What do you think?
Rate this book
To Catch the Setting Sun
There’s a killer loose on the island of Oahu. His targets? Young, native-Hawaiian women. But it also appears that he’s targeting and taunting Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin who knew each victim and whose wife, Maya, had been the first name on that list. In addition to battling his personal demons, this New York transplant’s aggressive style didn’t sit well with his laid-back colleagues who viewed Henry’s uncharacteristic lack of progress in the investigation as evidence that fueled ongoing rumors that he could be the killer. Was he, or could it have been someone within the municipal hierarchy with a vendetta? As it was, after thirteen years on the job Henry had been disillusioned with paradise. His career choice long killed any fantasy of living in a grass hut on a wind-swept beach, being serenaded by the lazy sounds of the ocean and a slack key guitar. Instead, it had opened his eyes to a Hawaii that tourists will never see.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2022
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Richard I. Levine
6 books79 followersRichard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast-to-coast wanderlust trip, This one-time auxiliary police officer, volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor.
A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.
While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”
While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii.
Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.
A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.
While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”
While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii.
Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 28, 2023
One of the best crime novels I have read in a long time! Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin is a very original character that the reader will connect with. The twist here is that he finds himself connected to the victims (young native-Hawaiian women). Even as he tries to work out personal issues he must try to solve not only who is killing the women, but also if someone has a vendetta against him. Raw and at times brutal; Richard I. Levine shows us the other side of 'paradise' and how one man may have lost it - highest recommendation.
December 27, 2022
In Oahu, a serial killer stalks and kills young native-Hawaiian women. Not only is the murderer torturing and killing his victims, all the clues in the letters he leaves at the crime scenes are targeted to one man, Detective Henry Benjamin—the brash New York transplant who has ruffled more than a few feathers with his “tell it like it is,” and may consequences-be-damned attitude. The very first victim on the killer’s list was Henry’s wife, Maya, and each woman after had some sort of tie to Henry, no matter how innocuous. He has been working the case for years, and made little progress. This is very uncharacteristic of Henry, and it casts dispersions on his innocence. It’s clear to Henry that the killer has some type of vendetta against him, and is torturing him, too, by killing his innocent young acquaintances. Any fantasy that Henry might have had that Hawaii was purely the tropical paradise seen by tourists quickly disappeared in these last almost fourteen years as a Detective, as he has seen the side of Hawaii that vacationers never experience.
What a wonderfully written book, packed with great detail and stunning prose “journal entries” that open every chapter. (To wit: “When we stand tall, strong, and together, we will weather any storm. I take comfort in knowing you also know the day will be soon that the clouds will part, and our hands will once again be free to catch the setting sun.”) Henry is a complicated character, paired with another complex character in the form of Detective Keilani Kalakina, a woman with painful family memories and relatives in unexpected places. Reluctantly, after being given his case due to lack of results, Keilani allows him to quietly join forces with her to investigate. They are an unlikely coupling who don’t really trust each other, and the writing regarding their joint investigation is very entertaining, as are the other unscrupulous characters working against Henry in the shadows. There is a poignant backstory about people who pollute their land, thereby becoming their own worst enemies, and the character of Henry does not make any friends by pointing it out. Overall a successful, exciting, descriptive, and thrilling page-turner, “To Catch the Setting Sun” is a novel not to be missed.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Richard I. Levine, and The Wild Rose Press, Inc. for the ability to read and review this ARC.
What a wonderfully written book, packed with great detail and stunning prose “journal entries” that open every chapter. (To wit: “When we stand tall, strong, and together, we will weather any storm. I take comfort in knowing you also know the day will be soon that the clouds will part, and our hands will once again be free to catch the setting sun.”) Henry is a complicated character, paired with another complex character in the form of Detective Keilani Kalakina, a woman with painful family memories and relatives in unexpected places. Reluctantly, after being given his case due to lack of results, Keilani allows him to quietly join forces with her to investigate. They are an unlikely coupling who don’t really trust each other, and the writing regarding their joint investigation is very entertaining, as are the other unscrupulous characters working against Henry in the shadows. There is a poignant backstory about people who pollute their land, thereby becoming their own worst enemies, and the character of Henry does not make any friends by pointing it out. Overall a successful, exciting, descriptive, and thrilling page-turner, “To Catch the Setting Sun” is a novel not to be missed.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Richard I. Levine, and The Wild Rose Press, Inc. for the ability to read and review this ARC.
