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Blessid Trauma Crime Scene Cleaners #2
Zero Island
Take a Hawaiian vacation, they told Philo.
Relax. Maybe keep a runaway mob cleaner alive while you’re there, they said.
Try not to get killed while doing it, they said…
The Hawaiian mob isn’t dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled.
Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way.
A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn’t for sale to make it happen: Miakamii, Kaipo’s birthplace, where seashell jewelry made by the island’s indigenous people are worth small fortunes, where there might be a cure for dementia, and where its inhabitants have been sheltered from outsiders since the 1860s.
But the island’s quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up.
Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime.
Relax. Maybe keep a runaway mob cleaner alive while you’re there, they said.
Try not to get killed while doing it, they said…
The Hawaiian mob isn’t dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled.
Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way.
A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn’t for sale to make it happen: Miakamii, Kaipo’s birthplace, where seashell jewelry made by the island’s indigenous people are worth small fortunes, where there might be a cure for dementia, and where its inhabitants have been sheltered from outsiders since the 1860s.
But the island’s quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up.
Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2021
About the author
Chris Bauer
9 books18 followers“The thing I write will be the thing I write.”
Chris wouldn’t trade his northeast Philly upbringing of street sports played on blacktop and concrete, fistfights, brick and stone row houses, and twelve years of well-intentioned Catholic school discipline for a Philadelphia minute (think New York minute but more fickle and less forgiving). Chris has had some lengthy stops as an adult in Michigan and Connecticut, and he thinks Pittsburgh is a great city even though some of his fictional characters do not. He still does most of his own stunts, and he once passed for Chip Douglas of My Three Sons TV fame on a Wildwood, NJ boardwalk. He's a member of International Thriller Writers, and his work has been recognized by the National Writers Association, the Writers Room of Bucks County (PA), and the Maryland Writers Association. He likes the pie more than the turkey.
You can find Chris online at www.ChrisBauerAuthor.com.
Also writes as C.G. Bauer
Chris wouldn’t trade his northeast Philly upbringing of street sports played on blacktop and concrete, fistfights, brick and stone row houses, and twelve years of well-intentioned Catholic school discipline for a Philadelphia minute (think New York minute but more fickle and less forgiving). Chris has had some lengthy stops as an adult in Michigan and Connecticut, and he thinks Pittsburgh is a great city even though some of his fictional characters do not. He still does most of his own stunts, and he once passed for Chip Douglas of My Three Sons TV fame on a Wildwood, NJ boardwalk. He's a member of International Thriller Writers, and his work has been recognized by the National Writers Association, the Writers Room of Bucks County (PA), and the Maryland Writers Association. He likes the pie more than the turkey.
You can find Chris online at www.ChrisBauerAuthor.com.
Also writes as C.G. Bauer
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 15, 2021
Zero Island is a "can't put it down" book. So much going on but all ties together neatly. Philo has brought his young friend Patrick to Hawaii hoping to trigger some memories of his life. He suffers from amnesia after a traumatic event. They get mixed up in a group in illegal organ transplant business, which then stumbles on to another even more brutal mob, set on revenge for something that happened 80 years ago. Very action packed, will keep you reading. Whew!!!
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
May 12, 2021
Chris Bauer is not only an excellent storyteller, but he is also an awesome travel writer. His descriptions of Miakamii didn’t just make me feel like I was right there, I started researching the islands of Hawaii trying to find Miakamii. Zero Island dealt with murder, organ harvesting, the mob, the Yakuza, the Navy and a retired SEAL, not to mention an amnesia sufferer. The way the story unfolds and weaves these disparate elements in to a cohesive and action-packed story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Chris Bauer’s Zero Island has inspired me to look at his full catalog and start reading his other stories. I received an Advance Reader Copy and chose to provide this review.
April 29, 2021
This is a new author for me, and a new genre, as this book is definitely NOT a cozy. But it is a thriller and a page-turner! Phillo Trout and Patrick Stakes (real name unknown) are headed to Hawaii to see if they can rekindle Patrick’s memory of his past and where he might be from ( which DNA and probable ethnicity appear to be Hawaiian). There are several scenarios going on at the same time, which keeps the action intense! The first is on Kauai, where Philly meets his previous CO, Evan Malcom, and finds out his fiancée has just been murdered - gutted and organs removed! Next, it appears that Wally KaHui from Philly has relocated his illegal organ harvesting and transplant business to Kauai. Third is the Japanese Yamazuki crime clan is fighting to claim Kauai as their territory alone. Finally, Miakamii, “The Prohibited Isle”, is suffering unusual casualties. Enough to catch your interest? Hang on to your seat for this one! I received a free copy from the author and write my review voluntarily.
