Children of Noah

Mahu #8

by Neil S. Plakcy

In eight previous Mahu Investigations, openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka has investigated crimes that have taken him around the island, from the Windward to the Leeward Coast and up through the center of the island to the North Shore.

Now, Kimo and his detective partner Ray Donne have accepted an assignment to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, where personnel from a variety of Federal and local agencies are loaned to the Bureau to work on complex cases.

Kimo and Ray must negotiate a new bureaucracy and a tricky case, which begins with threatening letters sent to a U.S. Senator and his family. Things heat up as they discover connections to other harassment of mixed-race couples and families, even children. Since his new-born twins are a mix of many cultures, from Hawaiian to haole to Japanese to Korean, Kimo feels especially motivated to solve this case.

What the critics have said about the Mahu Investigations:

“Plakcy keeps the waves of suspense crashing!” In LA Magazine

“Hits all the right notes as a mystery.” Mystery Book News

“Kimo brings needed diversity to the genre, and the author handles the island setting well.” Honolulu Star-Bulletin

“Spotless pace, intriguing plots twists, and an earnest depiction of challenges faced by people transitioning out of the closet.” Honolulu Advertiser

“Recommended to a wide audience.” Reviewing the Evidence

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Crime

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2015

About the author

I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.

Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.

I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.

It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.

I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.

My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.

I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.

Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.

My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.

I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.

Reviews

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery was good though it made me feel uneasy since it was related to religious (albeit very distorted) belief about racial purity. Never been a fan of crime stories based on someone's faith. But as far as Kimo and Ray's first assignment with the FBI's FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, I thought they went with a bang.

I enjoyed their investigation and research process. I liked that Kimo was able to put himself in the 'new' shoes of being FBI Agent and that he stuck to rules without antagonizing HPD detectives who work on the same case. Oh, and I also liked reading an update about their foster son, Dakota, and the fact that he seemed to have found a nice boy as well.

Having said that, there was a HUGE continuity problem that somehow influenced my reading enjoyment. It was related to Kimo's children status. In the beginning, Kimo and Mike were said to already become fathers to baby twins, Addie and Owen (previously known as Alpha and Omega), as a result of them being donors for their lesbian friends couple, Cathy and Sandra (with Sandra as the one carrying the baby). Heck, Kimo and Mike even babysat the twins!

But then as the story progresses, I felt like watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons because somehow, Sandra was back to her pregnant status, the babies were back inside her womb, Kimo was said to be "soon-to-be-father", and he was wishing for his own father to be able to see and teach the unborn twins as he did with Kimo's nephews and nieces...



Uhm, what?! We already met the babies!!

I am not a reader who is very fussy about details -- that is why I can't be a good proofreader -- but this one was GLARING at me, I couldn't help being very annoyed by it. While it didn't directly related to the case but still it was sloppy editing error. An editor should've caught that before this was being released.

Reducing my rating stars because of it.

[Relly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

4.25 ⭐️

Great addition to the series. I think this one may be one of my favourites as it seemed to flow really well.

This one revolves around the first case for Kimo and Ray at the FBI. What starts off as a threat to a senators family leads around the island as other cases start to interconnect including a gruesome murder. The case was interesting and relevant so it kept my interest throughout the book.

New players from the FBI are introduced and most seem good people. I think moving them to the FBI was a good choice as it opened new experiences and characters. Kimo seems to be working well within the confines of his new job and not feeling restricted.

Kimo and Mikes families appear as Kimo’s dad’s health issues come to the forefront, we see the families band together. Dakota also finally accepts that he has a family with the guys

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago I was able to attend the FBI's Citizen's Academy, a nine-week program that met one evening a week to learn about the functions of the Bureau, and I was excited to learn about the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which brings local law enforcement into the Bureau's operations for cooperative efforts.

After eight books in the Mahu Investigations series, I was beginning to run out of ideas for Kimo to investigate within the narrow confines of his HPD district. I was itching to give him a bigger canvas to work on, and sending him and his detective partner Ray to the JTTF was just the ticket. I was also interested in religious fundamentalists, and those things came together to generate the plot for Children of Noah.

It was also great fun to come up with my own theme park, and the survivalists' compound, as well as creating a pair of boy/girl teens who make Kimo wonder what his own kids will grow up to be.

