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Hawai'i Mystery #1
Murder Casts a Shadow: A Hawai'i Mystery
New Year's Eve, 1934. While Honolulu celebrates with champagne and fireworks, someone is making away with the Bishop Museum's portrait of King Kalakaua and its curator. A series of brutal murders follows, and an unlikely pair, newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith and visiting playwright Ned Manusia, find themselves investigating a twisted trail of clues in an attempt to recover the painting and uncover the killer.Honolulu in the 1930s is a unique (and volatile) mix of the provincial and the urban, East and West, islander and mainlander. Mina and Ned, both of Polynesian descent, confront the complexities and contradictions of Island life as their investigation takes them into the heart of Honolulu society and close-knit local families, whose intricate histories and relationships will have a direct impact on future lives and events. A lively cast of characters aids Mina and Ned in their search for answers: Cecily Chang, an antiques and explosives expert, steers them through Chinatown's back alleys; Hinano Kahana, a hula chanter and dancer, brings Ned closer to solving an ancient riddle; Mina's grandmother, Hannah, helps them unlock a secret from the past.Prewar Honolulu comes to life in this thoroughly entertaining mystery that evokes a colorful bygone era.
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
22 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl
14 books18 followersVictoria Nalani Kneubuhl is a well-known Honolulu playwright and author. She holds a master’s degree in drama and theatre from the University of Hawai`i. Her plays have been performed in Hawai`i and the continental United States and have toured to Britain, Asia, and the Pacific. An anthology of her work, Hawai`i Nei: Island Plays, is available from the University of Hawai`i Press. Ms. Kneubuhl’s mystery novel Murder Casts a Shadow, will be published this fall by the University of Hawaii Press. She is currently the writer and coproducer for the television series Biography Hawaii. In 1994, she was the recipient of the prestigious Hawai`i Award for Literature and in 2006 received the Eliot Cades Award for Literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 17, 2019
Can I have more than one favorite author? Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl is a playwright but she put her hand to a murder mystery after writing several successful plays. This is a true gem: multi-faceted, with rich portrayals of Pacific Island peoples and their beliefs as well as believable motivations for murder. We get the native Hawaiian perspective on why America the mainland was interested to annex the islands, and all of it so light, so fragrant, so beautiful, like Kneubuhl’s descriptions of the dawn, the surf, the flora.
The time described is the 1930’s and the characters we meet are glamorous, sophisticated, smart, and sound an awful lot as though they could be speaking today. The women, in particular one woman, Mina, is fully-realized and unafraid to reveal her doubts, her passions, her intents. Others may gossip, but she is guileless. She is beautiful and suffers from the attentions of men. She sets the parameters of a working relationship right from the start with a man she doesn’t know well, suspecting he will, as they all do, eventually fall under her spell.
Native names may be a challenge for some but I relish the added authenticity and depth to the story as it unfolds. A museum director, a white man, is murdered. The police chief, also white but married to one of twin sisters descended from island royalty, hosts a Pacific Islander playwright and sometime British spy who has come to Hawai’i to return the portrait of a Hawaiian king once misappropriated from the islands. When the portrait goes missing at the time of the murder, Mina, one of the twins and a part-time journalist, works to uncover the perpetrators.
Kneubuhl doesn’t put a foot wrong while effectively throwing red-herrings into the story at every turn. While it appears several people have a motive for murder, we never see the ending coming, though it had been spotlighted a few times earlier in the drama. Kneubuhl has a theatre artist’s skill of involving our every sense, beginning on page one when someone spills a glass of brandy over their costume at a gala. Taste, scent fill the air directly and hit the bloodstream quickly.
She does the same with her descriptions of sunrises in the outer islands, the condition of the sea, the torrential rains, the lava-rock cliffs—the physical fact of the islands are as important as anything or anyone else in this story. It is a real achievement to have highlighted the natural beauty of a place while sharing its history, all the while amusing us with a plausible murder mystery.
The cast of characters is plausible, too, from Mina’s best friend, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant who likes cooking French food more than his native cuisine to a Japanese maid, we learn later, who happens to be very knowledgable about Asian antiques.
Kuebuhl has written more than two dozen plays and three of her most celebrated plays are collected in an edition called Hawaii Nei: Island Plays. This mystery novel has become a series with two other books featuring its main characters, including the indomitable Mina. Most important, perhaps, is Kneubuhl's celebration of island customs and placing the islands in the context of America’s sometimes bloody and racist history.
