Customer Reviews

Wipeout!

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

 

 

After reading reviews of Chip Hughes' two novels--Murder on Molokai and Wipeout--I sent for both of them and have just completed reading them both. I love reading mysteries set in Hawaii and these books fit that description to a "T". They're fast-paced, great island descriptions, keep you guessing and eager for more! I understand his next novel will be out in the fall and I can't wait for it to be released. I highly recommend both--Murder on Molokai is his first novel and gets you acquainted with the surfing detective. Wipeout continues the adventures of Kai Cooke (the surfing detective).

As a frequent traveler to the Hawaiian Islands, I enjoy reading well-written novels set in Hawaii. The trouble is that it is hard to find a really good one. Last year, I found one. It was "Murder On Moloka'i" by Chip Hughes. I couldn't wait for another book.

I got my wish this year with the release of his newest book, "Wipeout."

It was every bit as good (if not better) than his first novel. It tells another story of the everyday Hawaiian PI, Kai Cooke. Fans of Dashiell Hammitt and Magnum, P.I. alike will enjoy this character. I won't spoil the story for you, but I will tell you that if you want to read a wonderfully fun and entertaining novel, then Wipeout is for you! I strongly urge you to buy this book!!

Surfing Detective Kai Cooke is back at it, solving a new mystery in between surf sessions and quickies with hot clients. Similar to the first book in the series, Murder on Moloka'i, author Chip Hughes immerses the reader in both the idyllic and darker parts of modern Hawaii. In Wipeout! Kai Cooke is hired to look into the mysterious death of a young California surfer (named Corky) who went missing after a heavy wipeout at Waimea Bay. What starts off as a fairly routine case quickly turns into something much darker with the usual Hawaiian heavies forcing their way into the narrative. Before he knows it, Cooke has stumbled into something more dangerous than the surf break that swallowed up Corky the haole. Like Hughes' first book, Wipeout! is a light, easy to read detective book that will keep you smirking while you turn its pages. Another bit of fun fiction for the summer from Chip Hughes. If, like me, you enjoy pulpy detective books and the beach, then you'll enjoy Hughes` Surfing Detective series. I reviewed this book at the surf book review site The Waterman's Library (which links to Amazon), and purchased the book via Amazon.

As a frequent traveler to Hawaii and a big mystery fan I like to combine the two and read books with Hawaiian settings. So often it quickly becomes clear that the author's use of a Hawaiian setting is a gimmick and/or based on travel brochure myth of what The Islands are like. Not so at all with Chip Hughes' books in the Surfing Detective series, Murder on Molokai and Wipeout. I was recently in Hawaii and was scanning bookshop for local authors and found the first two books in this series. Two days later after reading them both straight through, I was surprised and delighted to find both books rich in Hawaiian flavor and well written with interesting stories and characters. I highly recommend both books for fans of Hawaii, mystery detective PI fiction or just good books to read!

I read this book on the plane back from Hawaii, and I can see that Chip Hughes really knows his islands, as well as his surfing. I'm not sure he really explained the central mystery of the book, but it was a quick fun read that shows Hawaii in all its colors.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu: A Hawai'ian Mystery (A Kimo Kanapa Mystery)