April 8, 2021
Zero Island: Chris Bauer
Can you hide in plain sight and not be found? Can your life belong to someone else unless you disappear and hope to start over again?
It starts with the death of a pilot and the crashing of the plane. The island of Miakamii belongs to a man named Douglas Logan who is trying to keep the island the way it was in the past in the present. But things are happening on this island and murders are at the top of someone’s list. A mobster is running an organ transplant business but not a legal one. People are getting killed, he receives the organs, and the profits are high, but the stakes are even higher for the victims. Someone wants this island and the person behind it has killed many people and there will be more before all is said and done. Kaipo Mawpaw is somewhere hiding under a new name and different appearance. Why would she want to come back to her birthplace and risks it all? Miakamii is where she was born and where seashell jewelry made by the island’s indigenous people were worth small fortunes and possibly the link to finding the cure for dementia.
Philo Trout is a retired Navy Seal whose business is crime scene cleaning and tourist. Along with him is Patrick who has had serious injuries inflicted on him and he has been caring for him as well as having him help with his business. He is smart and astute and figures things out as well as getting information needed when the situation arises. There are many people that have relocated and others who remained on this island. But someone wants to kill all the residents to avenge something that happened in the past. A helicopter pilot, a research doctor, a street performer was killed in graphic and horrific way. Kaipo visits her friend Vena, gives her something for protection so why is she the next victim?
Wally Lanakai is at the heart of this mystery as he is running his own business selling organs to the highest bidder. But, a Hawaiian mob, the Yakuza is behind another and wants his business or else he will kill the woman that Wally longs to get returned to him. Unless he agrees to an illegal bareknuckle boxing match against his contender and he needs to get one of his own, he will gut her too. Illegal liver transplants and the reason why this organ is so coveted and wanted you will have to learn for yourself as the reason behind it might be why so many vie for this organ from this island’s residents when dead. Philly crime scene cleaners, like our main character, Philo Trout stuck on this island and hoping to find a way to exist. An island that needs an uplift into the 21st century and one man named Logan who is holding back. His fiancé is the reason he is involved in solving the murders and handing over photos of the victims and showing them to Wally they hope will shed some light or have him admit his guilt.
Philo and his employee Patrick work hand in hand to find the clues needed but even more he is trying to help Patrick unlock his memory and learn about his past and who he really is. When does he will that change it all for him or will it unlock memories that are better left buried?
When Philo and the Chief and others investigate they find that the organs are gone and the cooler’s gory interior and what is left of the woman dumped into the wild is horrific. The three containers spread out along the swamp tr4ail again like the guides no one trying to hide anything but Why? For some reason Evan does not think that Wally is responsible. It is his fiancé that was killed. He is the CO of the Hawaiian Missile Training Outpost where Trout and Patrick met him the fist time to talk about what happened to Miya.
The threats became real when Yabuki had Wally in his sights, and he described what would happen to Kaipo if he did not agree to the fight. He wants him off the island for good and his crime family the Ka Hui too. The photos alone would make his grinch, but will he agree to the terms?
When Philo went through Miya’s records an awakening would happen and the truth behind the organ transplants would be revealed. the lab tests, Medical data date back fifty years plus. The chemical analysis, the brain scans and more allowing him to realize that she might have found the cure for Alzheimer’s. Yabuki wanted to frame Wally for what he had done and the reasons for the murders date back to something that happened to someone in his family, and he wanted to kill all the residents on this island for revenge. Anyone who leaves the island he would find, he wants Miakamii livers just accelerating the process and then of course what he did or was hoping to do to Kaipo against Wally but will Philo and the police stop this man?
Justified in their actions two people hoped to avenge the death of Oyabun’s grandfather eighty years that past. But the ending will shock readers and what one man does to get a different kind of justice will surprise you. The Yakuza wanted to take aim and get revenge for this man’s death but one man would hope to stop them but what will the end of the battle be? Two close friends Ben and Ella would hope to set things right but in the end is their brand of justice right. What would happen if what someone hoped to do kill all the residents of this island and start over again? Is this revenge for what someone did to Ella’s grandfather the Zero Pilot? What would happen if everyone on the island was gone? It would be known as Zero Island.
