would not know about the history, culture and kuliana that makes this place so special to us.
When you add all of the aforementioned to a good story, that has enough twists and turns through not only time and who done it, to satisfy the most ardent detective addict, you have a real winner. If that wasn't enough, Memminger has a Carl Hiassen sense of humor in his writing, (no wonder they have the same back ground), that has you at times rolling on the floor. 5 Stars Sir for your book, that my wife thoughtfully bought me on a whim, for which I will be eternally grateful.
By Nanakulikane - See all my reviews
This review is from: Aloha, Lady Blue: A Mystery (Kindle Edition)
For those of us who live in Hawaii and know the phrase 'Ono Grindz' as that applies to food, this is the book version for locals. Memminger definitely hits all the sweet spots and then some, plus he takes the time to explain to haole's,(outsiders), things they would not know about the history, culture and kuliana that makes this place so special to us.
When you add all of the aforementioned to a good story, that has enough twists and turns through not only time and who done it, to satisfy the most ardent detective addict, you have a real winner. If that wasn't enough, Memminger has a Carl Hiassen sense of humor in his writing, (no wonder they have the same back ground), that has you at times rolling on the floor. 5 Stars Sir for your book, that my wife thoughtfully bought me on a whim, for which I will be eternally grateful.
February 16, 2013
This was a great read! Having read most all of the Travis McGee series by John D.MacDonald I was so thrilled to find this book on my local library's new book shelf. Set in Hawaii and full of all kinds of Hawaiian history and lore this book was a interesting read for me and makes me want to visit the islands. I love that his land locked house boat is named the Travis McGee and I did pick up on the Authors crafty way of weaving the titles of 2 of Travis McGee novels into his writing, most notably Free Fall in Crimson and The Deep Blue Goodbye, very clever. I am looking forward to more from this series and how the author develops his Stryker McBride character and now that the Travis McGee is in the Water who knows were this modern day Travis McGee will venture!
July 19, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Stryker McBride was a retired reporter living the good life after a traumatic encounter with a crooked cop. He was lured back into action after the death of the grandfather of a high school crush. The u dealing plot reflected the distrust bought on by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. There is a major incluence by Japanese Americans in the book. Also, the scenery painted by the Author was impressive. Great story.
October 17, 2015
As this series debut begins, Stryker McBride (an ex-reporter on the police beat) is recovering from an injury incurred while on the job. He’s living in a houseboat moored on dry land while he waits for a spot on a marina pier to open up. His job as security guard at the marina is mainly executed by his two dogs, so he spends most of his time drinking in the marina bar or on his boat. A call comes in from Amber, a beautiful woman he went to school with, asking him to look into the death of her grandfather who was an important member of the local Chinese community.
Local land developers, genetic engineering of crops, the treatment of Japanese-American families during WWII, and Chinese secret societies and gangs all play a role in the plot as Stryker finds connections between his past injuries and the present death of Amber’s grandfather. In spite of the various plots coming together, there is little depth in the treatment of any of the plot strands. Stryker seems to skim along the surface of his life, and the same light touch that the author, Charley Memminger, gives to his personal life is applied to the plotting. Stryker does not seem to take anything very seriously. This resulted in my feeling as though he and others in the book were more caricatures than characters. The book is told in first person, from Stryker’s point of view, and the tone is rather flippant.
There is a similar lack of depth to the setting, Memminger tosses off small hints that we are in Hawaii (aside from the frequent references to the eponymous shirts and women in bikinis): “I was jogging along the shoulder of the H-3 Freeway, which is illegal as hell but gives you a great view of the length of Kaneohe Bay..” (p. 86). But the author never gives us a feel for the locale; there’s no beautiful language describing it, no sense of the humidity and weather, just Stryker’s off-hand remarks. Given the exotic setting, I would have liked to feel more as though I had been transported there.
Memminger provides the greatest detail as he describes the history behind the Chinese secret societies, gangs, and criminals in Honolulu. This was an interesting aspect of the book, although even this could have been better integrated. The reader is informed as one character provides a mini-lecture for another character. Background information is provided in a direct, didactic manner.
This was a light book, perhaps best for a beach read – especially a beach in Hawaii so that the reader does not need the author to transport him or her there. If you like a faintly humorous sleuth who loves beer and appreciates the sight of a woman in a bikini more than beautiful scenery, you’ll probably find this book more appealing than I did.