The time described is the 1930’s and the characters we meet are glamorous, sophisticated, smart, and sound an awful lot as though they could be speaking today. The women, in particular one woman, Mina, is fully-realized and unafraid to reveal her doubts, her passions, her intents. Others may gossip, but she is guileless. She is beautiful and suffers from the attentions of men. She sets the parameters of a working relationship right from the start with a man she doesn’t know well, suspecting he will, as they all do, eventually fall under her spell.
Native names may be a challenge for some but I relish the added authenticity and depth to the story as it unfolds. A museum director, a white man, is murdered. The police chief, also white but married to one of twin sisters descended from island royalty, hosts a Pacific Islander playwright and sometime British spy who has come to Hawai’i to return the portrait of a Hawaiian king once misappropriated from the islands. When the portrait goes missing at the time of the murder, Mina, one of the twins and a part-time journalist, works to uncover the perpetrators.
Kneubuhl doesn’t put a foot wrong while effectively throwing red-herrings into the story at every turn. While it appears several people have a motive for murder, we never see the ending coming, though it had been spotlighted a few times earlier in the drama. Kneubuhl has a theatre artist’s skill of involving our every sense, beginning on page one when someone spills a glass of brandy over their costume at a gala. Taste, scent fill the air directly and hit the bloodstream quickly.
She does the same with her descriptions of sunrises in the outer islands, the condition of the sea, the torrential rains, the lava-rock cliffs—the physical fact of the islands are as important as anything or anyone else in this story. It is a real achievement to have highlighted the natural beauty of a place while sharing its history, all the while amusing us with a plausible murder mystery.
The cast of characters is plausible, too, from Mina’s best friend, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant who likes cooking French food more than his native cuisine to a Japanese maid, we learn later, who happens to be very knowledgable about Asian antiques.
Kuebuhl has written more than two dozen plays and three of her most celebrated plays are collected in an edition called Hawaii Nei: Island Plays. This mystery novel has become a series with two other books featuring its main characters, including the indomitable Mina. Most important, perhaps, is Kneubuhl's celebration of island customs and placing the islands in the context of America’s sometimes bloody and racist history.
“Our stories are so worth telling…you are leaving a gift for your community.”--Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl in an interview in 2015 for PBS Hawaii with with by the Hawaiian talk show host.
August 5, 2025
I love the setting: colonial Hawaii in 1935. I liked our heroine, spunky part-Hawaiian Mina Beckwith, girl reporter. I liked her sleuthing sidekick, English-Samoan spy (cover story: part-time playwright and theatrical director with private means) Edward “Ned” Manusia. So why didn’t I love this novel? It’s equal parts Albert Campion and the 1950s TV show Hawaiian Eye, after all.
Was it too many cardboard or over-the-top characters? Was one too many clues that fell into Mina's or Ned's lap? Was it the constant foreshadowing of what awaited Japanese Americans in just a few years? (Not so much in Hawaii, though, as the Japanese, naturalized, American-born or not, were too necessary to the war effort.) I never did figure out why I wasn’t in love with the novel to the point that I had to force myself to finish it, so I’m giving this novel two stars, but just chalk it up to me, not the book.
Was it too many cardboard or over-the-top characters? Was one too many clues that fell into Mina's or Ned's lap? Was it the constant foreshadowing of what awaited Japanese Americans in just a few years? (Not so much in Hawaii, though, as the Japanese, naturalized, American-born or not, were too necessary to the war effort.) I never did figure out why I wasn’t in love with the novel to the point that I had to force myself to finish it, so I’m giving this novel two stars, but just chalk it up to me, not the book.
June 11, 2019
Honolulu, 1934. The historical setting of this thriller weds the genre of the gentile amateur detective mystery to Polynesian cultural memories of a vanished generation alive during the reign of the last Polynesian monarchs. Lingering resentment over the overthrow of the monarchy, engineered by American interests, and racial inequality mix with the atmospheric descriptions of a still pristine Oahu. The dramatis personae are a part Samoan playwright educated in England (Ned Manusia), an intrepid half-Polynesian young journalist (Mina Beckwith), and her twin sister (Nyla) who is married to an American-born detective in the Hawaiian Police Force (Todd Forrest).
When the director of the Bishop Museum, Abel Halpern, turns up bludgeoned to death, Mina is on a collision course with her brother-in-law Todd, the official in charge of the investigation. Mina is also concerned about an overheard conversation that seems to implicate Todd and Nyla in a secret that might be involved with Halpern's murder. Ned is attracted to Mina but suppresses that attraction, knowing that Mina would perceive any romantic moves as an infringement on her independence.
