Customer Reviews

Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Mahu Surfer" is a page turning continuation in the story of Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka. I've got to admit that since reading the first book (Mahu) in this series, I've been waiting for this one to be released. Sometimes, you can wait to the point where you put unrealistic expectations on an upcoming release, but I have to say that this book even surpasses the first one. The main character, Kimo, is put in a new location on the famous North Shore of Oahu, a fantastic setting for a complex mystery. At the same time, this new location also results in his separation from close contact with friends and family; creating a difficult emotional angle for the just-out-of-the-closet cop.

If you haven't read "Mahu", the first book in this series then start there, otherwise order "Mahu Surfer" now and you won't be dissappointed. For an extra treat at bargain prices, check out the three shortstories featuring Kimo Kanapa'aka that are avaialble on Amazon. ("I Know What You Did", "Kelly Green", and "The Price of Salt")

I just finished reading this exciting mystery. I had read the first one MAHU earlier and liked it a lot. Kimo is such an interesting main character as are his family. It's a page turner and Ihope that there will be more in this series. I've been to Hawaii three times, so it was easy to get into the story. Neil, give us more.

I mainly bought this book to find out how Kimo, the gay policeman, was getting along after reading Mr. Plakcy's earlier book that introduced this character. The mystery was compelling, though the frequent rehashing of facts that Kimo learns as he investigates is a little bothersome. It's like the author didn't trust that the reader could retain any information and needed to be reminded of what was happening, which is ironic as he leaves out a very important piece of information at the end (regarding an unknown shooter and a certain character we learn nothing more about). To me this was a big flaw, I even went back and checked to see if I missed a page. Did anyone else notice this? The entire ending (all 2 pages of it) felt very rushed, and nearly ruined what had been a fairly good story. 3 stars for most of the book but 1 for the hurried and incomplete ending.

Mahu Surfer is a terrific follow up to Mahu and a solid mystery on its own. Neil Plakcy really gets the island talk, island sensibility and island locations. Having been to Oaha over a dozen times, and holding off on reading this until I was back in Honolulu, I felt as if I was living in the Hawaii of the book. Kimo is turning into a very likeable character with enough flaws and room for development to make him interesting. This time he is still reeling from his very public coming out and sent undercover to the North Shore - a much different Hawaii from Waikiki. He gets his man (and then some).

Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

Mahu Surfer is the kind of mystery novel I most enjoy. The plot is coherent and credible and the characters are clearly defined. The main character, Kimo Kanapa'aka, is intelligent and sympathetic. We are given much insight into his motivations and internal conflicts brought about by his role as an undercover cop and by his frequent sexual relationships with the people he encounters in his investigation.

Long a student of Hawai'i and Hawaiian culture, I found the description of Island life accurate. Reading the book is almost like a trip to the Islands. The geography is, as far as I can tell, real.

Mahu Surfer is definitely an adult gay novel. It contains vivid sexual passages and language. Nonetheless, I would heartily recommend it to any reader who would be interested in this genre.

With the 2005 publication of Mahu, Neil S. Plakcy was catapulted into the front ranks of gay fiction writers. With this book, the 2nd to feature gay Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka, Plakcy evidences a talent too big to be limited by that genre label.

Someone is killing the surfers on Oahu's North Shore, and Kimo goes deeply undercover to find out who, and why. What follows is a first rate mystery novel that should satisfy readers regardless of sexual orientation. Along the way, the author delivers complex and well-developed characters, smoothly shaped prose, and a sense of place to rival the best writing--not only is the reader transported to the islands, but to the very crests of the waves as the surfers ride them to shore.

At the same time, Plakcy's detective surfs some emotional waves as well. Though he continues to struggle with his sexual identity, the real issues with which Kimo wrestles are Everyman's issues, questions of honesty and loyalty, responsibility and commitment.

Like the waves rolling endlessly ashore, the story surges with beauty, mystery and excitement--and, always, the dangerous reefs threaten the thoughtless or the foolhardy.

Highly satisfying.

Victor J. Banis

In spite of a fairly unbelievable mystery at the heart of "Mahu Surfer," Kimo Kanapa'aka is back with his interesting, likeable friends and family in a worthy successor to "Mahu."

Kimo's search for killers and his search for love make for compelling reading but I wish the author wouldn't keep repeating the same information over and over. The rushed ending has some plot errors, but hey, I still think Kimo's cool...even if his mysteries aren't terribly...well, mysterious! For me the sequences with his family far outshine the kill plot and make this series so enjoyable.

I like mysteries and crime novels, and that's why I bought this. I loved reading it. It was engaging and I just loved the main character, Kimo. (What a great name) He is so easygoing and intense at the same time. He's a character you can feel close to and care about what happens to him. I recommend this book to any reader of crime or mystery books.

I finished Mahu Surfer a few days ago and thought it was great. I love how

Kimo thinks about his family and interacts with them. I love how nice his

father is and how bad his brother is, but he loves him anyway. I love the

way Kimo always has to tell you what he's eating. His meals really frame his days. I expect Kimo to be in the movies one day.

In the second installment of the Mahu series, Honolulu Police Detective Kimo Kanapa'aka is sent to the North Shore to uncover the mystery of three surfers who have been shot. It's not so much that he's a great detective - it's because he's gay and his coming out made him big news in Honolulu (thanks to his brother's television station) and now most of the police force doesn't want to work with him. Besides, he can surf and so he'll fit in with the people there.

Once on the North shore, Kimo befriends a group of gay men who were friends of one of the victims. Kimo also finds the one man he never wants to see again - the one who turned him away from a pro surfing career and into the police department. Through it all, Kimo surfs, has sex, and attempts to solve the mystery of three murdered surfers.

Yes, it's another great book from Neil S. Plakcy! But if you haven't started with Mahu, go back to the beginning. You'll be glad you did!