Local land developers, genetic engineering of crops, the treatment of Japanese-American families during WWII, and Chinese secret societies and gangs all play a role in the plot as Stryker finds connections between his past injuries and the present death of Amber’s grandfather. In spite of the various plots coming together, there is little depth in the treatment of any of the plot strands. Stryker seems to skim along the surface of his life, and the same light touch that the author, Charley Memminger, gives to his personal life is applied to the plotting. Stryker does not seem to take anything very seriously. This resulted in my feeling as though he and others in the book were more caricatures than characters. The book is told in first person, from Stryker’s point of view, and the tone is rather flippant.
There is a similar lack of depth to the setting, Memminger tosses off small hints that we are in Hawaii (aside from the frequent references to the eponymous shirts and women in bikinis): “I was jogging along the shoulder of the H-3 Freeway, which is illegal as hell but gives you a great view of the length of Kaneohe Bay..” (p. 86). But the author never gives us a feel for the locale; there’s no beautiful language describing it, no sense of the humidity and weather, just Stryker’s off-hand remarks. Given the exotic setting, I would have liked to feel more as though I had been transported there.
Memminger provides the greatest detail as he describes the history behind the Chinese secret societies, gangs, and criminals in Honolulu. This was an interesting aspect of the book, although even this could have been better integrated. The reader is informed as one character provides a mini-lecture for another character. Background information is provided in a direct, didactic manner.
This was a light book, perhaps best for a beach read – especially a beach in Hawaii so that the reader does not need the author to transport him or her there. If you like a faintly humorous sleuth who loves beer and appreciates the sight of a woman in a bikini more than beautiful scenery, you’ll probably find this book more appealing than I did.
February 16, 2013
Reviewers before me hit the nail on the head with their insightful feedback - and for the most part, I echo their sentiments. This is a promising debut featuring former reporter Stryker McBride who acts as unofficial security guard for the local marina where he lives on his boat. The Hawaiian locales are beautifully realized and his affection for the late John D MacDonald is evident throughout. The dialogue is crisp and the story moves forward at a good pace.
Having said that, there were two aspects that I felt could have used some judicious editing to make the book even sharper: the author's knowledge of Chinese Americans and WWII lore is impressive yet I got lost sometimes trying to keep up with all the specific details. Additionally, there were instances where Stryker is coming off as too good and the author tried a bit too hard to get this point across. Still, not enough to detract from a good story and hopefully there will be more Stryker stories to come.
Having said that, there were two aspects that I felt could have used some judicious editing to make the book even sharper: the author's knowledge of Chinese Americans and WWII lore is impressive yet I got lost sometimes trying to keep up with all the specific details. Additionally, there were instances where Stryker is coming off as too good and the author tried a bit too hard to get this point across. Still, not enough to detract from a good story and hopefully there will be more Stryker stories to come.
March 6, 2013
I'm a great lover of books that evoke a sense of place. While I've never been to Hawaii, I can imagine that those who have - and who enjoy mysteries - would really love this book. It benefits from a knowledge of the geography of Oahu, so I ended up looking at an online map while reading this to get a sense of where it all took place.
The story will appeal to those who love the Travis McGee novels of John MacDonald - the hero's boat is even named the Travis McGee and the story is an homage to those books, just set in another tropical clime. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. He introduces vivid characters that you want to know more about.
The story will appeal to those who love the Travis McGee novels of John MacDonald - the hero's boat is even named the Travis McGee and the story is an homage to those books, just set in another tropical clime. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. He introduces vivid characters that you want to know more about.
February 6, 2013
I was hoping for more Kinky Friedman/Robert P Parker (humor/dialogue/action) and less lengthy history/geography lessons. Don't get me wrong. I learned a lot about the ethnicity, crime, corruption, flora and fauna of Oahu in this first book of Memminger's new Hawaiian mystery series. Former investigative reporter turned boat/surf bum with money is a Hawaian Travis McGee who needs to talk more and slip island information to his readers in ways not so "textbooklike". Read this series with a state map in hand and you'll enjoy it more, Bruddah. Love me some pidgin!
