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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In The Maui Murders: Death and Romance on the Valley Isle by Marty Martins, Lia Reynolds develops a relationship in Hawaii with Californian deputy sheriff Kekoa Opio while the island of Maui is being terrorized by a serial killer. Kekoa and Lia grow closer, navigating the growth of feelings of love and trust. The murderer continues his spree and Lia's friend Miki'ala miraculously survives an attack, providing a lead for the detectives who make headway by identifying the culprit. After Kekoa meets Lia's family at a lū‘au, tragedy strikes again, and yet another victim is found. Armed with solid information and in a race against the clock, Kekoa is thrust into a final showdown with his life, his love, and the potential death of a ranger on the line.
So, first of all, thank you to Marty Martins for including Lia's mango bread recipe in The Maui Murders because, after the sensory images that came in such vivid detail, I would have felt cheated as a reader not to be offered the chance to try it. Bonus points for teaching me you can feed mango rinds to chickens. Not helpful in London, but you never know. Martins brings island life alive and in the midst of an incredible thriller, there is still an armchair tour of this achingly beautiful place. The food, the culture, and even the language make Maui a character in its own right. Vases carrying surprise plumerias, an SRFRGRL license plate, and me spending 20 minutes trying to say 'Ha! Kolohe' properly. I mean, our girl Miki‘ala is driving home from hula practice—hula practice!—when she is faced with imminent danger. I loved Kekoa and how well-developed as a character he is. And bless his colleague Detective Anastasia who is so real and so authentic as a person and a new mother that she keeps her breast milk stored in the station refrigerator. Everything about this book is wonderful. It is immersive, brilliantly written, and suspenseful, with a dash of romance and just enough of the bad guy's point of view to engage but not kill it. No pun intended. Very highly recommended.
