Fire Prayer

Storm Kayama #3

by Deborah Turrell Atkinson

Storm Kayamas old high school friend, Tanner Williams, wants a favor. Hes asked her to come to Molokai to make sure his ex-wife is taking good care of his adolescent son, a newly diagnosed diabetic. In the meantime, Storms law partner and lover, Ian Hamlin, is investigating the possibility that a Molokai kayaking companys negligence played a part in the disappearance of Brock Liu, the son of an Oahu shipping magnate. It looks like a great excuse for Storm and Hamlin to get away from Honolulu for the weekend.
But Storm soon finds that Tanner has bigger problems than he let on, including his bitter wife Jenny Williams, a history of mental illness, and ties to a local protest group linked to an unsolved ten-year-old homicide. A few hours after Storms visit to Jennys home, twelve-year-old Luke Williams finds his mother dead on their living room floor. Luke calls the police, then he disappears.
Storm believes Luke may have seen his mothers killer and is in grave danger from both the murderer and his fluctuating blood glucose levels. Her chase after Lukeand answersleads through the dense rainforests, pristine beaches, and untamed wilds of Molokai.Are Brock Lius disappearance and Jenny Williams death linked to the old homicide?

Genres: Mystery

282 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Inspired by Tony Hillermans stories of the Navajo, Deborah Atkinsons suspense novels expose not only the dark side of human nature, but the legends and folklore of Hawaii.

Debby lives in Honolulu with her husband and their two sons. A recipient of the University of Hawaii's Meryl Clark Award for Fiction, she is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and the author of Primitive Secrets (2002), The Green Room (2005), Fire Prayer, (2007), and Pleasing the Dead, (2009).


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Reviews

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an engaging mystery, with a cast of zany characters and a fascinating interweaving of traditional Hawaiian culture and beliefs. Not sure how much of them are true, but interesting, nonetheless !

[Atomicgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rated this book at 2 1/2 stars if that was possible.

It shows that the author has taken care in her choice of language, but her concern might have gone overboard. The words are too dry, bordering on being clinical. It was counterproductive to building suspense in a mystery, and the story never really does flow. I found myself battling with the diction too often to be curious about the story's mystery.

[Cheryl]

It is a novel. The author tries to come across as writing it as well researched but that is not the case. However, it makes for a good laugh if you know Molokai. Since mysticism is trendy today, the author has included some Hawaiian religion in the murder plot.


Light reading if you know the island and want to figure out who inspired her characters.

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Atkinson delivers a very twisty mystery with excellent Hawaiian cultural references. Her local dialogue is spot on -- not overdone as in some books set in Hawaii. Her portrayal of small-town Molokai life and the struggle for local people to make a living despite big development really hits close to home for so many.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book in this series. I am enjoying watching the development of Storm's relationships with Ian, her family, and herself. I also really enjoy the elements of Hawaiian history and folklore.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storm Kayamas high school friend, Tanner Williams, wants her to go to Molokai to make sure his ex-wife is taking good care of his son, a newly diagnosed diabetic. Storm soon finds that Tanner has bigger problems than he let on. A series of misadventures follow, which makes for an OK novel.

[Diane Tosney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Series.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, enjoyable.