Molten Death

An Orchid Isle Mystery #1

by Leslie Karst

A glimpse of a quickly melting corpse at the foot of a volcano has amateur sleuth and food enthusiast Valerie Corbin shocked. But how can she investigate a murder, when there's no evidence the victim ever existed?The first Orchid Isle cozy mystery, set in tropical Hilo, Hawai'i, introduces a fun and feisty LGBTQ+ couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions! Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawai'i to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. After the recent loss of her brother, Valerie is in sore need of a distraction from her troubles and is looking forward to enjoying the delicious food and vibrant culture the state has to offer.Early one morning, the couple and their friend - tattooed local boy, Isaac - set out to see an active lava flow, and Valerie is mesmerized by the shape-shifting mass of orange and red creeping over the field of black rock. Spying a boot in the distance, she strides off alone, pondering how it could have gotten there, only to realize to her horror that the boot is still attached to a leg - a leg which is slowly being engulfed by the hot lava. Valerie's convinced a murder has been committed - but as she's the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who's going to believe her?Determined to prove what she saw, and get justice for the unknown victim, Valerie launches her own investigation. But, thrown into a Hawaiian culture far from the luaus and tiki bars of glossy tourist magazines, she soon begins to fear she may be the next one to end up entombed in shiny black rock . . .The amiable characters, stunning backdrop and culinary delights make this the perfect cozy of fans who enjoy a tropical vacation with a twisty murder mystery and compelling Hawai'ian culture - paired with an added bonus of recipes of local Hawai'ian dishes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, LGBT, Fiction, Queer, Lesbian, Contemporary

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

The daughter of a law professor and a potter, Leslie Karst learned early, during family dinner conversations, the value of both careful analysis and the arts—ideal ingredients for a mystery story. Putting this early education to good use, she now writes the Sally Solari Mysteries (Dying for a Taste, A Measure of Murder, Death al Fresco, Murder from Scratch), a culinary series set in Santa Cruz, California.

An ex-lawyer like her sleuth, Leslie also has degrees in English literature and the culinary arts. She now spends her time cooking, singing alto in her local chorus, gardening, cycling, and of course writing. Leslie and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Santa Cruz and Hilo, Hawai‘i.

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

MOLTEN DEATH (An Orchid Island Mystery Book #1) by Leslie Karst is an entertaining cozy mystery featuring a retired lesbian foodie protagonist set on the lush, big island of Hawaii with beautiful descriptions of island locations and delicious island fare. This is a delightful new amateur sleuth who happens upon a murder in paradise written by a new to me author who has me hooked.

Valerie Corbin and her wife, Kristen have come to Hawaii for a vacation to hopefully reconnect and mentally heal after Valerie’s car accident in which she watched her brother die. They are staying with Kristen’s Island native friend, Isaac. When they go to watch the sunrise and walk on a lava field, Valerie falls behind and sees a boot in the distance that she goes to investigate and discovers it is in a lava flow and attached to a leg that is quickly disappearing.

Valerie is convinced a murder has been committed, but she has no proof now that the lava has done its job of destroying the evidence. Even though no one believes her, she is determined to discover who is missing and get justice for them.

I enjoyed Valerie and her sense of determination even when it gets her in trouble. While she investigates, the reader gets to follow her to many beautifully written scenic destinations on the island and gets to read descriptions of tropical and local island cuisine. I also liked that the Valerie and her wife were mature characters. Isaac is the perfect bridge between the white women and Hawaiian native culture, history (both past and present), and cuisine. The plot is unique with the lava destroying any evidence and causing everyone to question whether Valerie saw the leg and boot even as she questions the suspects. A good ending with everything tied up in the end and Valerie and Kristen considering a permanent move to the big island.

Overall a delightful cozy mystery that also delivers on beautiful geography, culture, and cuisine.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valerie has just lost her brother in a horrific car accident. She and her wife Kristen decide to visit a friend in Hawaii for a change of scenery. The first day there, Valerie is certain she sees a body in the lava flow, but no one else has seen it. She spends the rest of the book trying to convince people, and questioning people she doesn't know. I enjoyed learning more about Hawaiian culture and reading the accompanying recipes, but I kind of felt sorry for Kristen, who was just trying to enjoy an island vacation without pestering the residents. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas's Thoughts

Valerie Corbin is having a tough time. A few weeks ago she and her younger brother Charlie were in a terrible car accident. She survived, he didn't. She had been planning a vacation with her wife, Kristen to the Big Island of Hawai'i to celebrate her 60th birthday and Kristin's retirement. They decide to keep their plans and go. Valerie hopes seeing their friend Isaac and enjoying all the things he wants to show them and the entire experience will help her deal with her guilt and her grief.