September 23, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Richard Levine and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.
In To Catch the Setting Sun, a killer is on the loose of Oahu and is targeting Young, native-Hawaiian women while also taunting Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin. This is personal, Henry knew all the women and his wife, Maya was the first name on the list. Battling his personal demons as any New Yorker would, he isn't popular amongst his laid-back colleagues who begin to suspect he may be the killer and that explains his lack of progress.
This book is fast paced full of twists and turns. Prepare to settle in, this book can easily be read in a day. Police procedurals are one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint. The cast of characters are brilliantly written and realistic. I could see this happening today. The personality depth of the characters added to the story in meaningful ways. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves crime thrillers and look forward to reading more from this author!
In To Catch the Setting Sun, a killer is on the loose of Oahu and is targeting Young, native-Hawaiian women while also taunting Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin. This is personal, Henry knew all the women and his wife, Maya was the first name on the list. Battling his personal demons as any New Yorker would, he isn't popular amongst his laid-back colleagues who begin to suspect he may be the killer and that explains his lack of progress.
This book is fast paced full of twists and turns. Prepare to settle in, this book can easily be read in a day. Police procedurals are one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint. The cast of characters are brilliantly written and realistic. I could see this happening today. The personality depth of the characters added to the story in meaningful ways. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves crime thrillers and look forward to reading more from this author!
September 26, 2022
A serial killer in paradise!
To Catch The Setting Sun was a thrilling police procedural set on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Disgraced Honolulu Police Department detective Henry “Hank” Benjamin was hard to appreciate initially; he’s abrupt, acerbic, and drinks too much. But he’s just lost his wife, the first victim of a serial killer, right? So you cut him some slack, yeah? Kaelani Kanakina is a hard charger, too, but plays better with others. By the end of the book, I didn’t want to let either of these characters go. I would definitely grab up a sequel.
The setting on the island is a treat, but it is the local community and the feeling of family that makes it so compelling. Everyone knows everyone else, and their secrets aren’t secrets from anyone but outsiders. I enjoyed the effortless incorporation of Hawaiian words and phrases throughout the story, making the dialogue seem genuine and authentic.There were times when I had difficulty following characters’ internal dialogues, and sometimes more extended exchanges between speakers were confusing as to who was talking when, so I had to re-read passages. There was also a bit of repetition at times, but I wasn’t sure this wasn’t intentional. Neither issue was overwhelming. However, I was left with questions at the end of the book: maybe points for launching a series? But overall, the book was good, exciting, and well worth getting your hands on.
I recommend TO CATCH THE SETTING SUN to mystery readers who enjoy police procedurals, especially those featuring the disgraced detective teaming up with the young newcomer.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
September 4, 2022
This is a dark murder mystery, police investigation procedure novel set firmly in the Hawaiian culture. It got off to a bit of a rough start for me, eagerly awaiting the back story on the hero which finally came in about a quarter of the way into the book. Hank is a flawed hero. He was hard for me to appreciate but I did end up liking him by the last page.
Levine's writing style was a little difficult for me to follow at times. One example is a paragraph about a character named Peter. The last sentence of the paragraph contained the pronoun “he.” So does the first sentence of the next paragraph. As we continue to read, however, we find out it is a different male character being written about. (2522/4232) Issues like that disrupted the flow of the book for me.
This is a book for male readers, I think. The dialogue, while being realistic, is very rough. There are coarse exchanges and lots of foul language. Men must like to communicate in put downs.
This is a novel for readers who like a dark plot with very rough characters, including the hero, and some raw, gruesome scenes. There is a good twist about two thirds through the book and another at the end. There is also a deep immersion into the Hawaiian culture and practice, though mostly the dark side, which is the novel's strength. While some aspects of the novel were a bit rough for me, I did appreciate the realistic journey into the world of crime.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Levine's writing style was a little difficult for me to follow at times. One example is a paragraph about a character named Peter. The last sentence of the paragraph contained the pronoun “he.” So does the first sentence of the next paragraph. As we continue to read, however, we find out it is a different male character being written about. (2522/4232) Issues like that disrupted the flow of the book for me.
This is a book for male readers, I think. The dialogue, while being realistic, is very rough. There are coarse exchanges and lots of foul language. Men must like to communicate in put downs.