February 28, 2013
Hawaiian setting, a houseboat named the Travis MdGee and the gods (two lovable guard dogs reminiscent of magnum pi's zeus and apollo, but on the side of our hero) ......throw in a hero with that perfect blend of tough guy and knight in shining (and surfing) armor, and, what's not to love about this first in a series featuring stryker mcbride? A few too many gangsters for my liking, and a shade too long to keep the tension tight, but mcbride and the islands are so nice to hang out with, i didn't mind at all
March 20, 2013
A sprightly mystery with a Hawaii setting by a former humor columnist for the now defunct Honolulu Star Bulletin. He dips into the waters of Carl Hiaasen and John D. MacDonald, deploying characters from Hawaii's multicultural mix: Chinese, Hawaiian, and Caucasian. There are beautiful women, well-spoken henchmen, dogs named for Hawaiian gods. Not the best detective novel on Hawaii I've read, but entertaining enough. Should please those who enjoy stories set on houseboats and hints of long-ago buried crimes.
March 14, 2016
The countdown to Hawaii is on!!
I only read this novel because of my upcoming trip to Hawaii. The novel takes place on Oahu, so it was nice to read about the major sites (Diamond Head, Waikki beach) and getting a feel for the island way of live.
Unfortunately the mystery didn't hold up. The main character didn't solve anything. He just got bounced around from person to person who just gave him information. The whole thing felt very unrealistic.
There was also some history of Hawaii and Chinese Hawaiians, which I didn't enjoy as it took away from the story.
I only read this novel because of my upcoming trip to Hawaii. The novel takes place on Oahu, so it was nice to read about the major sites (Diamond Head, Waikki beach) and getting a feel for the island way of live.
Unfortunately the mystery didn't hold up. The main character didn't solve anything. He just got bounced around from person to person who just gave him information. The whole thing felt very unrealistic.
There was also some history of Hawaii and Chinese Hawaiians, which I didn't enjoy as it took away from the story.
March 15, 2013
Excellent, fast-paced, and touched with humor, this new series explores the seedy side of Hawaii, with good detail on crime syndicates and the intricacies of the majority cultural groups that make this state so very different. I really look forward to more from the author.
April 11, 2013
I started this book before I left for a weeks vacation on Oahu. Even though it is a work of fiction, I was happy that it talked about so many of the places on the island in addition to about the people that live there. It is a good mystery and I couldn't wait to finish it when I got home.
January 30, 2013
Set in Hawaii, the best part of the book was the Hawaiian culture, names and traditions. Not a bad mystery.
March 27, 2013
Debut mystery from this author, and already I'm anxious for more. Good story line, set in Hawaii...makes me want to go even though the protagonist uis dealing with the really bad guys.
February 21, 2013
Fun read
April 25, 2013
good start to series
December 5, 2024
Bought this at a used bookstore on the Big Island years ago, finally read it and enjoyed it. Having spent time on Oahu, it was fun to "revisit" some of the locations Memminger mentions. He's a good writer and Stryker McBride, (retired) intrepid newspaperman, has a healthy respect for life's little pleasures even as he hunts down bad guys.
March 26, 2018
A fun mystery! Aloha, Lady Blue is an obvious (admittedly) homage to author John D. MacDonald. The many interesting characters bring this novel alive and the story is well crafted. Having lived in Hawaii 25 years I can vouch for the authenticity of the locations and the dialect used.
January 18, 2018
great references to Hawaiian culture. many allusions to other books. laugh-out-loud funny sometimes. good plot. enjoyed it more than it thought i would.
February 13, 2019
This book captures the island of Oahu very well. It makes you feel like you are on the island, moving from one location to another. It's a fast read and enjoyable.
March 20, 2017
I rather liked this book. While it is no great literature, it is a fun book, taking place in Hawaii with lots of local color and local history.
Besides all the human characters, there are a couple of big dog; and to top it off, the author is using the royalties to support the Hawaiian Human Society.
Nice little escapism and supporting a good cause; a win-win.
Besides all the human characters, there are a couple of big dog; and to top it off, the author is using the royalties to support the Hawaiian Human Society.
Nice little escapism and supporting a good cause; a win-win.
Read
July 21, 2013This riveting new mystery series pays loving homage to legendary author John D. MacDonald. Stryker McBride is a former crime reporter who lives on a hugely expensive houseboat, “the Travis McGee.” When Stryker receives an unexpected SOS call from a sultry beauty queen, he agrees to look into the suspicious death of the woman’s grandfather. As Stryker investigates, he encounters a cast of characters as diverse as Hawaii itself, including Auntie Kealoha, a charming entertainer turned mobster, and her 400 pound right-hand man, a Chinese-Hawaiian named Tiny Maunakea. Soon, Stryker discovers a deadly secret buried deep in the heart of Hawaii that has consequences much larger than one old man’s death.
