This book was the winner of the 2022 Edgar Awards, and it certainly deserves that honor. Set in Hawaii in 1941, this is a hard knuckle thriller that takes you all across the Pacific on the trail of a brutal murderer. Spanning the entirety of the war in the Pacific during WWII, it is a story of survival, betrayal and of love lost and found. Filled with wonderful descriptions of exotic locations in the Pacific like Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Guam, this is more than just a detective story, it is also an ode to a reality that no long exists.

Joe McGrady, a police detective in Honolulu, Hawaii, is called in, after work hours in November of 1941, to the scene of a horrific murder on the outskirts of the city. Although initially they identified a male body that had been mutilated, they later found another female body under a pile of clothes as they were going over the scene of the crime. The man was later identified as the nephew of a high ranking military commander, the woman, however, could not be as easily identified. Tasked with finding the killer, McGrady begins by trying to  identify the woman, which also leads him to the killer who he now believes is in Hong Kong. In early December, McGrady is authorized to follow the killer across the Pacific. But the winds of war soon overtake McGrady as the Japanese military begins its assault, first in Hawaii and in Hong Kong and now he must figure out how to survive, while keeping his hopes of bringing the killer to justice alive.

Kestrel has the ability of bringing this era and time alive. His descriptions of Tokyo in 1941 and 1945 are so vivid and Honolulu glows with such warmth you can almost feel the moist windward air. McGrady drives the story, but he shares the lime light with other characters who are just as vivid and interesting. This was a fascinating read with a perspective that was unique and thought provoking.   

Brenda’s Rating: ***** (5 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Keith and Ken.

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in e-library format.