The Fire Thief
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4.2 • 40 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
The scenery may be beautiful, but dangerous secrets are buried beneath paradise in this first thriller featuring Maui detective Kali Māhoe.
Under a promising morning sky, police captain Walter Alaka’i discovers the body of a teenage surfer bobbing among the lava rocks of Maui’s southeastern shore. Closer inspection reveals something far more sinister than the results of a savage wave gone wrong. Now that Alaka’i is looking at a homicide, he solicits the help of his niece, Detective Kali Māhoe.
Kali sees evidence of a strange ritual murder, a suspicion reinforced by a rash of sightings of a noppera-bō—a faceless and malicious spirit many believe to be more than superstition. When a grisly sacrifice is left on the doorstep of a local, and another body washes ashore, Kali fears that the deadly secret ceremonies on Maui are just beginning. As the skies above Maui grow darker, and as she balances reason and superstition, Kali can only wonder: Who’ll be the next to die? And who—or what—is she even on the trail of?
“Bokur’s welcome debut nimbly contrasts the Hawaii of sun and golden beaches with its less well-known underbelly of poverty, discrimination, and crime. Fans of strong female cops will look forward to Kali’s further adventures.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Fire Thief has all the elements of a great mystery—crackling tension, brisk pacing, a vibrant setting, and a flicker of paranormal . . . or is it?”
—Wendy Corsi Staub
“An exciting blend of Hawaiian folklore and mystery. From page one to a stirring finish, Debra Bokur delivers a real page turner here.”
—Tracy Clark
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Even paradise has a dark side as shown in Bokur's welcome debut and series launch introducing Det. Kali M hoe, of the Maui PD, who's also a cultural anthropologist. Still distraught over the death of her fianc and fellow police officer in the line of duty, Kali must consider the possibility that the suspicious death of 17-year-old Kekipi Smith, an avid surfer, is part of an ancient brutal ritual after the police determine he was killed with a wooden club edged with shark teeth like those once used by Hawaiian warriors. When a second body is found, Kali uses her knowledge of the local cultural and spiritual traditions learned from her late grandmother, a renowned spiritual leader to help discover the reason for the murders, even when it forces her to question the motives of friends and family. As myth and mayhem mix, Kali follows the trail of killers driven by an age-old evil: greed. Bokur nimbly contrasts the Hawaii of sun and golden beaches with its less well-known underbelly of poverty, discrimination, and crime. Fans of strong female cops will look forward to Kali's further adventures.
Customer Reviews
A smart Hawaiian tale of intrigue and danger.
I love crime dramas that take place in a specific location, like Hawaii. I also enjoy strong female detectives like Kali, a native Hawaiian with spiritual talents as well This book is well written, easy to follow and the relationship dynamics are realistic. Kali is a widow with a dysfunctional step daughter and loving friends and colleagues. I recommend this new author.