The murder is accompanied by an endless stream of questions. Halpern was a vociferous racist who had quarrels going with a number of people, including his son and daughter, so there are many suspects. At the same time of the murder, a newly acquired portrait of King David Kalakaua who died mysteriously in 1891 is stolen, and then recovered in a trash bin. Mina's friend Cecily is assaulted and nearly killed a few days after the murder. A friend of Cecily's is involved in a fatal accident. Finally, there are rumors floating about of a clandestine antiques smuggling operation.
However, the novel's real charm lies with the relationships of the characters. Being twins, Mina and Nyla have an unspoken connection that goes beyond words. Both also have a close relationship to their Polynesian grandmother who lives on the Big Island with their father. Ned is good friends with Todd but has promised to preserve Mina's confidences as she dives into the case. A play that Ned wrote is being produced locally which brings Ned into contact with all of the leading suspects, a colorful lot with their own family secrets. There is a great deal of friendly banter between Mina and Nyla, and witty repartee between Mina and Ned. All of this gave the novel a freshness and immediacy that gave the novel a lively pace.
This was an entertaining book with tantalizing references to Hawaiian culture, native flora and history.
When the director of the Bishop Museum, Abel Halpern, turns up bludgeoned to death, Mina is on a collision course with her brother-in-law Todd, the official in charge of the investigation. Mina is also concerned about an overheard conversation that seems to implicate Todd and Nyla in a secret that might be involved with Halpern's murder. Ned is attracted to Mina but suppresses that attraction, knowing that Mina would perceive any romantic moves as an infringement on her independence.
The murder is accompanied by an endless stream of questions. Halpern was a vociferous racist who had quarrels going with a number of people, including his son and daughter, so there are many suspects. At the same time of the murder, a newly acquired portrait of King David Kalakaua who died mysteriously in 1891 is stolen, and then recovered in a trash bin. Mina's friend Cecily is assaulted and nearly killed a few days after the murder. A friend of Cecily's is involved in a fatal accident. Finally, there are rumors floating about of a clandestine antiques smuggling operation.
However, the novel's real charm lies with the relationships of the characters. Being twins, Mina and Nyla have an unspoken connection that goes beyond words. Both also have a close relationship to their Polynesian grandmother who lives on the Big Island with their father. Ned is good friends with Todd but has promised to preserve Mina's confidences as she dives into the case. A play that Ned wrote is being produced locally which brings Ned into contact with all of the leading suspects, a colorful lot with their own family secrets. There is a great deal of friendly banter between Mina and Nyla, and witty repartee between Mina and Ned. All of this gave the novel a freshness and immediacy that gave the novel a lively pace.
This was an entertaining book with tantalizing references to Hawaiian culture, native flora and history.
January 22, 2012
There is a bit of “As You Like It” in this novel with newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith as Rosalind and Hawaii as the Forest of Arden. Set in 1935, Mina teams up with visiting playwright Ned Manusia, an equally likeable character, to investigate the murder of a nasty museum director and the theft of a royal portrait. The mystery is a little awkward and it is not too difficult to identify the villain. However, the trail leads them to another suspicious death famous in Hawaiian history, and the chapter in which Ned discovers the crucial evidence is extraordinary. The story ends in good Shakespearean fashion with a pair of weddings. Published by the University of Hawaii, the novel provides a wonderful glimpse of pre-war Hawaii and Hawaiian culture.
March 22, 2020
I enjoyed this historical mystery, set in 1930s Hawai'i, immensely. Main cast of multicultural Polynesians, descriptions of Hawai'ian spiritual beliefs, lush scenery, glimpses of historical Honolulu--I enjoyed everything about this book.
November 3, 2012
Maybe my expectations were too high. Amazon’s description of this book read
New Year's Eve, 1934. While Honolulu celebrates with champagne and fireworks, someone is making away with the Bishop Museum's portrait of King Kalakaua and doing away with its curator. A series of brutal murders follows, and an unlikely pair, newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith and visiting playwright Ned Manusia, find themselves investigating a twisted trail of clues in an attempt to recover the painting and uncover the killer.
Prewar Honolulu comes to life in this thoroughly entertaining mystery that evokes a colorful bygone era.
