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Koa Kāne Hawaiian Mystery #3
Fire and Vengeance
Having killed his father’s nemesis and gotten away with it, Hilo, Hawai`i Chief Detective Koa Kane, is not your ordinary cop. Estranged from his younger brother who has been convicted of multiple crimes, he is not from a typical law enforcement family. Yet, Koa’s secret demons fuel his unwavering drive to pursue justice. Never has Koa’s motivation been greater than when he learns that an elementary school was placed atop a volcanic vent, which has now exploded. The subsequent murders of the school’s contractor and architect only add urgency to his search for the truth. As Koa’s investigation heats up, his brother collapses in jail from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. Using his connections, Koa devises a risky plan to win his brother’s freedom. As Koa gradually unravels the obscure connections between multiple suspects, he uncovers a 40 year-old conspiracy. When he is about to apprehend the perpetrators, his investigation suddenly becomes entwined with his brother’s future, forcing Koa to choose between justice for the victims and his brother’s freedom.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
September 3, 2020
Set in Hawaii, after a slightly wooden start I am pleased to say this book picked up tremendously and turned into a wonderful, complex crime thriller that puts Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kāne into one of the most difficult situations of this career. Not only does he have crimes to solve but he must balance delicate political interests in the absence of the Police Chief. And the politics get very, very murky indeed. The book opens with drama at the KonaWili school which has somehow been built over a volcanic fumarole (or vent) which is now spewing forth super heated noxious gases and destabilising the whole structure. 14 children and 4 teachers die in the disaster and parents want answers about how this came to be.
Koa starts his investigation but he needs to tread carefully. There are some very influential people involved and someone made the decision to plug the fumarole with tons of concrete. That was never going to work long term but Koa needs to determine who knew what and who is covering things up. There is a lot of money at stake. It all gets even murkier when some of those involved - the building contractor and the architect are murdered. It seems someone is willing to kill to cover up their involvement. But when another link is discovered between the principal players that ties them to a 40 year old crime Koa must tread even more carefully if he wants to net all the conspirators. This is a very high stakes game.
This was a great story with lots of intrigue. It was really well plotted and some of the characters were truly Machiavellian. I did have a problem though with all the Hawaiian names and terms. For example when Pele was first mentioned I didn’t know if it was a person or a place - it turned out to be a Hawaiian fire god. And I still don’t know what a Haole is. Nevertheless the story is easy to follow and meaty enough to satisfy the most ardent crime/thriller buffs. My thanks go to Netgalley, Oceanview Publishing and the author for providing a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Koa starts his investigation but he needs to tread carefully. There are some very influential people involved and someone made the decision to plug the fumarole with tons of concrete. That was never going to work long term but Koa needs to determine who knew what and who is covering things up. There is a lot of money at stake. It all gets even murkier when some of those involved - the building contractor and the architect are murdered. It seems someone is willing to kill to cover up their involvement. But when another link is discovered between the principal players that ties them to a 40 year old crime Koa must tread even more carefully if he wants to net all the conspirators. This is a very high stakes game.
This was a great story with lots of intrigue. It was really well plotted and some of the characters were truly Machiavellian. I did have a problem though with all the Hawaiian names and terms. For example when Pele was first mentioned I didn’t know if it was a person or a place - it turned out to be a Hawaiian fire god. And I still don’t know what a Haole is. Nevertheless the story is easy to follow and meaty enough to satisfy the most ardent crime/thriller buffs. My thanks go to Netgalley, Oceanview Publishing and the author for providing a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
February 13, 2020
I wish to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishers for this gritty, hard-edged ARC in return for an honest review. This was a well-written, complicated crime story set in Hawaii. The plot was well structured and involved big money, a criminal conspiracy, bribes, politics, greed, and land sales including fraudulent property development and coverups. There is also a paid hitman who is a rogue soldier with a supply of stolen weapons. Personally, the topics of land transfers and building schemes don’t appeal to me in a mystery story, but I can appreciate the complex, well-paced plot with its human touch.
I don’t think I have come across a crime story set in Hawaii before, so enjoyed its original location. I was gripped by the story of how Chief Detective Koa Kane killed a man, and then became a police officer. He dedicates his life in the pursuit of justice. Unfortunately, he and his siblings are estranged from a brother who has been a criminal from a young age. He is in prison and is hostile towards Koa, blaming him for his troubles.
There has been a criminal conspiracy to build a school secretly over a volcanic vent. When it exploded 14 children and 4 teachers were killed and many more wounded. A group of prominent people were involved in property development, designing and building the school over the vent. They knew about the danger but covered the fissure up with concrete with the intention of enriching themselves. They kept their silence about the probable threat to the school.
Koa is determined to identify the perpetrators of the crime and to bring about justice for those killed and injured. He discovers a complex plot going back 40 years when the same perpetrators were in a fraternity and were connected in their coverup of a murder. This crime bound them together.
Koa’s younger brother is facing years in prison, with little hope for rehabilitation. Something occurs which gives hope that he may change his behavior. Koa is looking forward to getting him paroled and looks like the two brothers may reconcile. Koa has almost wrapped up his investigation regarding the school explosion, but he is double-crossed. In order to get his brother an early release from prison, he may be forced to give up the criminal case surrounding the building of the school and even his career as a detective.
After an unexpected betrayal, there is a thrilling, dangerous, and successful action-packed conclusion.
I don’t think I have come across a crime story set in Hawaii before, so enjoyed its original location. I was gripped by the story of how Chief Detective Koa Kane killed a man, and then became a police officer. He dedicates his life in the pursuit of justice. Unfortunately, he and his siblings are estranged from a brother who has been a criminal from a young age. He is in prison and is hostile towards Koa, blaming him for his troubles.
There has been a criminal conspiracy to build a school secretly over a volcanic vent. When it exploded 14 children and 4 teachers were killed and many more wounded. A group of prominent people were involved in property development, designing and building the school over the vent. They knew about the danger but covered the fissure up with concrete with the intention of enriching themselves. They kept their silence about the probable threat to the school.
Koa is determined to identify the perpetrators of the crime and to bring about justice for those killed and injured. He discovers a complex plot going back 40 years when the same perpetrators were in a fraternity and were connected in their coverup of a murder. This crime bound them together.
Koa’s younger brother is facing years in prison, with little hope for rehabilitation. Something occurs which gives hope that he may change his behavior. Koa is looking forward to getting him paroled and looks like the two brothers may reconcile. Koa has almost wrapped up his investigation regarding the school explosion, but he is double-crossed. In order to get his brother an early release from prison, he may be forced to give up the criminal case surrounding the building of the school and even his career as a detective.
After an unexpected betrayal, there is a thrilling, dangerous, and successful action-packed conclusion.
September 2, 2020
I am fascinated by volcanoes and have even traveled around the US to view them. When I was offered Fire and Vengeance to read and review, knowing it revolved around a volcano, I jumped at the chance. I was so glad that I did. Not only did I read a great book, I discovered a new author and series to love as well.
Hurricane Ida has pounded the islands of Hawaii and has flooded the Hualapai Mountain’s volcanic crater, causing a build up of steam not unlike a pressure cooker. As the steam vents into the atmosphere, one of the vents opens under an elementary school, coating the students and staff in sulfuric chemicals and white-hot temperatures. Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane is helicoptered to the scene where he finds mass casualties including multiple children. He vows to find the cause and the persons responsible for this tragedy.
There are several sub-plots intertwined with the primary story line of the school’s tragedy including Kane’s criminal brother who is dying in a jail cell. As Kane attempts to get his brother released for medical care, Kane finds himself caught between administering justice and helping his brother.
McCaw is an excellent writer, interspersing Hawaiian dialect throughout the book which lends to its atmospheric authenticity. He also walks that fine line between writing a taut thriller while adding enough personal details to make the book more interesting. I found Fire and Vengeance to be a great addition to the Crime Fiction genre and, if you enjoy series, this is a good one to follow. You can read Fire and Vengeance as a stand alone – I did – but I’ve since gone backward and picked up others in the series. All three have been terrific. Fire and Vengeance is available now.
Hurricane Ida has pounded the islands of Hawaii and has flooded the Hualapai Mountain’s volcanic crater, causing a build up of steam not unlike a pressure cooker. As the steam vents into the atmosphere, one of the vents opens under an elementary school, coating the students and staff in sulfuric chemicals and white-hot temperatures. Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane is helicoptered to the scene where he finds mass casualties including multiple children. He vows to find the cause and the persons responsible for this tragedy.
There are several sub-plots intertwined with the primary story line of the school’s tragedy including Kane’s criminal brother who is dying in a jail cell. As Kane attempts to get his brother released for medical care, Kane finds himself caught between administering justice and helping his brother.
McCaw is an excellent writer, interspersing Hawaiian dialect throughout the book which lends to its atmospheric authenticity. He also walks that fine line between writing a taut thriller while adding enough personal details to make the book more interesting. I found Fire and Vengeance to be a great addition to the Crime Fiction genre and, if you enjoy series, this is a good one to follow. You can read Fire and Vengeance as a stand alone – I did – but I’ve since gone backward and picked up others in the series. All three have been terrific. Fire and Vengeance is available now.
July 29, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Ocean View Publishing and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Robert McCaw writes a very layered police procedural with his latest Fire and Vengeance, book #3 in the Koa Kane Hawaiian mystery series. It can surely be read as stand-alone as I didn’t have any issues following the story of a detective who is assiduous and unrelenting in the pursuit of truth.
The opening chapter of the book was heart breaking as disaster strikes Kona Wili school on Hualalai mountain, a volcanic vent has erupted and the school in the direct line of the high-pressure steam vent is the first to be hit. 14 children and 2 teachers lay dead in the fury of the volcano which has been lying dormant for over 200 years. As Koa begins investigation into the catastrophe, ugly truths materialize into the light. Natural calamities can of course be reasoned with but what about deliberate acts of treachery wherein a group of people can play GOD with the lives of children.
Amidst the exploding investigation that becomes more murkier by the minute Koa is also faced with personal crisis of his wayward brother, Ikaika who is in jail. Koa with his sergeant Basa, Detective Piki and county prosecutor Zeke unravels the hidden agenda of the big shots and politics and greed and even a 40 yr old conspiracy emerges out of the dark.
This was quite a fast-paced thriller with a brilliant cultural background of the Big Island region in the Hawaii. The machination of big wigs heading the various departments, the ploy and subterfuge to thwart the investigation, Koa’s own demons fighting the guilt of having killed another individual, his brother’s plight, each and every part of the story was incredible and keeps the reader hooked line and sinker.
The author has used the Hawaiian dialect and ways of life liberally in the story and am 100% sure I was mispronouncing all the words and although the meaning of some expressions are given along with it, I did feel a break in my pace, reading it all over again for a better grasp of the sentence.
Koa and his team were well etched out and the thrilling action was brisk and culminated in a whirlwind climax. Highly recommended!
This review will be published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/ and also in Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon India.
Robert McCaw writes a very layered police procedural with his latest Fire and Vengeance, book #3 in the Koa Kane Hawaiian mystery series. It can surely be read as stand-alone as I didn’t have any issues following the story of a detective who is assiduous and unrelenting in the pursuit of truth.
The opening chapter of the book was heart breaking as disaster strikes Kona Wili school on Hualalai mountain, a volcanic vent has erupted and the school in the direct line of the high-pressure steam vent is the first to be hit. 14 children and 2 teachers lay dead in the fury of the volcano which has been lying dormant for over 200 years. As Koa begins investigation into the catastrophe, ugly truths materialize into the light. Natural calamities can of course be reasoned with but what about deliberate acts of treachery wherein a group of people can play GOD with the lives of children.
Amidst the exploding investigation that becomes more murkier by the minute Koa is also faced with personal crisis of his wayward brother, Ikaika who is in jail. Koa with his sergeant Basa, Detective Piki and county prosecutor Zeke unravels the hidden agenda of the big shots and politics and greed and even a 40 yr old conspiracy emerges out of the dark.
This was quite a fast-paced thriller with a brilliant cultural background of the Big Island region in the Hawaii. The machination of big wigs heading the various departments, the ploy and subterfuge to thwart the investigation, Koa’s own demons fighting the guilt of having killed another individual, his brother’s plight, each and every part of the story was incredible and keeps the reader hooked line and sinker.
The author has used the Hawaiian dialect and ways of life liberally in the story and am 100% sure I was mispronouncing all the words and although the meaning of some expressions are given along with it, I did feel a break in my pace, reading it all over again for a better grasp of the sentence.
Koa and his team were well etched out and the thrilling action was brisk and culminated in a whirlwind climax. Highly recommended!
This review will be published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/ and also in Goodreads, Twitter and Amazon India.
September 5, 2020
Chief Detective Koa Kane is not an ordinary cop. He has murdered someone who was threatening family member .. and gotten away with it. His younger brother has been convicted of numerous, multiple crimes. His is not a typical law enforcement family. Yet it is his fervent wish to pursue justice and give victims and their families closure.
BOOK BLURB: Never has Koa's motivation been greater than when he learns that an elementary school was placed atop a volcanic vent, which has now exploded. The subsequent murders of the school's contractor and architect only add urgency to his search for the truth.
While his investigation takes off, he's confronted with a family problem. His brother has a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. Kane will go to great lengths to get his brother out of prison.
BOOK BLURB: As Koa gradually unravels the obscure connections between multiple suspects, he uncovers a forty-year-old conspiracy. When he is about to apprehend the perpetrators, his investigation suddenly becomes entwined with his brother's future, forcing Koa to choose between justice for the victims and his brother's freedom.
Kane and his are faced with an explosive crime, a corrupt government committed to a cover-up and billowing issues with his family.
This is a well written crime fiction / mystery that is well paced from beginning to end. The characters are deftly drawn and lend a credible feel to the story. The two stories are woven together with great care. Multiple suspects to watch lead to a stunning conclusion. Although second in the series, this serves well as a stand alone. I do, however, recommend reading them in order.
Many thanks to the author / Oceanview Publishing/ Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 31, 2020
Intense!
Lots of twists and turns in this story! I thought it was well written and entertaining. A great read indeed!
Lots of twists and turns in this story! I thought it was well written and entertaining. A great read indeed!
September 6, 2020
The description intrigued me - and I'm always up for a new-to-me series - so I happily accepted the publisher's invitation to read it. Now I've finished, and I found it to be an interesting, and for many reasons unique, plot.
I do have to say that reading it was a bit of a struggle for me, given that I'm almost totally unfamiliar with Hawaiian given and surnames. In part, that's my bad; after all, Hawaii has been a U.S. state since 1959 (the year I graduated from high school, in fact). That this many years later the only words and people from Hawaii I knew going into this were "aloha," "mahalo" and Daniel Inouye doesn't exactly put me in a very good light. Still, the abundance of characters and the frequently interspersed Hawaiian phrases made the reading slower than my usual speed of light (notably, though, the meanings of those phrases are always explained).
I'm not sure where the book falls in the series - Amazon calls it No. 2 and Goodreads says No. 3 - but it seemed to me to stand alone quite well. The star of the show is Detective Koa Kane, who, as the official description says, isn't from "a typical law enforcement family." For one thing, he's a murderer who never got caught; for another, his younger brother has been in trouble with the law ever since he was a child and currently is in jail with four more years to go on his sentence.
The story begins with an horrific blast: The sudden eruption of a volcano that's still classified as active but has been quiet for 200 years. When it blew this time, it took with it most of a school that was built recently right at the top (I know, I can't fathom why anyone would do that either, but then Hawaiians are far more used to living with volcanoes than I am). Some children and teachers were killed in the blast; making matters worse, though, is the realization that someone - or several someones - involved in the building process knew that the school would be situated right over a volcanic vent (fumerole) and tried to cover it up with concrete.
As the investigation heats up, Kane gets another blow: His brother collapses in jail, and afterward it is learned that he has a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. That, in turn, leads Kane to split his efforts between solving what has become a crime at the school and trying to get his brother an early release from prison. And at the outset, both become seemingly impossible tasks.
He may be down - especially when conspiracy rears its ugly head - but he's not out. From this point on, the action picks up on both fronts; on the negative side, it's hard for him to tell the bad guys and gals from the good. On the positive side, he's got several loyal friends and sources who are well qualified, and willing, to help. All in all, an enjoyable book - and I look forward to the next one.
I do have to say that reading it was a bit of a struggle for me, given that I'm almost totally unfamiliar with Hawaiian given and surnames. In part, that's my bad; after all, Hawaii has been a U.S. state since 1959 (the year I graduated from high school, in fact). That this many years later the only words and people from Hawaii I knew going into this were "aloha," "mahalo" and Daniel Inouye doesn't exactly put me in a very good light. Still, the abundance of characters and the frequently interspersed Hawaiian phrases made the reading slower than my usual speed of light (notably, though, the meanings of those phrases are always explained).
I'm not sure where the book falls in the series - Amazon calls it No. 2 and Goodreads says No. 3 - but it seemed to me to stand alone quite well. The star of the show is Detective Koa Kane, who, as the official description says, isn't from "a typical law enforcement family." For one thing, he's a murderer who never got caught; for another, his younger brother has been in trouble with the law ever since he was a child and currently is in jail with four more years to go on his sentence.
The story begins with an horrific blast: The sudden eruption of a volcano that's still classified as active but has been quiet for 200 years. When it blew this time, it took with it most of a school that was built recently right at the top (I know, I can't fathom why anyone would do that either, but then Hawaiians are far more used to living with volcanoes than I am). Some children and teachers were killed in the blast; making matters worse, though, is the realization that someone - or several someones - involved in the building process knew that the school would be situated right over a volcanic vent (fumerole) and tried to cover it up with concrete.
As the investigation heats up, Kane gets another blow: His brother collapses in jail, and afterward it is learned that he has a previously undiagnosed brain tumor. That, in turn, leads Kane to split his efforts between solving what has become a crime at the school and trying to get his brother an early release from prison. And at the outset, both become seemingly impossible tasks.
He may be down - especially when conspiracy rears its ugly head - but he's not out. From this point on, the action picks up on both fronts; on the negative side, it's hard for him to tell the bad guys and gals from the good. On the positive side, he's got several loyal friends and sources who are well qualified, and willing, to help. All in all, an enjoyable book - and I look forward to the next one.
October 10, 2024
Robert McCaw builds on this strong police procedural series set on the islands of Hawai’i. Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kāne remains dedicated to the force, but has a number of issues on his plate that have been distracting him. Kāne must deal not only with a major secret from his past, but also a brother who has been incarcerated and ends up quite ill. All this, as an elementary school explodes nearby. The entire structure was placed on a volcanic steam release area, as though someone had planned something sinister. Kāne uncovers some truths and a scandal that is sure to rock the entire state if it gets out. Robert McCaw keeps the quality high with this piece.
Koa Kāne is the Chief Detective for Hawai’i County and yet has a secret criminal past. He has tried hard to keep it to himself, though the guilt is slowly eating away at him. When Kāne learns that an elementary school placed atop a volcanic vent has exploded and caused many casualties, he is determined to find the truth to bring justice to those who perished. As the Hilo squad begins the investigation, they discover other problems, namely that both the school’s contractor and architect have been murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Armed with a sense of determination, Kāne follows the clues and tries to bring some semblance of order to the community that is rocked by the news. While trying to work, Kāne learns that his brother, an inmate who has been struggling to find his way, collapses in his cell. The diagnosis is an undetected brain tumour, which only goes to distract the Chief Detective as he seeks to have his brother released on parole. With someone needing to be held liable, Kāne forges ahead on the case, leaving no stone unturned. A strong addition to the series and one that will have many readers eager to keep going.
I remain highly impressed with the series work Robert McCaw has developed in this collection, not only presenting strong police work, but also highlighting the Hawaiian islands. The narrative presents a clear pathway from the opening pages and does not stop getting better. There is significant story development, alongside Hawaiian culture, language, and history to enrich the reading experience. The characters build their backstories to keep the reader curious, with non-stop action to complement it. Plot points appear at just the right moments and require the reader to pay close attention or fear missing out. I cannot say enough about this collection and its uniqueness in a crowded genre.