This is a novel for readers who like a dark plot with very rough characters, including the hero, and some raw, gruesome scenes. There is a good twist about two thirds through the book and another at the end. There is also a deep immersion into the Hawaiian culture and practice, though mostly the dark side, which is the novel's strength. While some aspects of the novel were a bit rough for me, I did appreciate the realistic journey into the world of crime.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
September 5, 2022
To Catch the Setting Sun by Richard Levine is one of the best suspenseful mystery novels I have read! I cannot believe the talent in this writer's writing. I was hooked from the start. A detective is not well-liked in Hawaii. Someone is taunting with him, loses his wife to a serial killer, and is working on finding the killer. His colleagues harass him at work. Nothing is what the paradise presents. Peaceful beaches are deceiving. The detective knows just how deadly the area is. Women are being targeted. This story is well-done. I connected with the characters. The moments from the victims and the hero. Pieces of the killer are shown but not enough to figure out who. Crime fiction at its best is shown in this novel. I loved the dark, intriguing, yet deadly rollercoaster ride. Richard Levine is now added to my all-time favorites. Themes of loss, grief, death can be found in this epic tale. It grabbed my attention and kept it till the end. Overall, I highly recommend this action-packed crime thriller to all readers. Watch out world, Richard Levine is the new master of crime fiction reads!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
August 29, 2022
With a sweeping Hawaiian backdrop reminiscent of James Michener, right off the bat this thriller reminds us that bad things can even happen in paradise. HPD Detective and native New Yorker Henry Benjamin finds out the hard way that relocating to our 50th State isn’t like one big episode of Hawaii 5-0, especially when he’s on the case of a serial killer targeting native women. Hardly the archetype of the “hero cop,” (fellow officers call him “Dirty Harry”—and not in a flattering way), we root for him since his wife was the killer’s first victim.
Levine has crafted a thriller with so many twists and turns, just when think you know what’s going to happen next, a new element of surprise catches the reader like a ten-foot wave.
Since the author, like the main character, lives in Hawaii via NYC, the outsider vibe, as well as the native lingo and traditions, smack of authenticity.
It's a page-turner.
Levine has crafted a thriller with so many twists and turns, just when think you know what’s going to happen next, a new element of surprise catches the reader like a ten-foot wave.
Since the author, like the main character, lives in Hawaii via NYC, the outsider vibe, as well as the native lingo and traditions, smack of authenticity.
It's a page-turner.
December 29, 2022
You'd think life in paradise would be more idyllic - but Levine conjures up a darker side to it. Benjamin is a great character - flawed, and struggling with more than just the serial killer who is stalking the island. He is determined, even in the face of adversity, and he's a character that you just can't help but like, and hope that he figures out who the murderer is and brings him to justice before another murder is on the books. As much as the question of who, you'll be trying to figure out why Benjamin is being targeted, with each woman having some connection to him, no matter how tenuous. I got drawn into this book so quickly, which has great characters and descriptions, and enough twists to keep the tension high and you turning pages.
September 30, 2022
In To Catch The Setting Sun, author Richard I. Levine transports the reader to the island of Oahu, for an intriguing dark noir crime thriller that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.
Welcome to the island of Oahu, are you ready for the seedy dark side of the Hawaiian island that isn't promoted in the tourist guides? For Henry (Hank) Benjamin, an ex-NY cop and island transplant with thirteen years as a detective with the Honolulu Police Department, he's brash, arrogant, and doesn't put up with any BS, let's just say he's not liked by his brethen on the force. He's been working a serial killer case investigation for the past eight months and getting stonewalled, and worse than that, the killer is taunting him with notes left on the bodies of the young Hawaiian women, and he's determined to find the killer.
Henry's obsession in finding the killer leads him to finding danger around every corner, especially when there is someone who is out to destroy him in order to keep the truth from coming out. Learning that he can't trust anyone, follow along as Henry puts the pieces of the puzzle together and finds out the truth behind young womens' murders.
Author Richard I. Levine weaves a slow-building and suspenseful dark gritty noir tale that follows tough as nails Detective Henry Benjamin as he investigates the sadistic murders of young Hawaiian women, and is determined to find the truth and seek justice.
The reader is easily drawn into this riveting dark noir crime story with its richly descriptive plot. It is a story that is a tangled web filled with enough drama, secrets, deceit, corruption, motives, suspects, and intriguing twists and turns that definitely keeps the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion.
This was a really intriguing story to read! The story provides a fascinating cast of characters, enough clues to engage the reader, suprising twists and turns, and danger around every corner, especially when there are people who don't want the truth to come out. I found myself so caught up on following Henry's investigative pursuit of putting the pieces of the puzzle together and solving the murders, while also learning about the dark side of Oahu that the tourists don't get to see. Through Henry's obsessive investigation, the truth about the darker side of the Hawaiian paradise is uncovered. I was absolutely stunned by the conclusion!
To Catch The Setting Sun will definitely take the readers on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Tours.
Welcome to the island of Oahu, are you ready for the seedy dark side of the Hawaiian island that isn't promoted in the tourist guides? For Henry (Hank) Benjamin, an ex-NY cop and island transplant with thirteen years as a detective with the Honolulu Police Department, he's brash, arrogant, and doesn't put up with any BS, let's just say he's not liked by his brethen on the force. He's been working a serial killer case investigation for the past eight months and getting stonewalled, and worse than that, the killer is taunting him with notes left on the bodies of the young Hawaiian women, and he's determined to find the killer.
Henry's obsession in finding the killer leads him to finding danger around every corner, especially when there is someone who is out to destroy him in order to keep the truth from coming out. Learning that he can't trust anyone, follow along as Henry puts the pieces of the puzzle together and finds out the truth behind young womens' murders.
Author Richard I. Levine weaves a slow-building and suspenseful dark gritty noir tale that follows tough as nails Detective Henry Benjamin as he investigates the sadistic murders of young Hawaiian women, and is determined to find the truth and seek justice.
The reader is easily drawn into this riveting dark noir crime story with its richly descriptive plot. It is a story that is a tangled web filled with enough drama, secrets, deceit, corruption, motives, suspects, and intriguing twists and turns that definitely keeps the reader guessing until the surprising conclusion.
This was a really intriguing story to read! The story provides a fascinating cast of characters, enough clues to engage the reader, suprising twists and turns, and danger around every corner, especially when there are people who don't want the truth to come out. I found myself so caught up on following Henry's investigative pursuit of putting the pieces of the puzzle together and solving the murders, while also learning about the dark side of Oahu that the tourists don't get to see. Through Henry's obsessive investigation, the truth about the darker side of the Hawaiian paradise is uncovered. I was absolutely stunned by the conclusion!
To Catch The Setting Sun will definitely take the readers on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Tours.
June 28, 2022
My only experience with Hawaii has been through screening episodes of Hawaii 5-0 or Magnum P.I. Levine’s tale gives the reader a glimpse of life on the islands, away from the glamour of the tourist vistas. Like many big cities, there is no shortage of crime, manipulation and misbehavior.
Levine’s protagonist is Detective Henry Benjamin. Although not a native to Hawaii, Benjamin has a developed a respect and caring for the people and strives to do the right thing. Hampered by bureaucracy, he’s determined to do his job, even working on his own to investigate a series of brutal murders. Benjamin doesn’t care whose toes he steps on, or nose he breaks, if it will bring him closer to the truth.
There are many memorable characters here and more than a few twists that will keep the reader’s attention.
An enjoyable read.
Levine’s protagonist is Detective Henry Benjamin. Although not a native to Hawaii, Benjamin has a developed a respect and caring for the people and strives to do the right thing. Hampered by bureaucracy, he’s determined to do his job, even working on his own to investigate a series of brutal murders. Benjamin doesn’t care whose toes he steps on, or nose he breaks, if it will bring him closer to the truth.
There are many memorable characters here and more than a few twists that will keep the reader’s attention.
An enjoyable read.
September 6, 2022
Both the plotting and the characters are strong in this intriguing and suspenseful story. I loved the Hawaiian setting and the inclusion of the rich culture and pleasing language. I also really enjoyed the strength of the writing. I highly recommend this book.
November 25, 2022
To Catch the Setting Sun title unveils the tragedy and truth of a tropical island that
has been viewed by many tourists over the years as a paradise.
I was captivated by the title and found myself embarking on a discovery of treachery, evil and deceit. A suggestion of romance is conveyed but left me wondering throughout with a what if there is more to it than meets the eye?
Psychological warfare reigns within this page turning novel as Detective Henry Benjamin uses his hard-hitting, no-nonsense personality and methods to try to solve the murders.
There is a sociopath on the loose but who really is the perpetrator of such heinous crimes?
Absolutely wonderful. A must read. More author please.
has been viewed by many tourists over the years as a paradise.