[A A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cutting one star for some grammar and spelling issues, but otherwise this was a good read!

I can’t remember when or where I bought this book, but it has been on my shelf for a while. I decided to read it before my trip to Hawai’i and it was such a coincidence that the story revolved so much around one of the tourist attractions that I really enjoyed and visited twice during my short trip. Felt like I was destined to have found this book and read it.

I’m not a fan of cops and cop propaganda but this book focuses on family, antiracism, and the Hawaiian culture, so I’ll give it a pass.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, but this one was fun. It's the most domestic of the books in this series so far, and it's great to see Kimo taking on the dad role when he was so hesitant about having kids in the previous books. He and Mike are great foster dads to Dakota, and while we didn't get much time with the baby twins, what we did get was fun. And for once, it made sense that these two guys wouldn't really know what to do with babies, not having any previous experience. I really enjoyed getting to see more of their day to day lives than we normally get.

The mystery here was as well done as in previous books, though religious fanatics and cults are things I don't care to read about, so I didn't really connect with it. This is Kimo and Ray's first assignment with the joint task force with the FBI, and about the only difference so far is they have a wider jurisdiction and get to assign the grunt work to someone else. :D They still have plenty to do here, and they're not quite as out of the action as Kimo's family had hoped. I really loved how supportive Mike was of Kimo. He can be worried and protective without being possessive and smothering, just as Kimo has to be of Mike's job investigating fires.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimo and Mike are settled in their relationship with their foster son Dakota, dog Roby, and of course their role as fathers of the twins with their lesbian couple friends. Kimo and his partner Ray have been seconded to the FBI - a decision made in part because it would be safer riding a desk than out fighting crime as a cop. Or that was the plan. Incidents of racial abuse and attack escalate to murder, and all signs point to the perpetrators being part of a quasi-Mormon cult who live in an isolated compound on the island. When Kimo gets a tip off that there is a planned attack at the cultural theme park - which will put everyone in danger - he's back in the action again.

Running along side what is a pretty solid police procedural, is the declining health of Kimo's family and the relationship with his wider family.

There were a couple of editing errors that were a bit off putting, but aside from that this is another solid story in the series.

[Eyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery part of the plot, and I loved the scenes with Dakota. Saying that, continuity issues really affected my enjoyment of the story. At the beginning of the book, Addie and Owen have already been born. There are scenes with Mike, Kimo, Sandra, and both babies. Later on, Kimo is described as a father-to-be. Toward the end of the book, he tells someone that Sandra is pregnant with his twins. Umm, they have already been born. How did such huge inconsistencies get missed in editing?

[J.E.S. Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so enjoying the Mahu series! Mahu is the Hawaiian term for homosexual and Kimo Kanapa'aka happens to be one. He and his work partner Ray have been assigned a temporary job with the FBI and their first case is a doozy. They end up knee-deep in religious fanaticism, with racial purists, a suspicious compound, threats to high-profile islanders, and a gruesome murder. They've got their hands full with this case--and they're not going to end up behind a desk as Kimo's partner Mike and his family had hoped.

It's also a good book because we get to see more of Mike and Kimo's private lives, with foster son Dakota exploring his own sexuality and newborn twins bonding with their fathers. Even Roby the dog has sizable screen time. Seeing how Kimo and Mike navigate the stresses of their jobs, love life, parenting, and family relationships shows the reader that it can be managed, which is a great message. If you like a good mystery and a complex, realistic set of characters, pick up this series and start enjoying yourself.

[Lois - Who Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book series. Every mystery is interesting and the changes in Kimo’s life since the first book are amazing. He is in a happy relationship, is a father, is now working with the FBI with his long time partner, Ray. The main focus of the book is family as Mike and Kimo deal with both new babies and aging parents

This book is ten years old and, sadly, the world has gotten worse instead of better. One of those nutbag groups that call themselves Christian are causing havoc and Kimo and Ray are tasked with finding out who they are and how to stop them. Another great book in this series.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neil Plakcy has written yet another masterful mystery romance novel.

‘Children of Noah’ continues chronicling the life of  openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka and  his husband, fire investigator Mike Riccardi, their adopted son, Dakota, their newborn twins, their families, and friends.

‘Children of Noah’ is the best mystery by far in the Mahu Investigation series. And, more importantly, it’s the most loving, heart-wrenching beautiful love story of the series.