An ending that leaves room for unknown questions to be answered. Lives that will never be the same and Kaipo needing to decide her destiny and Wally having to set her free but will he? Patrick must come to terms with the truth about his father and his family will he leave the island or stay? What about Philo what is next for him? Author Chris Bauer leaves readers wondering if there is more to this story to come. A story about finding answers, preserving the past and determining the future, loyalties, hope, survival and understanding as one man’s goals becomes another’s desire to change. Lives are held in balance and who will survive in the end and will it remain Makamii or turn into ZERO ISLAND?
Fran lewis: Just reviews
Can you hide in plain sight and not be found? Can your life belong to someone else unless you disappear and hope to start over again?
It starts with the death of a pilot and the crashing of the plane. The island of Miakamii belongs to a man named Douglas Logan who is trying to keep the island the way it was in the past in the present. But things are happening on this island and murders are at the top of someone’s list. A mobster is running an organ transplant business but not a legal one. People are getting killed, he receives the organs, and the profits are high, but the stakes are even higher for the victims. Someone wants this island and the person behind it has killed many people and there will be more before all is said and done. Kaipo Mawpaw is somewhere hiding under a new name and different appearance. Why would she want to come back to her birthplace and risks it all? Miakamii is where she was born and where seashell jewelry made by the island’s indigenous people were worth small fortunes and possibly the link to finding the cure for dementia.
Philo Trout is a retired Navy Seal whose business is crime scene cleaning and tourist. Along with him is Patrick who has had serious injuries inflicted on him and he has been caring for him as well as having him help with his business. He is smart and astute and figures things out as well as getting information needed when the situation arises. There are many people that have relocated and others who remained on this island. But someone wants to kill all the residents to avenge something that happened in the past. A helicopter pilot, a research doctor, a street performer was killed in graphic and horrific way. Kaipo visits her friend Vena, gives her something for protection so why is she the next victim?
Wally Lanakai is at the heart of this mystery as he is running his own business selling organs to the highest bidder. But, a Hawaiian mob, the Yakuza is behind another and wants his business or else he will kill the woman that Wally longs to get returned to him. Unless he agrees to an illegal bareknuckle boxing match against his contender and he needs to get one of his own, he will gut her too. Illegal liver transplants and the reason why this organ is so coveted and wanted you will have to learn for yourself as the reason behind it might be why so many vie for this organ from this island’s residents when dead. Philly crime scene cleaners, like our main character, Philo Trout stuck on this island and hoping to find a way to exist. An island that needs an uplift into the 21st century and one man named Logan who is holding back. His fiancé is the reason he is involved in solving the murders and handing over photos of the victims and showing them to Wally they hope will shed some light or have him admit his guilt.
Philo and his employee Patrick work hand in hand to find the clues needed but even more he is trying to help Patrick unlock his memory and learn about his past and who he really is. When does he will that change it all for him or will it unlock memories that are better left buried?
When Philo and the Chief and others investigate they find that the organs are gone and the cooler’s gory interior and what is left of the woman dumped into the wild is horrific. The three containers spread out along the swamp tr4ail again like the guides no one trying to hide anything but Why? For some reason Evan does not think that Wally is responsible. It is his fiancé that was killed. He is the CO of the Hawaiian Missile Training Outpost where Trout and Patrick met him the fist time to talk about what happened to Miya.
The threats became real when Yabuki had Wally in his sights, and he described what would happen to Kaipo if he did not agree to the fight. He wants him off the island for good and his crime family the Ka Hui too. The photos alone would make his grinch, but will he agree to the terms?
When Philo went through Miya’s records an awakening would happen and the truth behind the organ transplants would be revealed. the lab tests, Medical data date back fifty years plus. The chemical analysis, the brain scans and more allowing him to realize that she might have found the cure for Alzheimer’s. Yabuki wanted to frame Wally for what he had done and the reasons for the murders date back to something that happened to someone in his family, and he wanted to kill all the residents on this island for revenge. Anyone who leaves the island he would find, he wants Miakamii livers just accelerating the process and then of course what he did or was hoping to do to Kaipo against Wally but will Philo and the police stop this man?
Justified in their actions two people hoped to avenge the death of Oyabun’s grandfather eighty years that past. But the ending will shock readers and what one man does to get a different kind of justice will surprise you. The Yakuza wanted to take aim and get revenge for this man’s death but one man would hope to stop them but what will the end of the battle be? Two close friends Ben and Ella would hope to set things right but in the end is their brand of justice right. What would happen if what someone hoped to do kill all the residents of this island and start over again? Is this revenge for what someone did to Ella’s grandfather the Zero Pilot? What would happen if everyone on the island was gone? It would be known as Zero Island.
An ending that leaves room for unknown questions to be answered. Lives that will never be the same and Kaipo needing to decide her destiny and Wally having to set her free but will he? Patrick must come to terms with the truth about his father and his family will he leave the island or stay? What about Philo what is next for him? Author Chris Bauer leaves readers wondering if there is more to this story to come. A story about finding answers, preserving the past and determining the future, loyalties, hope, survival and understanding as one man’s goals becomes another’s desire to change. Lives are held in balance and who will survive in the end and will it remain Makamii or turn into ZERO ISLAND?
Fran lewis: Just reviews
May 14, 2021
Absolutely fantastic. Suspense all the way to the last word. Being a mob fixer is a different type of job. Murder, suspense and perhaps more goes with it. Definitely a book to be read once it’s released.
May 3, 2021
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book, as I've read all of Chris Bauer's other novels. My favorite book of Bauer's is SCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD, followed closely by HIDING AMONG THE DEAD, which is the prequel to ZERO ISLAND. This novel picks right up where its predecessor left off, though its protagonists take the show on the road, from Philadelphia to the Hawaiian Islands. Bauer is not known for his subtlety, and the fireworks begin in a big way on page 1. The novel's central premise is revealed slowly, and then fully, with more than a few clever twists along the way. (Two words: street sweeper.) It also hits on some of the same angles that hooked me on HIDING AMONG THE DEAD -- namely, bare-knuckle brawling and organ theft (the body parts, not the musical instrument). I can't wait to see what Bauer is going to do with his next book. Whatever it is, I know I'll come away delighted and surprised.
February 15, 2023
Another Nail Biter!
Once again we visit the Blessid Trauma Crime Scene Cleaners, but this time they are in Hawaii. Will they find Patrick’s roots? Or will they get side tracked by another series of grisly murders involving an old frenemy and new enemies. A nail biter in paradise! Highly recommend!
Once again we visit the Blessid Trauma Crime Scene Cleaners, but this time they are in Hawaii. Will they find Patrick’s roots? Or will they get side tracked by another series of grisly murders involving an old frenemy and new enemies. A nail biter in paradise! Highly recommend!
May 14, 2021
This book picks up where the previous book left off. Philo and Patrick have traveled to Hawaii to do a bit of investigating into Patrick’s heritage. They pretty much immediately find themselves thrust into the middle of more murder, illegal organ trafficking, a turf war between the Hawaiian mob and the Yakuza and MMA fighting. There’s so much going on in this book that keeps the pages practically turning themselves. If you’re an action junky, you certainly won’t be disappointed with this book.
April 24, 2021
Wow! What an exciting book. It was hard to put the book down each night. Such great characters and a very interesting story line. I enjoyed it very much.
May 12, 2021
Fantastic details of history woven throughout this riveting noir thriller. Wonderful characters and intriguing twists.
October 15, 2022
I had not read any book by Chris Bauer,especially the first book in this series, when I accepted a copy of Zero Island from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I didn'thave any problem with the dynamic after a few pages. This book is focused on this one story with little mention of the previous story.
Truthfully, I put down my ereader several times and it took me over a week to finish even though I finished 4 or 5 other books in the same time frame. Zero Island isn't bad, I just didn't connect to the characters and the crime being committed didn't interest me either.
I found the initial interaction between Philo and Patrick weird at first and had a hard time keeping who was who straight. Got used to them though. I think what held me back was that the book flashes on many of the characters' life stories and motivations. This can be a plus and it wasn't hard keeping things clear (who, what, when, why), but it slowed down the action.
Truthfully, I put down my ereader several times and it took me over a week to finish even though I finished 4 or 5 other books in the same time frame. Zero Island isn't bad, I just didn't connect to the characters and the crime being committed didn't interest me either.
I found the initial interaction between Philo and Patrick weird at first and had a hard time keeping who was who straight. Got used to them though. I think what held me back was that the book flashes on many of the characters' life stories and motivations. This can be a plus and it wasn't hard keeping things clear (who, what, when, why), but it slowed down the action.
May 11, 2021
Pay attention because things are happening at a fast pace. A young man who can't remember his past, murder, MMA fighting, kidnapping, organ harvesting and the Yakuza attempting to take over the Forbidden Island of Hawaii. A lot to put into one book. The characters fit the narrative bit the narrative covers too much ground. Eliminate a few of these actions and we would have a more understandable story. As it stands, it is much too convoluted for my taste.
May 12, 2021
If you enjoy reading thrillers with lots of action and with beautifull descriptions of nature and culture, this book is a must read! Good plot, relatable characters, well written, it grabs your attention till the end.
Very interesting and entertaining!
I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
Very interesting and entertaining!
I downloaded a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
July 29, 2021
Zero Island by Chris Bauer is a Crime Fiction novel that brings settings to life and features an incredible crime fiction plot. Top that off with well-done character development and you have Chris Bauer’s novel.
The Hawaiian mob isn’t dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled. Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way. A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn’t for sale to make it happen. The island’s quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up. Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime.
The plot of this story was well done. Following the main characters was easy even with the multiple converging plot lines. This was done masterfully. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and understanding how they fit into the overall storyline. The mystery with Patrick was interesting, the suspense with Kaipo was intense and the investigation with Philo and other law enforcement was perfectly mysterious.
I loved the characters and my favorite was actually Wally, the shady character with love in his heart. lol. I’m the type that loves a good bad guy and Bauer did an excellent job painting Wally with many layers, just as he did with the other characters. Everyone was well fleshed out and I felt attached to them. This made it easy to feel emotional about the story and that is where this book was very successful! I was mad, happy, sad, shocked and everything in between. The great characterization made that possible.
As for world-building, I’ve never been to Hawaii, but this story helped me see the islands and the people. The way Bauer described everything was concise and clear. Not overdone, but just enough to show the reader where they are. The writing style was easy to read as well. Also, I didn’t read book 1 but this didn’t stop me from enjoying!
Overall I recommend this book! Really enjoyed the characters and being submerged in Hawaiian culture.
The Hawaiian mob isn’t dead; they moved to Philly. And now one of their own has fled. Hawaiian mob fixer Kaipo Mawpaw is incognito somewhere in the South Pacific, and she wants to stay that way. A mobster wants her back and is willing to buy a small Hawaiian island that isn’t for sale to make it happen. The island’s quiet native citizenry is now under siege as bodies of current and former inhabitants start piling up. Philo Trout, retired Navy SEAL, current crime scene cleaning business owner, and reluctant tourist, is about to get the vacation of a lifetime.
The plot of this story was well done. Following the main characters was easy even with the multiple converging plot lines. This was done masterfully. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and understanding how they fit into the overall storyline. The mystery with Patrick was interesting, the suspense with Kaipo was intense and the investigation with Philo and other law enforcement was perfectly mysterious.
I loved the characters and my favorite was actually Wally, the shady character with love in his heart. lol. I’m the type that loves a good bad guy and Bauer did an excellent job painting Wally with many layers, just as he did with the other characters. Everyone was well fleshed out and I felt attached to them. This made it easy to feel emotional about the story and that is where this book was very successful! I was mad, happy, sad, shocked and everything in between. The great characterization made that possible.
As for world-building, I’ve never been to Hawaii, but this story helped me see the islands and the people. The way Bauer described everything was concise and clear. Not overdone, but just enough to show the reader where they are. The writing style was easy to read as well. Also, I didn’t read book 1 but this didn’t stop me from enjoying!
Overall I recommend this book! Really enjoyed the characters and being submerged in Hawaiian culture.
June 3, 2024
I've always enjoyed Chris Bauer's thrillers, and Zero Island is no exception. I particularly liked the backdrop of a fictitious, small Hawaiian island, Miakami, and its indigenous people. Bauer clearly spent much time in research. A murdered helicopter pilot, illegal human organ trafficking, a mobster from Philadelphia, vengeful Japanese criminals with samurai mentalities, a potential cure for dementia, and bare-knuckle fighting. And, of course, the crime scene cleaner Philo Trout, Bauer's protagonist in his Blessid Trauma series. What's not to like??
October 30, 2021
A Hawaiian vacation – an amnesiac friend – a Philadelphia crime boss and the Yakuza all combine to make Zero Island a non-stop adventure for Philo Trent, an ex-Navy Seal who takes a two-week vacation to Hawaii to help his friend, Daniel, recover part of his memory. Non-stop action and incredible locations with memorable characters make this novel a page-turner. Could not put it down! #ZeroIsland #NetGalley
April 28, 2021
I thought it was great.
October 10, 2023
Good, well researched story, but his editor let him down
October 1, 2023
Wrote it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews