This was a really well told mystery. I bought the first 3 volumes as a single ebook, so the only surprise was the amount of graphic gay sex in it. This wasn’t a problem, but like many books graphic sex scenes are not needed for it to a good book, and this was a really good book. I only mention the sex because if your not expecting it, it could be a surprise. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is that it was a little overly long. I look forward to reading other books in the series as the main character Kimo is very likable! ( )

All the Mahu books are worth reading. Kimo Kapana is a kind, gentle gay man that you root for in every book. ( )

4.5 stars
Ono (means yummy or good). Pogs! Boogie boards! Oahu! I wanna go back. There's nothing like getting to the end of a book and wanting to continue. Unfortunately, I only just ordered the rest of the series this morning, so it'll be at least a week .... >sigh
At first, I thought the writing a little choppy and slow, but it soon picked up and smoothed out, sweeping along like a perfect wave under a surf board, making the story fly in a almost perfect ride. (For the record, the closest I ever got to surfing was a boogie board, which holds its own magic.)

I like Kimo, the protagonist, who, at the start of the story is in denial of his orientation, dating women one after another, trying to find the one who would make him happy until the night he walks into a gay bar, witnesses a murder, and finds his old life unraveling along with the lies and the denials. Along the way we meet his parents, who, though confused, prove to be the most supportive people he could have, his brothers, Haoa and Lui, who are not happy at their youngest brother's unexpected revelations, and his best friend, Harry. The brothers soon come around (thanks in part to their wives) and help at a critical juncture in the story.

At its heart, this book is about a guy who is just beginning to discover himself. He's a homicide detective and proud of the fact, but dismayed by the possible loss of his job due to prejudice (note this book was originally published in 2005; hopefully, things have improved since then in reality). He's ostracized by his boss and his colleagues and finds himself in hot water for some missteps at the beginning of the case he and his partner, Akoni, are investigating. To make things more confusing, Kimo finds he's attracted to one of the suspects in the case.

There's a nice mix of personal angst, family unity of all sorts, unexpected support from unexpected places, walking around Waikiki, surfing lore, lovely Hawai'ian words, and the music of the islands. This is a definite reread. ( )

I had to double-check the publication date several times; it was impossible to believe that [b:Mahu|779640|Mahu (Mahu #1)|Neil S. Plakcy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389237645l/779640._SX50_.jpg|3338838] was actually published in the 2000s. The attitudes, homophobia, fashion, and technology were taken out of the early 1990s at the latest. It was actually just a couple of flip-phones and desktop computers from the 1980s. But if you don’t mind reading it as an historical, this is an excellent debut police procedural.

Stars: 4.5
( )

I liked the story and the writing a lot. The crime part was a little weak, but there were a lot of interesting character. Theres is not a big romance part in it, but maybe later in the series there will be more about Kimo's love life. This one tells the story of his coming out while working a case as detective. It is very well written and it is easy to sympathize with Kimo. ( )