The grandfather's death as well as the death of another elderly Chinese man traces back to when after Pearl Harbor, these young Chinese, in trying to be patriotic to the US, buried the bodies of Japanese people brought to them by the US Army. The last elderly Chinese man is still alive and he knows the secret - people are trying to kill him so he won't tell. Stryker finds the army officer in charge of hiding what happened in the past. The officer is the one who killed the first two elderly men - or had them killed - and is looking for the last one. Stryker and the officer meet and the officer tries to kill Stryker with a germ warfare inhaler. Stryker kills the officer. Stryker and the medical examiner, Melba, get together.
Vivid and exhilarating, Aloha, Lady Blue transports you right to the heart of an island paradise populated with exotic women, glorious scenery, and whispered scandals. Memminger brings Hawaii to life so vividly that you can almost hear the pounding of the surf and catch the scent of plumeria on the breeze. Fans of John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series will be swept away by this delicious, action-packed tale. (less)
The grandfather's death as well as the death of another elderly Chinese man traces back to when after Pearl Harbor, these young Chinese, in trying to be patriotic to the US, buried the bodies of Japanese people brought to them by the US Army. The last elderly Chinese man is still alive and he knows the secret - people are trying to kill him so he won't tell. Stryker finds the army officer in charge of hiding what happened in the past. The officer is the one who killed the first two elderly men - or had them killed - and is looking for the last one. Stryker and the officer meet and the officer tries to kill Stryker with a germ warfare inhaler. Stryker kills the officer. Stryker and the medical examiner, Melba, get together.
Vivid and exhilarating, Aloha, Lady Blue transports you right to the heart of an island paradise populated with exotic women, glorious scenery, and whispered scandals. Memminger brings Hawaii to life so vividly that you can almost hear the pounding of the surf and catch the scent of plumeria on the breeze. Fans of John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series will be swept away by this delicious, action-packed tale. (less)
August 27, 2015
The novel’s protagonist, Stryker McBride, sports a bad porn name, lives on a houseboat circa Miami Vice Don Johnson, is far too sexually successful (one word, threesome), and lives in Hawaii (Magnum, P.I. marathon, anyone?). Even with a tired setup like this, Memminger creates a spirited detecto story. McBride is an ex-journalist living at the Bayview Yacht Club on Oahu with his two German Shepherds. He’s recovering from an assault that forced him into retirement and semi-seclusion; the same incident has made virtually every cop on the island hate his guts. When his high school crush seduces him in order to look into the death of her father, McBride’s bs meter lights up, only to be overridden by his dick. The rub is that the father owned a taro field which, by all that is American and capitalistic, should have been plowed under to make way for McMansions ages ago. So what gives? Ex-journalist himself, Memminger’s writing flows easily, and though McBride’s history is dense, everything remains quite clear. This is perfect for a winter’s day read because places like Kaneohe Bay, Waimanalo, and the Koolau Mountains sound awfully dreamy when it’s four degrees outside.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.
October 10, 2013
This book has been compared to the Travis McGee novels of John McDonald, but outside of the main character's boat being named Travis McGee I don't see the comparison. The Travis McGee series was excellent with the main character being the quintessential 1960's cool guy. Stryker McBride the main character of Aloha Lady Blue is almost the complete opposite. If yow were to take one part Randy Wayne White, one part James W Hall, a very small piece of Tim Dorsey, and added Carl Hiaasen, blended them all together and staged it in Hawaii you would get Aloha Lady Blue. This is a very fun book to read. It does start a little slow and the author needs to work on giving less detail when what is being described is not terribly germane to the story, but other than that this book was very fun to read, and I hope it is the beginning of a long and successful series.
September 9, 2014
Somewhat interesting read, did keep me reading, though I considered not finishing it. Some of the bad guys were a bit over the top, and too many of them. Complex implausible plot. Wish Goodreads had a spell check that did something other than tell you that a word is spelled wrong, also gave you some suggestions. Also wish it had printing options, like be able to print out only one author so you could easily find books that you hadn't read by that author.
Back to the story, seemed to be some words left out, and a that that. Too many stereotypes, and Spyder McBride didn't have to work hard to come up with information, and help appeared just when he needed it.
Back to the story, seemed to be some words left out, and a that that. Too many stereotypes, and Spyder McBride didn't have to work hard to come up with information, and help appeared just when he needed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews