Primitive Secrets

Storm Kayama #1

by Deborah Turrell Atkinson

An exciting new voice richly and suspensefully evokes modern and ancient Hawaii...
When Storm Kayama walks into her lucrative Honolulu law firm one morning, she's shocked--and grieved--to find her adopted uncle at his desk, stiff and cold. Years before, Miles Hamasaki had fulfilled a promise to Storm's father and brought her to be raised with his own family. But, as questions surround Miles' death and her adopted family begins to close ranks, Storm suspects that he has been murdered.
Heading to the Big Island for a weekend escape from escalating pressures, she narrowly escapes a terrible accident. Storm takes refuge in the home of her Aunt Maile, a traditional Hawaiian healer, and Uncle Keone, a paniolo on the huge Parker Ranch. There she encounters a legend from her youth and a family totem, or 'aumakua, which Aunt Maile promises will protect her. As Storm struggles to heal her own childhood wounds and bring justice to Hamasaki's killer, she also comes to grip with the rifts in her own life and culture.
From the winding cane roads of Hamakua to the seedy side of Honolulu's Chinatown, with a deft juxtaposition of a bustling Honolulu against the island's legends and wild beauty, Atkinson reveals a Hawaii that few visitors ever see.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

309 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Inspired by Tony Hillermans stories of the Navajo, Deborah Atkinsons suspense novels expose not only the dark side of human nature, but the legends and folklore of Hawaii.

Debby lives in Honolulu with her husband and their two sons. A recipient of the University of Hawaii's Meryl Clark Award for Fiction, she is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and the author of Primitive Secrets (2002), The Green Room (2005), Fire Prayer, (2007), and Pleasing the Dead, (2009).


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Reviews

[Rebecca Heintz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot going on in this book and it’s a bit overwrought, but it takes place in Hawaii and a quick read.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book because I was in Hawaii. I loved the locales of the book and reading about some of the Hawaiian legends. The mystery part of the book was too easy to figure out and I wasn't overly crazy about the main character, Storm Kayama. She is a young lawyer and its hard to get warm and fuzzy over another lawyer/mystery story. The most interesting part of the book was her relationship with her aunt and uncle who help to raise her on the Big Island. I read it on my kindle and was disappointed over the number of misspelled and missing words, not sure why that was.

[Diane Tosney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was hard to put down. I would get to the end of every chapter and tell myself "just one more chapter. Oh well the chores were still waiting for me when I finished. I am looking forward to more in the 'Storm Kayama Series' and just ordered book two.

[Magda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a local author, this mystery brings together professional and romantic problems, traditional Hawai'ian healing and folklore, and a riveting mystery into a well-laid-out and thrilling read. Happy to see that there are more in this series.

[Joyce Ziebell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the locale of this book, along with bits of the culture and mystique of its ancient stories. Also liked the main character Storm, the suspence, the pacing and the exciting ending. Wow. Good to see this is a series. Looking forward to the next in Storm Kayama's adventures.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Interesting plot and Hawaiian background.A bit much going on but I liked the characters and will try another one in the series.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read Hawaiian mystery story with some thrilling scenes. Storm Kayama finds her uncle Hamasaki dead at his law firm desk when she reported in the morning. Then when she is on the Big Island, she is followed closely by a car which tries to bump her off the road. Later a man is found dead near where Storm and her aunt were gathering herbs. And then Hamasaki's secretary is killed by a hit and run truck. Storm begins trying to find out about the cases Hamasaki had been working on and begins dating a colleague in the law firm, Ian Hamlin. Finally trying to clean out Hamasaki's office late at night, Storm and Hamlin are confronted by the killer.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Deborah Atkinson's Primitive Secrets, it's a different kind of traditional mystery. Based in the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii, you learn all about the Hawaiian culture and customs in a most compelling mystery. For Storm Kayama, coming home gave her a new meaning, when her Uncle Miles mysteriously died. After the funeral, she's get embroiled in a mystery dealing with family secrets and misdeeds in her uncle's law firm. With multiple attempts on her life, she's getting closer to the truth, when friends and family dear to her heart becoming potential targets. This is a beautiful Hawaiian mystery to warm your hearts and say aloha.

[Bibi Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted to find a mystery series set in Hawaii. (Why aren't there more?) This book uses local elements really well and was very effective in taking me back to the islands, engaging all the senses in a way the best mysteries should. Storm Kayama is a wonderful main character, too. The book sagged some in the middle for me, and and there was quite a lot of backloaded information in the last 1/5 or 1/6. However, this is a problem I encounter with a lot of mysteries. I'll keep reading this series. A hui hou!

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storm Kayama arrives at her law office in Hawaii to find her adoptive father dead. But the strange events make it quickly obvious that he was murdered. The book starts very slowly, but there are several white knuckle scenes, and by the end I was glad I read it.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Laurie]

Not too deep, but entertaining enough. A likeable young heroine with attractive relatives and love interests. Honolulu by night, mythical pigs, sinister lawyers. (or is it sinister pigs and mytical lawyers?) We go to Waimanalo, the Big Island, Waikiki. People are killed. Storm keeps getting mugged or chased by ghosts. Readable.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a solid introduction to a powerful new character. I am glad that I came across this series. Storm is a 'strong woman' who also has a humanness to her that keeps the character, and the plot, from becoming one-dimensional. Instead, the reader can really get into the learning more about Storm and the story.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally, I do not read crime/mystery/romance novels but thought I’d give this one a try. It begins interestingly enough. Then it bogs down with fluff and no subtlety. Just not intriguing in my opinion.

[Deborah Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Vividly described settings—from Honolulu’s Chinatown to the Big Island—will entrance readers of this fast-paced debut, which effectively contrasts modern Hawaii with the lore of its past.”—Booklist

[Pam Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is sub-titled An Hawaiian Mystery - don't you pronounce the H in Hawaiian? The mystery part was only pretty good - took to long to resolve. The Hawaiian lore was mildly interesting.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben brought this to me to read because it is a "Hawaiian Mystery". It was an enjoyable book, a good mystery. The writing style would appeal to a young audience.

[Stephanie Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a page turner to the end. Definitely one of the better stories I've read lately.

[Emily Schnabl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing is a little clunky and dated. Decent mystery.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did I really enjoyed it. I plan to read book 2 in the series.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nice little Hawaii based mystery by a local author.