Book Review: Retribution (Koa Kane Book #5) by Robert McCaw
Published by Oceanview Publishing, June 6, 2023

★★★★☆ (4.25 Stars)

Great read!

Brings to mind that timeless classic "Hawaii Five-O" (TV Series '68-80) with Jack Lord as Honolulu Detective Steve McGarrett. (Ah, that catchy theme music!) Imagine McGarrett teammate Hawaiian native Det. Kono promoted to Chief Detective at Hilo, Hawaii.

Enter Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane by Robert McCaw and his compelling 5-book Hawaiian Mystery Series (2015-2023).

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// "Retribution" (Koa Kane Book #5) (2023) by Robert McCaw //

Hilo, HI, on the "Big Island" of Hawaii
210 miles due southeast of Honolulu, Oahu

Retribution by those infamous Abu Sayyaf terrorists for a foiled kidnapping years

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The latest in the Chief Detective Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series, Retribution by Robert McCaw is another engaging knotty crime tale. When a dead body is discovered in an alleyway, the nearby bloody knife has Koa’s brother’s fingerprints. Despite being removed from the case, Koa continues trying to prove his brother’s innocence. Then his colleague, Makanui is attacked, another policeman is killed in an explosion, and his team of detectives struggle to advance the investigations. Are these crimes connected and why are these attacks on the police? Is Koa Kane the real target? This is more than a police procedural, with a delightful intricate story, plenty of action and a suspenseful climax. It can be enjoyed as a standalone read that makes for a four stars rating. With thanks to Oceanview Publishing and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

I was so excited to read this book, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a fantastic book for me. The murder and mystery is exciting. There is also a lot of action. Those are all good aspects of the book and made the book enjoyable. However, there was SO much prose. There was SO much description and SO much unnecessary background information that did not push the plot forward. Reading other reviews, many people really loved this, which is awesome because everyone has their own taste and this book is definitely great for some people. Unfortunately, it did not resonate with me. If there was less of that prose, and more focus on the dialogue, then I believe I would have enjoyed it more. I am just particular about what I like, but that doesn’t mean this is a bad book by any means. McCaw is very talented at painting a picture. So there you have it; if you like books with vivid description that also has mystery, murder, and action, then you’ll enjoy this book.

Great characters and excellent storyline. Will definitely read more. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Detective bureau chief Koa Kane has had more than his share of investigating and solving crimes. Both he and his team members were responsible for locking away a number of criminals. All of which had an axe to grind with Koa and his unit.

So when Koa’s brother becomes a person of interest in a murder investigation, and his closest colleague is attacked, Koa must determine whether the crimes are related. Or is Koa the real target in the grand scheme of things?

Retribution is a police procedural novel set on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the fifth novel in the author’s Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery Series. Though it is the fifth novel, it can be read as a standalone.

The characters in the novel are varied and many. And I really liked that the author used names that reflected the diverse nationalities that is unique to Hawaii — the melting pot of the Pacific. Clearly McCaw has spent a lot of time immersing himself in the culture and peoples of Hawaii.

The plot follows a whodunit theme. But there are several scenes that take place. Seemingly all at once. And there are a few plot twists that kept me guessing.

The pacing was slower than what I am accustomed to. But my familiarity with the Hawaii locations kept me engaged. I was pleasantly pleased that McCaw didn’t use ficticious business names (i.e. local restaurants,) which made for a fun reading experience.

I’ll be looking forward to reading more of McCaw’s novels in the future. And Retribution is just the start for me. Four stars.

I received a digital ARC from Oceanview Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a free ARC in return for my honest review.

This is Book 5 in this series, and my first read of the series and author and I was blown away by this book. The book features Hilo (Hawaii) Chief Detective Koa Kane and I most be honest with you, I now want to read the previous books in the series!!! This book is all about seemingly unrelated acts of retribution again an assistant detective, Koa's brother, attorneys, Koa himself and more. The plot is super, the action is realistic and fast moving. This is one slam-bang police procedural that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and guessing until the very end who is the mastermind of this plot. Just well written and with no need to having read the first 4 books in this series in order to jump in and understand the characters and plot. Filled with interesting facts about Hilo and Hawaii, I felt as if I was right next to Koa and if even if you have never been to Hawaii McCaw grabs you it and takes you on a wonderful tour of Hilo as we follow along trying to find all the answers and pieces of the puzzle. Just a fantastic read!!!

Retribution is the fifth book in Robert McCaw’s Koa Kane series, set in Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. It’s a slightly odd mix of police procedural and thriller, and although readers may have to suspend disbelief occasionally as a result, Retribution is still a fun and quick read. And its strong investigative elements help it shine.

As the story opens, Koa Kane, Hilo’s Chief Detective, is stunned to learn that there’s seemingly incontrovertible evidence that his brother, who had struggled with the law in the past, but is now clean (and pardoned by the governor), killed a street kid near a dive bar. Kane knows he shouldn’t get involved, but of course he has to investigate, even if it’s unofficially. While he’s doing that, though, he also gets word that one of his team members, Detective Makanui, has been shot at, saved only by her bullet proof vest. And then a bomb goes off. And then another. As things get more complicated, the questions multiply. Are Hilo’s mayor and his cronies simply the rather petty political animals they appear to be, or is something more going on? And what about the gun used to shoot Makanui, a Russian sniper’s rifle? Is there an international element to this? Might the bombings indicate some sort of a terrorist tie-in? Even more crimes occur, but eventually Kane and his team use legwork and their investigative chops to figure out what’s going on.

I am a big fan of police procedurals, and I loved following along as Kane and his team tracked down suspicious bank deposits, relied on pizza-delivery drivers for alibis, got info off burner phones, learned more than they (or I) ever expected to know about fingerprints, and much more. On the other hand, I had not read any of the previous books in the series, and although McCaw does a pretty good job of filling in some background, I still felt a bit confused on occasion, such as when a past criminal appears as a major plot element late in the story. So I think I’d recommend that readers start with the first book and read the series in order. Also, as mentioned above, I felt as if it was a bit of a stretch for serious international terrorist elements to be popping up in Hilo – not that it couldn’t happen, but it just felt highly improbable. (This is the same feeling I have from time to time in Martin Walker’s Bruno series, when terrorists show up in a tiny town in the French countryside.) But, in the overall scheme of things, the investigative fun far outweighed the improbable stuff, and I definitely enjoyed Retribution enough to put the previous books in the series on my watch list to pick up someday. And finally, I’d like to express my thanks to the publishers, Oceanview Publishing, and to NetGalley for the advance review copy!

This is the third book I've read in this series, and I have to say that I enjoy learning about our 50th U.S. state almost more than the story itself. Almost. But if it were a contest, the story would win.

This one is pretty much an edge-of-seat story that puts the lives of main character, Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane, and those around him in jeopardy. It begins with the discovery of a murdered man; fingerprints on the murder weapon match those of Koa's brother, Ikaika, who has a troubled background but has been doing well for some time now. Of course, Koa smells a rat, but how can fingerprints lie?

Also of course, Koa is off the case because of his conflict of interest, but that doesn't stop him and a couple of colleagues (and his brother) from trying to get to the truth - impeded by the fact that the murder investigation has been turned over to a department colleague who is incompetent at best and is after Koa's job at worst. Then comes a shot across the bow - or rather an open space - that nearly kills Makanui K'au, another of Koa's close colleagues.

The situation at the station goes from bad to worse as Koa's rival colleague's connections to the city mayor come to light; worse are the attempt to kill Nalani, the love of Koa's life, and another murder attempt that succeeds. Can Koa identify and catch the killer before even more of his friends and colleagues die? Only those who read the book will find out. Well done - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now it's your turn!

Hawaii is pictured in our minds to be a beautiful setting, welcoming and friendly to both tourists and locals!
The storyline unfolds to reveal mysterious events, a murder to solve and an unexpected darkness! Mostly fast paced, we follow Koa as he races to clear his brother’s name and investigate a series of deadly attacks!
I enjoyed the thought processes in this book, along with the history and emotions of the main characters. The attacks keep happening but Koa and his team strive to keep ahead of whoever is terrorising the Island’s inhabitants!
The characters all have their own part to play, at times I felt that too much time was given to explanations of history.
Koa is convinced that there’s a connection between all of the deaths and attempts on lives. It’s a race against time to identify the killer and restore peace to a terrified community!

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing , NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book, much appreciated!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Something is amiss at the police department in Hilo. More murders are happening on the big island than have ever been witnessed before. Koa Kane is the Lead Detective and he is determined to find the killer.

His good friend Ikaika has been tagged for the killings but Koa knows that is not possible. Ikaika was on the volcano for a getaway with Maria when the crime occurred. The problem is that Ikaika has a criminal record and is the prime suspect.

International intrigue and espionage are woven into this tale with the culprit’s true identity carefully camouflaged. The person seems to be rising quickly through the ranks despite little actual experience in law enforcement. Money seems to be a prime prerequisite for advancement in the police department! Cliques within law enforcement make solving crimes a personality test.

Robert McCaw has developed a very twisted narrative of deceit within the Hilo Police Department. The novel is entertaining and at times frustrating, but certainly engaging. Enjoy! 4.5 stars – CE Williams

Multi-layered, multi-faceted, well rounded characters and intriguing plot. This is probably one of the best mystery thrillers I've seen in a while and would recommend to other readers who love actively guessing and predicting the end.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for this arc.

Retribution by Robert McCaw is a riveting fast paced thriller full of twists and turns. While it follows the basic script of police procedurals: start with a crime, introduce characters and backgrounds, and ramp up the tension, it stands out from the rest purely for how well written it is and it's wonderfully well-done inclusion of native Hawaiian culture. You may have to suspend disbelief a bit but that isn't anything new for crime novels. Sadly, I had not read the rest of the books in this series before beginning this one, so I may not have had as much emotional connection to the characters as those who have. But after reading this book, I will be picking up the others.

3.5/5

The antagonism between Koa Kāne and Keahi continues. Vengeance and retribution are themes for a police thriller exposing the underbelly of the Hawaiian paradise. Book #5 is an excellent continuation of Koa’s story and I eagerly await book #6. (I just wish the wait wasn’t so long!!!) I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for an advance copy of Retribution, the fifth novel to feature Hilo PD Chief of Detectives Koa Kane, set on Hawai’i’s Big Island.

A young man is stabbed to death in a back alley. Fingerprints on the knife used point to Koa’s brother, Ikaika. The his closest workmate, Makanui, is shot at by a sniper. As he fights to clear his brother’s name more attacks on his nearest and dearest bring him to believe that he is target, the only question is who and why.

I enjoyed Retribution, which is a high octane read with plenty of twists and turns. I thought that it was quite slow to start in terms of development. Yes, there is the murder and the sniper attack, which are hardly slow, but there is little forward momentum, instead the author spends time setting the scene and introducing the characters and their backstories. Once there are more attacks and Koa starts to get purchase in his investigation the read hots up with high octane events and a tension filled finale.

I would warn any reader looking for realism that this probably isn’t the novel for them. It is all highly improbable and you’ll have to take my word for that as any example would be a spoiler, but it’s entertaining and held my attention throughout.

The island, its landscape and culture play a large role in the novel. Hawaiian words and phrases pepper the dialogue, although I don’t see the point as the author has to translate and explain them, losing a bit of momentum as he does so. I found the history and culture more interesting as it’s always good to learn more about places I don’t know and the scenic descriptions paint an interesting landscape of devastation (volcanoes) and adaptation.

Retribution is a good read that I can recommend.

Robert McCaw has created an interesting novel with Retribution. I was amazed at all of the violence in little Hilo, Hawaii. Koa Kane makes a great lead, investigating attacks against people close to him. It's a shock to learn that the supposedly airtight Max prison in Colorado is full of bribe taking staff. Of course, I know the novel is fiction but you don't make up a story out of thin air. Other than some repetition, I enjoyed Retribution.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

political-corruption, political-intrigue, police-corruption, Hawai-i, historical-places-events, historical-research, cultural-differences, cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage, procedural, law-enforcement, terrorism, aboriginal-people, action, suspense, vendetta, unputdownable, conspiracy, crime-thriller, due-diligence*****

The evidence was a little too perfect.
Chief Detective Koa Kane of the Hawaii County police is in a big quandary. He knows that the evidence makes no sense but is bound by oath to arrest the man who appears guilty. His brother. The next murder is also a little too close to him. As is the next. Who is the real target and why? I don't know which is more diabolical, the mastermind or the author. Same difference. This is a truly riveting book in a fascinating series!
I requested and received an EARC from Oceanview Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

Think that the Big Island of Hawaii is a beautiful and idyllic paradise? After reading "Retribution" by Robert McCaw, you might change your mind. There are a number of murders and attempted murders involved on this island in our 50th state..

This is a fast paced story that is very difficult to put down as the reader along with the main character, Hawaiian detective Koa Kane, strives to see where all the threads lead. Questions demanding answer are first off who is behind the rash of violence; especially when they seem, at first, to be totally disconnected? Another question is what is the actual end-game of whomever is the cause of the deaths? These and other provocative questions are pondered by Koa and his colleagues in the law enforcement/justice world. They need to solve this or the violence continues and it seems to be coming form several sources.

To find out where the story leads, it will be necessary to read this delightful book that is sure to hold the attention of the reader. Once you do you might be surprised as to the master mind behind the violence rocking the island. I definitely recommend it to any reader looking for a mystery/thriller/police story.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Retribution. Solid police procedural set in Hawaii with deep interesting characters.
3 stars

Propulsive And Explosive. This is one of those books where every challenge only leads to a more difficult challenge - and the challenges don't start easy for our hardened and capable yet flawed hero. As the stakes rise ever higher, attacking everyone Koa Kane loves, can he save... anyone? Even himself? Well, this is an action book seemingly in the middle of an already successful series. So he's going to save people, that's what heroes do in these types of books. But McCaw grounds these books in a fair amount of realism as well, and therefore... well, some may die. Or may not. You'll have to read the tale to see what happens. :D But that ending, setting up an explosive confrontation with a foe Kane thought conclusively dealt with... yeeah... I'm absolutely looking forward to seeing where McCaw takes this series next. Very much recommended.

Retribution by Robert McCaw is the fifth book in a series about Koa Kane, the chief detective in Hilo, Hawaii. I’ve read them all, and you’re about to read a rave for this author. Retribution is the best and most sophisticated thriller of this series. While he started out with good stories and great characters in the earlier books, it is clear to this reviewer that McCaw just keeps getting better at his craft. While the novels could be stand alone, I’m glad I read them in order for the sake of following the character development of Kane and Nalani who is Kane’s young romantic partner who works as a Park Ranger in Volcanoes National Park.

In Retribution, there are a series of murders and attempted murders which seem to be unconnected. First there’s the murder of a young man. He’s killed with a knife which has the fingerprints of Kane’s younger brother, Ikaika. Then a sniper attempts to killed Makanui, Kane’s closest colleague. The attempt only failed because Makanui was wearing a bullet proof vest. There’s a second attempt on her life which also fails. More crimes continue and the overriding question becomes if and how these crimes are linked to Kane. Meanwhile, there is a great cast of bad guys. There’s corruption in the office of the mayor of Hilo and corruption in the police department itself. On the one hand his superiors seem to want Kane fired from his job, but on the other hand he’s needed because of his remarkable history of solving complicated crimes. Filipino terrorists have come to Hawaii with an intent to murder and torture Kane.
 
One of the other positives about McCaw’s work is his descriptions of native Hawaiian culture and the way they’ve been treated by their conquerors. As the result of reading these books, I have a better understanding of the ancient culture and a much better grasp of the geography of the beautiful islands. Bravo for McCaw, and I hope that he continues to write about these characters.

Remember, pay attention to the publisher. Another winner from Oceanview Publishing.