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* As usual with this series I really enjoyed the book. Unfortunately there was some confusion re: the twins that really threw off my enjoyment and had me going back to see if I was confused or if a writing mistake had been made. Still I love Kimo and his ohana!

[Inked Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

FiveStars
I loved this so much! This is one of the best crime fiction stories I’ve read in a long time. I’ve finally found a series with a gay protagonist that rivals the best of mainstream bestsellers. I know I’m a little late to the party starting on book 9, but this was absolutely brilliant.

Kimo is a fabulous lead character. I can’t think of a more complex or engaging character in any series I’ve read recently. Plakcy has managed to sustain a fascinating character over nine books without the detective descending into the alcohol fuelled self-destruction so familiar in the genre. Instead of wallowing like Harry Hole or Wallander, Kimo is a foster parent, a partner, a son and he is soon to be a father. His partnerships are solid, both with Ray, his work partner and with Mike, his life partner.

It is the story that gives readers a thrill. Complex, layered and compelling, Plakcy paces his tale perfectly. Readers are given just enough help to follow Kimo and Ray’s investigation, but never enough to ruin the suspense. I kept making links to other series in my head. The storyline reminded me of True Detective - a beautifully written series, but Kimo and Ray are such better characters!

And Hawaii! Kimo’s island is beautiful, complicated and completely unique. I love the colourful cast, the easy lifestyle and the blend of cultures.

I also love the ease with which Plakcy writes Kimo’s non-traditional personal life. This is not a story full of angst or homophobic government agencies. Kimo, Mike and Dalton are a family. Kimo and Mike are co-parenting with a lesbian couple. Their friends and family accept them unquestioningly. In a genre full of contrived conflict, Kimo’s relaxed modern life is absolutely refreshing.

Possibly my only gripe is with the cover. It looks really dated and doesn’t really suggest crime fiction. I would hate for anyone to shy away from such a wonderful book because of a dodgy cover.

A truly fabulous book!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.

Sarah

FourStars
I enjoyed this book well enough. It had some continuity issues throughout, but overall, it was well thought out and well written.

I usually have issues where racial purity is based on religion – it’s just a dangerous topic to write about. However, Plakcy does a pretty good job. The mystery is well planned and never gives you more than just a taste so that it is not spoiled half way through the story.

I was somewhat confused with the female character in this story – was she pregnant with her own kids or was she pregnant with Kimo’s kids? When I am referring to the continuity issue, this is just one example where I was confused.

Overall though, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story.

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.

AvidReader

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much! This is one of the best crime fiction stories I’ve read in a long time. I’ve finally found a series with a gay protagonist that rivals the best of mainstream bestsellers. I know I’m a little late to the party starting on book 9, but this was absolutely brilliant.

Kimo is a fabulous lead character. I can’t think of a more complex or engaging character in any series I’ve read recently. Plakcy has managed to sustain a fascinating character over nine books without the detective descending into the alcohol fuelled self-destruction so familiar in the genre. Instead of wallowing like Harry Hole or Wallander, Kimo is a foster parent, a partner, a son and he is soon to be a father. His partnerships are solid, both with Ray, his work partner and with Mike, his life partner.

It is the story that gives readers a thrill. Complex, layered and compelling, Plakcy paces his tale perfectly. Readers are given just enough help to follow Kimo and Ray’s investigation, but never enough to ruin the suspense. I kept making links to other series in my head. The storyline reminded me of True Detective - a beautifully written series, but Kimo and Ray are such better characters!

And Hawaii! Kimo’s island is beautiful, complicated and completely unique. I love the colourful cast, the easy lifestyle and the blend of cultures.

I also love the ease with which Plakcy writes Kimo’s non-traditional personal life. This is not a story full of angst or homophobic government agencies. Kimo, Mike and Dalton are a family. Kimo and Mike are co-parenting with a lesbian couple. Their friends and family accept them unquestioningly. In a genre full of contrived conflict, Kimo’s relaxed modern life is absolutely refreshing.

Possibly my only gripe is with the cover. It looks really dated and doesn’t really suggest crime fiction. I would hate for anyone to shy away from such a wonderful book because of a dodgy cover.

A truly fabulous book!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aloha!

