Murder, Local Style

An Orchid Isle Mystery #3

by Leslie Karst

Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary mystery, featuring a feisty queer couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions in tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i.

A dinner to die for!

It’s been an eventful transition, but retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen are finally settling into life on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Val’s even joined the neighborhood orchid society to make some new friends. So when she’s asked to step in to cater their latest social event, as the newbie of the group she can’t exactly say no.

But what should have been a straightforward gig is soon a dining disaster when the food from the event poisons and kills the society president. As Val herself becomes a suspect in the murder investigation, she’s determined to uncover the truth. Who would want to kill the mild-mannered president of the orchid society?

Turns out the list is longer than a celebrity chef's tasting menu. Apparently some of the residents did not "love thy neighbor." Can she reveal the killer’s identity before they strike again?

This mouthwatering cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Ellen Byron, Jennifer J Chow, Lucy Burdette, and Raquel V Reyes, and includes a selection of delicious Hawaiian recipes to cook at home.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, LGBT

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2026

About the author

Leslie Karst is the Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity Award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle Mysteries, the Sally Solari culinary mysteries; and the IBPA Benjamin Franklin and IPPY award silver medal-winning memoir JUSTICE IS SERVED: A TALE OF SCALLOPS, THE LAW, AND COOKING FOR RBG. After years waiting tables and singing in a new wave rock band, she decided she was ready for a “real” job and ended up at Stanford Law School. It was during her career as an attorney that Leslie rediscovered her youthful passion for food and cooking and once more returned to school—this time to earn a degree in culinary arts. Now retired from the law, in addition to writing, Leslie spends her time cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen know they are fortunate to live on the Big Island of Hawai’i with the “lush jungles, fiery volcanoes, black sand beaches, and coral reefs with eye-popping tropical fish,” but “Paradise isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.” Sometimes your neighbors can get on your nerves, but would they commit murder?

Val has joined the neighborhood orchid society in an effort to become more involved in the community and even make a few new friends. She is surprised when she is asked to cater their upcoming event, which is just 4 days away. The member who was responsible for the meal had a family emergency. It’s a smaller event than what she usually catered in L.A., and she will have a helper, so she accepts.

Val is feeling pretty good about the meal she served at the orchid benefit banquet until the next morning, when people start calling to say they got sick after eating her food. She was shocked to learn that the orchid society president had died at the hospital. Soon, her neighbor, Detective Amy, was knocking on her door to talk to her about what happened. Nervous that she could be held responsible for the man’s death, she knows she needs to work on the case herself. She gets another surprise when she discovers the long list of suspects.

Will Val uncover the killer before they kill again?

I am happy that Val and Kristen are becoming more comfortable in their new Hilo home, aside from their rude neighbor and his crazy dog. Kristen is finding work helping others while meeting new people. Val bartends a few nights a week at the Speckled Gecko and has taken a big step in joining the local orchid society. They hang out regularly with their friends, Sachiko, who owns the Gecko, and her partner, and Kristen’s surfing buddy, Isaac. It was great to see them get out of their comfort zone in this story.

Solving the murder of George Ikeda, the orchid society president, wasn’t easy for Valerie. The poison used to kill George was pretty common, and everyone on the suspect list could have had it long forgotten in their shed or garage. George, a retired CPA, was said to be kind and generous, but more comfortable with his orchids than people. He had a great knowledge of propagated and hybrid orchids. When another murder attempt is thwarted, Val starts looking at the murder through new eyes. By the time she brought all the clues together, she was face-to-face with the killer. Wow! What a takedown!

Ms. Karst’s passion for the island and her attention to detail and descriptive writing style make me excited to escape to Hawai’i every time I open a book in this series. She takes her readers on a virtual vacation, treating us to the language, the culture, the weather, the food, and a well-plotted mystery investigated by her delightful characters. Murder, Local Style is a fantastic addition to this series. Hurry, don’t wait. Book your Perfect Escape with An Orchid Isle Mystery today.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, Severn House, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Lianne (Old Lady Podcast) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leslie Karst captures life on the Big Island with such realism. I love visiting my favorite island through her words.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the local orchid club president is murdered, Valerie steps up to catch the killer.

Murder, Local Style is the third book in veteran author Leslie Karst’s fun and layered Orchid Isle Mystery series, and once again, Valerie must step in to investigate a local death. When the president of her neighborhood’s orchid club dies after eating food she prepared for their club’s annual memorial dinner, Valerie naturally has a vested interest in clearing her name.

Valerie Corbin, a former caterer, graciously agrees to help prepare the annual dinner when one of the two volunteers responsible must go to Oahu to care for her sick mother. Thankfully, only 60 attendees are expected, and most of the menu shopping has been completed. The menu is comprised of local favorites that sound delicious, and there are fun discussions of their preparation woven into the story. As is her tradition, the author provides recipes at the end of the novel. Valerie had only just attended her first club meeting at the invitation of one of her neighbors and was hoping to meet others from the area, but making everyone sick with her cooking wasn’t what she had in mind, so she had plenty of righteous motivation to discover the truth.

Readers get an insider’s view of Valerie and Kristen’s marriage and home life, stressed by the murder and compounded by the building tensions between them and the inconsiderate neighbor next door, who uses loud power tools from dawn to dusk and has a dog that barks incessantly. Kristen’s nephew, Sean, has also come for an extended stay, and he gets upset when he overhears one of Valerie’s possible hypotheses, which would implicate his new island amour, who is also a member of the orchid club. Later, when he disappears for several days without a word to his aunt, Kristen is naturally concerned and upset, and Valerie doesn’t share her urgency to find him, which I found out of character for her. On the other hand, while Kristen has been somewhat supportive of Valerie’s past sleuthing, she’s really not on board this time, even though someone has done their best to point the finger at her wife.

The plot is full of neighborhood gossip and intrigue, with everyone involved living within the same area. Everyone knows everyone else, their families, and all their business, so there are plenty of suspects to consider and some very good red herrings to rule out. As always, the author imbues the story with local flavor, both cultural and culinary.

I recommend MURDER, LOCAL STYLE to cozy mystery readers, especially those who would enjoy a Big Island setting.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Local Style is the 3rd book in the Orchid Isle Mystery series, set in Hawaii. Retired caterer, Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen are settling into life on the Big Island. Val is working part time as a bartender and has recently joined the neighbourhood Orchid Society. They're getting ready for their fundraising dinner, when the woman that is supposed to be making it has to leave to take care of her mother who has taken ill. Valerie is asked if she could help out and agrees. She works another member and neighbour, Emily. All goes well until she gets a call the next morning that several people are sick with food poisoning. In fact, the president of the club is in the hospital. He dies, and what looks like a case of food poisoning becomes a murder when it is determined that he died from arsenic poisoning. Val decides to help Amy, her friend and local detective investigate as she is now a suspect. Who would want to kill the kind, orchid society president? It turns out that there are a few people that are not happy with him and it could be any of them. Val is determined to find out.

I do like Val, but she can get herself into trouble with her snooping. She casts a wide net into the neighbourhood not only looking for motive, but to see who might have arsenic. It turns out almost everyone does and Val's snooping and questions gets a few people upset with her, including Kristen's nephew who is staying with them. She takes chances that could get her into trouble. There is a nice mix of investigating and personal life in the story and lots of food and eating. My mouth was watering more than once while reading this one. The only character that I really didn't like is Larry, their neighbour. He has a large, vicious dog who barks all day long, and when they finally said something, he got angry at them. There is a time that Pua, Val and Kristen's dog, was in real danger. There is discussion of feral cats, people feeding them and trying to catch and spay or neuter them. I guess this is a problem everywhere. When the final reveal occurs, it has Val in danger and an unexpected hero saves her from having her head bashed in. I enjoyed the story, especially the setting and talk of food and activities that happen in the area. This is a well plotted mystery with great characters and a good storyline. If you enjoy a cozy mystery set in a lovely spot with an interesting murder and investigation, then I highly recommend not only this book, but the whole Orchid Isle Mystery series.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Local Style is book three in the An Orchid Isle Mystery series. Having not read the other book in the series, I was a little worried about not knowing the characters or past context, but it read really well as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything super important from the other books.

In the book, Valerie Corbin starts attending the neighborhood's orchid club. During her first meeting, they are planning for an upcoming dinner event, but they need someone to help out with the catering. Valerie volunteers because she's very familiar with working events like this, because of her past as a caterer for the film industry. Sadly, things don't go as planned, and the majority of the members of the orchid society get sick after the dinner. Originally, everyone thinks they've gotten food poisoning. That is, until the president of the orchid society ends up dead and the cause turned out to be arsenic poisoning. Valerie wants to solve the mystery of what really happened and clear her name from the suspect list.

I have to say this book really kept me guessing as to who the murder was. There were so many great suspects, and it was hard to piece together who would want to hurt the orchid society's president vs. the orchid society as a whole. I loved how neighborhood politics played into the mystery. It really had me thinking how far would someone be willing to go based off of a dispute with a neighbor. As I finished reading Murder, Local Style, I can only hope Val has developed a new respect for her neighbor.

As a lesbian, what I appreciated most about this book is its portrayal of a lesbian relationship. It was nice to see a lesbian couple just living their life and being accepted by their community.

I really love it when a cozy mystery includes recipes. Murder, Local Style has some great recipes that I'm excited to try. The Lemongrass Blast Mule sounds especially good.

Overall, Murder, Local Style is a really good cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Many thanks to Leslie Karst and Partners in Crime Tours for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenn Rizzoto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I picked this up thinking it could be a Murder She Wrote style mystery like Jessica Fletcher a version where she’s queer and newly relocated to Hawaiʻi, honestly.. it delivered! Our main character Valerie has that nosey neighbour, dog with a bone vibe and you just know she’s going to keep unraveling threads until she solves this mystery.

This is the third book in the series of the Orchid Isle Mystery where Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary mystery, featuring a feisty queer couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions in tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i. I haven’t gotten a chance to read the first two but I would definitely love to know more about Valerie and Kristen, their back story and moving to Hawai’i however it’s absolutely a standalone that jumps right into the action and mystery.

Be prepared to be transported to the beautiful life on the Big Island. I loved the authors care and appreciation for the local culture. Her love of Hawai’i and food shines through on every page. The story was interesting and included several red herrings, keeping me guessing through out the book. The characters are all loveable in their own way but at some point I was left wondering if every single person in the neighbourhood was capable of murder.. I knew I could rely on Valerie to get to the bottom of this mystery.

One thing that did make me pause was after the poisoning at dinner that Valerie prepares.. everyone is still somehow comfortable with letting Valerie help with and serve them food, she even brings a cake to the widow.. that would be a hard pass for me until someone was found responsible for the poisoning.

If you love mysteries set in close-knit communities, where everyone’s sharing meals, beaches, and secrets… and one of them is quietly a killer, this book is for you.

Where I’d Read This:

On the beach, with some delicious Butter-Shoyu Chicken.. if you dare.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Local residents have entangled themselves into a bloody murder that becomes the center of a lesbian couple’s welcoming to Hawai’i. The Orchid Society president has been murdered and all she wanted was to immerse herself into her new community. Things become messy as she becomes accused of a murder she knows she did not commit. She becomes an investigator to attempt to prove her innocence but what strain will this place on her reputation? A fun and cozy mystery that is written to inspire your taste buds to try a new meal and discover the truths on the island.
A mystery that throws itself into the culture and truly comes alive through the dialogue and well-constructed diction that makes it feel real. You can feel her anxieties as she ponders through this bloody mystery with the town. All she wanted to do was cook and design delectable dishes and now the town is worried she is throwing arsenic in their dishes. A mystery that redefines convenience and what it means to harbor dark secrets within the community. Is this an attempt to scare away outsiders or is someone looking for revenge?
Leslie Karst prefaces her narrative with diction of the island to ensure the authenticity of the narrative. What I truly appreciated is a glossary and the inclusion of recipes at the end of the novel. I hope in the final published copy there is a picture of the meal so you have an idea of what your attempt should look like. Thank you Leslie Karst, Severn House, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy. All opinions are my own.
For more recommendations, reviews, and tarot readings, check out my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/

[Danielle Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Local Style by Leslie Karst is a book with two kinds of story life happening at once. The first story life the reader experiences is the one where Valerie becomes an easy target for crimes she has not committed. Her cooking is apparently tampered with and she's the prime suspect for everything fowl since it was indeed her cooking. Someone dies, and it's not long before Valerie finds herself doing the sleuthing to clear her own name. This plot sounds so familiar because it happens a lot. Not too creative for a crime mystery novel, but it had all the crime noir elements I liked. The second story life part, was one that was not my cup of tea in particular, but I got it anyways. The second part includes the main protagonist and her female partner. Their love lives were getting messy, and it came off like a contemporary romance versus a cozy mystery read which is the reason for the 4-stars instead of five. I wanted a cozy mystery filled with crime, secrets, and danger. Not a messy love life filled with one of them being a target of crime. The writing is great. The main characters I could do without, but the rest were brilliant! They fitted their parts well. Leslie Karst can create characters that truly come off the page as she meant for them to be and at the same create a way for her readers to get emotionally involved in her book. I really liked the food aspects of this read and the big who dunnit vibes that were throughout the entire book.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE is the third book in the Orchid Isle Mysteries by Leslie Karst. Her strong descriptive skills capture the setting of Hilo—a small town on the Big Island of Hawai’i—and bring the tropical foliage, sunny weather, sandy beaches, and ocean swells to the page. Protagonist Val Corbin and her wife, Kristen, are California transplants to the island. This gives the book a unique perspective from both the mainlanders, as well as their new Hawai’ian friends and neighbors and the potential clashes between cultures. The author does an admirable job weaving Hawai’ian culture, food, words, and orchid husbandry into the fabric of the story without ever slowing down the pacing.

Against the rich backdrop of the lush Hawai’ian setting, Ms. Karst pens a multi-layered mystery that grabbed my attention and kept me engrossed in the book until I’d read the last page. Val, trying to find new friends, joins an orchid society group and volunteers to cater their upcoming event. Except someone poisons something she prepared and a multitude of attendees fall ill, and results in the death of the orchid society’s president. Being suspected of murder is not the way to winning new friends, so Val starts asking questions and digging into the past of the president and the attendees. There are suspects aplenty and clues to keep a sharp reader engaged. The riveting conclusion neatly wrapped up all my questions and left me wanting to book a ticket to visit the Orchid Isle in person!

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

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valerie Corbin is a retired California caterer who lives in Hilo, Hawai'i, with her wife Kristen. Valerie has joined the neighborhood orchid society to meet some of the residents and partake in a new hobby. When a fellow orchid society member has to make an emergency trip to attend to her mother, Valerie gets asked to help with the catering of the group's special meal. Given Valerie's background she is a natural fit to help out the group. But disaster strikes when numerous orchid society members end up with food poisoning and the orchid society president, George, ends up dead. Because Valerie feels somewhat responsible, she ends up informally investigating the murder and the potential suspects are numerous.

This is the third book in the Orchid Isle Mystery series. I had not yet read the other two books and was easily able to get acquainted with the characters and setting of Book 3. This was an interesting book in so many facets. First, the story was engrossing, and the action was fast paced with so many potential suspects and motives. The food and recipes were also unique and added to the potential contributor of which meal item caused people to get sick or die. Finally, the words and the special language of the residents was delightful to learn. 4.25 stars

I received an ARC from Severn House and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea (looseleftlesbian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is not my typical genre. I usually read sapphic romance, fantasy and romantasy. But I love mysteries and when I saw on NetGalley that it included a queer couple, I decided to request it.

I love that the author didn’t shy away from the reality of mainlanders basically invading Hawai’i when they move there. More people need to know about how most native Hawai’ians have asked people to stop moving there and to stop vacationing on the island due to the harm it is doing. I also learned a lot about plants, food and Hawai’i reading Murder, Local Style.

I did find the fact that Amy, the police officer neighbor, shared so much with Valerie. I feel like this isn’t realistic due to the nature of how George died. She even mentions that she shouldn’t be talking about the case with Valerie, but then continues to do so. But if you can look past that, it's a very interesting and fast paced plot that leaves you wondering who it was that poisoned George.

I loved that there wasn't one obvious culprit. Throughout the book, I had several different suspicions and any of the suspects could have been the murderer. When it was finally revealed who it was, it made sense but it wasn't like they were the only obvious one.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amateur sleuth Valerie Corbin returns in the third installment of Leslie Karst's Ochid Isle Mystery series, Murder, Local Style.

Valerie and her wife Kristen have settled into life in Hilo, Hawai‘i, with their dog Pua. Val has even joined the neighborhood orchid society so she can meet new people. So she is eager to help out when she is asked to cater their latest event at the last minute.

But when the orchid society's president is poisoned by food at the event and subsequently dies, Valerie finds herself a suspect. Determined to discover the truth, she learns that not everyone liked George, and the list of suspects and potential motives grows. Can she find the culprit before she becomes their next target?

While I didn't know this wasn't the first book in the series, I don't feel like I skipped a beat starting with Murder, Local Style. This cozy mystery blends a beautiful setting, a rich culture, engaging characters, and the twists and turns you expect in this genre. Having visited Hawaii, I appreciated how the author knows how to paint a picture and make the reader feel like they are there. Murder, Local Style finds Val coping with nasty neighbors and family stress while working at a local hot spot and trying to track down a murderer. The glossary of terms and the recipes were a bonus.

If you enjoy a cozy mystery in a fun place, Murder, Local Style is for you.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery set on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is full of community and family and Hawaiian culture. Food and drink play a large and important part of the story. I want to try many of the dishes that are served in the story and luckily this book includes recipes from the story. This is book 3 in the Orchid Isle Mystery series but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

The neighborhood Valerie and her wife Kristen live in is small and full of quirky individuals that they are just starting to be a part of. Valerie is curious and wants to be part of the community which leads to her attending an Orchid Society meeting and volunteering to help cater an event. When the president of the society ends up dead she talks to everyone to try to figure out what happened to clear her name. The more questions she asks the more people she meets with potential motives and access to the murder weapon. I especially liked Amy, the neighbor and police detective, who uses Valerie’s curiosity and connection to the Orchid Society to help solve the mystery.

The characters are likeable and the setting is beautiful and I look forward to reading more books in this series. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy cozy mysteries full of food.

Thanks to Partners in Crime VBT for the free, gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an attempt to make some new friends, Valerie Corbin decides to follow her interest in orchids and join the orchid society. Since so many of the members are in her neighborhood, it will be a big boost to her social life. Valerie’s first meeting is right before a fundraiser for the society, and she gets roped into helping prepare the food. But, no good deed goes unpunished, and the morning after the event, it appears that a bout of food poisoning has hit many of the attendees. Then the society’s president dies from an especially bad case of the food poisoning, and the police get involved. Could it be murder?

I enjoy getting to visit Hawai’i fictionally, and this was no exception. The location came to life and made me want to visit. I do wish that the characters were a little stronger, but that’s a minor point. The mystery was good with multiple suspects and twists and kept me guessing until we reached the logical climax. We get recipes at the end inspired by local favorites. This mystery tinged with local flavor will keep you entertained.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Leslie Karst's cozy An Orchid Isle Mystery series for the authentic food, tropical pastimes, and culture of the Big Island of Hawai'i, where the author lives for part of each year. She also brings her experience as a lawyer and a culinary graduate to the party and devises plots that work well specifically in that location.

In the third in the series, Murder, Local Style, the suspicious death of the president of the local orchid society calls into question the food that was served at the most recent banquet, disputes among the orchid growers, and secrets of the society's members that have yet to be revealed. As the banquet's caterer, Valerie is motivated to help the police investigate, so she won't become a person of interest.

While there are plenty of suspects--and another death--the author keeps the plot moving and the violence largely behind the scenes. There is also a helpful glossary of local language and some tasty-sounding recipes at the end. I'm "dying" to try the sugar cookies with gochujang and hoping for more in this delightful series.

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

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this novella.

I was really looking forward to this short, cozy story for those evenings to unwind after work, without a taxing narrative and easy reading style. Unfortunately, I felt this was actually more difficult to read because it just didn't engage me at all. It became more about neighbourhood watch than a cosy mystery ride and I found myself not actually caring by the end as to who the culprit really was. It was, however, one of the first narratives I have come across where the lesbian couple were not a main driving factor in the story but instead just part of life, part of the character's identity rather than a major factor in the plot, purpose, or personality in the story.

Overall, it nearly because a DNF because the plot dragged and the characters felt very underripe. Maybe it has highlighted to me that some books can actually be 'too' cosy for my liking, and others may appreciate that factor. Nonetheless, the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ character where their identity wasn't the centre of their purpose in the narrative was refreshing and I'd love to see this taken on by others in their writing too.

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Local Style follows recent newcomer to Hilo, Valerie, as she tries to become more involved in her neighborhood. When misadventure follows, Valerie attempts to solve the case to the consternation of her wife, nephew, and other neighbors. She does find a sympathetic ear with local police officer, Anne.
I really enjoyed the setting, local customs and speech which seemed spot on. Even the issues with tourism were touched on while still focusing on this small slice of life in this particular town.
The mystery was good with several red herrings, and the plot moved at a quick pace for a fast and enjoyable read. The characters were well established, although there was some connection lacking between Valerie and Kristen, her wife.
I don’t often bother with the recipes included with mysteries, but the butter shoyu chicken might be showing up in my kitchen very soon!
Overall, I liked this story a great deal and am planning on reading the first two in the series as well as looking forward to new titles.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the free eARC.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful cozy mystery set in Hilo, Hawaii amid orchids and tasty foods (recipes included too). A perfect beach read!

While this maybe the third book in Orchid Isle cozy mystery series, the book felt like a stand alone, since I haven’t read the first two.

Valerie Corbin has joined the Orchid Society and at her first meeting she finds herself volunteering to help with its annual dinner. The menu was already set and most of the ingredients purchased, so it’s just preparing the menu. All goes well until the next day when people reporting food poisoning symptoms. Faced with possible lawsuits, Valerie sets out to find out what happened. And then the president of the orchid society dies!

Good twists and turns. The descriptions of the island and settings are excellent - felt I was there! Interesting set of characters too v

This was a fun, enjoyable read. For lovers of cozy mysteries with recipes, this one is for you.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read this sweet ARC.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this mystery set deep in Hawaiian culture. The murder is difficult for Valerie to solve as there are so many suspects. She is tenacious to the end, however, and that brings a quick bit of danger for her. I was holding my breath when there was a welcome twist that made quite a difference.

In addition to enjoying a good mystery, I liked learning about orchids, making pottery, the Hawaiian customs, festivals and food and drinks. And there are recipes included!

This novel is part of a series but the first I have read. I felt it read really well on its own. It moves along at a consistent pace, adding interesting Hawaiian information along the way. I recommend it to readers who enjoy learning much about the location as well as trying to solve the murder mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

[Cindy Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, Local Style finds retiree Valerie and her wife Kristen embroiled in another murder in this third book in this Hawaii based series. Still adjusting to retirement, Valerie thinks about joining the neighborhood orchid group, and agrees to help cater an event. When someone dies after ingesting poison at the dinner, Valerie wants to clear her catering skills as well as solve the murder of a man she liked.

As she investigates, she learns lots of neighborhood secrets and finds plenty of suspects. Some of the suspects hit close to home, and cause some tension between Valerie and Kristen.

This is another winner from Karst. The descriptions of the characters bring them all to life, and the Hawaiian setting is a bonus. A good mystery, and a good chance to armchair travel.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy mystery with loads of Aloha-spirit
What I love most about the Orchid Isle series is that it captures so perfectly the local community of Hilo, Hawai‘i. It‘s so much fun to virtually visit while reading the new sleuthing adventure of Valerie who together with her wife Kristen moved to Hilo from the mainland. I especially relish all the great Hawaian food and cocktails - fortunately Karst added some recipes - and the local pidgin style English.
Valerie joins the Orchid Society - a perfect entree to the local neighborhood or so she thinks. Helping to cater the annual dinner the food leads to the death of its president. While poking around Valerie (and the reader) learns a lot about local customs and her neighbors. The end could‘ve been a bit more fleshed out though.
I look forward to the next adventure.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

[TUKricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrative: 📕📘📗📓
Angst: Moderate
Spice: Not That Kind of Book
Humor: 😆😆
Heart: 💧💧💧
Romance: Nope, None, Natta
Burn Time: Really should be crime solving time...

Not my typical book review but prior to romance was my typical genre. Its an interesting take on a neighborhood of busy bodies and the outsider is just trying to fit in while alao trying to figure out who dunit. A simple thing that potentially could have been put in the wrong bottle ends up causing strife and turmoil for more than one person, the question circulating is, who and whose the target, why, and did they intend it this way...

Enjoyable read with some great discussions around food, also recipes in the back of the book which I love.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Val joins the local Orchid Society to learn more about growing them. What she comes away with is a catering gig and new murder to solve when the president of the society is poisoned through what appears to be the ingredients Val used in the meal.

Can Val figure out who had it in for the man, whom most seemed to like, even if he was a bit prickly? Or will Val be picked off and left too die by a killer?

Always a fun escape with this series. I mean, who doesn’t like to get away and slip off to Hawaii for awhile? Well written, an exotic location, a cute pup and a solid mystery make this one you won’t want to miss.

[Paz · Rating 2 out of 5]

A passable whodunnit murder mystery in an unusual setting. I loved the island vibes, the integration of Hawaiian and pidgin words, and it was lovely to see very casual lesbian representation in a world without homophobia. Queernormative settings in books are so important to me.

However, I think the premise was a bit silly, the characters mostly fell really flat, and the writing is amateurish and just so, so unremarkable. If the plot hadn't drawn me in, I'd have dnf'd the book after the first two chapters or so.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital advanced reader copy.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an enjoyable series! This latest entry includes a solid mystery, with lots of red herrings. I enjoy Val as a sleuth, even when she gets a bit carried away with an investigation (although, let’s be real – that’s a great quality in a sleuth!). I also love the setting – this is true armchair travel. I love the descriptions of tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i, and I felt like I was right there with Val. The food and drink described is also mouth-watering. I had a suspicion of the true culprit, but wasn’t sure how it would be proved. I hope there are more entries

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leslie Karst for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder, Local Style coming out April 7, 2026. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. As a Polynesian, I definitely love Hawaii! The setting was perfect. I enjoyed the mystery. I loved the recipes at the end. I would check out more books by this author.

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute cozy mystery that was fast paced and full of suspects! I did not realize this was the third book in a series when I started, but I don't think that detracts from the story. The real star of the story is the food! I want recipes for every single thing they ate throughout the book!

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. I’ve really gotten into cozy murder mysteries, especially with a food element added. I like how Valerie still tries to figure out who the killer is, regardless of the danger.I like the recipes and slang at the end of the book.

[Rebecca]

Bought at Kona Stories bookstore and read in Kailua and Hilo. Then my daughter read it. Then my mother in law read it. And then we stopped into the lovely Basically Books store in Hilo town to buy the others in the series. Murder mystery local author reads in Hilo are pretty hard to beat.

[Elizabeth Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming series that takes right into the heart of Hilo, Hawaii.
A clever mystery with well developed characters.
I look forward to many more.