I guess I had Charlie Chan, Raymond Chandler, or Dashiell Hammett in mind. That’s not what I got. I didn’t get the impression of the 30’s or any noir; this book reminded more of Nancy Drew mysteries. Ned was her boyfriend, right? With that name, I had difficulty imagining him as Samoan. Nearly all the other characters were white.
There was too much going on and too many characters. The red herrings were not persuasive; the murderer was obvious at the first appearance.
The Hawaiian history information was very interesting, and the descriptions of the islands made me want to visit Hawaii – of the 30’s.
And what was the deal with the frame for the king’s portrait? What happened to it? If it was immaterial, why mention its historic and artistic importance. Chekhov's Gun rule states that if an unimportant element introduced early in the story it becomes significant later on. In this case, much was made of the picture frame and then it disappeared from the plot.
All in all, a disappointment. I don’t plan to get the sequel.
New Year's Eve, 1934. While Honolulu celebrates with champagne and fireworks, someone is making away with the Bishop Museum's portrait of King Kalakaua and doing away with its curator. A series of brutal murders follows, and an unlikely pair, newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith and visiting playwright Ned Manusia, find themselves investigating a twisted trail of clues in an attempt to recover the painting and uncover the killer.
Prewar Honolulu comes to life in this thoroughly entertaining mystery that evokes a colorful bygone era.
I guess I had Charlie Chan, Raymond Chandler, or Dashiell Hammett in mind. That’s not what I got. I didn’t get the impression of the 30’s or any noir; this book reminded more of Nancy Drew mysteries. Ned was her boyfriend, right? With that name, I had difficulty imagining him as Samoan. Nearly all the other characters were white.
There was too much going on and too many characters. The red herrings were not persuasive; the murderer was obvious at the first appearance.
The Hawaiian history information was very interesting, and the descriptions of the islands made me want to visit Hawaii – of the 30’s.
And what was the deal with the frame for the king’s portrait? What happened to it? If it was immaterial, why mention its historic and artistic importance. Chekhov's Gun rule states that if an unimportant element introduced early in the story it becomes significant later on. In this case, much was made of the picture frame and then it disappeared from the plot.
All in all, a disappointment. I don’t plan to get the sequel.
June 12, 2017
This is a wonderful mystery, along the line of the golden age of mysteries (in my opinion) that also provides a delightful introduction to Hawaii inbetween WWI and WWII. The history of the Hawaiian islands is also covered, which opens a new view for me of an area of history I have never studied.
I hope that the author continues her books, I've become quite fond of Mina and Ned!
I hope that the author continues her books, I've become quite fond of Mina and Ned!
May 28, 2021
2021 bk 115. Every so often a person runs across an author new to them who opens doors, delights the senses, and makes the reader think. This happened with Kneubuhl's Murder Casts A Shadow to me. Kneubuhl's classic mystery set in 1930's Hawaii is both a mystery of that time and of something that happened decades earlier. Her twists, turns, and plot devices speak of her playwriting skills and expertise on 1930's Hawaii and the people of Hawaii. Terrific mystery, great read, and the next thing I'm doing is searching out more books by this author.
May 15, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down because I'm a bit mad because the female lead was forced down the "falling in love" hole. Not every female protagonist needs a love story!
This is another of the "wish I knew what I was getting into before I started the book" situation. I thought this is a mystery and a historical fiction - two genres I love! Well turned out the mystery was just window dressing - the criminal's motivations are cookie-cutter, and not very believable; the investigators are not very astute and mostly just luck their way into revelations; and everyone is very conveniently located for it to all come together. Take all the genre tropes and throw them in a blender - and you've got the mystery. The historical fiction aspects was not much better. It might be my unfamiliarity with the setting - but except for the lack of mobile phones and googling, it didn't feel historical at all. It could very much have been set in modern day Hawaii - wouldn't have needed too many changes.
Reading the book, it felt like the author was going for more of literary fiction vibe - a well done vignette of Hawaii in a time of flux when it's trying to make peace with being American. The description of the island's natural beauty, the clash of cultures, the resentment of native Hawaiians at being swallowed by the American colonists, showing us the Hawaiian way of life - all these aspects were fairly well done. But I wasn't here for it, dammit, I wanted a good historical mystery! I probably would have enjoyed the book a lot more if I read it at a different time, with different expectations.
It was still going for a solid 3/3.5 star, because I was willing to ignore my disappointment and go with it. But then the author went and introduced a dash of mystical/magical realism - and I *loathe* magical realism in general, but I especially disliked the "spirituality" in this one. It didn't *do* anything for the story - expect provide a really convenient plot device. It was there just for the sake of being there - and I didn't like the 'flavour' at all. If was probably important to the author to educate us on Hawaiian religious beliefs, and how it was forcibly sidelined by the colonists - but surely there was a better way than a dues ex-machina!
I also disliked how Ned and Mina's relationship progresses through the book. I don't like the "not looking for romance, but falling in love anyway" trope - and I especially don't like how most authors feel the need to give their female lead a love story. I was hoping for a kick-ass friendship and understanding here - but no, of course we can't have that. Ned has to want to marry Mina - why else would a man care for a woman? * Eye roll *
Overall, I didn't really enjoy this book - too many aspects/tropes I really dislike. But at least I did get to travel to a new-to-me locale!
This is another of the "wish I knew what I was getting into before I started the book" situation. I thought this is a mystery and a historical fiction - two genres I love! Well turned out the mystery was just window dressing - the criminal's motivations are cookie-cutter, and not very believable; the investigators are not very astute and mostly just luck their way into revelations; and everyone is very conveniently located for it to all come together. Take all the genre tropes and throw them in a blender - and you've got the mystery. The historical fiction aspects was not much better. It might be my unfamiliarity with the setting - but except for the lack of mobile phones and googling, it didn't feel historical at all. It could very much have been set in modern day Hawaii - wouldn't have needed too many changes.
Reading the book, it felt like the author was going for more of literary fiction vibe - a well done vignette of Hawaii in a time of flux when it's trying to make peace with being American. The description of the island's natural beauty, the clash of cultures, the resentment of native Hawaiians at being swallowed by the American colonists, showing us the Hawaiian way of life - all these aspects were fairly well done. But I wasn't here for it, dammit, I wanted a good historical mystery! I probably would have enjoyed the book a lot more if I read it at a different time, with different expectations.
It was still going for a solid 3/3.5 star, because I was willing to ignore my disappointment and go with it. But then the author went and introduced a dash of mystical/magical realism - and I *loathe* magical realism in general, but I especially disliked the "spirituality" in this one. It didn't *do* anything for the story - expect provide a really convenient plot device. It was there just for the sake of being there - and I didn't like the 'flavour' at all. If was probably important to the author to educate us on Hawaiian religious beliefs, and how it was forcibly sidelined by the colonists - but surely there was a better way than a dues ex-machina!
I also disliked how Ned and Mina's relationship progresses through the book. I don't like the "not looking for romance, but falling in love anyway" trope - and I especially don't like how most authors feel the need to give their female lead a love story. I was hoping for a kick-ass friendship and understanding here - but no, of course we can't have that. Ned has to want to marry Mina - why else would a man care for a woman? * Eye roll *
Overall, I didn't really enjoy this book - too many aspects/tropes I really dislike. But at least I did get to travel to a new-to-me locale!
November 9, 2012
I read this book based on a recommendation from NPR. Also, I'm a sucker for books about Hawai'i. I was surprised for how good the book was considering I've junked every recommended book from NPR. Also, the cover of this book looks awful.
That being said, Kneubuhl wove a good story sprinkled with detailed morsels of home. I recommend the book to anybody from Hawai'i. If you're not from HI, this'll probably be a 3-star book
That being said, Kneubuhl wove a good story sprinkled with detailed morsels of home. I recommend the book to anybody from Hawai'i. If you're not from HI, this'll probably be a 3-star book
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June 30, 2020The year is 1934: after the theft of a priceless portrait of King Kalakaua takes place at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum, a string a brutal murders follows. Newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith and playwright Ned Manusia are on the case! In addition to being a superb mystery novel that follows this unlikely pair on a twisted trail of clues, it is also an insightful critique of pre-war Hawaiian society, and examines the clash between islander and mainlander.
May 17, 2023
This story was far too slow for my liking. I gave it a good 20 (out of 40) chapters and honestly, this is the most boring murder mystery I have ever read. The only thing drawing you in is the wonderful description of the scenery. The characters feel flat and the dialogue lacks the wit the characters are clearly supposed to have.
August 25, 2023
There's nothing particularly wrong with this book other than I'm not a fan of "cozy mysteries." I bought it because the bookstore was donating to Maui relief efforts. The book is predictable for the genre with the twist being that it is set in Hawaii in the 1930s. A glossary of Hawaiian words would have been helpful.
January 9, 2018
I really enjoyed it. I loved reading about what part of Hawaii was like in the 1930s. It was certainly hard to picture it knowing what Hawaii looks like now. I never guessed who the main antagonist was.
July 27, 2022
Page turner
I very much enjoyed reading this book. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it back up and read what wAs going to happen next. Thank you for the mystery, the giggles and for a look into a beautiful culture. I hope there will be more books to come.
I very much enjoyed reading this book. When I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it back up and read what wAs going to happen next. Thank you for the mystery, the giggles and for a look into a beautiful culture. I hope there will be more books to come.
October 20, 2022
I love a mystery where the setting is a character, and this book delivered that in spades. I also now want to dive down the rabbit hole of Hawaiian history, which I know very little about. Plus, Mina, Ned, and all the supporting characters were a delight.
March 26, 2018
Set in Honolulu in the early 1930s, this mystery, predictable as it is, provided a great diversion from winter weather.
May 4, 2018
Loved this book! As a former Kamaina, it showed me a Hawai'i I would have loved to know. The writing is great and I enjoyed the characters. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
July 3, 2019
Definitely a Cozy :-)
January 23, 2020
A typical murder mystery, but with some Hawaiian characters, culture, and history.
January 5, 2022
It’s an okay book with a couple historical inaccuracies. The ending was a really good twist.
December 2, 2025
3.75⭐️
December 27, 2024
I liked the layer of Hawaiian history and spiritual values. It was fun to revisit settings that were familiar and not familiar because the story takes place almost 100 years in the past. I kept forgetting that the story was set in the 1930s, though, because the characters felt more contemporary.
3+
3+
December 20, 2012
I don't usually read mysteries, but picked this up after visiting Hawaii and hearing Kneubuhl on NPR. The story is set primarily in Honalulu in the 1930s and centers around a half-Samoan, half-English detective/playwrite/secret service agent, Ned, and a plucky, half-Hawiian, half-Caucasian newspaper reporter, Mina. The who-dun-it part of the book was interesting and kept me going, and the culture and milieu was also fascinating. The book had an intsensely strong sense of place, and having recently been on Oahu I did feel transported. I also liked the touches of traditional Polynesian spirituality that popped up throughout the novel.
Serendipitously I recently learned what the cozy mystery genre is. This novel largely fits this category. It does descend into gritty action near the end, but primarily is a genteel examination of a murder/theft. I wanted Kneubuhl to stay to the cozy mystery form. The gritty action near the end was exciting, but I think I would have prefered a Poirot-style gathering of the cast (particulalry since all the characters were somehow connected with Ned's play) where the detectives illuminate the previously confusing actions that led to the crimes.
In the story, Kneubuhl allows the background of the characters to be revealed gradually in the course of the action and their interactions with other characters. I respect that literary choice, but I ended up feeling disconnected from the central characters for a good half of the book because they ended feeling too loosely drawn. This did resolve for me by the last quarter, but interfered significantly with my enjoyment of much of the book. Finally, there were times when the main characters had insights or discovered information that Kneubuhl kept from the reader to be revealed later. I also found that frustrating.
My anthropological curiosity was piqued, but not satisfied by the book. But then, I'd say that was not Kneubuhl's purpose in writing the book. The story takes place almost exclusively in the rich and privileged sphere of Hawiian society, consistent with classic mysteries of that era. There is an interesting multicultural element to the players (both half white), and a central element of the plot becomes how influential white Americans affected Hawiian culture. I found this a little schizophrenic since the main characters are part of and yet outside of this segment of society. There is also a cursory mention of the tension between the Caucasian, historically upper class and the successful, rising Asian (particularly Japanese) elements of society.
All in all I enjoyed the novel and will probably pick up the second, but this did not convince me that mysteries should be my new thing.
Serendipitously I recently learned what the cozy mystery genre is. This novel largely fits this category. It does descend into gritty action near the end, but primarily is a genteel examination of a murder/theft. I wanted Kneubuhl to stay to the cozy mystery form. The gritty action near the end was exciting, but I think I would have prefered a Poirot-style gathering of the cast (particulalry since all the characters were somehow connected with Ned's play) where the detectives illuminate the previously confusing actions that led to the crimes.
In the story, Kneubuhl allows the background of the characters to be revealed gradually in the course of the action and their interactions with other characters. I respect that literary choice, but I ended up feeling disconnected from the central characters for a good half of the book because they ended feeling too loosely drawn. This did resolve for me by the last quarter, but interfered significantly with my enjoyment of much of the book. Finally, there were times when the main characters had insights or discovered information that Kneubuhl kept from the reader to be revealed later. I also found that frustrating.
My anthropological curiosity was piqued, but not satisfied by the book. But then, I'd say that was not Kneubuhl's purpose in writing the book. The story takes place almost exclusively in the rich and privileged sphere of Hawiian society, consistent with classic mysteries of that era. There is an interesting multicultural element to the players (both half white), and a central element of the plot becomes how influential white Americans affected Hawiian culture. I found this a little schizophrenic since the main characters are part of and yet outside of this segment of society. There is also a cursory mention of the tension between the Caucasian, historically upper class and the successful, rising Asian (particularly Japanese) elements of society.
All in all I enjoyed the novel and will probably pick up the second, but this did not convince me that mysteries should be my new thing.
April 26, 2012
It is 1935 in Hawai’i and even though the depression has hit these tropical islands as well the sugar industry has cushioned the effects of unemployment somewhat. Honolulu may have not have all the sophistication of a mainland city especially when it comes to the arts but it tries to make up for it with an excellent community theater. London playwright Ned Manusia has come to put his latest play on here and he feels quite at home here because he is of Polynesian extraction himself. He was born in Samoa.
Ned has a second reason for finding himself in Honolulu; he has escorted three important portraits of the Hawaiian Royal Family from the British Museum back to their home. He has done secret commissions for the British Government before. While in Hawai’i he is staying with his old friend Troy Forrest who is the Chief of Detectives for the Honolulu Police and his wife Nyla, who is an interesting blend of Hawaiian, Irish and English.
Shortly after the portraits are delivered the main one of the King Kalåkaua is stolen and a main functionary of the museum Abe Halpern is murdered. Nyla’s sister Mina Beckwith is a reporter for the local paper who fights against the restrictions that are constantly keeping her from getting good stories. As a woman it seems it is felt she can only do justice to art and social events, but she is onsite for this case and knows she can run with it. She pairs up with Ned to dig into the background of the murder victim.
Abel Halpern was a grandson of one of the original outsider movers and shakers on the island. There are many rumors about his dirty dealings within the museum, his family, and the city of Honolulu it self as well so his murder comes as no surprise to many. What must be determined was whether this killing was related to the theft of the portrait or incidental to it.
The Hawaiian Islands are the crossroads of the Pacific and people from all over had settled here over the centuries; Japanese, mainland Americans, Chinese, Polynesians and Europeans from many countries. Kings have ruled Hawai’i for a few hundred years. The last, King Kalakaua traveled to San Francisco. It while he was there that the portraits were painted then he mysteriously sickened and died. One of his associates left a mysterious message of the back of the portrait. Ned and Mina feel sure the past and the present are coming together and they are risking their lives to prove it..
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January 18, 2014Murder Casts a Shadow by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl is a fascinating murder-mystery story that will keep you wondering until the very end. Usually, I'm not much of a fan of mysteries, but I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to almost anyone looking for a compelling read.
The main character, Ned, is a police officer/detective who is in charge of watching the transfer of a set of portraits to the Bishop's Museum in Hawaii. He is also a playwright, and the production of one of his plays in the same town as the museum gives him an excellent cover. All seems to have gone well with the portrait transfer, and he attends a New Year's Party with his police-partner, Todd. However, during the night, everything goes wrong.
The curator of the museum has been murdered, one of the portraits has been stolen, and nobody knows how it happened or who the culprit is. Ned and his partner are worried and try to solve the mystery, but every clue they find leads to more questions and confusion. Things get complicated when he meets Todd's sister in law, Mina Beckwith. She's a reporter for the local newspaper and she's determined to figure out the mystery.
Working together, Mina and Ned follow a trail of clues to discover who the true culprit is- and unearth some secrets that might have been better buried along the way ...
Ned soon finds himself falling in love with Mina, though she has no interest in a relationship, and it makes working together even more complex when they figure out they've both been hiding important information about the mystery from each other. In the end though, they come together, and through careful investigation and a lot of thought, solve the mystery. A dangerous and action-packed confrontation leads to a narrow capture and finally the case is solved. Until then, though, you'll be on the edge of your seat ...
The main character, Ned, is a police officer/detective who is in charge of watching the transfer of a set of portraits to the Bishop's Museum in Hawaii. He is also a playwright, and the production of one of his plays in the same town as the museum gives him an excellent cover. All seems to have gone well with the portrait transfer, and he attends a New Year's Party with his police-partner, Todd. However, during the night, everything goes wrong.
The curator of the museum has been murdered, one of the portraits has been stolen, and nobody knows how it happened or who the culprit is. Ned and his partner are worried and try to solve the mystery, but every clue they find leads to more questions and confusion. Things get complicated when he meets Todd's sister in law, Mina Beckwith. She's a reporter for the local newspaper and she's determined to figure out the mystery.
Working together, Mina and Ned follow a trail of clues to discover who the true culprit is- and unearth some secrets that might have been better buried along the way ...
Ned soon finds himself falling in love with Mina, though she has no interest in a relationship, and it makes working together even more complex when they figure out they've both been hiding important information about the mystery from each other. In the end though, they come together, and through careful investigation and a lot of thought, solve the mystery. A dangerous and action-packed confrontation leads to a narrow capture and finally the case is solved. Until then, though, you'll be on the edge of your seat ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2016
"Perfect Read for Those Cold Winter Months"
As Honolulu welcomes the year 1935 with various festivities, a priceless portrait of Hawaii's King Kalakaua is stolen and museum curator Abel Halpern, a man widely loathed (and possibly crooked) is clubbed to death. More murders follow, prompting an unlikely pair of sleuths, visiting playwright (and sometime spy for the British government) Ned Manusia and local newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith, who delve into the mystery to find those responsible. Their investigation takes them far and wide, from Chinatown to the Big Island, and provide a variety of suspects covering the width and breadth of Hawaiian society, including Mina's own twin sister Nyla and her husband (and Ned's friend) Todd Forrest, Honolulu's Chief of Detectives.
Besides serving as an unofficial escort for the portraits of the Hawaiian King and Queen, Ned is also in the process of helping with the local production of his new play which features various suspects among the cast and crew. Both of Polynesian descent, Mina and Ned continue to dig deeper, and despite their best efforts, they must also contend with their growing affection for each other.
Kneubuhl effectively mixes Hawaiian history and fascinating, colorful characters in a complex mystery that is a spellbinding page-turner that keeps the reader wanting more. I'm looking forward to checking out the next book in Kneubuhl's series, "Murder Leaves Its Mark."
As Honolulu welcomes the year 1935 with various festivities, a priceless portrait of Hawaii's King Kalakaua is stolen and museum curator Abel Halpern, a man widely loathed (and possibly crooked) is clubbed to death. More murders follow, prompting an unlikely pair of sleuths, visiting playwright (and sometime spy for the British government) Ned Manusia and local newspaper reporter Mina Beckwith, who delve into the mystery to find those responsible. Their investigation takes them far and wide, from Chinatown to the Big Island, and provide a variety of suspects covering the width and breadth of Hawaiian society, including Mina's own twin sister Nyla and her husband (and Ned's friend) Todd Forrest, Honolulu's Chief of Detectives.
Besides serving as an unofficial escort for the portraits of the Hawaiian King and Queen, Ned is also in the process of helping with the local production of his new play which features various suspects among the cast and crew. Both of Polynesian descent, Mina and Ned continue to dig deeper, and despite their best efforts, they must also contend with their growing affection for each other.
Kneubuhl effectively mixes Hawaiian history and fascinating, colorful characters in a complex mystery that is a spellbinding page-turner that keeps the reader wanting more. I'm looking forward to checking out the next book in Kneubuhl's series, "Murder Leaves Its Mark."
September 20, 2012
I chose this book as my Hawaiin summer vacation read after hearing about it on NPR. After listening to the author talk about places in Honolulu I knew I should load it on Kindle on my phone. (I didn't pack a single book, hooray!)Since there is a 6 hour flight to Hawaii I knew I could get some reading done. It was actually quite thrilling to hear all these beautiful places discibed and then get off the plane and say "I want to go to there!" I can't remember ever reading a murder mystery before, But I was enthralled! I loved the characters and the ending was very intense. Even when I got back home and had a little left to read I still felt like I was still in Hawaii, which is a very good thing!
May 27, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was much better than I had expected. The main characters were likable and well developed and the cast of suspects was wide enough to keep you engaged. I really enjoyed the way the author was able to explain how Native Hawaiians feel as though they are a displaced people on their own land even though it wasn't a huge focus of the book it continues to be a struggle today for Native Hawaiians to find a balance in a political divide. I also loved that she addressed things like hidden kaona in riddles and mele and she let the family aumakua play a significant role in the story. The book felt authentic and was much more than just another murder mystery. It had heart and she let Hawai'i come to life, its beauty and its struggles.
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