The problem with this series has always been that author Plakcy lulls you into the everyday life of Hawaii cop turned detective Kimo Kanapa'aka while giving you enough of a rope to wrap around your neck in terms of a new mystery to solve. That's where he gets you--simultaneously unwrapping Kimo's latest love life escapade--now with his should-be husband Mike (the Firefighter) Riccardi and their children--around something truly horrifying snorkeling around the islands.

This one ratchets up both aspects of Kimo's life (narrated by him) in such a way that it's like a fuse has been lit on at both ends. His relationship with Mike is not front and center here, but rather it's one that features their twins (and their mother), foster son, his and Mike's parents, and a small group of friends and colleagues that form a unique nuclear family.

That his chief sidekick here is his detective partner Ray Donne, both now on special assignment with the FBI, brings in more of a close-knit feel to a mystery which unravels in increasingly horrifying ways that take very unexpected turns.

That the mystery is solved and the chase which begins in earnest eventually winds up with a satisfying but not exceptionally defined end to this series is a testimony to Plakcy's ability to keep you guessing until the very end.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.com Review

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

For the full review, visit http://wp.me/p220KL-662

From that review: "I loved this book for so many reasons, none of which really had anything to do with the mystery. Kimo's parents which have figured largely in all the stories are now frail, older figures here, especially Kimo's dad. Their relationship, always so strong, sees a change in position here that is so realistic and painful. Mike's parents, once so against the relationship, now move forward into new positive roles. So much is changing within the family structures for them both, including that of their foster son. Here all the relationships strain against their bonds and come back for support once more. Its all so remarkable in its human dynamics and believable interchanges. Sometimes angst-filled, often humorous, it will be so easy for all the readers to relate to the relationships in flux here, whether it be brother and brother, father and son, or new fathers and new babies. This is what made this book for me. Its all about the changes in life that we all go through."

For all our reviews, author interviews, and all things book related, visit us at http://ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords...

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children of Noah (Mahu #9) Neil S. Plakcy
4 stars
M/M Mystery
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

I enjoyed this book well enough. It had some continuity issues throughout, but overall, it was well thought out and well written.

I usually have issues where racial purity is based on religion – it’s just a dangerous topic to write about. However, Plakcy does a pretty good job. The mystery is well planned and never gives you more than just a taste so that it is not spoiled half way through the story.

I was somewhat confused with the female character in this story – was she pregnant with her own kids or was she pregnant with Kimo’s kids? When I am referring to the continuity issue, this is just one example where I was confused.

Overall though, I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this story.

[PaperMoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid procedural crime investigation from Mr Plakcy. There's some very interesting insights into the mindset of those extreme groups using biblical texts to support their wacko acts. There's some development of the multi-book storyline for Kimo and Mike's adoption of Dakota and it is always good to read vignettes from the extended family life and goings-on. There is far less emphasis on these overall as compared to the investigative procedural parts and some readers might not like it - I was was fine with it.

Just one complaint - to my reading, there's a major continuity plot-point between the first half of the book and the second half regarding Alpha and Omega. From my reading - it would seem the second half precedes the first. Has anyone else spotted this?

[Suze · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another installment from Kimo and Mike.
I enjoyed the mystery, though sometimes with the move to the FBI there were a lot of procedurals that maybe wont be there in future
Kimo and Mike were more of a background hum really with the relationship focus more with Kimo and his parents and with the twins - though Mike and Kimo trying to cope with two squawking babies was fun (could have been played for more I think!)
Not quite as engrossing as some installments but great for fans of Kimo.
Enjoyed it, it move along quickly. 3.5/4*

[Drianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love series that are like visiting an old friend when a new book comes out. The actual book doesn't matter so much; it's just a chance to catch up, as it were.

In other words, the mystery was not-great, but I mostly wanted to see how Kimo and his family are.

[Marlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone that has grown up in Hawaii, Neil writes an accurate portrayal of life in Hawaii. It is obvious that Neil has done his research. This book grabbed my attention from the first paragraph. I read this book in one day!

[Ptdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first half, weak second half - still love his writing and the characters.

[Joseph Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Neil Plakcy's mysteries. They leave you guessing, and it is nice to read a mystery with a gay detective that is not necessarily all about the detective being gay...

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very current topic with religion-based racism. However, I would've liked a nice epilogue. It all ended rather abruptly.

[Marianne Boutet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about tracking what turns out to be a religious cult.