Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Detective Kawika Wong from Hilo, Hawaii gets assigned to investigate the murder of Ralph Fortunato, a resort developer killed on a golf course by an ancient Hawaiian spear. Most people think the members of the Hawaiian Temple Association are involved. Will Detective Wong be able to track down the killer?

This book was very slow-paced for me, especially at the beginning. It has lots of characters, tons of information about the history of the big island, and lots of scandals. I felt it was geared more towards male readers. In fact, I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy reading crime novels with lots of details and technical terms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Bones of Hilo
By: Eric Redman
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

I enjoyed reading Redmans mystery on the Big Island! My husband and I enjoy visits Hawaii and it was nice to draw parallels regarding the scenery from the writing to what I remember about my times in Hawaii.

I found this to be a quick witted murder mystery read. The main character is called upon to determine if some recent killings are ritualistic in nature or not - and of course, to determine “who done it?” As the story unfolds secrets are revealed…will it be enough to find the killer?

An interesting view of Hawaii in a police procedural set on the Big Island. It brings up many current issues, and the protagonist, a newly minted detective, has a lot to learn-- and a lot to teach the reader.

Because I've written extensively about Hawaii in my own set of police procedurals, I can say that Redman did a good job of presenting the island and police work.

This was a very enjoyable mystery. The content does include a difficult subject and is pretty gruesome related to that matter. The novel is well written and rich in details regarding Hawaii
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's a gripping and exciting police procedural, solid mystery and great descriptions of the places.
I'm not a fan of the female characters as they're a sort of appendix to a man.
I thoroughly enjoyed it but the female characters are a bit underdeveloped.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Bones of Hilo is a modern police procedural set in Hawaii by Eric Redman. Released 8th June 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a well written procedural with a stately moving plot, lots (and lots) of cultural and scenic background intertwined with an intricate murder and fraud on a large scale complete with subplots which reverberate back to the time of Hawaiian cultural independence.

There are a large number of characters, but the author does a skillful job of keeping them distinct from one another. The dialogue and characterization are much better than average and I enjoyed reading Detective Kawika's challenges both personal and professional. He's an intelligent and likable guy and importantly, a believable character who sometimes lets his actions get the best of his better nature, which gets him in trouble.

The denouement was satisfying and mostly believable. The language throughout is about average for a modern procedural (R-rated) and it includes some potentially triggering non-consensual sex and some light body horror with ritualistic overtones and a spot of mutilation at the very end of the book.

The author is a fine writer and writes deftly and intelligently. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Not really sure how i feel about this book, it was pretty good but long.

DNF

Detective Kawika Wong investigates a crime in Hawaii - a resort developer is found dead by spear: impaled through the heart. Local groups opposing the resort are suspected.

This is an interesting crime book being as there's cultural issues and elements explored. There's a bit of love within it and some action.

For me it felt a little bit too forced and unnatural, like over the top dramatic and couldn't quite keep my attention. It's also definately a "mans man' book certainly directed to a male audience.

This is a police procedural with a difference, set mainly on the Big Island of Hawai’i, with a (three-eighths) Native Hawai’ian protagonist in Detective Kawika Wong. When a resort developer is found impaled through the heart on a tee box at a major tourist resort, and a local group fighting against his latest project is implicated, it’s important to have a Native detective on the case, so Kawika gets the job.

It’s a really complicated case with a lot of different moving parts and a lot of suspects, as the developer turns out to be a corrupt type with a string of victims in his wake… some of them dead under suspicious circumstances. Every string Kawika pulls on seems to drag up yet another tangle, and his own complicated love life isn’t helping him keep a clear head.

There’s a lot to like about this story; there are complex issues of morality and the nature of justice and vengeance considered and I liked learning about the cultural issues, which were presented in an engaging way as Kawika himself learned about them. The book does, however, fall into the shocking trap too often found in the writing of men; literally every female character is someone’s wife, girlfriend or mistress. Not one of Kawika’s work colleagues, or the experts or officers from other agencies he consults, is a woman, with the sole exception of one of his two girlfriends, who fortunately for him happens to be an expert in Native Hawai’iana he can consult. Every woman in the story is defined by her relationship to a man in it - it definitely doesn’t pass the Bechdel test, indeed, I can only think of one occasion in the book where two women were present in a room at the same time.

The audience for mystery thrillers and police procedurals has a high proportion of women, and it’s disappointing for us to see our entire gender reduced to being window dressing this way. Despite being intrigued by the case and enjoying the cultural aspects of the story, I wouldn’t read another book by this author because of these failures. I’ll give it three stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

Tense, gripping and with an exotic location this police procedural was brilliant! I'll be recommending this to all my friends, I can't wait to read more by the author.

Detective Kawika Wong is picked, despite his junior status, to investigate the murder of real estate developer Ralph Forunato, who was killed with a Hawaiian spear. His superiors think he can bring the needed cultural understanding to the case but here's the thing- he was raised on the Mainland. This teeters on the knife edge of cozy procedural in the sense that many people wanted Fortunato gone but it does go deeper with looking at the tensions between Native Hawaiians and haoles. Great atmospherics and I learned a bit (always a plus). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is set in 2002, which leaves room for the more in series (I'm hoping).

This novel opens with the discovery of a body on the golf course, killed by an ancient Hawaiian spear through his chest. Detective Kawika Wong, part Hawaiian, part Chinese is sent to head the investigation, since someone with local Hawaiian cultural knowledge will be required to determine if this is a ritual killing by native Hawaiians or perhaps a killing designed to frame them. Although Kawika mostly grew up in Seattle with his mother after his parents separated, and has little cultural knowledge, his father is a long-time resident with extensive local knowledge and his girlfriend, Carolyn is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Hawaiian history.

The body belongs to Ralph Fortunato, a property developer planning to build a new resort on a lava field on Hawaii’s big island, with Japanese investment. The finding of a possible temple or altar on the land, brought him into dispute with a native Hawaiian group who wanted the development stopped. Fortunato has a history of failed property development on the US mainland following a similar dispute with native Indians over a cultural site and Kawika senses that something is not quite right with the new development which is not near a beach or any of the spectacular scenery that Hawaii has to offer.

As accusations fly about cultural sensitivity and the bodies start to pile up, Kawika tries to get a handle on what Fortunato was really up to and who would most want to kill him. For the most part the pacing was good but did get a bit bogged down by the complexity of the plot. Hawaii makes for an interesting background to a murder mystery and the description of the various locations added to the exotic atmosphere. The cultural and political aspects seemed well researched and gave some indication of the issues facing the state. Kawika was an interesting character with his mixed heritage and upbringing and I could see him featuring in a series based in Hawaii.

A strong grasp of the Hawaiian language and cultural history would be a plus for anyone who reads this mystery. Detective Kawika Wong was born in Hawaii but was raised in Seattle after his parents divorced. He did spent summers with his father in Hawaii but built his career in Seattle. That is, he built it until he was overzealous and fired by the police force there.

Kawika got a job with the police force in Hilo partly because his boss is a friend of his father who becomes his mentor. When a developer is found murdered on the fifteenth tee at a golf course on a popular resort, Kawika is given the case in part because the other case occupying the force has to do with drug dealers throwing people off a cliff for the sharks to feed on them.

The developer is Ralph Fortunato who had a previous failed career as a developer in Washington State. He was killed with an authentic historic spear which was left in his body. The body was discovered by Patience Quinn who is a journalist who is trying to get over her recent divorce. They soon learn that there fathers were friends and they had played together as children. Now they are beginning a romantic relationship which wouldn't be a problem except for the fact the Kawika already had a girlfriend who is getting her Ph.D. and plans to write her thesis in Hawaiian. She has a goal of restoring some decimated landscape. She is also Kawika's expert on all things Hawaiian as is his father.

There are lots of suspects including pro-Hawaiian groups that are angry that Fortunato destroyed a historic site in his quest to develop the land he bought. There are also concerns about his business practices. His second in command is also coming to realize that Fortunato may not be on the up and up and has been busy hatching plots of his own.

Between Kawika's juggling two different women and trying to find his place in two different cultures, he manages to explore and uncover all sorts of secrets on his way to solving the murder. I was a little disappointed about the resolution of the mystery though.

A police procedural concerning Detective Kawika Wong of the Hilo police department. (It should be noted that Hawaiian police eat malasadas and not donuts). The story was interesting, the setting could not have been in a better place - the Island of Hawaii - and I thought it was a clever plot.
Underlying the procedural are two themes - Wong's relationship with two women and racial tension between mainlanders and Native Hawaiians. I thought the author could have been more sensitive to both themes and his discussion about them was distracting.

Young detective Kawika Wong struggles to gain the respect of colleagues on Big Island, Hawaii. His inexperience is cause for concern when he’s chosen to investigate the death of Ralph Fortunato, a Mainland developer found murdered on a swanky golf course with an ancient Hawaiian spear piercing his heart.

Kawika needs the help of his father and girlfriend to understand the meaning behind the ritualistic murder scene containing many elements of native Hawaiian culture while he follows up on leads pertaining to Fortunato’s business dealings and his ongoing battle with a Hawaiian organization opposed to a luxury development.
Fortunato’s past is littered with shady land dealings and now in the wake of his murder, the body count is rising as Kawika uncovers corruption in surprising places.

I thought Bones of Hilo would be an exciting read for me! I was fortunate enough to spend a significant amount of time on the Big Island in my twenties so I’m familiar with the locations discussed in this book and was looking forward to an atmospheric mystery.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. I struggled to make it to the half way point; there is a lot of history explained that, while certainly necessary for the plot, was delivered in a dry way that had me nodding off more than once. There are a couple of brief sex scenes that were also boringly detailed in the same way each time.
There is little action to propel the story or create any urgency; it's all telling instead of showing.
There’s also a visit back to Washington state at the end of the novel that just felt random and did nothing to pick up the pace and felt awkward for the story arc.

The most interesting aspect of the novel for me personally was Kawika’s lack of acceptance. He split his time between Hilo and Seattle while growing up and the locals treat him as an outsider that shouldn’t be trusted.
Bogged down in dry details and an excruciatingly slow pace, I skimmed the last half of Bones of Hilo and don’t feel I missed anything compelling.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Bones of Hilo is scheduled for release on June 8, 2021.

I love stories set in Hawaii they bring back fond memories of my time vacationing there. Eric Redman story transports us to the Big Island and plunges us deep into a murder mystery in Hilo and other locations on the island as we follow Detective Kawika Wong in his attempts to get at the bottom of the gruesome murder of real estate developer Ralph Fortunato found with an ancient Hawaiian spear having impaled him, the mogul was found dead on a signature golf course and resort.

This fast-paced story grabs the attention from the start. When one murder becomes two then three and angry indigenous people come into play as well as the power of the press you have a compelling story filled with lots of Hawaiian details and mostly intrigue....Kawika finds danger at every turn on his perilous journey that stretches from the Big Island to Washington State and back. Along the way he uncovers a cache of secrets reaching far back. I was on pins and needles from start to finish, not wanting any harm coming to this loveable protagonist. What a great story that held my attention from the opening words and held me captive till the very end.

Mr. Redman’s imagery is outstanding, the cultural and history is well researched not only both are informative but they are expertly blended into the plot. Kawika is an excellent although flawed protagonist I found it hard not to love him, he really entertains.

This is a good book, hopefully a start of a series. If so I am looking forward to reading more.

I was (more than usually) excited to receive the “Bones of Hilo” by Eric Redman. It was a gift from NetGalley and from the great Hawaiian gods because it is a murder mystery set (mostly) on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Island is my wife and my favorite place on earth so we were excited by some murders (in fiction world) taking place while we mainlanders are unable to travel to paradise! All that is preamble to say that I enjoyed Mr. Redman’s writing style and storyline; and I oftentimes felt that I was back in some of the small towns —and fancy resorts— that makes the Big Island such a great place to visit.
The plot: a local land developer is murdered is murdered on a resort golf course that sends Hawaiian investigator Detective Kawika Wong on an involved investigation that peels away the layers of corruption that result in more than a single homicide. Betwixt and between the nasty stuff is well researched cultural and social history that is both informative and integral to the plot. Perhaps at times these sub contexts deviated a bit too much a2ay from driving the narrative. Also, a trip to the state of Washington later in the book did little to propel the plot and would not have been missed if edited out before the final edition of the book is released. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend to all!

Kawika Wong is a young detective in Hawaii, a place he partially grew up in, splitting his time with his mother in Seattle and his father on one of the islands. He’s given the opportunity to prove himself when a real estate developer is found dead with an historical Hawaiian spear through his heart and the other detectives are busy trying to uncover the connection between the bodies being thrown over a cliff and a local drug ring.

Even though Kawika spent his summers here, he’s not that culturally literate about Native Hawaii, so he turns to his father and girlfriend for help.

I enjoyed the mystery and the writing. I will warn you that a person is really grossly sexually abused and while the novel doesn’t detail something that happened in the past, it’s still gruesome. Also, in the book the characters talk about how many “K’s” Hawaiian’s use, and there are a lot of “T” names and “h” words. I had a little trouble having to re-read names and trying to remember what a term meant. Also, the author does a thing that I’ve noticed in other books like this: He gives the characters first and last names but then proceeds to call some people, like Kawika, by their first names, and other characters, like his captain, Tanaka, by their last.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 8, 2021.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this free Advance Copy in return for an honest review.

Off we go to one of those other islands that comprise our lovely 50th state, but in this mystery by Eric Redman the beauty of Hawaii is hidden beneath the murder and mystery of Hilo, Waimea and other locations on “The Big Island”. What can look appealing at first blush, can many times hold deep secrets, angry indigenous people, fortune hunters and a whole lot more. And that is exactly what we get in this fast-paced book that grabs our attention from the very beginning when real estate developer, Ralph Fortunato, is found dead on a signature golf course and resort.
We follow Detective Kawika Wong, who is half-Hawaiian, as he attempts to get to the bottom of this murder, a particularly gruesome one in that Fortunato is found with an ancient Hawaiian spear having impaled him. And despite Wong’s past issues when he was a detective in Seattle, his boss has no qualms in having him try and unravel this crime.
Soon one murder becomes two, and then three, and bodies are piling up and despite quickly realizing that Fortunato is a shady developer now a whole lot of progress is made. But that is where angry indigenous people come in, as local native Hawaiian organizations are incensed that Wong seems to be focusing on one of their members as a prime suspect and we get to see the power of the press as, when Wong is made to appear responsible for these deaths. While nothing can be further from the truth, some strategically worded press releases turn Wong into a target.
Sadly we see many throughout the book use “civic” organizations to pad their own agenda and how many of these groups are filled with bogus individuals. There are many native Hawaiians who have a dislike for what happened to their kingdom, but on the other hand many are also used by “haoles” to get their way when it comes to island developments.
Wong will eventually travel back to Washington state, where he gets advice from his mother and step-father, and continues to look into the murky past of Fortunato who had a similar bogus resort in the Methow Valley region of Washington also blow up in his face. And quickly discovers that wherever Fortunato goes, so goes mysterious deaths, and that everyone is happy to find out that he is finally dead.
A very interesting book, filled with lots of Hawaiian details and intrigue. “The Big Island” is a beautiful place, but also a very dangerous and deadly location, and one that we can only hope Redman will return to in future books.
This review was previously published at www.mysteryandsuspense.com