Isaac can't wait to take Kristen and Valerie to see a volcano with an active flow. Valerie gets all caught up in the mass of red and orange crawling across the base of the black rock.  She separates herself from Kristen and Issac to take some pictures. Suddenly she sees a boot about to be covered with lava. Then she realizes the book is attached to a leg. Before she can call for help lava covers the leg, boot, and everything around it.

Since she is the only one who saw what happened not even Isaac and Kristen will believe her but she knows the person was murdered and the killer left the body near the lava so it and all the evidence would be covered quickly and forever. Valerie decides to do sleuthing on her own to get justice for the victim. Unfortunately, her investigation puts a target on her back and she realizes she could be the next person swimming in the flowing lava.

____

I have always wanted to travel to Hawai'i but short of that I enjoy literary vacations to the islands. With Ms. Karst living part of the year there and her descriptive writing style she brought the Big Island to life for me. I also learned that you must respect the volcanos and their lava flow. A tourist site or neighborhood can quickly turn to disaster as fissures open and red ooze flows. I can't believe how close people can get to it. Geothermal development was a big theme in the book. While I knew the basics it was truly put into perspective in this story. I also became more knowledgeable about avocados and cliff fishing.

The author introduces us to Valerie Corbin, a retired caterer, and her wife Kristen, a now-retired journeyman carpenter. I really didn't like Kristen, but I identified immediately with Valerie. She has suffered a horrendous traumatic loss and it happened just a short time ago. Of course, she is grieving and a trip to Hawaii is not going to fix it. Yes, as the days, weeks, months, and years go by it gets easier to move forward but Valerie survived the accident that killed her brother and she will need help to get beyond that. Then she sees a person buried under the lava and again, it shook her to her core. It was hard for her to open up, which was understandable, but there was conflict between the couple throughout the story. I just would have liked Kristin to be more supportive from the start as she did get better by the final page.

The murder mystery was very unique with an eerie start. What a way to get rid of a body. It made sense for Valerie to get involved. Anyone who saw such a sight would want answers. I liked that Valerie didn't give up especially when no one believed her. Her sleuthing took her all around the island. I was very entertained following along each step of the way. The ending was very exciting.

The author does use "spelling and punctuation routinely employed currently in the Hawaiian Islands", Hawaiian and Pidgin English. It messed with the flow for me at the start of the story, as I had to take a moment to get the context. There is a glossary at the end of the book and some recipes too.

Molten Death is more than a cozy mystery. It is also a story of the complex relationship between Valerie and Kristen. I believe it was struggling before Valerie's brother's death, but that event opened a chasm. Kristen not believing Valerie about the body broke her trust as well.

I am intrigued to see where Ms. Karst takes this series. Valerie's first trip to the island was pretty eventful. It will be interesting to see what she gets tangled up in next.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author and series for me. I believe one of my book groups recommended it. This was a very interesting book. Our main characters, Valerie and Kristen, are a married couple in Hawaii on vacation. I really enjoyed all the background information on the Big Island and the food scene. While this is a cozy mystery, this book has a very heavy tone. The ladies are on vacation to try and help Valerie deal with a tragic event that contributed to the death of a loved one. They are only on the island a few days when they go for an early morning trip to see a lava flow. Unfortunately, Valerie is convinced she saw a body disappear under the flow. Her partner and their friend are further up the trail and aren't sure what to think. Did she really see something, or is this part of her trauma? Also, as a tourist and with no body to present, how does she make people believe her? While Valerie worked at figuring out what happened, it was a little tough and sometimes seemed a little pushed. The good news is that the mystery came to a good and believable solution. It was just a little dark for me. I will definitely read the next book, but I hope it lightens up a bit.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun start to a new series, I hope.
The characters are brand new, so I am not sure how I feel about out them. I think they need a bit more depth, but I’m sure it will come with time.
Loved the setting, it sounded very cool. Want to learn more. Maybe I’ll ask the author to sketch a map on the next one of the area, so we can understand the island part.
Pacing was decent, but I do wish there was a bit more action. Hey, what can I say, I love action. Sadly the volcano stuff doesn’t count, even though I did love it.
I loved the dialogue, especially having the dictionary in the back. I did have to do some going back and forth until I got used to the words. It was fun.
It was a good guessing game on the dead body, definitely different from your normal murder mystery.
One spoiler alert, there’s no dessert recipe! JK, but seriously, I want to know what dessert is paramount to the locals.
3.5 stars