Kudos, Mr. McCaw, for impressing me to no end.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Koa Kāne is the Chief Detective for Hawai’i County and yet has a secret criminal past. He has tried hard to keep it to himself, though the guilt is slowly eating away at him. When Kāne learns that an elementary school placed atop a volcanic vent has exploded and caused many casualties, he is determined to find the truth to bring justice to those who perished. As the Hilo squad begins the investigation, they discover other problems, namely that both the school’s contractor and architect have been murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Armed with a sense of determination, Kāne follows the clues and tries to bring some semblance of order to the community that is rocked by the news. While trying to work, Kāne learns that his brother, an inmate who has been struggling to find his way, collapses in his cell. The diagnosis is an undetected brain tumour, which only goes to distract the Chief Detective as he seeks to have his brother released on parole. With someone needing to be held liable, Kāne forges ahead on the case, leaving no stone unturned. A strong addition to the series and one that will have many readers eager to keep going.
I remain highly impressed with the series work Robert McCaw has developed in this collection, not only presenting strong police work, but also highlighting the Hawaiian islands. The narrative presents a clear pathway from the opening pages and does not stop getting better. There is significant story development, alongside Hawaiian culture, language, and history to enrich the reading experience. The characters build their backstories to keep the reader curious, with non-stop action to complement it. Plot points appear at just the right moments and require the reader to pay close attention or fear missing out. I cannot say enough about this collection and its uniqueness in a crowded genre.
Kudos, Mr. McCaw, for impressing me to no end.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 27, 2020
This story combines two exciting plots each with so many angles making “Fire and Vengeance” a riveting mystery. This is an unputdownable read….
Something terrible has happened at the KonaWili School on the Hualalai Mountain. Detective Koa Kane with his police team rushed to the scene and what they saw was horrific. Bodies of kids and teachers on the ground some injured and some dead. Around them it looked and smelled like a volcanic eruption….what happened here… this exciting plot will slowly reveal its mystery and provide us with much more….
Along with the investigation of a property developer who built the school over a volcanic vent in the second plot, Koa’s personal life shines and highlights how far he will go to help his troublemaker younger brother, Ikaika, who is now in jail.
Politic, greed, secrets that binds the politicians for more than four decades is explored in very exciting ways. A bizarre murder in the 1970 that has never been solved drives the plot even more. Yes, this is very ingenious and quite fun to read.
What a storyteller this author is. The story development and characters portrayal are outstanding. I was hooked from the start. So much suspense I was kept on the edge of my seat, biting my nails wanting the adventure to end up on a high note. The story has elements making it both realistic and compelling. Although the author does mention in his notes that the story is the product of a fertile imagination and the disaster at the KonaWili School never happened…ouf thank goodness.
What a page-turner this turned out to be.
If you are looking for a story that will keep you up all night…then look no further.
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and NetGalleys for the opportunity to read this book.
Something terrible has happened at the KonaWili School on the Hualalai Mountain. Detective Koa Kane with his police team rushed to the scene and what they saw was horrific. Bodies of kids and teachers on the ground some injured and some dead. Around them it looked and smelled like a volcanic eruption….what happened here… this exciting plot will slowly reveal its mystery and provide us with much more….
Along with the investigation of a property developer who built the school over a volcanic vent in the second plot, Koa’s personal life shines and highlights how far he will go to help his troublemaker younger brother, Ikaika, who is now in jail.
Politic, greed, secrets that binds the politicians for more than four decades is explored in very exciting ways. A bizarre murder in the 1970 that has never been solved drives the plot even more. Yes, this is very ingenious and quite fun to read.
What a storyteller this author is. The story development and characters portrayal are outstanding. I was hooked from the start. So much suspense I was kept on the edge of my seat, biting my nails wanting the adventure to end up on a high note. The story has elements making it both realistic and compelling. Although the author does mention in his notes that the story is the product of a fertile imagination and the disaster at the KonaWili School never happened…ouf thank goodness.
What a page-turner this turned out to be.
If you are looking for a story that will keep you up all night…then look no further.
I would like to thank Oceanview Publishing and NetGalleys for the opportunity to read this book.
May 12, 2020
Conspiracy
Intrigue
Riveting Twists
Sounds amazing so far right? I enjoyed this amazing non-stop police procedural in one of my favorite places to visit in Hawai'i to follow Chief Detective Koa Kane's amazing adventures. I needed a change of pace and this game all I needed for a read that was not only a riveting revenge story but one that is full of heart too. This book had a great balance of a dedicated crime fighter and love for family. I love a complex character that has a great back story.
I have not read the previous Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery Books 1 or 2 but I picked up quickly and after reading this installment, I am already ordering the other two books as part of my collection. This is going to come down as one of my favorite detective stories and I am a fan of Robert McCaw's intense writing that kept me up for way too late and immersed me into this amazing story line full of drama, suspense and the thrill of the hunt.
I highly recommend this book! You will enjoy it!
Intrigue
Riveting Twists
Sounds amazing so far right? I enjoyed this amazing non-stop police procedural in one of my favorite places to visit in Hawai'i to follow Chief Detective Koa Kane's amazing adventures. I needed a change of pace and this game all I needed for a read that was not only a riveting revenge story but one that is full of heart too. This book had a great balance of a dedicated crime fighter and love for family. I love a complex character that has a great back story.
I have not read the previous Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery Books 1 or 2 but I picked up quickly and after reading this installment, I am already ordering the other two books as part of my collection. This is going to come down as one of my favorite detective stories and I am a fan of Robert McCaw's intense writing that kept me up for way too late and immersed me into this amazing story line full of drama, suspense and the thrill of the hunt.
I highly recommend this book! You will enjoy it!
September 23, 2020
A tight, believable suspense novel about greed, murder, natural disaster and big cover ups, and an honest cop in Hawaii who won't quit.
It is a bit formulaic, but the story moves quickly, and the energy level is high. I wanted to keep reading until the end. It might make a good action adventure series.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
It is a bit formulaic, but the story moves quickly, and the energy level is high. I wanted to keep reading until the end. It might make a good action adventure series.
I received this book free from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
This is the third book from Koa Kane series. I read this book without knowing another two book exist lol again! But yeah it's fine! This book can be read as a standalone book.
I was hooked from the start. I like Detective Koa!!! This story start with a school explosion causes by a volcanic vent that erupts inside the school. Detective Koa trying to find out why government approved the construction of a school over a volcanic vent that killed teachers and childrens. Trust me there was a lot going on here and lot of characters that make me confuse because of their name lol It was hard to keep track of everyone 🤣
Thank you Netgalley for Fire and Vengeance ARC!
I was hooked from the start. I like Detective Koa!!! This story start with a school explosion causes by a volcanic vent that erupts inside the school. Detective Koa trying to find out why government approved the construction of a school over a volcanic vent that killed teachers and childrens. Trust me there was a lot going on here and lot of characters that make me confuse because of their name lol It was hard to keep track of everyone 🤣
Thank you Netgalley for Fire and Vengeance ARC!
July 11, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC copy of this Hawaiian novel from Netgalley, Robert McCaw, and Oceanview Publishing. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. For all you other fans of Five-0, this is an essential book for you. I could not put the novel down. The protagonists are sympathetic, the background is lovingly portrayed, and the action never stops.
Koa Kane is a cop in Kona, and we open with a hurricane bringing down century-old trees and massive quantities of rain to the islands. It is that rainfall that triggers the catastrophic explosions at the year-old elementary school, killing 20 children and four teachers, with no end of trouble in sight. Before another day dawns, it is obvious that the builders knowingly erected the school over a volcanic vent. The question now is how far up the food chain did that knowledge and coverup rise? Because if Koa Kane has anything to do with it, heads will roll.
pub date May 26, 2020
received May 26, 2020
Oceanview Publishing
REviewed on Goodreads, Netgalley, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and GooglePlay. Not available for review on BookBub.
Koa Kane is a cop in Kona, and we open with a hurricane bringing down century-old trees and massive quantities of rain to the islands. It is that rainfall that triggers the catastrophic explosions at the year-old elementary school, killing 20 children and four teachers, with no end of trouble in sight. Before another day dawns, it is obvious that the builders knowingly erected the school over a volcanic vent. The question now is how far up the food chain did that knowledge and coverup rise? Because if Koa Kane has anything to do with it, heads will roll.
pub date May 26, 2020
received May 26, 2020
Oceanview Publishing
REviewed on Goodreads, Netgalley, Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Kobo, and GooglePlay. Not available for review on BookBub.
May 26, 2020
Fire And Vengeance is a story of greed and corruption. Set in Hawaii, Chief Detective Koa Kane is investigating a property developer who built a school over a volcanic vent……when this exploded it resulted in the death of 14 children.
Who knew of the dangers? How far will they go to keep their secret?
This is a thriller full of tension and drama, it’s a slow burn which builds to make a thoroughly engrossing, edge of your seat read.
Thank you to Michelle at FSB Associates for an eARC of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Who knew of the dangers? How far will they go to keep their secret?
This is a thriller full of tension and drama, it’s a slow burn which builds to make a thoroughly engrossing, edge of your seat read.
Thank you to Michelle at FSB Associates for an eARC of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
January 6, 2020
Another great Hawaiian mystery. Love the characters.
Read
June 3, 2020So much of mystery fiction turns on individual tragedy and obsession. A single murder, a search for a missing child, a cold case that a cop just can’t let go. Less often is the igniting crime one of macro evil. Robert McCaw’s latest novel, Fire and Vengeance (Oceanview), does just that. How’s this for a hook? An elementary school in Hawaii was built — knowingly — atop a volcanic vent. When the volcano erupts, and lava pours through, fourteen children die. It’s reckless endangerment and murder to a mind-numbing degree. As the cover-up kicks in, more murders follow.
This is Big Sin on the Big Island of Hawaii, and McCaw’s protagonist, Chief Detective Koa Kane, proves to be a terrific anchor to this story of twisted trouble in paradise. This is McCaw’s third entry in the Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series. An Army veteran and a successful trial lawyer, the author seems to have found his muse in Hawaii.
Like all well-executed mysteries, place is a central character. The setting — whether it’s a major metropolis or a tropical island — must come through with rich authenticity. McCaw knows this and succeeds in bringing the sights and smells and culture of the Big Island to life. It’s a land of rich history, but also one of unique — and perilous — geologic conditions. The volcanic powers of the Big Island loom like the San Andreas fault in California. You probably won’t perish due to an earthquake or an erupting volcano — but you never know. It could always happen, at any second. That condition of permanent, subconscious unease can prove to be an excellent backdrop for noir.
The death of fourteen elementary-school children recalls another all-too-common horror of American life: school shootings. The parallels are acknowledged. As one character says: “In a way it’s worse than Columbine, Sandy Hook, or Parkland. In those cases, disturbed kids killed their classmates. Here the people who were supposed to protect kids put them in mortal danger.”
Corruption and cover-ups, no matter how heinous, tend not to render the same chills as, say, a serial killer. The former might spark disgust and outrage, but it’s not the stuff of nightmares. Yet, McCaw does an admirable job in revealing the evil inherent in both. He also excels at plotting a tight police procedural with a lawyer’s eye for the telling detail.
Most of all though, it’s his evident love and fascination for this Hawaiian island that comes through on each page. I suspect very few of us will be boarding a flight to Hawaii anytime soon. In lieu of leis and luaus and sunsets on the beach, here’s a page-turning immersive trip to the Big Island from the relative comfort of your couch.
This is Big Sin on the Big Island of Hawaii, and McCaw’s protagonist, Chief Detective Koa Kane, proves to be a terrific anchor to this story of twisted trouble in paradise. This is McCaw’s third entry in the Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series. An Army veteran and a successful trial lawyer, the author seems to have found his muse in Hawaii.
Like all well-executed mysteries, place is a central character. The setting — whether it’s a major metropolis or a tropical island — must come through with rich authenticity. McCaw knows this and succeeds in bringing the sights and smells and culture of the Big Island to life. It’s a land of rich history, but also one of unique — and perilous — geologic conditions. The volcanic powers of the Big Island loom like the San Andreas fault in California. You probably won’t perish due to an earthquake or an erupting volcano — but you never know. It could always happen, at any second. That condition of permanent, subconscious unease can prove to be an excellent backdrop for noir.
The death of fourteen elementary-school children recalls another all-too-common horror of American life: school shootings. The parallels are acknowledged. As one character says: “In a way it’s worse than Columbine, Sandy Hook, or Parkland. In those cases, disturbed kids killed their classmates. Here the people who were supposed to protect kids put them in mortal danger.”
Corruption and cover-ups, no matter how heinous, tend not to render the same chills as, say, a serial killer. The former might spark disgust and outrage, but it’s not the stuff of nightmares. Yet, McCaw does an admirable job in revealing the evil inherent in both. He also excels at plotting a tight police procedural with a lawyer’s eye for the telling detail.
Most of all though, it’s his evident love and fascination for this Hawaiian island that comes through on each page. I suspect very few of us will be boarding a flight to Hawaii anytime soon. In lieu of leis and luaus and sunsets on the beach, here’s a page-turning immersive trip to the Big Island from the relative comfort of your couch.
July 3, 2020
While part of a series, I read this as a standalone and it didn’t feel as though I was missing too much as McCaw throws in plenty of bits of past information to keep new readers in the loop without being too repetitive. Truly, I accepted this book for review because of the cover and promise of a lush Hawaiian setting. Happily, the setting was beautifully crafted and set a gorgeous backdrop for an interesting mystery. Don’t get me wrong, the first few chapters are rough. The Hawaiian vacation in my head quickly went sour. Injured children don’t make for relaxing holidays. One of my favorite aspects of Fire and Vengeance was the geological information surrounding the volcano and the, thankfully, fictitious school. McCaw seamlessly wove the information into the compelling mystery that surrounds the KonaWili elementary school disaster. That, along with the inclusion of Hawaiian lore and language made Fire and Vengeance a book that felt enriching.
As much as I enjoyed the mystery, tropical setting, and dreams of being an amateur vulcanologist, that isn’t enough to carry my rating all the way up to three stars. The biggest issue was the writing style. It was incredibly clear to me after only a chapter that Mr. McCaw was former military. His writing style is very similar to my husband’s; while I have no problem reading that in memos, it adversely impacted the character creation and interactions in a tell not show sort of way. Some interactions get completely skipped with just a quick notation of what Koa learned.
Now, if I’m being honest, I have struggled with the last few police procedural novels that I’ve read. I’m big on well-rounded characters that read as authentic. Greedy reader that I am, I want fleshy characters AND a great mystery. No matter how interesting the KonaWili case, I still need to care about Koa and, unfortunately, I found him a bit bland and a smidge off-putting with his handling of younger agents. After sitting with this for a bit, I am positive it all goes back to my struggle with McCaw’s style. The great news is this means that other readers will love this book more.
Ultimately, the story and mystery were absolutely solid and just twisty enough to keep me guessing. Koa reminded me a bit of LT Kenda so if you enjoyed the show, Homicide Hunter, I bet you will enjoy this series as well! Plus, it is set in a gorgeous island paradise. What’s not to love? You know, besides exploding elementary schools and politicians oozing about manipulating the system for their own gain at the expense of children.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As much as I enjoyed the mystery, tropical setting, and dreams of being an amateur vulcanologist, that isn’t enough to carry my rating all the way up to three stars. The biggest issue was the writing style. It was incredibly clear to me after only a chapter that Mr. McCaw was former military. His writing style is very similar to my husband’s; while I have no problem reading that in memos, it adversely impacted the character creation and interactions in a tell not show sort of way. Some interactions get completely skipped with just a quick notation of what Koa learned.
Now, if I’m being honest, I have struggled with the last few police procedural novels that I’ve read. I’m big on well-rounded characters that read as authentic. Greedy reader that I am, I want fleshy characters AND a great mystery. No matter how interesting the KonaWili case, I still need to care about Koa and, unfortunately, I found him a bit bland and a smidge off-putting with his handling of younger agents. After sitting with this for a bit, I am positive it all goes back to my struggle with McCaw’s style. The great news is this means that other readers will love this book more.
Ultimately, the story and mystery were absolutely solid and just twisty enough to keep me guessing. Koa reminded me a bit of LT Kenda so if you enjoyed the show, Homicide Hunter, I bet you will enjoy this series as well! Plus, it is set in a gorgeous island paradise. What’s not to love? You know, besides exploding elementary schools and politicians oozing about manipulating the system for their own gain at the expense of children.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 30, 2021
Greed and Corruption
A mystery set in Hawaii featuring detective Koa. A detective with a past and a criminal brother takes on an extremely emotional case. An elementary school is built over a Volcanic vent and blows killing fourteen students and two teachers. Detective Koa investigates and finds that the builder's knew about the fault before the school was built which makes it a murder case.
In his investigations the case takes the detective into the highest reaches of Hawaiian government and the seediest bars. He finds greed, corruption, and misuse of political power everywhere he turns. It seems the suspects are never ending.
As he stretches his investigation he becomes emotional involved in his criminal brother's case and tries to help his brother at the same time he is investigating the crime he is working on. This is very stressful for him, but he must do what he can to help bring his family back together for his mother.
He will find in investigating is crime evidence suggesting the cover ups and political misuse goes way back over 40 years ago to a college sorority. A lot of twists and turns, corpses and dangerous people in this story. Can Detective Koa solve the case, or will the Governor or the Mayor shut it down? Who is the ringleader and can he be brought to justice?
If you like mysteries and Hawaii you will like this one. It is a good mystery thriller and you will enjoy reading it, I did. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Robert McCaw, Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
A mystery set in Hawaii featuring detective Koa. A detective with a past and a criminal brother takes on an extremely emotional case. An elementary school is built over a Volcanic vent and blows killing fourteen students and two teachers. Detective Koa investigates and finds that the builder's knew about the fault before the school was built which makes it a murder case.
In his investigations the case takes the detective into the highest reaches of Hawaiian government and the seediest bars. He finds greed, corruption, and misuse of political power everywhere he turns. It seems the suspects are never ending.
As he stretches his investigation he becomes emotional involved in his criminal brother's case and tries to help his brother at the same time he is investigating the crime he is working on. This is very stressful for him, but he must do what he can to help bring his family back together for his mother.
He will find in investigating is crime evidence suggesting the cover ups and political misuse goes way back over 40 years ago to a college sorority. A lot of twists and turns, corpses and dangerous people in this story. Can Detective Koa solve the case, or will the Governor or the Mayor shut it down? Who is the ringleader and can he be brought to justice?
If you like mysteries and Hawaii you will like this one. It is a good mystery thriller and you will enjoy reading it, I did. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Robert McCaw, Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
July 18, 2020
These books give me a solid feeling for good and bad things about living in Hawai’i. The author doesn’t limit it to beaches, beauty, and sunshine.
So much going on! An explosion at the elementary school opens the book, but the more Koa Kane tries to find out how such an atrocity in planning could have happened (the school was built on a volcanic vent, that was scientifically certain to explode eventually), the deeper the mess gets. Several people in positions of power in Hawai’i have been connected to each other for more than 40 years.
Koa Kane and his co-workers and girlfriend all return for this, the third book in the series. We also learn a lot more about Koa’s family. His brother, Ikaika, has always been a troublemaker, but what if there’s a medical explanation for his bad choices? It’s cutting edge medical technology, so they need to think outside the box for Ikaika to get a fresh start. Koa has an opportunity to help his brother more than ever before, and his brother is politely requesting his help. But what will this cost for Koa?
While the characters continued to be charming and engaging, the plot of this book intricately intersects at the most unlikely moments. Between the current building crime, the college history of several key players, and Koa’s own family, there’s a lot of conflict to resolve and truths to unravel. Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend it for those who like suspense and police procedurals.
http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogs...
So much going on! An explosion at the elementary school opens the book, but the more Koa Kane tries to find out how such an atrocity in planning could have happened (the school was built on a volcanic vent, that was scientifically certain to explode eventually), the deeper the mess gets. Several people in positions of power in Hawai’i have been connected to each other for more than 40 years.
Koa Kane and his co-workers and girlfriend all return for this, the third book in the series. We also learn a lot more about Koa’s family. His brother, Ikaika, has always been a troublemaker, but what if there’s a medical explanation for his bad choices? It’s cutting edge medical technology, so they need to think outside the box for Ikaika to get a fresh start. Koa has an opportunity to help his brother more than ever before, and his brother is politely requesting his help. But what will this cost for Koa?
While the characters continued to be charming and engaging, the plot of this book intricately intersects at the most unlikely moments. Between the current building crime, the college history of several key players, and Koa’s own family, there’s a lot of conflict to resolve and truths to unravel. Overall, I’d give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend it for those who like suspense and police procedurals.
http://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogs...
November 16, 2020
“Fire and Vengeance” is set in Hawai’i, a tropical paradise, but things were certainly not idyllic when a storm of epic proportions blew across the islands. Water cascaded into cracks and caverns of Hualālai, flashed into steam, and caused the catastrophic collapse of an elementary school killing dozens. How could this happen? Why was a school built on such a dangerous site? Could it have been money, pure greed?
Chief Detective Koa Kāne has a troubled past and a brother in jail. Despite this, he is devoted to his family and to justice, and the story unfolds from his perspective. Readers see what he sees, know what is said, observe how people act, and get Kāne’s insight on all of it. What starts as a terrible civil catastrophe suddenly becomes a crime and political cover-up of epic proportions.
The investigation proceeds in a systematic and detailed manner, examining people, following leads, and revealing lies. The cover-up is intricate and multifaceted; events that were supposed to have been hidden in the past forever are uncovered with shocking results. Secondary characters are distinct and detailed, adding interest and complexity to the story. The action escalates to a dramatic and shocking confrontation.
The language, word selection, and vocabulary reflect the island’s people and its culture. I was given a review copy of “Fire and Vengeance” from Robert McCaw, and Oceanview Publishing. It was intricate, detailed, and compelling to read. This is book two in the Koa Kāne Mystery series, but new readers will be able to follow the action without difficulty.
Chief Detective Koa Kāne has a troubled past and a brother in jail. Despite this, he is devoted to his family and to justice, and the story unfolds from his perspective. Readers see what he sees, know what is said, observe how people act, and get Kāne’s insight on all of it. What starts as a terrible civil catastrophe suddenly becomes a crime and political cover-up of epic proportions.
The investigation proceeds in a systematic and detailed manner, examining people, following leads, and revealing lies. The cover-up is intricate and multifaceted; events that were supposed to have been hidden in the past forever are uncovered with shocking results. Secondary characters are distinct and detailed, adding interest and complexity to the story. The action escalates to a dramatic and shocking confrontation.
The language, word selection, and vocabulary reflect the island’s people and its culture. I was given a review copy of “Fire and Vengeance” from Robert McCaw, and Oceanview Publishing. It was intricate, detailed, and compelling to read. This is book two in the Koa Kāne Mystery series, but new readers will be able to follow the action without difficulty.
September 19, 2022
Well, I'm reading all four books of this series in succession, so it must have been the narrator on book one that I objected to, not the story....
July 7, 2020
“[Koa] sensed a seething rage bubbling just below the surface underlining the community’s shared loss. People came to honor the dead, but Koa felt a powerful groundswell of outrage rising like a rogue wave directed at the officials who’d let this disaster happen.”
I want to thank the publisher, Oceanview Publishing, for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I’m sure you all have noticed that I am, first and foremost, a fantasy reader. But my second love has to be mystery/thrillers! There’s something about trying to figure out the twists and turns as I read through the book is one of my favorite things. I’m also a fan of atmospheric books that make you feel like you’re actually in the setting. So, when I was approached about an intense mystery set in Hawaii, you know I jumped all over it!
Fire and Vengeance follows our main character, Chief Detective Koa Kane, after a terrible disaster befalls an elementary school near his home in Hilo, Hawaii. A volcanic vent that was hidden beneath the school explodes, killing multiple children and teachers and devastating the community. As Koa investigates the disaster, he discovers that the people who were involved in building the school had to have known about the vent and built there anyway. Now, he is on a mission to find justice for the families and he doesn’t care who he has to take down to get it.
This was such a fast-paced, thrilling book! Seriously, I jumped in, curious about the premise and how it might lend itself to the kind of heart-pounding intrigue I tend to love. Not only did it deliver, but I found it incredibly hard to put this book down once I got into it. The controversy! The political intrigue! It all rolled together into a suspenseful novel that keeps you on your toes and makes you want more as soon as you turn the last page. Thankfully, this is the third book in a series, which I believe can be read as standalone books, so I can go back and read the first two.
I’m not one that usually goes for books that follow a detective’s prospective, but this one definitely made me second guess that preference! Koa Kane was just such a fascinating protagonist. He had so many different levels and watching his mind work as I tried to figure things out myself was a ton of fun! I found myself cheering him along as he ran into roadblocks or made a new discovery. Y’all know how much I need to connect to characters to truly enjoy a book and the author made it incredibly easy!
Remember how I said I like atmospheric books? Well, Robert McCaw definitely has a way of making you feel like you’ve been dropped into a story! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but the descriptions were so lush that I could picture myself crossing the lava fields right alongside Detective Kane. I think that was another factor that made this such a compelling read. Also, now I really want to go to Hawaii. I mean, I did before because I have an uncle that lives there, but now it’s a need!
I will say that the side story in this novel fell a little flat for me. It felt jarring jumping to the story of Koa’s brother, a felon who collapse in jail while waiting to testify and is diagnosed with a brain tumor. I’m not saying that I didn’t find that storyline interesting. I loved the way it explored familial relationships and it added yet another interesting layer to Koa’s character. I just felt like it didn’t flow well with the main storyline. It also felt less fleshed-out. Honestly, I probably would read a separate book that just focused on the story of Koa and his erstwhile brother! Still, it was interesting and I can see why it was included in the book. It just threw me off as I was reading because I was completely focused on the main mystery.
Final thoughts: This is a gritty, fast-paced mystery that will keep you guessing! The characters and plot are well-developed, though I was a bit thrown off by the subplot. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more about Chief Detective Koa Kane!
I want to thank the publisher, Oceanview Publishing, for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I’m sure you all have noticed that I am, first and foremost, a fantasy reader. But my second love has to be mystery/thrillers! There’s something about trying to figure out the twists and turns as I read through the book is one of my favorite things. I’m also a fan of atmospheric books that make you feel like you’re actually in the setting. So, when I was approached about an intense mystery set in Hawaii, you know I jumped all over it!
Fire and Vengeance follows our main character, Chief Detective Koa Kane, after a terrible disaster befalls an elementary school near his home in Hilo, Hawaii. A volcanic vent that was hidden beneath the school explodes, killing multiple children and teachers and devastating the community. As Koa investigates the disaster, he discovers that the people who were involved in building the school had to have known about the vent and built there anyway. Now, he is on a mission to find justice for the families and he doesn’t care who he has to take down to get it.
This was such a fast-paced, thrilling book! Seriously, I jumped in, curious about the premise and how it might lend itself to the kind of heart-pounding intrigue I tend to love. Not only did it deliver, but I found it incredibly hard to put this book down once I got into it. The controversy! The political intrigue! It all rolled together into a suspenseful novel that keeps you on your toes and makes you want more as soon as you turn the last page. Thankfully, this is the third book in a series, which I believe can be read as standalone books, so I can go back and read the first two.
I’m not one that usually goes for books that follow a detective’s prospective, but this one definitely made me second guess that preference! Koa Kane was just such a fascinating protagonist. He had so many different levels and watching his mind work as I tried to figure things out myself was a ton of fun! I found myself cheering him along as he ran into roadblocks or made a new discovery. Y’all know how much I need to connect to characters to truly enjoy a book and the author made it incredibly easy!
Remember how I said I like atmospheric books? Well, Robert McCaw definitely has a way of making you feel like you’ve been dropped into a story! I’ve never been to Hawaii, but the descriptions were so lush that I could picture myself crossing the lava fields right alongside Detective Kane. I think that was another factor that made this such a compelling read. Also, now I really want to go to Hawaii. I mean, I did before because I have an uncle that lives there, but now it’s a need!
I will say that the side story in this novel fell a little flat for me. It felt jarring jumping to the story of Koa’s brother, a felon who collapse in jail while waiting to testify and is diagnosed with a brain tumor. I’m not saying that I didn’t find that storyline interesting. I loved the way it explored familial relationships and it added yet another interesting layer to Koa’s character. I just felt like it didn’t flow well with the main storyline. It also felt less fleshed-out. Honestly, I probably would read a separate book that just focused on the story of Koa and his erstwhile brother! Still, it was interesting and I can see why it was included in the book. It just threw me off as I was reading because I was completely focused on the main mystery.
Final thoughts: This is a gritty, fast-paced mystery that will keep you guessing! The characters and plot are well-developed, though I was a bit thrown off by the subplot. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read more about Chief Detective Koa Kane!
April 15, 2020
It's actually 3.5 - I wish GoodReads let you do half-stars - and only misses out on being raised to 4 because it felt like things came together rather quickly, after a delicious slow burn (pardon the horrible pun) at the beginning/through the middle...
I didn't realize this was the third in a series. It is, and I get the sense that there's a bit of history to the relationships herein that might have enriched my read by giving the characters more depth and resonance - but I give McCaw tremendous credit for the way he wove the essential bits of backstory into the narrative. It was, without a doubt, one of the most skillful "here's what you need to know" explanations woven into the story that I've seen, and it is what made me keep reading after I realized this one occurred mid-series. (I have a well-established rule that I don't like to read books out of order; the author writes series books in order on purpose, it seems to me that to ignore that order is to miss out on what the author is trying to get across.) I started this one and had that immediate "there's more here than they're telling me..." feeling, and did a little research to learn this was book three. I almost put it down then and there, but I was intrigued by the way McCaw threw me into the action from the very opening sentences, and so kept going to see if I could read it anyway. In short order I came across his explanatory text, and from there on I felt like I knew enough to keep reading. As I said, I may have missed some of the intricacies, but I never felt lost - that's something I almost never get to say when I pick up a book mid-series, and is a tremendous credit to McCaw. (And it makes me want to pick up the first two books!)
This is a horrifying tale of greed and entitlement, with the most vulnerable - school children - paying the largest price. It was hard to read at times (most of the victims were in first grade; my daughter also is in first grade), but the writing sucked me in. I haven't read a lot of books set in Hawaii or focusing on volcanic activity; I found both fascinating, and McCaw's descriptions intrigued me and held my attention throughout. The characters were a great mix of personalities, quirks, and foibles. Good or bad, they were presented warts and all, and I enjoyed the detail because it really brought the story to life for me.
My only issue was the way things all came together a little quickly - and they did so across the three major conflicts in the story (the school, Koa's integrity, and Inkaika). Each started as a slow build, but once the revelations came out, things catapulted into action and it felt a little rushed and out of sync with the pacing of the majority of the book. It was a bit runaway train for me, and while I still enjoyed the book, I did occasionally stop while reading to see if I was missing something or if things really were just wrapping up in a bow as they seemed (they were). Still, I was intrigued enough by all of it to look up the earlier titles and would pick up a future installment to see how Koa's story continues (most especially because I'm dying to see how Inkaika's tale works itself out)...
Thanks to the publisher and FSB Associates for my obligation-free review copy.
I didn't realize this was the third in a series. It is, and I get the sense that there's a bit of history to the relationships herein that might have enriched my read by giving the characters more depth and resonance - but I give McCaw tremendous credit for the way he wove the essential bits of backstory into the narrative. It was, without a doubt, one of the most skillful "here's what you need to know" explanations woven into the story that I've seen, and it is what made me keep reading after I realized this one occurred mid-series. (I have a well-established rule that I don't like to read books out of order; the author writes series books in order on purpose, it seems to me that to ignore that order is to miss out on what the author is trying to get across.) I started this one and had that immediate "there's more here than they're telling me..." feeling, and did a little research to learn this was book three. I almost put it down then and there, but I was intrigued by the way McCaw threw me into the action from the very opening sentences, and so kept going to see if I could read it anyway. In short order I came across his explanatory text, and from there on I felt like I knew enough to keep reading. As I said, I may have missed some of the intricacies, but I never felt lost - that's something I almost never get to say when I pick up a book mid-series, and is a tremendous credit to McCaw. (And it makes me want to pick up the first two books!)
This is a horrifying tale of greed and entitlement, with the most vulnerable - school children - paying the largest price. It was hard to read at times (most of the victims were in first grade; my daughter also is in first grade), but the writing sucked me in. I haven't read a lot of books set in Hawaii or focusing on volcanic activity; I found both fascinating, and McCaw's descriptions intrigued me and held my attention throughout. The characters were a great mix of personalities, quirks, and foibles. Good or bad, they were presented warts and all, and I enjoyed the detail because it really brought the story to life for me.
My only issue was the way things all came together a little quickly - and they did so across the three major conflicts in the story (the school, Koa's integrity, and Inkaika). Each started as a slow build, but once the revelations came out, things catapulted into action and it felt a little rushed and out of sync with the pacing of the majority of the book. It was a bit runaway train for me, and while I still enjoyed the book, I did occasionally stop while reading to see if I was missing something or if things really were just wrapping up in a bow as they seemed (they were). Still, I was intrigued enough by all of it to look up the earlier titles and would pick up a future installment to see how Koa's story continues (most especially because I'm dying to see how Inkaika's tale works itself out)...
Thanks to the publisher and FSB Associates for my obligation-free review copy.
July 15, 2020
The torrential rains of Hurricane Ida pour far too much water onto Hualālai Mountain, where it flashes into steam under incredible pressure. One of the volcano’s vents is under KonaWili elementary school, where hundreds of students and teachers are enveloped in yellow sulfuric smoke and white-hot temperatures. As Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane is helicoptered to the scene, he’s sickened by the sight of so many injured and dead children, or keiki: ”red tags for the critical, and black tags for the dead. Way too many red and black tags.”
A bomb squad robot helps police and firefighters explore the building, where they find inexplicable evidence like a fireproof steel classroom door and a 60-foot-long basement chamber with six-foot-thick concrete walls. The first responders have found visible proof that the building contractor knew the school was situated over a volcanic vent and fruitlessly tried to create barriers against inevitable explosions, for which there are no manmade defenses.
Kane and his rock-solid sergeant, Basa, begin investigating the crime at the express order of Governor Bobbie Mahoe, since the Hilo police chief is in California for surgery. They soon find the building contractor dead, hanging from an electrical cord in his spacious home, and the Micronesian excavator & grader he hired, dying of cancer, confirms that he showed Boyle the active vent. He was given a large bonus to stay quiet, a bonus so large it allowed him to purchase his dirt farm littered with dead bulldozers, rickety houses, and small children. However, he notes sadly, Pele has taken her revenge: his grandson was one of the children who died inside the school.
Not long afterward, the school’s architect, Arthur Witherspoon, is shot dead at point-blank range in his home’s doorway. By that time, it’s clear to Kane and Basu that a massive, murderous cover-up is underway. A well-known developer and a retired county planning official are in the crosshairs, as well as the head of Hawaii’s department of education, but Kane can't figure out what connects them or prompted their cooperation on such a corrupt project, even as someone takes a shot at the developer in his front yard.
And while Kane is dealing with such a horrific conspiracy, his frequent-felon brother, Ikaika, passes out in the county jail and is taken to the hospital, where doctors find a huge, slow-growing brain tumor that has been affecting his behavior since childhood. Is there an explanation for the immense pain Ikaika has caused his family? Is there a possibility he can be paroled for behavior he couldn't control?
Kane is clearly facing the most difficult case of his career – the injuries and deaths of so many children, a tightly interwoven group he can’t penetrate but knows they hold the secrets of the KonaWili disaster – while trying to balance the welfare of his family, especially his felonious brother and his quiet but firmly insistent mother, a respected native healer who adheres to the old ways. Robert McCaw has constructed a tightrope of a novel that stretches the nerves of its readers just as periously as a rope across Hualālai’s crater.
A bomb squad robot helps police and firefighters explore the building, where they find inexplicable evidence like a fireproof steel classroom door and a 60-foot-long basement chamber with six-foot-thick concrete walls. The first responders have found visible proof that the building contractor knew the school was situated over a volcanic vent and fruitlessly tried to create barriers against inevitable explosions, for which there are no manmade defenses.
Kane and his rock-solid sergeant, Basa, begin investigating the crime at the express order of Governor Bobbie Mahoe, since the Hilo police chief is in California for surgery. They soon find the building contractor dead, hanging from an electrical cord in his spacious home, and the Micronesian excavator & grader he hired, dying of cancer, confirms that he showed Boyle the active vent. He was given a large bonus to stay quiet, a bonus so large it allowed him to purchase his dirt farm littered with dead bulldozers, rickety houses, and small children. However, he notes sadly, Pele has taken her revenge: his grandson was one of the children who died inside the school.
Not long afterward, the school’s architect, Arthur Witherspoon, is shot dead at point-blank range in his home’s doorway. By that time, it’s clear to Kane and Basu that a massive, murderous cover-up is underway. A well-known developer and a retired county planning official are in the crosshairs, as well as the head of Hawaii’s department of education, but Kane can't figure out what connects them or prompted their cooperation on such a corrupt project, even as someone takes a shot at the developer in his front yard.
And while Kane is dealing with such a horrific conspiracy, his frequent-felon brother, Ikaika, passes out in the county jail and is taken to the hospital, where doctors find a huge, slow-growing brain tumor that has been affecting his behavior since childhood. Is there an explanation for the immense pain Ikaika has caused his family? Is there a possibility he can be paroled for behavior he couldn't control?
Kane is clearly facing the most difficult case of his career – the injuries and deaths of so many children, a tightly interwoven group he can’t penetrate but knows they hold the secrets of the KonaWili disaster – while trying to balance the welfare of his family, especially his felonious brother and his quiet but firmly insistent mother, a respected native healer who adheres to the old ways. Robert McCaw has constructed a tightrope of a novel that stretches the nerves of its readers just as periously as a rope across Hualālai’s crater.
May 10, 2020
Koa Kane is Hawai`i's Chief Detective and in this third instalment of his mystery series he has to juggle his estranged brother's request for parole and a new investigation into why government officials approved the construction of a school over a volcanic vent. This comes to light after an eruption destroys the school killing children and teachers alike, but Koa has to figure out, was this done on purpose? Who would want to kill children in such a terrible way? Koa is plunged into the world conspiracy and corruption and he must keep his head above water to get to the bottom of it.
Instantly captivating, Fire and Vengeance begins by throwing the reader straight into the action and throughout the novel there is not a lag in any of it. It is apparent that this will be a thrilling adventure for both the main character and the reader within a few chapters as we're thrown from tragedy to tragedy. I was initially hesitant to read this as the synopsis detailed a lot of things going on and I was both wrong and right on that assumption. There was a lot to keep track of not just with the story but with the varying characters involved and although this usually turns me off I have to congratulate McCaw on being able to neatly tie together these different strings. Equal levels of interest were spread out between the two main plot points without distracting from each other, they were introduced at perfect points to keep the reader engaged further. There was a bit of muddling through in the middle where keeping track of everyone was becoming a little laborious but once I came toward the end it was worth it.
As the third instalment to this series there was some underlying introductions and established relationships that I personally could have benefited from further background on that was not covered in this novel itself. Saying this the story itself could read beautifully as a standalone piece, I read it without much complaint to the character histories and there were brief introductions to cover the reader enough to get by. Based on this I do recommend starting with the first novel (Death of a Messenger) to get the appropriate level of prior understanding.
With most crime thrillers the ending is a crucial turning point, do you do a staggered reveal and build up to a dramatic twist? Do you have a big reveal and leave a cliffhanger for the next instalment? With Fire and Vengeance I felt that the ending fell flat, although I got everything I wanted from it there was just an overbearing feeling of 'rushed'. The characters, settings and writing of this novel were wonderful and I would have happily read a further 50 pages if it meant just stretching the ending out a little further. From beginning to 95% of the way through the novel there is a beautiful slow burn that reveals all kinds of secrets but that last 5% was such a drastic change of direction that it was all over before I knew what I'd read.
For the most part this was an amazing crime novel that definitely deserves it's place on my (virtual) bookshelf. I want to thank both the author and Michelle at FSB Associates for sending me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Instantly captivating, Fire and Vengeance begins by throwing the reader straight into the action and throughout the novel there is not a lag in any of it. It is apparent that this will be a thrilling adventure for both the main character and the reader within a few chapters as we're thrown from tragedy to tragedy. I was initially hesitant to read this as the synopsis detailed a lot of things going on and I was both wrong and right on that assumption. There was a lot to keep track of not just with the story but with the varying characters involved and although this usually turns me off I have to congratulate McCaw on being able to neatly tie together these different strings. Equal levels of interest were spread out between the two main plot points without distracting from each other, they were introduced at perfect points to keep the reader engaged further. There was a bit of muddling through in the middle where keeping track of everyone was becoming a little laborious but once I came toward the end it was worth it.
As the third instalment to this series there was some underlying introductions and established relationships that I personally could have benefited from further background on that was not covered in this novel itself. Saying this the story itself could read beautifully as a standalone piece, I read it without much complaint to the character histories and there were brief introductions to cover the reader enough to get by. Based on this I do recommend starting with the first novel (Death of a Messenger) to get the appropriate level of prior understanding.
With most crime thrillers the ending is a crucial turning point, do you do a staggered reveal and build up to a dramatic twist? Do you have a big reveal and leave a cliffhanger for the next instalment? With Fire and Vengeance I felt that the ending fell flat, although I got everything I wanted from it there was just an overbearing feeling of 'rushed'. The characters, settings and writing of this novel were wonderful and I would have happily read a further 50 pages if it meant just stretching the ending out a little further. From beginning to 95% of the way through the novel there is a beautiful slow burn that reveals all kinds of secrets but that last 5% was such a drastic change of direction that it was all over before I knew what I'd read.
For the most part this was an amazing crime novel that definitely deserves it's place on my (virtual) bookshelf. I want to thank both the author and Michelle at FSB Associates for sending me a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2020
Robert McCaw, Author
Fire And Vengeance
Oceanview Publishing, ISBN 978-1-60809-368-7
Fiction – murder, mystery, thriller, Hawaii, parole, TKE, volcano eruptions, schools, cover-ups
340 pages
December 2020 Review for Bookpleasures
Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM
Review
Robert McCaw, author of Fire And Vengeance, is a graduate of Georgetown University (undergrad) and University of Virginia (JD). (2020, back cover) He grew up in a military family and became an Army Lieutenant. He lived on the Big Island for nearly twenty years. McCaw’s legal practice leaned toward representing Wall Street clients in civil and criminal matters. He resides in New York City with his wife.
There are a few regular characters in this book that come from McCaw’s series using Koa Kane, a detective hailing from Hilo Hawaii and his lady love, Nalani. A few other main characters pertinent to this tale are Mayor George Tanaka, Detective’s Piki and Basa, Governor Mahoe, Chief Lannua, and Koa’s family.
The story opens with a schoolhouse tragedy. A volcano has erupted in a school. Fire, heavy smoke and heat from the expelled lava has made locating the children who had not escaped from the school a tedious, dangerous and heart-wrenching process. In the end there are fourteen dead. As the families and police begin to piece things together it become abundantly clear that the school was erected upon a vent in an active volcano. But why would anyone in their right mind build a school directly over a volcanic vent?
The families are eager to place the deaths of their children and teachers on someone, but who? The Mayor wants to maintain control of the investigation. The Governor wants to send his own team in, but decides to leave Detective Koa taking the point while they ferret things out. Koa is somewhat uncomfortable with this post, but endeavors to do his best to follow the clues to their logical ends.
Koa, Basa, and Piki begin to interview the development company and the owners of the property prior to its sale to them. The deeper they dig the more it appears that top officials across Hawaii may have had knowledge of this situation and allow it to proceed unfettered. Why?
During the investigation several key investors in the development are murdered, some are made to look like suicides, but Koa and his team feel that was all set up like a movie to lead them away from the perps. Everything feels wrong. As they continue to put things into perspective another older suicide at the University of Hawaii leads them to believe that the same people responsible for that murder are behind the school disaster and these murder-suicides of key development investors.
In the thick of this investigation Koa’s younger brother, who has led a criminal life and been in jail was in direct contrast to Koa, takes ill and falls into a coma. They learn he has a couple of brain tumors and he is rushed into surgery in California. Koa has been tough on his brother because of the bad choices he has continually made, but he feels guilty and helpless now that his life may be in peril. What will happen to Koa’s brother?
This story kept my attention and I loved getting to know the characters. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Read it. Enjoy it. I did.
Fire And Vengeance
Oceanview Publishing, ISBN 978-1-60809-368-7
Fiction – murder, mystery, thriller, Hawaii, parole, TKE, volcano eruptions, schools, cover-ups
340 pages
December 2020 Review for Bookpleasures
Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM
Review
Robert McCaw, author of Fire And Vengeance, is a graduate of Georgetown University (undergrad) and University of Virginia (JD). (2020, back cover) He grew up in a military family and became an Army Lieutenant. He lived on the Big Island for nearly twenty years. McCaw’s legal practice leaned toward representing Wall Street clients in civil and criminal matters. He resides in New York City with his wife.
There are a few regular characters in this book that come from McCaw’s series using Koa Kane, a detective hailing from Hilo Hawaii and his lady love, Nalani. A few other main characters pertinent to this tale are Mayor George Tanaka, Detective’s Piki and Basa, Governor Mahoe, Chief Lannua, and Koa’s family.
The story opens with a schoolhouse tragedy. A volcano has erupted in a school. Fire, heavy smoke and heat from the expelled lava has made locating the children who had not escaped from the school a tedious, dangerous and heart-wrenching process. In the end there are fourteen dead. As the families and police begin to piece things together it become abundantly clear that the school was erected upon a vent in an active volcano. But why would anyone in their right mind build a school directly over a volcanic vent?
The families are eager to place the deaths of their children and teachers on someone, but who? The Mayor wants to maintain control of the investigation. The Governor wants to send his own team in, but decides to leave Detective Koa taking the point while they ferret things out. Koa is somewhat uncomfortable with this post, but endeavors to do his best to follow the clues to their logical ends.
Koa, Basa, and Piki begin to interview the development company and the owners of the property prior to its sale to them. The deeper they dig the more it appears that top officials across Hawaii may have had knowledge of this situation and allow it to proceed unfettered. Why?
During the investigation several key investors in the development are murdered, some are made to look like suicides, but Koa and his team feel that was all set up like a movie to lead them away from the perps. Everything feels wrong. As they continue to put things into perspective another older suicide at the University of Hawaii leads them to believe that the same people responsible for that murder are behind the school disaster and these murder-suicides of key development investors.
In the thick of this investigation Koa’s younger brother, who has led a criminal life and been in jail was in direct contrast to Koa, takes ill and falls into a coma. They learn he has a couple of brain tumors and he is rushed into surgery in California. Koa has been tough on his brother because of the bad choices he has continually made, but he feels guilty and helpless now that his life may be in peril. What will happen to Koa’s brother?
This story kept my attention and I loved getting to know the characters. It was fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Read it. Enjoy it. I did.
November 14, 2020
I really like crime novels. They’re a lot of fun. I’m not sure what the psychology is behind all of this love of murder and crime and such, but I can tell from the long list of crime authors let alone the offerings on all streaming services that I’m not the only one. It’s comforting to be a disturbed individual when you’re not the only disturbed individual, right?
This book had an interesting premise. I always enjoy reading about different places, and I consider Hawaii to be an interesting and culturally different place from many other places I’ve read about. Coincidentally enough, I just read Sharks in the Times of Saviors that takes place in Hawaii and has lots of interesting discussion of Hawaiian culture and such, and I'll be reviewing that soon!
To be honest, I would have liked more cultural immersion in this book. I appreciate that the author is not Hawaiian and has talked to other sources in order to get more cultural information, and I would have liked more of that. I know that it is a careful balance between accurately representing a culture from secondhand information and actually being a part of that culture. I think that McCaws’ interest in being authentic and representing Hawaiian culture accurately showed through here, and I appreciated that because it is pretty lame when a culture is represented inaccurately by an outsider, but I would have liked even more cultural information to better add to the feeling of the Hawaiianness of the book and the story, especially as to how it related to the story and the story’s resolution.
I had a somewhat difficult time buying the premise of this story. Maybe I’m just a person who thinks too highly of people in general, which is entirely possible, but I would like to think that a whole bunch of people would not collude together to let an elementary school be built on top of a volcano mouth. I mean, that is pretty stupid and dangerous and seems like a complete recipe for disaster. I also had a similar difficulty in buying the way everything was tied up at the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but I do feel like some pretty drastic things had to line up in order to have the ending it did. I like it when endings feel more organic, even if it makes them messier than I would have liked.
I did like the characters. There were a lot to choose from that had some interesting back stories and a wide cast of interesting peripheral characters gave the book lots of flavor and interest. There were some connections between some of the characters I would have liked to have explored more, and there were a few times I was somewhat confused, but all in all I thought that the story moved along quickly and had strong characterization.
This book had an interesting premise. I always enjoy reading about different places, and I consider Hawaii to be an interesting and culturally different place from many other places I’ve read about. Coincidentally enough, I just read Sharks in the Times of Saviors that takes place in Hawaii and has lots of interesting discussion of Hawaiian culture and such, and I'll be reviewing that soon!
To be honest, I would have liked more cultural immersion in this book. I appreciate that the author is not Hawaiian and has talked to other sources in order to get more cultural information, and I would have liked more of that. I know that it is a careful balance between accurately representing a culture from secondhand information and actually being a part of that culture. I think that McCaws’ interest in being authentic and representing Hawaiian culture accurately showed through here, and I appreciated that because it is pretty lame when a culture is represented inaccurately by an outsider, but I would have liked even more cultural information to better add to the feeling of the Hawaiianness of the book and the story, especially as to how it related to the story and the story’s resolution.
I had a somewhat difficult time buying the premise of this story. Maybe I’m just a person who thinks too highly of people in general, which is entirely possible, but I would like to think that a whole bunch of people would not collude together to let an elementary school be built on top of a volcano mouth. I mean, that is pretty stupid and dangerous and seems like a complete recipe for disaster. I also had a similar difficulty in buying the way everything was tied up at the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but I do feel like some pretty drastic things had to line up in order to have the ending it did. I like it when endings feel more organic, even if it makes them messier than I would have liked.
I did like the characters. There were a lot to choose from that had some interesting back stories and a wide cast of interesting peripheral characters gave the book lots of flavor and interest. There were some connections between some of the characters I would have liked to have explored more, and there were a few times I was somewhat confused, but all in all I thought that the story moved along quickly and had strong characterization.
June 21, 2020
3.5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Fire and Vengeance by Robert McCaw. It was an interesting read, which had its highs and lows. Read on to know more!
Genre:
Mystery, Thriller
Length:
336 pages
Overall Rating:
6 out of 10
Plot:
8 out of 10
Characterization:
8 out of 10
Primary Element:
8 out of 10 for its mystery
Writing Style:
6 out of 10
Part of a Series:
Yes. This is Book 3 of the Koa Kane series. While I don’t know if it held spoilers for Books 1 and 2, I can say without a doubt that it was perfect as a standalone too. Book 1 in the series is titled Death of a Messenger and Book 2 is Off the Grid. Both sound interesting and might make for great mystery reads.
Highlighted Takeaway:
Koa Kane himself. As a man who continues to deal with demons, personal and professional, that show him the worst of the world, he still fights to do what is right. Sometimes forced into feeling hopeless for his desire to remain ethical and moral in a world where those very qualities are taken advantage of, Koa comes across as a likable character that you can easily associate with and want to root for. That made every defeat and victory he faced personal to the reader.
What I Liked:
The book took some really unexpected turns, turning a story that could have been very one-dimensional into a much more intricate, woven tale of mystery and suspense.
The Hawaiian culture references were really interesting too. Not only did it set the stage for the story to unfold, but also added a lot of depth to the characters, what drives them, and how those nuances influence their reactions and actions.
What I Didn’t Like:
On multiple occasions, I found myself a little confused with the characters. There were a lot of them, and many shared similar names or were simply called by different names at various points, that made it a little tough to follow who was who.
Who Should Read It:
Anyone who is interested in a good suspense and those who like to explore other cultures. Fire and Vengeance has a good helping of both.
Who Should Avoid:
I don’t think anyone would actively dislike Fire and Vengeance, unless of course, you absolutely hate msytery and suspense novels.
Read It For:
The Hawaiian culture references, a complex and very real protagonist, and an intricate plotline.
Fire and Vengeance by Robert McCaw released on 26 May 2020. You can get a copy on Amazon here. While I wouldn’t say that the book turned McCaw into an author I’d diligently follow, I will definitely be reading more of his work, given the chance, probably starting with Off the Grid.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of Fire and Vengeance by Robert McCaw. It was an interesting read, which had its highs and lows. Read on to know more!
Genre:
Mystery, Thriller
Length:
336 pages
Overall Rating:
6 out of 10
Plot:
8 out of 10
Characterization:
8 out of 10
Primary Element:
8 out of 10 for its mystery
Writing Style:
6 out of 10
Part of a Series:
Yes. This is Book 3 of the Koa Kane series. While I don’t know if it held spoilers for Books 1 and 2, I can say without a doubt that it was perfect as a standalone too. Book 1 in the series is titled Death of a Messenger and Book 2 is Off the Grid. Both sound interesting and might make for great mystery reads.
Highlighted Takeaway:
Koa Kane himself. As a man who continues to deal with demons, personal and professional, that show him the worst of the world, he still fights to do what is right. Sometimes forced into feeling hopeless for his desire to remain ethical and moral in a world where those very qualities are taken advantage of, Koa comes across as a likable character that you can easily associate with and want to root for. That made every defeat and victory he faced personal to the reader.
What I Liked:
The book took some really unexpected turns, turning a story that could have been very one-dimensional into a much more intricate, woven tale of mystery and suspense.
The Hawaiian culture references were really interesting too. Not only did it set the stage for the story to unfold, but also added a lot of depth to the characters, what drives them, and how those nuances influence their reactions and actions.
What I Didn’t Like:
On multiple occasions, I found myself a little confused with the characters. There were a lot of them, and many shared similar names or were simply called by different names at various points, that made it a little tough to follow who was who.
Who Should Read It:
Anyone who is interested in a good suspense and those who like to explore other cultures. Fire and Vengeance has a good helping of both.
Who Should Avoid:
I don’t think anyone would actively dislike Fire and Vengeance, unless of course, you absolutely hate msytery and suspense novels.
Read It For:
The Hawaiian culture references, a complex and very real protagonist, and an intricate plotline.
Fire and Vengeance by Robert McCaw released on 26 May 2020. You can get a copy on Amazon here. While I wouldn’t say that the book turned McCaw into an author I’d diligently follow, I will definitely be reading more of his work, given the chance, probably starting with Off the Grid.
July 16, 2020
Read my full review here:
https://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot....
Chief Inspector Koa Kāne is called to a horrific scene. An elementary school built just the previous year on the site of an inactive volcano vent on the island of Hawaii has exploded, killing and injuring everyone in the school. As they investigate, he and his junior detective Piki discover that the contractors, architect, and others involved knew that the construction was dangerously and inadequately built, but they had proceeded anyway. Then, to add to the mystery, the contractor and architect are both murdered. What is going on here?
In my review of McCaw’s second Koa Kāne mystery, Off the Grid, I complained that McCaw spent way too much time bringing the reader up to date on Kāne’s backstory and the plot line of the first book, Death of a Messenger. I think that the author has done a much better job this time of reminding the reader about Koa’s pursuit for justice, laced, as it is, with his guilt and his past. We face this specifically when he does what he can for his imprisoned brother who has a brain tumor. All of this is a complicated mess that he has to face and attempt to solve.
We are continually reminded of the role greed, corruption, and government interference have in public works as Kāne plods his way through the case. Kāne is a genuinely good man, and the reader is constantly reminded of his integrity—even as he faces his greatest guilty secret. The final lines of the book do not give away any of the plot, but speak to the man’s integrity. “He would never escape the guilt he felt for what he had done, but in the tangled world of human behavior, his guilt had once again driven him to find justice, not just for the keiki (children) and kumu (staff) of KonaWili (the elementary school) but for his brother, mother, family, and kupuna, his ancestors."
The other major thing I like about this series is the setting. Lots of illusions to Hawaiian culture, food, sites, as well as information about the volcanoes that continue to threaten the islands. Fire and Vengeance is a compulsive, satisfying adventure.
https://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot....
Chief Inspector Koa Kāne is called to a horrific scene. An elementary school built just the previous year on the site of an inactive volcano vent on the island of Hawaii has exploded, killing and injuring everyone in the school. As they investigate, he and his junior detective Piki discover that the contractors, architect, and others involved knew that the construction was dangerously and inadequately built, but they had proceeded anyway. Then, to add to the mystery, the contractor and architect are both murdered. What is going on here?
In my review of McCaw’s second Koa Kāne mystery, Off the Grid, I complained that McCaw spent way too much time bringing the reader up to date on Kāne’s backstory and the plot line of the first book, Death of a Messenger. I think that the author has done a much better job this time of reminding the reader about Koa’s pursuit for justice, laced, as it is, with his guilt and his past. We face this specifically when he does what he can for his imprisoned brother who has a brain tumor. All of this is a complicated mess that he has to face and attempt to solve.
We are continually reminded of the role greed, corruption, and government interference have in public works as Kāne plods his way through the case. Kāne is a genuinely good man, and the reader is constantly reminded of his integrity—even as he faces his greatest guilty secret. The final lines of the book do not give away any of the plot, but speak to the man’s integrity. “He would never escape the guilt he felt for what he had done, but in the tangled world of human behavior, his guilt had once again driven him to find justice, not just for the keiki (children) and kumu (staff) of KonaWili (the elementary school) but for his brother, mother, family, and kupuna, his ancestors."
The other major thing I like about this series is the setting. Lots of illusions to Hawaiian culture, food, sites, as well as information about the volcanoes that continue to threaten the islands. Fire and Vengeance is a compulsive, satisfying adventure.
August 18, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Fire and Vengeance is a modern murder/corruption procedural set in Hawaii and the third book in the Koa Kāne series by Robert McCaw. Released 26th May 2020 by Oceanview, it's 336 pages and available in audio and ebook formats.
This is a procedural with an ensemble cast and the added contrast of what should be an idyllic paradise setting with a horrific corruption/murder scandal and the subsequent murder of a wealthy local construction company owner. The titular protagonist has a conflicted and flawed past himself along with being forced to navigate problems with his immediate family (his brother's incarcerated). There are some scenes (the beginning, with burnt and dead schoolchildren particularly) which might be too graphic for some readers (me included).
The writing is competent but struck me as choppy and abrupt in some places. It reads more like a military thriller (a la Tom Clancy) than a police procedural for a small town police force. I found it somewhat difficult to develop a rapport with the lead character. It's possible that's due to the fact that I read this one as a standalone. I had no trouble following the story, though some of the secondary characters were challenging to keep straight. I also had some issues with the liberal use of the Hawaiian language throughout the book. It added verisimilitude, but where it wasn't explained in context, it left me a bit confused.
I suspect that my issues with the book were due more to my preconceptions than the author's stylistic intentions (i.e., my fault). I went into the book expecting Hawaii Five-0 and got Jack Reacher.
Definitely readable, and enjoyable, just not what I was expecting.Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Fire and Vengeance is a modern murder/corruption procedural set in Hawaii and the third book in the Koa Kāne series by Robert McCaw. Released 26th May 2020 by Oceanview, it's 336 pages and available in audio and ebook formats.
This is a procedural with an ensemble cast and the added contrast of what should be an idyllic paradise setting with a horrific corruption/murder scandal and the subsequent murder of a wealthy local construction company owner. The titular protagonist has a conflicted and flawed past himself along with being forced to navigate problems with his immediate family (his brother's incarcerated). There are some scenes (the beginning, with burnt and dead schoolchildren particularly) which might be too graphic for some readers (me included).
The writing is competent but struck me as choppy and abrupt in some places. It reads more like a military thriller (a la Tom Clancy) than a police procedural for a small town police force. I found it somewhat difficult to develop a rapport with the lead character. It's possible that's due to the fact that I read this one as a standalone. I had no trouble following the story, though some of the secondary characters were challenging to keep straight. I also had some issues with the liberal use of the Hawaiian language throughout the book. It added verisimilitude, but where it wasn't explained in context, it left me a bit confused.
I suspect that my issues with the book were due more to my preconceptions than the author's stylistic intentions (i.e., my fault). I went into the book expecting Hawaii Five-0 and got Jack Reacher.
Definitely readable, and enjoyable, just not what I was expecting.Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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