I was captivated by the title and found myself embarking on a discovery of treachery, evil and deceit. A suggestion of romance is conveyed but left me wondering throughout with a what if there is more to it than meets the eye?
Psychological warfare reigns within this page turning novel as Detective Henry Benjamin uses his hard-hitting, no-nonsense personality and methods to try to solve the murders.
There is a sociopath on the loose but who really is the perpetrator of such heinous crimes?
Absolutely wonderful. A must read. More author please.
August 2, 2022
🌺My Thoughts 🌺
This book can be the one of the best sad, thrilling and suspensfull book which will took breath of every readers reading this. Author has done some amazing piece of work in presenting this book with using all of his awesome talents. There can be many book which can offer story like this but not many can even compete with this book. Writing is top class as it was perfectly onto the point with not having any distracting confusions. Author has used very easy language so that everyone can understand the point of the book. Plot is well paced and story is beautifully narrated throughout the book. Characterization is perfect, it was giving feeling of some real thing is going on.
🌸Book's Story🌸
The story of this book revolves around a killer who was taking a free walk on the island of Oahu. The Young and native Hawaiian womens were his prime target. But soon he got interest and started targeting Honolulu police detective 'Henry Benjamin'. Henry's wife 'Maya' was the first victim and first on the long list of victims. Henry was the only one who knew each victim. He was living & battling with his personal demons, and this New York transplant's aggressive style didn't got on the same path with his colleagues, who soon started viewing Henry's uncharacteristic lack of progress in the investigation as evidence that fueled ongoing rumors that he could be the killer. There were many questions or rumours rooming all around like- Was he the killer? or is it someone within the municipal hierarchy with a vendetta? After thirteen years on the job Henry had been disillusioned with paradise. His every fantasy got vanished bcz of his long career choice. It did nothing but opened his eyes to a Hawaii that tourists will never see.
✨Final Verdict✨
You can all call this book an prime example of great piece of hardwork filled with so much effort. The Author has done some tremendous work in creating this epic book. He should be applauded for the work he has done. This book can surely attract any reader from the beginning. So make a move and jump on the deep ocean of this book, you'll never think about getting out from this.
!!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
This book can be the one of the best sad, thrilling and suspensfull book which will took breath of every readers reading this. Author has done some amazing piece of work in presenting this book with using all of his awesome talents. There can be many book which can offer story like this but not many can even compete with this book. Writing is top class as it was perfectly onto the point with not having any distracting confusions. Author has used very easy language so that everyone can understand the point of the book. Plot is well paced and story is beautifully narrated throughout the book. Characterization is perfect, it was giving feeling of some real thing is going on.
🌸Book's Story🌸
The story of this book revolves around a killer who was taking a free walk on the island of Oahu. The Young and native Hawaiian womens were his prime target. But soon he got interest and started targeting Honolulu police detective 'Henry Benjamin'. Henry's wife 'Maya' was the first victim and first on the long list of victims. Henry was the only one who knew each victim. He was living & battling with his personal demons, and this New York transplant's aggressive style didn't got on the same path with his colleagues, who soon started viewing Henry's uncharacteristic lack of progress in the investigation as evidence that fueled ongoing rumors that he could be the killer. There were many questions or rumours rooming all around like- Was he the killer? or is it someone within the municipal hierarchy with a vendetta? After thirteen years on the job Henry had been disillusioned with paradise. His every fantasy got vanished bcz of his long career choice. It did nothing but opened his eyes to a Hawaii that tourists will never see.
✨Final Verdict✨
You can all call this book an prime example of great piece of hardwork filled with so much effort. The Author has done some tremendous work in creating this epic book. He should be applauded for the work he has done. This book can surely attract any reader from the beginning. So make a move and jump on the deep ocean of this book, you'll never think about getting out from this.
!!HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
January 23, 2023
An edgy thriller set on the island of Oahu awaits you in To Catch the Setting Sun by Richard I. Levine.
Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin is tracking a killer targeting young, native-Hawaiian women on the island of Oahu. It appears the killer is taunting Henry, who seems to have known each victim, while his aggressive style that turns up few leads, fuels rumors that he might be the killer. Having spent more than a dozen years on the job, Henry expects nothing of this faux fantasy island except deceit and deception.
Levine writes one heck of a story. Twists and turns abound in this thriller set on Oahu. The author uses his knowledge of the area to depict a fascinating setting that might be different than what you would find in a travel brochure. Having been to Hawaii, I felt Levine did a superb job with it.