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOLTEN DEATH by Leslie Karst

I’m so glad my own trips to Hawai’i have been more peaceful, but this twisty plot makes for a very interesting adventure. Who was that body lost in the lava flow and how did it happen? Everyone seems to think Valerie imagined the boot with green laces that disappeared before she could even get a photo, but she can’t get it out of her mind until she solves the mystery. Despite dangers and disruption of the relaxing vacation with her wife, she persists in seeking clues, meeting people who might be friends and allies or might be murderers . . . how to tell?
Besides the satisfying plot, there are descriptions of the island’s beauty, culture, and food . . . so sumptuous that I was tempted, again, to think about moving there. Oh, and there are recipes, which for me are also fiction, but delicious to think about. This is a “put everything else on hold and lose sleep” book, a delight!

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immersion in Hawaiian culture--particularly that of the Big Island of Hawaii--is really the star of the first in a new mystery series by Leslie Karst. I found it quite interesting to learn about diverse local topics such as island history, lush nature, water sports, language, customs, politics, and (ah, yes!) food. The author helpfully provides a glossary of both Hawaiian and Pidgin terms at the end of the book, although I felt there was enough context to figure it out on my own. I was surprised to learn that even well educated islanders may choose to speak Pidgin around the other locals. I also found it fascinating how residents are resigned to living so close to active volcanoes, where in some areas they might have to evacuate at a moment's notice.

The mystery here begins with the main character, one of a pair of middle-aged women vacationing in Hawaii after one of them has lost her brother in a tragic accident. Valerie spots a shoe and the foot inside it being swallowed up by an active lava flow and is determined to find out who it was and how it happened, although even her wife and others have trouble believing her. She encounters some situations that are polarizing the locals but it is a low-key investigation with little action or violence.

The fact that Karst lives part-time each year in Hawaii and has both a law degree and culinary school certificate lends authenticity to the story and the setting. And there are some delicious-sounding recipes to savor.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molten Death is a quick and entertaining cozy mystery, with a lovely bonus of super yummy-sounding recipes at the end.

I also really enjoyed Valerie as a series lead. I love that she turns sixty in this novel; I see so many cozy mysteries starring women in their 20s or early 30s and it's awesome seeing a sixty-year-old woman solving murders in her retirement. More 60-year-olds in cozy mysteries, please and thank you!

Full review on my blog: https://literarytreats.com/2024/01/22...

[frannie.qb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was unexpectedly darker than I would expect a cozy mystery to be. Without getting into spoilers, let's just say there's a lot of pain and grief due do a loved one's death.

The mystery was interesting but the characters were quite bland and I felt like all the elements and info about Hawai'ian culture were not seamlessly incorporated with the text, it felt like a combo of ficiton and nonfiction about hawai'ian words and culture and history but the two components weren't mixed properly - like oil in water.

So... it was okay, but I won't be continuing with the series.

[Ashleah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molten Death by Leslie Karst is a cozy mystery featuring an retired sapphic couple, and the first book in the Orchid Isle Mystery series.

First off, the cover artist did a bang up job with this one!

Our main character, Valerie, is a retired caterer who recently suffered the loss of her younger brother due to a car accident. She travels to Hawai'i with her wife, Kristen, to take a vacation in hopes to heal. One day, they walk a lava field at sunrise and Valerie swears she saw a boot attached to a leg being covered by lava though everyone else doesn't quite believe it.

It's so nice to find cozy mystery series with a mature heroine. Valerie turns sixty during the course of this book.

The book does a great job describing the breathtaking scenery of the island. Apparently, the volcanic activity described in the book is modeled after an eruption that happened in 2018 on the Big Island, which is pretty cool.

There's also great descriptions of food and drink, as Valerie is a bit of a foodie. I learned a lot about avocados, and had a huge craving for fresh fruit while reading the book. There are several recipes included, including poke three ways, grapefruit and avocado salad with papaya-yogurt dressing, miso-sesame chicken, and kalua pork. Also included in the back of the book is a glossary of Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases, which was super helpful for me.

If you're into cozy mysteries with mature heroines or set in tropical locations, give this one a try!

