The Lava Witch (A Dark Paradise Mystery, #3)

by Debra Bokur

As Maui detective Kali Māhoe investigates a bizarre ritual murder near Hawaii’s Haleakala Volcano, the hard facts collide with local legends of spirit possession and sorcery in celebrated travel writer Debra Bokur’s third Dark Paradise Mystery…

In a remote, mountainous area of a Maui forest near Haleakala volcano, the naked body of a young woman is found hanging from a tree. The devil is in the details: the woman’s nostrils, mouth, and lungs are packed with lava sand. Her hands are bound in twine. Her feet are charred and blackened, suggesting a fire-walking ceremony. Detective Kali Māhoe’s suspicions are immediately aroused. It has all the signs of a ritual torture and murder.

But Kali’s investigation soon leads her down a winding trail of seemingly unconnected clues and diverging paths—from the hanging tree itself, a rare rainbow eucalyptus, to rumors of a witch haunting the high areas of the forest, to the legend of the ancient Hawaiian sorceress Pahulu, goddess of nightmares. Casting a shadow over it all—the possibility of a Sitting God, a spirit said to invade and possess the soul.
 
Aided by her uncle Police Captain Walter Alaka’i, Officer David Hara, and the victim’s brother, Kali embarks down the darkest road of all. One that is leading to the truth of the mountain’s deadly core and a dark side of the island for which even Kali is unprepared.

• ISBN10: 1496737857
• ISBN13: 9781496737854
• Publish Date: 31 May 2022
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 9 October 2023
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Kensington Publishing
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/isbn/9781496737854

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Lava Witch is the third modern procedural mystery in the Dark Paradise series by Debra Bokur. Released 31st May 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the e-book format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of e-books with interactive formats lately.

I've enjoyed seeing this series develop. There's a strong female main protagonist who is intelligent, active, and direct. She's driven and not defined by her romantic interests. She's an interesting dichotomy, both a logical, science based investigator, as well as the granddaughter (and heir) of a well respected Native Hawai'ian spiritual leader and historian. She has a good rapport with her colleagues and uses their strengths to investigate and solve crimes.

The opening murder in this installment is quite bizarre and ritualistic. It's a modern procedural and as such, there is some moderately graphic content; mostly in the descriptions of the crime and crime scene. Language is mildly PG, a few "damns" and nothing worse.

It's well written throughout and the descriptions of places and settings are very well done and easy to imagine. Although it's the third book in the series, it works very well as a standalone. The author is adept at providing necessary backstory information without dumping too much info on the reader at once. The mystery is self contained and the plotting is satisfying and complex. The major storyline is moderately foreshadowed, but there were some surprises at the denouement.

Four stars. Capably written with a strong and sympathetic protagonist, and set in gorgeous surroundings which feature significantly in the action. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition, for fans of the genre, and for mystery bookclubs (or for a buddy read).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.