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Toby Neal
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Black Jasmine (Paradise Crime Mysteries, Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Toby Neal (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 6,472 ratings
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ALSO GRAB FIRST IN SERIES, BLOOD ORCHIDS, GRATIS! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paradise hides darkness behind a beautiful face.

The teen in the car at the base of the cliff is no suicide.

When a nameless young girl is found in a crashed vehicle on the rocks of one of Maui’s black lava cliffs, Detective Lei Texeira can’t rest until she finds out what really happened. She blazes through all the wealth and poverty of Maui island society in her quest for justiceeven as she faces the personal demons of commitment and revenge that threaten the only real love she’s ever known.

That girl should never have crossed me.

I know who I am—a procurer of beautiful things for people who can afford them. Men and women for pleasure, fine art for collectors, and money for the mob. Lei Texeira is nothing but an annoyance. I’ll take everything she loves, burn down her house, and take her life, too...just because I can.

“Toby Neal's stories have a relentless, charged energy that heats up every page.” Holly Robinson, author of Sleeping Tigers
Grab this fast-paced mystery with a twist of romance, and take a trip to Hawaii with the series that’s sold more than a million copies!

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  1. Book 3 of 16
    Paradise Crime Mysteries
  2. Print length
    282 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    October 3, 2012
  6. File size
    2669 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Paradise Crime Mysteries Book 1 - Book 10
Paradise Crime Mysteries Book 1 - Book 16
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kirkus Reviews calls Neal's writing, "persistently riveting. Masterly."
 
Award-winning, USA Today bestselling social worker turned author Toby Neal grew up on the island of Kaua`i in Hawaii. Neal is a mental health therapist, a career that has informed the depth and complexity of the characters in her stories. Neal's police procedurals with multicultural detective Lei Texeira and a host of colorful side characters, explore the crimes and issues of Hawaii and are so popular that they've spawned a licensed fan fiction world on Amazon.

Neal focuses on mystery, but also writes action/adventure, romance and a line of apocalyptic romance thrillers, the Scorch Series, with Emily Kimelman. 

Get two FREE award-winning Toby Neal books: subscribepage.com/TobyNealNews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009LEFUKG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Neal Enterprises, INC (October 3, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 3, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2669 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 282 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 6,472 ratings

About the author

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Toby Neal

Toby Neal

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***Kirkus Reviews calls Neal's writing, "persistently riveting. Masterly."***

Enjoy a brave female sleuth? Neal's Paradise Crime Mysteries, starring multicultural detective Lei Texeira, explore the crimes and issues of Hawaii from the bottom of the ocean to the top of volcanoes.

Spinoff Paradise Crime Thrillers, with Lei's friend Sophie, features a tech sleuth with a mean left hook on an ongoing vigilante justice manhunt.

Readers rave: "We love Toby's fast-paced, character-driven stories set in wonderful places. Nobody can read just one!"

Award-winning, USA Today bestselling social worker turned author Toby Neal grew up on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. Neal is a mental health therapist, a career that has informed the depth and complexity of the characters in her stories.

You can get TWO FREE award-winning, full-length books by signing up for her email newsletter!

http://tobyneal.net/TNNews

Neal also writes romance under Toby Jane.

Toby's memoir, Freckled: a Memoir of Growing Up Wild in Hawaii, has been widely praised. Kirkus calls Freckled, "an affecting and riveting chronicle...in a Hawaii long lost." She writes memoirs under TW Neal.

You can get TWO FREE award-winning, full-length Toby Neal books by signing up for her email newsletter! http://tobyneal.net/TNNews

SERIES ORDER:

Paradise Crime Mysteries (with Lei)

Blood Orchids

Torch Ginger

Black Jasmine

Broken Ferns

Twisted Vine

Shattered Palms

Dark Lava

Fire Beach

Rip Tides

Bone Hook

Red Rain

Bitter Feast

Razor Rocks

Wrong Turn

Shark Cove

Hidden Falls

Paradise Crime Thrillers (with Sophie)

Wired In

Wired Rogue

Wired Hard

Wired Dark

Wired Dawn

Wired Justice

Wired Secret

Wired Fear

Wired Courage

Wired Truth

Wired Ghost

Wired Strong

Wired Revenge

Wired Target

Standalones:

Unsound (Dr. Wilson)

Stolen in Paradise (Special Agent Marcella Scott)

Island Fire (YA)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
6,472 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline suspenseful, intricate, and well-tied together. They describe the book as a good, fun read with well-developed characters. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written, descriptive, and believable. They also mention the pacing is fast and non-stop.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
SuspensefulReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting qualityPacingBeautyFun to readEmotional content
495 customers mention "Suspenseful"446 positive49 negative

Customers find the storyline and suspense in the book to be well-drawn. They appreciate the good twists and turns. Readers also describe the book as an adventure of crime in paradise. They say the story feels very real to them.

"Fantastic murder mystery! Fast paced with a lot of action and twists! Perfect amount of action and suspense. Well written and easy to read!" Read more

"Another Toby Neal Hawaiian Adventure with good characters, action, mystery, romance, and Lei. Great as always." Read more

"It was hard to put down & wait to read next day. Loved the romance mixed in with the action." Read more

"...she would survive--the series does continue--but the accounts were still engaging and harrowing...." Read more

360 customers mention "Readability"340 positive20 negative

Customers find the book interesting, well-told, and fun to read. They say it's entertaining and the reader is absorbed in the story.

"...Great as always." Read more

"This is a good book. It's not great, but it's certainly good and readable...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. Well written, to the point. Not any unnecessary verbiage. This is the second Leilanibook I've read...." Read more

"...Neal writes with such detail and love of words that the reader is absorbed in the story and actually feels the whole gamut of emotions of each..." Read more

245 customers mention "Character development"229 positive16 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed, believable, and realistic. They also enjoy each of the cast members. Readers mention the book is terrifying and timely.

"Another Toby Neal Hawaiian Adventure with good characters, action, mystery, romance, and Lei. Great as always." Read more

"I couldn’t put the book down. Loved the energy. The chemistry between the main characters is great…realistic...." Read more

"...I said in my review of the first book in this series: An interesting main character, an exotic location, a well-told story...." Read more

"...The plot of this book is terrifying and, unfortunately, also timely...." Read more

154 customers mention "Writing quality"148 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book very well-written, readable, and descriptive. They appreciate the intelligent, believable dialogue and well-developed characters. Readers also mention the book is a fast and easy read with lots of twists and turns. They say the book shows depth without requiring too much brain power.

"...Perfect amount of action and suspense. Well written and easy to read!" Read more

"...The author has a pretty good feel for pacing, dialogue, and delivery...." Read more

"This is a good book. It's not great, but it's certainly good and readable...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. Well written, to the point. Not any unnecessary verbiage. This is the second Leilanibook I've read...." Read more

92 customers mention "Pacing"83 positive9 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book good, steady, and non-stop. They say the author has a good feel for pacifying the book. Readers also mention the book has an easy flow and keeps moving.

"Fantastic murder mystery! Fast paced with a lot of action and twists! Perfect amount of action and suspense. Well written and easy to read!" Read more

"...While the author has a good feel for pacing, the ending didn't seem like it was ever going to come and when it did, felt rushed and contrived...." Read more

"...-pacing of the book is great. There is just the right amount of fast and slow action, fun and serious moments, heart-felt and angst situations, and..." Read more

"...The plot of this book is terrifying and, unfortunately, also timely...." Read more

37 customers mention "Beauty"37 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful. They appreciate the fabulous word pictures, elegant descriptions, and attention to detail. Readers also appreciate the local color, authentic look at Maui people, and accurate accents and speech patterns.

"...What I like:-there are some beautifully described scenes. The author has a nice way with words...." Read more

"...I love Toby Neal's characters so much. They are so real...." Read more

"...I so enjoy the gorgeous descriptions of this enchanting State. Ms. Neal makes you truly feel that you are right there...." Read more

"...Punchy plot twists, elegant descriptions and a satisfying, if personally confronting, resolution add to the reader's enjoyment...." Read more

31 customers mention "Fun to read"28 positive3 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, relaxing, and a good travel companion. They say it makes them laugh, cry, and feel the ache. Readers also mention the book is great for a summer relaxing read and makes a great travelling companion.

"...There is just the right amount of fast and slow action, fun and serious moments, heart-felt and angst situations, and appropriate references to the..." Read more

"I have read a couple of these Lei Crime series. They are fun and have a few twists and interesting characters...." Read more

"...It was just so fun! And so real! I live on Maui, so that made it extra enjoyable because I could relate easily to locations and lifestyle...." Read more

"...Fun, intriguing, fast paced, it moves surprises & entertains all in a great setting...." Read more

27 customers mention "Emotional content"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the emotional content of the book fun and serious. They say it includes tender moments into the real lives of detectives. Readers also mention the book is very personal and real. They appreciate the combination of mystery, love, and intrigue. They mention the love interests leave them wanting a resolution. They also mention that happiness, excitement, loss, and triumph are woven throughout.

"...that the reader is absorbed in the story and actually feels the whole gamut of emotions of each character. Great read...." Read more

"...amount of fast and slow action, fun and serious moments, heart-felt and angst situations, and appropriate references to the past..." Read more

"...applicable adjectives: Beautiful, scared, menacing, strong, angry, grieving, unstable and many more. I can't begin to explain them...." Read more

"...novels to include wonderful dangerous events, but also includes very tender moments into real lives of detectives...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

B OPKS
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2024
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Fantastic murder mystery! Fast paced with a lot of action and twists! Perfect amount of action and suspense. Well written and easy to read!
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Jeff M.
4.0 out of 5 stars What a Ride!
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
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Another Toby Neal Hawaiian Adventure with good characters, action, mystery, romance, and Lei. Great as always.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
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It was hard to put down & wait to read next day. Loved the romance mixed in with the action.
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A. Harris
3.0 out of 5 stars it's okay
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
Let me begin by saying that this is the first Lei Texeira book I've read, so I'm writing this review as though the work is a standalone piece - and it's strong enough that it could very well be.

Its an okay police procedural. Jane Doe is found, ties to organized crime, and we're off and running. The author has a pretty good feel for pacing, dialogue, and delivery. We get to live inside of Lei's head, and get occasional peeps into the villain's too.

This book could have been so much better if it wasn't soaked in cliches and staple characters found in every police procedural. Kudos for having a strong female lead- but what female cop isn't? Lei has all the trappings of a tortured soul. She's a good cop but crap at actually dealing with people outside of her job. Just once, I would like to see a female lead who is both strong and a good girlfriend. Or a female police lieutenant who isn't your typical bitch in designer heels. The rest of the supporting cast is cardboard and forgettable. You get to see a lot of the boyfriend, but not much of her partner who is supposed to be working these cases with her. Odd. Most partners spend more time together than they do with their spouses. While the author has a good feel for pacing, the ending didn't seem like it was ever going to come and when it did, felt rushed and contrived. Everything clicked into place easily, neatly, and had that "I'm tired writing this, let's get it over with as quickly as possible" feel to it.

The author did manage to give me a sweet aha! Moment with the killer's identity. Favorite part of the book by far.

To sum up- this book is mainly character development. It's a bridge you cross on your way somewhere, well, Lei's way somewhere. It just wasn't executed very well.
One person found this helpful
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Tom Fowler
4.0 out of 5 stars Good addition to the series
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016
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This is a good book. It's not great, but it's certainly good and readable. I think I read it in two days because the story and the characters keep the reader interested.

There are parts that are predictable. This isn't necessarily bad--this is a good book, remember--but I knew who the "mysterious" alternate narrator was very quickly, and I knew some of the things Lei would do about the situations in her own life. I still enjoyed reading about them because Lei is an interesting character and I've spent three books (and have bought the fourth) learning about her.

In this book, Detective Lei Teixiera investigates a car going off a cliff, initially ruled a suicide. You can probably guess that it won't stay that way for long. Through the course of the investigation, the people behind it all make a few attempts on Lei's life, and those scenes are the best and most suspenseful in the book. I knew she would survive--the series does continue--but the accounts were still engaging and harrowing. Along the way, Lei also has to handle a couple of significant issues in her personal life, and has an invitation to join the FBI to consider.

All in all, this is a good and interesting book.
2 people found this helpful
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Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Black Jasmine
Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
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I couldn’t put the book down. Loved the energy. The chemistry between the main characters is great…realistic. Just wish there wasn’t so much foul language and explicit sex. I guess that’s the way most books are though, I can skip over it. I would like more left to the imagination. I’ll be reading more. It’s a great series.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book. Well written, to the point. Not any unnecessary verbiage. This is the second Leilani
book I've read. Looking forward to the next one.
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David A. Freas
4.0 out of 5 stars This third book in the series continues the quality evident in the first two.
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
Lei’s investigation of the death of a young woman leads her to an organized crime ring dealing in guns, drugs, and the sex slave trade. Thanks to a mole in the police department, the head of the ring is aware of her every move and tries to take her off the case – permanently.

Lei is a very realistic character in Neal’s hands. Over the first two books in the series, she had started putting the horrors of an abusive childhood behind her. Here, she puts it even further behind. It’s good to see a character grow and change, to heal and become stronger and not let the past define her.

Neal has a twist in this story that, while not surprising once it was revealed, was handled so well that it was unexpected when it came. However, there was another twist that, after it was revealed, disappeared never to be seen again. I wish Neal had finished it off.

The last two books in this series are already loaded on my Kindle and it would be so easy to dive right into them. But I’m going to wait and savor the anticipation of what awaits Lei in the future.

I got so caught up in the story after I started it yesterday morning, I finished it before I went to bed last night.

I said in my review of the first book in this series: An interesting main character, an exotic location, a well-told story. What more could a reader desire? That applies to the second and third books as well.

I hope Neal brings Lei back for more adventures.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Garry P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Toby Neal
Reviewed in Canada on July 30, 2023
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I have read most of the books from Toby and enjoyed them all. Very good plot lines and lots of twists
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MayaKesh
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Lei was a cool , strong character, she has been through a lot and the baddies didn't get the best of her, she prevailed and I am glad she decided on a career with the FBI! Well done Toby, I enjoyed the book!
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Anila
2.0 out of 5 stars OK STUFF
Reviewed in India on September 6, 2019
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The book is just okay with nothing at all in the end .It appears the author didn't know how to go about it even though initial chapters are gripping
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manny rothman
5.0 out of 5 stars Black Jasmine
Reviewed in Australia on August 3, 2016
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Was a excellent book with great action and great characters with a surprise finish looking forward to the next book broken ferns
3 people found this helpful
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Charlotte George
4.0 out of 5 stars Should read as part of the series
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
For my first time reading Toby Neal I was impressed with the excitement and how the story pulled me in. I did however feel like I must have been missing chunks of the background about Lei which are probably covered in the first two books of this series. As a stand alone it does work for the major crime but I can't help thinking that the main prep has grievances against Lei already.
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