I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to BookSparks and Severn House for the complimentary hardcover copy and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions contained herein are my own. Molten Death just came out on Tuesday, April 2nd.

If you want to see more from me, check out my blog, Bookstagram, TheStoryGraph, or Twitter.

[Genesee Rickel]

"For fans of Hawai’i-set murder mysteries and amateur sleuths!

Valerie Corbin is a retired caterer who was recently in a car accident that killed her brother. To help her grieving process and her marriage, she goes on vacation to Hawai’i with her wife, Kristen. The vacation turns murder mystery when Valerie swears she sees a man’s leg right before a volcano’s lava covers it. Kristen might not believe Valerie saw this, but it won’t stop Valerie from investigating!" - BookRiot

"Karst (the Sally Solari mysteries) introduces grief-stricken retired caterer Valerie Corbin in this entertaining cozy series launch. Valerie, the traumatized survivor of a car accident that killed her brother, Charlie, knows her emotional numbness has put a strain on her marriage. To brighten things up, she plans a vacation to Hawaii’s Big Island with her wife, Kristen. The couple’s island respite is short-lived, however. While viewing an active lava flow one day, Valerie spots a man’s boot, then notices it’s still attached to a leg. Moments later, the leg and boot are covered by molten rock. Though Kristen doubts what Valerie saw, Valerie doubles down on her claim and scours for information about missing people in the area. Soon, she discovers that a local man has recently disappeared, possibly in connection with a rash of avocado thefts, or a protest movement enraged that the island’s sacred resources are being exploited. Karst rewards armchair travelers without ignoring the thorny politics of Hawaiian tourism, and firmly grounds the core mystery in Valerie’s emotional struggles. Readers will be hungry for the sequel. Agent: Erin Niumata, Folio Literary. (Apr.) --Staff (Reviewed 02/19/2024) (Publishers Weekly, vol 271, issue 7, p)"

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molten Death by Leslie Karst is book one in Leslie's new cozy mystery series An Orchid Isle Mystery. @BookSparks @LeslieKarst

Readers who enjoy a little murder with a tropical vacation should be sure to pick up this entertaining and fun new mystery.

Valerie and her wife Kristen are visiting Hilo, Hawai’i for a much needed vacation and to celebrate Valerie’s upcoming 60th birthday. It’s been a hard year for Valerie, a retired caterer, who recently lost her brother in a car accident. Thankfully the couple is staying with Kristen’s friend and local teacher Isaac. He’s an entertaining and loveable character, determined to give Valerie and Kristen an excellent vacation.

Unfortunately on an early morning hike, Kristen and Isaac get ahead of Valerie and much to her dismay, Valerie sees a quickly melting corpse at the foot of a volcano. But with Valerie as the only eye-witness, who is going to believe what she saw? Regardless, Valerie is determined to solve the mystery.

What an excellent start to a new series! The setting is beautiful, and as Valerie investigates this murder, readers are taken on a tour of the setting and of different culinary dishes. (Side note: do not read while hungry…thankfully there are recipes in the back!) I also appreciated that Valerie was an older protagonist and that the story didn’t shy away from her grief. Leslie also did an excellent job of showing how grief can impact a marriage. It was all handled with honesty and grace.

I certainly did not see how Valerie, knowing nothing of the area, was going to solve this mystery, but I soon found out no matter the danger, she was going to stick it out, and I loved her for it.

I’ll be reading more into this series and recommend this for mystery fans who would like a little arm-chair travel.

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a tragic car accident that she and her brother were in, Valerie needed a vacation to get her thoughts off of being the only one to survive it. She and her wife, Kristen, decide to visit their friend Isaac in Hawaii. He takes them to see all of the local sights including lava! However when Valerie stumbles upon something sticking out of the lava, it’s not just a boot.

I thought this was a fun mystery! The pacing was good and the storyline was very interesting. This book has two retired lesbians and I very much want to read more books with older queer characters. I enjoyed the author combining Hawaiian and Pidgin words into the book and writing an interesting set of characters. I did not see the ending coming and am interesting to read what happens next as this is the first in a series. The end of the book contains many recipes and multiple pages of Hawaiian and Pidgin dictionary which I thought was great. The only thing that was missing was a map.

