by Cynthia Chow

Details on how to win a copy of Kauai at the end of this review. You can find an article written by Terry in this issue about early female mystery writers.

For Honolulu reporter Wilson McKenna, nothing could be more embarrassing – professionally or personally – than to find himself the victim of identity theft and on the hook to the bank, vendors, and their attorneys. A former bill collector and skip tracer, the sixty-three year-old McKenna soon tracks the culprit to the island of Kauai, where she is expected to pick up a television purchased in his name.

Knowing that the police have him as a low priority, McKenna decides to confront and trap the criminal himself, flying to the neighbor island only to nearly land in custody himself. When McKenna learns that the woman wielding his identity has been murdered, the police label it a drug-related death, and her attractive roommate enlists him in a probably unwise investigation to solve the murder and undoubtedly get himself into even more trouble.

McKenna is a capable investigator who all too often lands himself in danger as a result of his Achilles’ heel, namely a weakness for a vulnerable damsel in distress with a pretty face. He is never more entertaining than when his senior status is unexpectedly thrown in his face, and the humor continues throughout this very fun and engaging novel. The author also makes the most of the exotic setting, accurately detailing the surfer lifestyle, endless traffic, and laid-back pace of the Garden Isle. On the tiny island nearly everyone is a cousin of someone else, making politics and law enforcement tricky, one of the reasons McKenna is surprised to find the local detectives cooperative. The exotic setting is nearly overshadowed by the eccentric characters, but the cautionary tale of identity theft is a reminder that even in paradise criminals lay in wait for their prey.

To enter to win a copy of Kauai Temptations, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Temptations,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 8, 2014. U.S. residents only.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & short stories in our mystery section.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).