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marsbarz0903's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’d like to start off by saying I was pleasantly shocked by how great this debut novel was. This novel was engaging and wonderfully written while shedding light on social justice issues happening in Hawaii such as colonization, ecological destruction, endangered sacred sites, etc. I really enjoyed the attention to multiculturalism and intersectionality. Whereas all of these things were addressed in the book, it was not overwhelming. The author stuck to her main storyline surrounding the crime that had taken place, while using these themes as a way to immerse you in the culture of Hawaii, very eloquently I might add.
This was a very fast read for me. Though I thought the story started off a little slow, it really began to pick up a few chapters in and I devoured it in 2 days staying up until 2 am accidentally as I was so immersed in the story.
I really hope that we get to see more of Maya. I really developed a connection to this character. I think this book could be a wonderful stand alone novel, but I would also love to see it turn into a series. I really love the characters, the setting, and the overall atmosphere of this book. I’m even attempting to make butter mochi this weekend!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more work by this author. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a good true crime novel or enjoys cultural reads. As a social worker who loves a good mystery, this book checked all my boxes.
If I haven’t convinced you yet, here’s a quick synopsis of the book: After the newspaper she works for folds and the freelance assignments no longer pay the bills, Maya Wong reluctantly returns to her native Hawaiʻi to ghostwrite controversial land developer Parker Hamilton's biography. But when the Hamilton patriarch is found dead under suspicious circumstances, Maya is unwittingly drawn into the investigation.
Maya’s family and friends aren't happy about her work for Hamilton. And now, with her ex, Detective Koa Yamada, on the case, she’s forced to contend with the very person she was determined to avoid.
All too soon, Maya is dodging assailants and digging for clues while juggling girls’ nights out with her old BFFs and weekly family dinners. Convinced the police are after the wrong man, Maya is determined to stop the killer before it’s too late.
Exploring timely issues in Hawaiʻi, including locals getting priced out of paradise, The Ghost of Waikiki is an engrossing mystery in the vein of The Verifiers.
✨I’d like to thank the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.✨
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