Henry is a New York transplant who long ago dropped the illusions of his job in "paradise." Drawn to the investigation because his wife Maya was the first name on the killer's list, his colleagues are stumped when his investigation lacks any progress. Not all of them are Detective Benjamin fans anyway. With a smart, sassy new partner, maybe things will change.
While I am not a huge fan of third person omniscient point of view, I didn't mind it as much in To Catch the Setting Sun. I enjoyed how journal entries opened each chapter. They are deep and personal entries that captivate the reader with their poetic style. As with any suspense thriller, one must expect some grit and gore. To Catch the Setting Sun is an overall satisfying read.
Honolulu police detective Henry Benjamin is tracking a killer targeting young, native-Hawaiian women on the island of Oahu. It appears the killer is taunting Henry, who seems to have known each victim, while his aggressive style that turns up few leads, fuels rumors that he might be the killer. Having spent more than a dozen years on the job, Henry expects nothing of this faux fantasy island except deceit and deception.
Levine writes one heck of a story. Twists and turns abound in this thriller set on Oahu. The author uses his knowledge of the area to depict a fascinating setting that might be different than what you would find in a travel brochure. Having been to Hawaii, I felt Levine did a superb job with it.
Henry is a New York transplant who long ago dropped the illusions of his job in "paradise." Drawn to the investigation because his wife Maya was the first name on the killer's list, his colleagues are stumped when his investigation lacks any progress. Not all of them are Detective Benjamin fans anyway. With a smart, sassy new partner, maybe things will change.
While I am not a huge fan of third person omniscient point of view, I didn't mind it as much in To Catch the Setting Sun. I enjoyed how journal entries opened each chapter. They are deep and personal entries that captivate the reader with their poetic style. As with any suspense thriller, one must expect some grit and gore. To Catch the Setting Sun is an overall satisfying read.
September 11, 2022
This is my first book by this author. The writing style was good by I had a bit of a struggle getting into the story.
On the island of Oahu, someone is killing young Native Hawaiian women. Police officer Henry Benjamin’s wife, Maya, was the first victim and he’s been hunting for the killer ever since. Now it seems the killer is taunting Henry by leaving him eerie clues.
Henry is a New Yorker who clashes with his fellow officers and had made enemies over the years. Will he find this killer before more innocent women are attacked?
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
On the island of Oahu, someone is killing young Native Hawaiian women. Police officer Henry Benjamin’s wife, Maya, was the first victim and he’s been hunting for the killer ever since. Now it seems the killer is taunting Henry by leaving him eerie clues.
Henry is a New Yorker who clashes with his fellow officers and had made enemies over the years. Will he find this killer before more innocent women are attacked?
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 28, 2022To Catch The Setting Sun is a police procedural, thriller centered around a serial killer who is killing local women. The setting is on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The character development is good as we are introduced to an eclectic group. It is a bit of a slow build with rough characters involved in a dark plot which shows a sinister side of Hawaiian culture. But as you get deeper into the story there are plenty of twists and turns. There are some gruesome scenes and rough/coarse language.
December 6, 2022
A really enjoyable and original thriller that was fast paced and full of twists. The book was completely gripping and hooked me in its grasp right from the start and wouldn't let me go.
The writing was engaging and the characters were well develo0ped and I thought that they were all relatable and believable.
A really good read and I can't wait to see what else the writer does.
The writing was engaging and the characters were well develo0ped and I thought that they were all relatable and believable.
A really good read and I can't wait to see what else the writer does.
July 8, 2023
The perfect beach read for summer! A murder mystery/thriller that has you captivated from the beginning. Great character development of Detective Henry Benjamin and creative storytelling that has lots of twists and turns throughout.
August 27, 2024
To Catch the Setting Sun is a dark noir crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing as I read. There was alot of shock factor here and the author continued to serve surprises pretty much until the final page. My jaw dropped more than once while reading. I had no idea who the killer was until the author revealed it and the action really got intense when the hunt for the killer was underway.
As the story came to its conclusion, the ending wrapped up nicely but also left it wide open for a sequel. I recommend To Catch the Setting Sun by Richard I. Levine if you enjoy dark, twisty crime thrillers with a rough around the edges protagonist.
As the story came to its conclusion, the ending wrapped up nicely but also left it wide open for a sequel. I recommend To Catch the Setting Sun by Richard I. Levine if you enjoy dark, twisty crime thrillers with a rough around the edges protagonist.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews