Deadly Labors — Neil Plakcy

Can Hawaiian native Ikaika Kahale turn his life around after studying the hula in a cultural program at San Quentin and then returning to the Aloha State? Or is the new murder he's accused of proof that an orchid can't change its colors?While Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka is on a temporary departmental leave, his mother asks him to investigate the case of her friend's son Ikaika, who Kimo went to Hawaiian school with as a child.Working undercover, Kimo traces the roots of what seems like an unfortunate death in a fight at the bar where Ikaika worked as a bouncer. What was HPD officer Brian Yang doing at the Surf City Crazy Bar? Who was the mysterious man he brawled with before Ikaika intervened and delivered a deadly punch?Kimo's investigation takes him into the hills of the Windward Coast of O'ahu, where the gorgeous blossoms of a nursery may be hiding a deadly secret. Along the way, he'll require the assistance of his partner, his friends and his loved ones in a demonstration of what the word ohana, Hawaiian for family, really means.What the critics have said about the Mahu Investigations:Plakcy keeps the waves of suspense crashing!               In LA MagazineHits all the right notes as a mystery.                              Mystery Book NewsKimo brings needed diversity to the genre, and the author handles the island setting well.                                                           Honolulu Star-BulletinSpotless pace, intriguing plots twists, and an earnest depiction of challenges faced by people transitioning out of the closet.              Honolulu AdvertiserRecommended to a wide audience.                                  Reviewing the Evidence