Hawai'i Rage

Ranger Makalani Pahukula #2

by Tori Eldridge

A suspicious death on a Kohala Mountain ranch draws ranger Makalani Pahukula into a tangled family tree in an emotional and suspenseful adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.

Makalani Pahukula, interpretive ranger for Pu‘ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, craves some rejuvenating hard work on Hawai‘i Island. When cousin-in-law Rosie offers Makalani a chance to help at the Hiapo family ranch, it’s the perfect opportunity. But something else weighs on Rosie’s mind. Her father recently died in a gruesome accident―trapped and cornered in a pit by an aggressive bull.

The wrong place at the wrong time? Rosie suspects something more sinister.

Not long into her work, Makalani’s suspicions rise too. The Hiapos aren’t as close as Makalani thought. All family members―the grandfather, the widow, the adversarial brothers co-running the ranch, the sister who wants anything but a paniolo life for her son, and the cowgirl who becomes Makalani’s friend―are hiding secrets from one another. And from Makalani.

When more dangerous accidents occur, Makalani has no choice but to follow the clues that lead her into the dark history of Hiapo Ranch and draw out the culprit before someone else dies.

431 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Tori Eldridge is the bestselling author of the Lily Wong mystery thrillers as well as a two-time Anthony Award nominee, Lefty and Macavity Awards finalist, and winner of the 2021 Crimson Scribe Award for Best Book of the Year. She penned the standalone Dance Among the Flames and will launch her new Ranger Makalani Pahukula mystery series with Kaua‘i Storm on May 20, 2025. In addition to novels, Tori's short stories have been featured in numerous literary, crime fiction, and horror anthologies. Born and raised in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—she lived in New York and Los Angeles before settling in Portland, Oregon, where her grandchildren live. Before writing, Tori performed on Broadway, television, and film; and holds a 5th degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts.

Find her online at ToriEldridge.com
Facebook @ToriEldridgeAuthor
Instagram @writer.tori
Twitter @ToriEldridge
Bookbub @ToriEldridge

Aloha and thanks for visiting!

Reviews

[Colin Wangler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori Eldridge has created a beautiful story about family, Hawai'ian culture and cowboys.
A story that shows a deep love and understanding of Hawai'i.

A story where everybody could have been the killer or no one. Accident or perfect murder?

The plot is entertaining but in his aber bones it is nothing new. The strength of the story lies in Eldrigdes characters and the setting.

All her characters are fleshed out. They have strengths and flaws. You love them, hate them, mistrust them.
Even when some are toeing the line too being a little over the top. You want more of them. They leave you wishing and hoping for their innocence.

Makalani felt sadly like the weakest characte. Don't get me wrong she is loveable and you will root for her. But I feel like the story would have been a bit more intense, more gripping if it would have been told from the perspective of one of the side characters/family.

I would have also liked to see more of the lovers being lovers. They were mostly just showed as friends and even that was tense. Which was a hard contrast to other characters saying they should finally marry.

The Setting is done amazingly. Reading the story you'll gain insight into a new topic that is not often talked about. Managed to feel light and tense in a way. Reading about life on the ranch, heading cows. Showed the hardships but also the community that comes with it.
The Hawai'ian culture was beautifully woven into the story. It felt natural and real.


Can't wait to see which part of Hawai'i we'll get to see in the next installment of Ranger Makalani.


I would like to thank Thomas&Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Steven Netter · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books

Hawai’i Rage is a crime novel wrapped within a love letter to Hawaiian culture and specifically the Hawaiian cowboy, known as Paniolo. It’s dramatic, suspenseful, emotional and captivating. Keeping you guessing while educating you on a side of Hawai’i that’s not on any tourist itinerary. A brilliantly executed novel with heart that pours out from the soul of author Tori Eldridge.

The blending of family, culture and crime works incredibly well in Hawai’i Rage, seamlessly weaving all storylines into a single narrative that results in a reading experience that’s both suspenseful and hopeful. It’s also dripping with authenticity and constantly dropping knowledge that grows your understanding of what we typically think of as paradise, but is first and foremost the home to a historic culture and people with cherished traditions.

A book that thrills and educates.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful second novel in the Makalani Pahukula series! Set on a cattle ranch on the Big Island (aka, Hawai'i Island), Eldridge perfectly captures the desolate beauty of the island's Kona side. She also clearly did her research about the ranching industry and lifestyle. As with Kaua'i Storm, all her complex characters feel completely realized. None more so than her great protagonist, Makalani. Having returned to her homeland from Oregon, she's not too thrilled with her new job, but loves volunteering at the cattle ranch owned by her somewhat distant cousins, the Hiapos. The intricate mystery revolves around the suspicious death of Larry Hiapo, the semi-retired father of Kenneth and Louie, who are polar opposites. Not only does Makalani have to work hard to fit into this complicated family she barely knows, she also finds herself trying to solve a murder, of course. Rona, a detective new to the island, lends a welcome hand. A big-hearted novel brimming with Hawaiian customs, great characters, lovely writing, strong action, and some nifty plot twists, Hawai'i Rage is a winner!

[Jessica (Odd and Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for free from the author for review purposes.

Last year I read the first book in this series, Kaua’i Storm, and loved it, so I had to get my hands one the second one. This was a solid installment in the series!

What this series does so well is incorporating Hawaiian culture into the story. I loved that this book focused on paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys). I had never heard of them before so I am so glad this book showcased them. I learned so much. All the cowboy scenes gave me major Yellowstone vibes.

I also liked that the story took place on a different island than the first book. Book one was set in Kaua’i and this one was set on Big Island. I liked seeing the differences between the islands. I hope future books in the series continue to explore the other islands.

The mystery in this one didn’t hit quite as well as the first book. The mystery was fairly basic and didn’t require much guesswork on the reader’s behalf.

Like the first book, this includes a glossary and a list of the characters which made the story easy to follow and understand.

Overall, if you are interested in authentically Hawaiian stories, be sure to read this series!

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having fallen in love with Big Island - especially the Waimea area - on a visit a couple years ago, the setting of this story immediately caught my eye. The author provides so much detail involving cattle ranching and the Hawaiian language - native and pidgin - in this book that delved further than I've read in other Hawaiian set fiction; I especially appreciated the glossary of words used at the end of the book. The only thing that kept this from being a five star read for me was some of the details - procedure or the timeline - tied to the investigation/mystery aspect of the storyline (simply because of my professional experience) weren't quite how they'd be handled in real life. I look forward to reading other books in the Ranger Makalani Pahukula series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC edition of this book.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve visited Oahu once years ago and simply loved the exotic beauty of it - plus the sun shone every day (when you live in a state where you only get 67% of the sun in a year, this seems miraculous). With that said, this book besides being a good thriller is a paean to Hawaiian culture and per one reviewer, the Hawaiian cowboy known an a paniolo. Makalani Pahukula has returned to her native Hawaii. She’s looking for a job and a relative offers her one on the family ranch. She drives head first landing herself into family drama which includes a gruesome murder and an eight year old with big dreams do being an authentic Hawaiian cowboy. The ranch has secrets and the murder is suspicious. Malakai follows the clues. This is an emotional, plosive better thriller. Malakai is a great character. I didn’t read the first book in this series but this book can standalone in the read. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me access to this ARC.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makalani was a law enforcement officer in a national park in Oregon. When she wanted to move home to Hawaii, the only opening was for a job which was basically a tour guide. Still, Makalani managed to get into several challenging situations, including rescuing a child trapped in a lava tube. She agrees to help her cousin's family with some ranching labor, and gets involved not only in a murder investigation, but also with some people who really don't want her there. There's a lot of interesting Hawaiian history and language as Makalani finds her place on the island. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawai‘i Rage is an engaging and atmospheric mystery set against the vivid backdrop of Hawai‘i Island. The story weaves together family dynamics, cultural depth, and a steadily building sense of suspense.

Makalani Pahukula is a compelling lead, and her investigation unfolds at a measured pace as layers of secrets within the ranch and its inhabitants begin to surface. The setting adds richness to the narrative, grounding the mystery in a strong sense of place.

A thoughtful and immersive read that will appeal to fans of character-driven mysteries with emotional depth and intrigue.

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tori Eldridge for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Hawai'i Rage coming out May 19, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I love mysteries. I was especially excited this book was set in Hawai'i and written by a Hawaiian author. I have Polynesian heritage, so I’m always interested in reading more books. I would definitely check out more books by this author.

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one. It's rare to see stories from my background and I thought highlighting the Hawaiian cowboy was an interesting choice.

I just struggled to get into this one. I can't explain why.

As a mystery, it's okay. You may be able to guess the reveal, but that's okay too.

If you want to read some mystery that is heavy on culture or you're a Hawaiian history enthusiast this might be for you!

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic thriller with some intense vibes and great plotting. Thanks so much for this ARC, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley! 5 stars.

[Salty Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can definitely tell the author knows Hawaii and Ohana! This was a well written mystery depicting life in Hawaii. When death and injury are investigated the true culprit emerges. Dont mess with family. "Care for rhe family. The family cares for us"

[GK Daffu · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Atmospheric Thriller with a Strong Sense of Place

Hawaii Rage delivers sharp pacing, vivid Hawaiian atmosphere, and a tough, compelling lead. The cultural detail and setting really stand out and add depth to the story. While a few moments felt familiar within the genre, the overall execution is confident and engaging. My first book by Tori Eldridge, and a strong introduction to her work. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Bekah Hubstenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digital Arc c/o Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

TLDR: Solid 3.5 stars. Could see some refinement. Excited to continue to see more mysteries from Thomas and Mercer featuring less traditionally represented voices.

Kanaka Maoli Ranger Makalani has recently returned to the sand and sea of Hawai’i from a long-term assignment in the dense forests of Oregon. She has already solved one crime around her family but is now finding herself bored in her new job as a seasonal interpretive ranger at a national historic site. Then she is asked by her cousin to look into the death of his father-in-law, Larry Hiapo, a paniolo—Hawaiian cowboy—who was gored to death by a bull. Eager for action she jumps at this assignment and begins volunteering at the Hiapo ranch. There she finds a family in deep dysfunction.
Between troubled family dynamics, an old feud with the owners of the adjoining land and a wealthy mainlander looking to buy the Hiapo land, Makalani has plenty of suspects.

Multi-pov.

What works:
>Unique subculture
>Strong final showdown

What does not work:
>The cultural information is interesting but does not always contribute to the story
>Killer revelation felt anti-climactic, was not a surprise as there was no real attempts at total misdirection
>Time spent on speculation of family dynamics and ranch work

First thoughts: As a mystery this was not the most surprising. I really enjoyed getting to learn about Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy) life although the story got bogged down with cultural craftsmanship and history in places.