Thank you to Booksparks for this book for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an absolute delight! Set in Hawaii, the story follows Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen as Valerie stumbles upon a melting corpse at the foot of a volcano. What follows is a captivating blend of mystery, scenic views, Hawaiian cuisine, and Hawaiian language.
The author’s vivid descriptions and authentic characters drew me into the story, making it impossible to put down. The incorporation of geothermal elements and extremists added an intriguing twist to the investigation, keeping you hooked until the satisfying conclusion.
This is a must-read for cozy mystery fans, offering a fun whodunit with a tropical backdrop that will transport you to the Hawaiian islands. Plus, the addition of wonderful recipes in the back of the book, from cocktails to main dishes, was a lovely touch!

A very special thanks to the author, Booksparks, and Severn House for the complimentary copy.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, cozy mystery!

Valerie and Kristen vacation in Hilo, Hawai'i, to recuperate from tragedy, but their first visit to Kilauea's active lava flow puts Valerie smack in the middle of a mystery. Book One of the Orchid Isle Mystery series is an excellent introduction to Karst's new characters, the beautiful island of Hawai'i, and the many aspects of its culture.

I'm looking forward to book two!

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Niklas Braun · Rating 3 out of 5]

The setting and characters were really cool, the story was pretty meh. It felt like the author was figuring out the story as they went and the ending was severely underwhelming. BUT the Hawaiian pidgin, culture, places etc were really cool and are definitely grounds for a second.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately sucked in by the premise of this book. Imagine going to check out a lava flow and being like WOW COOL and then noticing a boot and being like oh? And then seeing part of a leg STILL in it and being like OHHH!? Like cool someone was just murdered. Exactly how I want to start my morning. And then the lava flow overtakes it and there is no proof anymore except for your memory of what you just saw.

Valerie is just grieving the death of her younger brother, who died in a fiery way, so finding a body in lava is a bit triggering. So she spends a bit of her Hawaiian vacation trying to solve the mystery of the lava person and who might have killed him, finding herself in the business of a lot of locals.
I would put this one under the cozy mystery umbrella and I was also really amazed at all the Hawaiian culture and language in the book!! I enjoyed it almost as much as the mystery itself and thought it really added to it.

Thank you again Booksparks and to the author!

[Mac Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashes to ashes takes on a whole new meaning when Valerie spots a foot sticking out of a lava flow in Hawai'i's volcano field on the Big Island. Not really a good start to the vacation that was supposed to be total relaxation. To make matters worse, no one seems to believe her. So she does the only sensible thing to do when you have no support, no clues, no idea who the victim was and don't know anyone on the island, she decides to solve the mystery.

With subtle clues, cool characters and detailed descriptions of island life and food, Leslie weaves a net that kept me guessing and turning the page. This is a book where I was sad to turn the last page. I want more and am looking forward to many more in the series. As soon as I turned the last page, I booked a trip to Hawai'i, though I may avoid getting near any lava fields.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/6/2024 Does a pretty good job of balancing nosy white lady vs native people mystery. Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molten Death is cozy mystery that guides readers on a tour of the beautiful landscapes of Hawaii. Valerie, the main character, is a charming amateur detective who has a love for food, culture, and local customs, which enhances the story. Despite facing doubt from others after claiming to have seen a body consumed by lava, Valerie’s determination and likable qualities make her a main character worthy of rooting for.

Thank you @booksparks and @lesliekarst for the gifted copy of Molten Death.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours, the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Molten Death by Leslie Karst is a superb start to a new, cozy mystery series.

Will Valerie figure out whose body she saw in the lava?

Valerie Corbin
Our sleuth is Valerie. She and her wife, Kristen, are on vacation in Hawaii. Valerie is still grieving the death of her younger brother in their home state of California. Kristen is worried about Valerie. She hopes that this vacation will help Valerie return to her old self. They will be celebrating Valerie's 60th birthday while there.

At first, I didn't care for Valerie, but after reading her point of view for the entire book, I started liking her. She wants to be herself, but she also wants respect and love. Valerie is having a hard time opening up to her wife about her grief. Being in a new place with no memories of her brother helps a bit.

The Mystery
While visiting the lava fields early one morning, as the others hike away, Valerie sees a boot and a leg being smothered by the lava. She is curious, but it also brings her back to her brother's death. However, Kristen and their friend don't really believe that what Valerie saw was a body. Now, nothing is left, so no one can know what Valerie saw.

The whole sleuthing starts out as Valerie trying to prove that she isn't losing her mind. She saw what she saw, and she is going to find a way to prove it.

Four Stars
I enjoyed Ms. Karst's writing style and the setting. It did feel as though Valerie and her friends were fascinated by the lava. That seems a bit weird to me. However, I still like the story that she was telling with Valerie moving forward. My rating for Molten Death by Leslie Karst is five stars. I do recommend this book to all the cozy mystery readers out there.

There are a few recipes at the end of the book. They are Val's Mai Tai, Poke Three Ways, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Papaya-Yogurt Dressing, Miso-Sesame Chicken, Kalua Pork, and Papay Chutney. There is also a glossary of Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Molten Death by Leslie Karst. Don't forget to enter the giveaway



This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Kindall [Unlimited] · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it 32 pages, and in that 32 pages the (white) author mentions the local character's speaking "Pidgin" no less than 4 times, pens a conversation between characters speaking Hawaiian Pidgin to one another for several pages - seemingly with no point, and sneaks in a couple of problematic nuggets as well. Those 32 pages very much read like a white lady who wants to show off how she can understand and mimic "Pidgin":

"Valerie had observed since meeting him that although he could speak perfect Standard English when he chose, Isaac preferred to sprinkle it liberally with the local Pidgin." - ah yes, English is only "perfect" when spoken without any regional dialect or influence.

"Getting to hear Isaac go full-blown Pidgin with his friend was fascinating." - as if the locals are there for her entertainment. This is part of the several pages of back-and-forth between local characters.

On the next page:

"Valerie was struck by how he'd automatically switched from Pidgin back to Standard English..." - good god lady, we get it. You're impressed that other people can speak more than their colonizer's language.

3 pages later:

"The hard consonants and broad vowels seemed jarring after all the lilting Pidgin she'd been hearing of late."

Other than Ms. Karst's obsession with ensuring the reader know she's hip to the local's language, there's also this micro-aggressive gem:

"The idea of going to some touristy lu'au and seeing a bunch of schmaltzy dancing girls in fake grass skirts didn't hold much appeal to her." - it's worth noting that "schmaltzy" is defined as "overly sentimental". The white author not only mocks a Native custom, but also feels she needs to define it as "overly sentimental." So supportive!

My last issue - again, in a short 32 pages - is the fact that this author not only owns property in Hawaii in real life, but the character does in the book as well. That doesn't stop her from having the audacity to write the following:

"Political-type posters and flyers had also been pinned up. One was protesting the use of Hawaiian Home Lands property for a new shopping center and called on people to contact their legislators. Another advertised a bake sale, concert, and rally in support of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement."

Ma'am??? If you're so in support of Hawaii becoming sovereign, why do you own their land? Why do you profit off of mocking - and somehow simultaneously fetishizing - their culture in this book?

Every line I read of this thing gave me the ick.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOLTEN DEATH is the first book in the brand-new Orchid Isle Mystery series by Leslie Karst. Set against the lush backdrop of Hawaii and the terrifying ferocity of an active volcano, the author brings the setting to life through her vivid descriptive voice. You can feel the heat of the lava flow, smell the tropical flowers, taste the fresh papaya, and see the glorious beauty of the crashing waves. I also love that the protagonist, Valerie Corbin, and her wife, Kristen, are retirement-age women. It brings a maturity to the storyline and (I hate to admit it) more relatable to my age group. They’re both inquisitive, active, and full of life instead of the stereotypical ‘sitting in a rocking chair knitting’ at their age. Ms. Karst also captures the Hawaiian culture and politics. It’s obvious she’s done her research and, from her author’s note and “about” at the back of the book, lives part-time in Hilo, Hawaii, which gives her an insider’s view of the residents. I appreciated the Hawaiian and Pidgin (a mixture of Hawaiian, English, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino) words and phrases provided, although she expertly crafts her sentences so that the meaning is perfectly clear while reading the story, without slowing down the pace.

The plotline is clever: how can you prove a murder happened when only the protagonist saw a foot and a leg devoured by flowing lava? And any clues left behind by the perpetrator are non-existent because of the destructive lava as well. Most people, including her wife, don’t believe Valerie when she claims she saw a body. Yet her tenacity, despite only being a visitor to the island, has her digging up information and uncovering secrets that people would rather remain hidden. There were clues to follow and a few suspects to keep me guessing. The story kept me engrossed, and I had a hard time putting the book down when other obligations called. By the conclusion of the book, I was ready to book a vacation to the islands and ready to read the next in the series!

There are also several tempting Hawaiian recipes included at the back of the book for the home cook to try out.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thought and opinions are my own.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molten Death is the first book in the new Orchid Isle Mystery series by Leslie Karst. And if you know Karst, I know her via Facebook, you shouldn't be surprised that she is centering this new series in Hawaii.

In Molten Death Valerie and her wife Kristen are vacationing in Hilo, Hawaii at Kristen's friend Isaac's house. They are there to relax and allow Valerie to grieve the death of her brother Charlie which she lost in a horrible accident. Unfortunately when they go to visit the site of an active volcano flow, Valerie sees a boot and part of a leg being covered by the hot lava and disappearing. And sadly Kristen and Isaac were no where near her when she witnessed this so they do not believe her when she tries to explain. Because this traumatic siting is so close to the way her brother died, Valerie cannot stop thinking about it.

So instead of having a nice, relaxing vacation taking in the sites of Hawaii, Valerie is unable to stop thinking about the boot and when she learns of a local reported as missing, she goes full force into learning everything she can about the missing person. Unfortunately Kristen and Isaac do not believe her and think that she is wasting her time and vacation looking into something that didn't happen. This puts a lot of tension on their relationship and Valerie knows that she cannot stop with things until she gets to the bottom of everything. This makes things difficult as Valerie doesn't know anyone and when she begins asking questions about people she doesn't know, people become on edge.....

Readers will love this series and luckily Karst has a glossary in the back of the book defining all the Hawaiian words and slang she uses throughout the book so readers can use slang as well.

Readers will thoroughly love this story and for once this book does not have the main character fighting with the police or detectives throughout the "investigation" which is a nice change but doesn't take anything away from the story, And knowing how familiar the author is with Hawaii makes the readers feel like they are there along for the ride. Happy traveling readers !!!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molten Death is the first book in The Orchid Isle Mystery series. Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawai'i to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. They are both retired, and Valerie is dealing with her grief after the horrific death of her brother. When they go over his will, they find that he owned a piece of property near Hilo on the Big Island. Kristen also has a friend, Isaac, that lives in Hilo and he invites them to stay with him. They plan to relax, swim, snorkel, fish, surf, and sight see. On the day they arrive, Isaac takes them to see the lava flows from the Kīlauea Volcano. When he and Kristen walk up to take pictures Valerie sees something disturbing. A boot attached to a leg is being covered by lava. Valerie's convinced a murder has been committed - but as she's the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who's going to believe her? She sets about asking questions and listening to conversations trying to find out who the victim might be and why they were killed.

Cozy mysteries aren't always realistic and this is one that is a bit unbelievable, but it was an enjoyable book. I liked Valerie and Kristen, but there were times that they annoyed me. I enjoyed hearing about all the things they did on the island, some of them reminding me of when my husband and I visited Hawai'i almost 15 years ago. The story shares the customs and cultures of the area, as well as the issues the Hawaiian people are dealing with when it comes to thermal energy, volcanoes erupting, native Hawaiians not being able to afford to live in a lot of places, independence and culture. The story of who was killed and why tied into some of these issues. Now, how would a person visiting the area be able to figure out what happened? Why would people talk to a total stranger? That is the part that is a bit over the top. Having said that, I enjoyed how the mystery played out, meeting the characters, and all the culture and sights found around Hilo. I am looking forward to the next book as it appears the Kristen and Valerie will be moving to Hilo.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

MOLTEN DEATH by Leslie Karst
The First Orchid Isle Mystery

Their trip to Hawai'i was supposed to be a time to rest and relax, but that goes out the window when Valerie Corbin sees a body disappearing in the molten lava and neither her wife, Kristen, or friend Isaac seem to believe her. Witnessing that leg disappearing in the fiery lava reminds Valerie too much of the accident that recently killed her brother. After reading about a missing person and unable to get the horrific images out of her mind, she decides to start asking some questions. Although her preoccupation is causing a rift between her and Kirsten, Valerie needs answers. But will her push for the truth cause more harm than good?

MOLTEN DEATH is a truly unique mystery. Technically, there is no crime, so there’s no police involvement. Valerie sees a leg that is engulfed by lava before anyone else sees it. While readers believe her, everyone else is doubtful. Before she can even suggest foul play, Valerie deems it imperative to find out to whom the leg, and presumably body, belonged. The novel is a mix between Valerie trying to identify the body and determining what happened to it, relaxing and enjoying the sites and food of Hawai'i, and dealing with relationship issues along with the aftermath of the accident that killed her brother.

While I truly appreciate the Hawaiian spellings and use of Pidgin, trying to mentally pronounce everything tended to be a distraction, if not taking me out of the story then slowing the pacing to a crawl. That being said, I loved the information provided, especially the reasoning behind speaking Pidgin and the ability some people have to easily switch between that and standard English. One of my favorite aspects of the book was all the knowledge that was shared, from the various sites, cultural aspects, food, and weather!

MOLTEN DEATH is an appealing entry to the Orchid Island Mystery series with diverse characters, an exotic setting, and a compelling story. There are also plenty of great foodie descriptions with recipes included at the end of the book.

[Garrett Zecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little read that explores one particular island of Hawaii where a queer amateur sleuth, visiting and considering purchasing a house there, stumbles upon a body being slowly covered inch by inch in a crevice of a lava flow. I picked this up as a 'blind date with a book' choice from my library and read it relatively quickly - and cozy mysteries can be my thing, but I am not sure this one was so take my review with a bit of skepticism if cozy mysteries are your thing.

It being a mystery, I do not want to give too much away, but the environmental activism at the core of the story, and paying attention to the native culture of a colonized land was something that I liked about the book. That said, there was a LOT of fluff that felt like it took the book on far too many cultural tangents and not as much mystery and intrigue as I would have liked. It seemed that our protagonist Val was keen on learning and experiencing local culture, activities, and man, a LOT OF FOOD throughout the book. They are practically eating the entire time, and it seemed to me like the quintessential American tourist and foodie experience more than a mystery novel most often (and... I mean... this takes place in America, so.... huh?).

The ending was a little too tidy, including a character that was very much an entry that, while never really appearing on stage, was added to throw us off the scent and only had the role of diversion... But the ending did have food, just like the rest of the book, as well as - and honestly, this is something that I do like in these kinds of books - a glossary and short list of recipes (of which I can only eat a few because of a severe fish allergy). Enjoyed my time with it, but I think I wanted a bit more mystery and a bit less food, real estate, hikes, and local language - these elements made me feel the book was trying too hard to be authentic while also missing the point of the genre. Again, don't know what I am talking about, and despite enjoying it a little, will unlikely read more.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Molten Death is the first book in a new cozy mystery series set in Hawaii by Leslie Karst. Released 2nd April 2024 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback due out late 4th quarter 2024 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a very well written and engagingly constructed murder mystery with an appealingly intelligent 60 year old female amateur sleuth on holiday in Hawaii after a personal family tragedy. Another bizarre tragedy (seeing a booted foot disappearing under lava) fires her up to find out whose booted leg it was disappearing into the lava, and moreover how and why in a weirdly understandable therapeutic way.

The characters are quite well rendered, believable, and the book is peppered with neat trivia about the islands, their history, and unique geophysical characteristics. The MC is in a F/F stable marriage, and though there's some discussion in the book about their relationship (especially in the aftermath of a personal tragedy), it's not a central feature.

The book is marketed as the first book in a series, but upcoming volume(s) are not on the publisher's schedule yet (presumably second quarter 2025 at the soonest). The mystery here is self contained and it works very well as a standalone.

Four stars. Satisfying, complete, and well written. It would make a good buddy read, or a public or home library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 2 out of 5]

A whodunit mystery that I struggled to stay engaged in reading. Valerie and Kristen are visiting a friend in Hawaii after a tragic event back home has left Valerie reeling. When vising an active volcano early one morning Valerie swears she sees a boot and part of a leg before it gets burned in the flowing lava. The problem is, no one else saw it and no one really believes her. Investigating on her own, Valerie realizes that she could be next and the hunt for who was killed and how it happened continues.

Overall the story itself wasn't bad, but I did find it to be a bit dull. A highlight was the focus on the Hawaii food, the recipes in the back of the book and the details about Hawaii and Hawaiian culture. The author chose to switch between English and Pidgin a lot in the beginning of the book and it affected the rhythm and pacing for me as a reader. As a natural speed reader, I'd hit Pidgin and it was like pulling the e-brake and it would be hard to orient. I also noticed the author used it less as the story went on.

Also, I think Kristin and Valerie were meant to be written like a realistic married couple in a rough patch, but it left me unsatisfied as I found them both as bleh. I didn't really root for either and didn't really understand why they were a couple.

The mystery itself was well thought out but I thought the first interaction with the killer (before we knew they were the killer) was too overhanded and the mystery was quickly solved.

Thank you BookSparks for the gifted copy to review.