HALLO-WAIIAN MURDER MYSTERY by Rosalie Spielman
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Aloha Lagoon Series
3***
Blurb: It’s Kiki Hepburn’s first Halloween in Aloha Lagoon, and she doesn’t know exactly what to expect. Between working at the busy Aloha Lagoon Dive Shop and living with the eccentric Auntie Akamai, life is always unpredictable. But one thing Kiki definitely didn’t expect to find is the dead body of Auntie Akamai’s life-long friend, Celine Suzuki! And when the island’s Homicide Detective Ray shows up, Kiki knows the death is not an accident—it’s murder. Now Auntie Akamai’s friends are all suspects in the death. Was it Oliana Harris, the Pineapple Princess, and heiress to a pineapple fortune? Margaux La Roux, a transplant from New Orleans? Or Stella Keawe, Akamai’s gossipy goose of a neighbor? They’re all acting suspiciously. And each is hiding something. But is what they’re hiding worth killing over? To complicate matters even more, Kiki’s parents want her to bring her hot diver boyfriend Dex home for the holidays, and Kiki’s not sure how she feels about the whole situation—let alone how Dex feels. Instead of enjoying her first Hawaiian Autumn under the waves, Kiki’s investigation takes her to gardens of flowering poisonous plants, an over-the-top animal shelter, a prickly pineapple plantation, and a zombie theme “Hallo-wedding.” With time running out and “something” stalking her every move, will Kiki live to see her Halloween treats? Or will this year end in a “trick” Kiki won’t come back from?
Thoughts: This was a cute addition to the Aloha Lagoon series but I had a few problems with it. There were repetitions of information – not a lot, but some. And I’m not sure the ending was as satisfying as it could have been. Yes, the killer was caught, but there were a few strings still left dangling for me. And I knew who the killer was from the start, just not the why until most of the way in. The characters were believable and interesting. I especially loved Auntie Akamie’s parrot Paulie and Doyle the cat! And the info on the beautiful—but deadly—plants was intriguing.
Kiki came to Aloha Lagoon from New York City and is still adjusting to life in the islands. She’s learning to drive and endure the rainy season. She helps out with her boyfriend Dex’s (and his father’s) diving tours and when not doing that, helps the cops solve murders.
In this one, old family secrets will soon be in the open, and some family members can’t let that happen. Kiki hunts down the clues and helps find the truth—and the murderer. Oh, and there’s a Zombie-themed wedding to boot!
Recommended for a fun Halloween read.
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