Torch Ginger (Lei Crime Series) [Kindle Edition]

Toby Neal (Author)

Book Description

"If J.D. Robb's In Death series went on location with Kaui Hart Hemmings' The Descendants, you'd have Toby Neal's Torch Ginger."

The island of Kaua`i is remote jungle, golden beaches and ancient culture—but transients are disappearing in paradise, and only Detective Lei Texeira notices.

Lei transfers to the island of Kaua`i, where she uncovers a pattern of disappearances that may be related to a bizarre cult—or is it just one madman at work? In Lei's world, everyone is guilty until proven innocent.

In the midst of the biggest case sleepy Kaua`i has ever seen, Lei must also untangle the mysteries of her heart and discover who she loves.

Product Details

• File Size: 443 KB
• Print Length: 315 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0983952450
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008KUCI3O
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,114 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #12 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Drama > United States
  • #14 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > United States
  • #94 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Toby Neal Does It Again! July 13, 2012

By Rebecca L. Morrison

Format:Kindle Edition

As with Blood Orchids, Torch Ginger strikes the right balance between a setting the folks who live in Hawaii will recognize as their own and a compelling story a broader audience will understand and enjoy. Torch Ginger is not as dark as the earlier book, but there is something especially nerve-racking about being on a case with a cop who may become incapacitated by a panic attack at any time! This new story sees Lei Texiera adjusting to new cultures on the island of Kauai and in a new department while trying to manage an increasingly challenging personal life and one natural disaster. A couple of intriguing new characters are introduced in the latest novel, and we're looking forward to getting to know those better in future books of the series.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Second Installment does NOT Dissappoint! July 13, 2012

By Ihigirl

Format:Kindle Edition

Ms. Neal does it again with this nail-biting mystery. Don't let the stunning beauty of Kaua'i fool you. On this small island people are disappearing. Everyone knows something and no one's talking. Once again, Lei is taken on a roller coaster ride of a case as she's thrown into a diverse and divided yet suspiciously interconnected community. She stumbles upon lead after lead and struggles to pin down an elusive serial killer in her typical full-throttle, act-first-think-later style. Add to the complexity a sizzling love triangle between two men who bring out two different sides of her personality, and an estranged father trying to put what's left of his family back together again, and you've got a volatile, exciting mix that's sure to keep you guessing. The characters are interesting and distinct, the Hawaiian culture prominent, and the imagery spectacular. If you loved Blood Orchid you won't regret Torch Ginger. Don't hesitate to snatch up this page-turner!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Suspenseful Masterpiece! July 13, 2012

By Bonny Ponting

Format:Kindle Edition

Toby Neal hits it out of the park with this latest Lei Texeira Crime Thriller!
Against the mystical backdrop of Kauai Lei finds a cancer growing in the heart of the Garden Island. Readers will also enjoy seeing a sexier side of Lei as she recovers from her failed engagement with a bit of new romance. I found this novel to be riveting and could not put it down! I'm hungry for more of the series!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exotic Adventure August 20, 2012

By Doug Bittinger

Format:Kindle Edition

Torch Ginger is the second book in the Lei Crime Novels series written by Toby Neal, the first being Blood Orchids.

In this book, main character Leilani Texeira is a police detective who must lead her team in solving serial murders that involve the disappearance of a certain class of tourists and are probably cult related. These murders occur on the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i, which is, as Ms. Neal's story describes it: "...the last of the Wild West, a jungle paradise of secretive people and strange spiritual forces."

The first obstacle Detective Texiera encounters is the fact that murders have been occurring for some time and the police have not noticed. The second comes in the form of the ambitions of others on the police force with whom she serves. And there is the issue of a past love, someone she is desperately trying to leave behind, being assigned to her team. Add in the fact that Lei falls in love with one of the suspects, and throw in a spiritualist who is consulting on the cultic aspect of the case, but seems more interested in Leilani's personal life. And there is Leilani's past; something she doesn't like to talk about but threatens to interfere with her ability to do her job, and you have the threads that weave the tapestry that is Torch Ginger.

Along the way we are treated to majestic visions of this island paradise. Being a resident of Hawaii, Ms. Neal certainly has a grasp of her material and describes it well. The locations and the people come alive through her words, and the strangeness of it all adds a richness to her well-crafted story.

As we progress, several potential villains surface and add intrigue. Pick the one you most suspect, then read to the end to see if you're right. I can almost guarantee you won't be!

Ms.... Neal is able to tell an exciting story yet keep that story one any audience can enjoy. Her characters don't have to be "tough" by spewing filthy language and the murder scenes aren't made exciting by spattering everything in blood. Toby crafts suspense through conflict and foreshadowing. Her plot is crisp and vital. Sub-plots add to the richness of the story, allowing the reader access to back-story without tedious blocks of exposition.

This is a well written story with engaging characters in a mystical setting. The romance component is handled with emotion and sweetness rather than graphic lust. The editing is top-notch, producing a book that is as professionally done as anything coming out of a Big-6 publishing house. I can recommend this book to mystery fans of all ages and sensibilities. Read more ›

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Torch Ginger September 21, 2012

By oldcorps1

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Toby Neal writes a decent police drama but she has a bit too much romance for my taste.Her discriptions of Hawaii make me want to fly there now.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book to Savor Even as You Devour It July 14, 2012

By Holly C.

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are books we love to devour and others that we love to savor. Then there is that third, rarer category: a book that makes us notice the characters, imagery, and well-crafted sentences on each page even as we're propelled by the plot to gulp it down. Torch Ginger, the second in Toby Neal's series of mysteries set in Hawaii, falls into that category. Neal's plots have a relentless, charged energy that heats up every page, and she is true to her genre in leaving us gasping for breath as the narrative tension builds from the first page and doesn't let up until the last. But I found myself reading ahead to figure out what would happen next, and then going back to savor certain sections because Neal's take on Hawaiian culture is so in-depth and unique--she is a social worker by profession, and has spent many years navigating the incredibly complex and diverse cultures on the islands--and because her main character, Lei, is developing real depth. Lei is no stereotype of a literary police detective; rather, she is a 3D flesh-and-blood woman with scars that need healing, family secrets, sex appeal, and the kind of brazen courage that makes you admire her even for her mistakes. The only problem with reading Torch Ginger is that it will make you want the next book in the series right now!

More About the Author

Toby Neal was raised on Kauai in Hawaii. She wrote and illustrated her first story at age 5 and has been published in magazines and won several writing contests. After initially majoring in Journalism, she eventually settled on mental health as a career and loves her work, saying, "I'm endlessly fascinated with people's stories."

She enjoys many outdoor sports including bodyboarding, scuba diving, beach walking, gardening and hiking. She lives in Hawaii with her family and dogs.

Toby credits her counseling background in adding depth to her characters-from the villains to Lei Texeira, the courageous and vulnerable heroine in the Lei Crime Series.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#41 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#53 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#41 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#53 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals