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The Last Luau
** THE LAST LUAU has earned a 9/10 from the judges at the BookLife Prize, including a 10/10 for Originality. It was one of just seven mysteries honored by WRITER'S DIGEST in a 2024 eBook Competition.**
IN THE SHADOWY HOURS BEFORE THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK, a beloved Japanese-American teacher is murdered in Honolulu.
As Oahu struggles to recover, private eye Mac Ross must solve a homicide the authorities don't seem to care about, before the killer comes for him and the beautiful Hawaiian woman he loves.
The closer Ross gets to finding answers, the greater the danger, until he is lured into a nighttime firefight with a gang of hired gunmen and comes face-to-face with the ultimate betrayal.
THE LAST LUAU is a soft-boiled detective story of the old-school, wrapped inside a World War II thriller.
Let this WRITER'S DIGEST award-winning novel transport you back to Honolulu, 1941, a world of mystery and danger, where love is a matter of life and death.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5-STAR READER
"I have been reading hard-boiled detective stories for over 30 years. I really enjoyed this story and the historical time it took place in. I believe this is the start of a really good series."
Set in the hours before and days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, McCullough does a nice job of bringing the reader into the atmosphere of Hawaii and its melting pot culture during the 1940’s. This is a fun, easy read with a nice twist.”
"A whodunit reminiscent of novels by Chandler, Spillane, and Stout, except a bit more lyrical, as if the Hawaiian trade winds have softened the author's description."
"Time period novel at its As a 50-year resident of Hawai'i, I enjoyed this WW2 novel immensely. The author seems to know the ins and outs of 1940s Honolulu, and the story benefits from this knowledge and makes it a great read."
BookLife Judges (affiliated with PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY)
"The Last Luau blends elements of the detective genre with threads of historical fiction. The result is a wholly original and enjoyable mystery.
" In addition to capturing an appropriately vintage, noir-like aesthetic, McCullough's writing also features some stunning descriptions."
READER'S DIGEST called it "An enticing story from start to finish. I was reminded of novels like DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS at certain times while reading it."
IN THE SHADOWY HOURS BEFORE THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK, a beloved Japanese-American teacher is murdered in Honolulu.
As Oahu struggles to recover, private eye Mac Ross must solve a homicide the authorities don't seem to care about, before the killer comes for him and the beautiful Hawaiian woman he loves.
The closer Ross gets to finding answers, the greater the danger, until he is lured into a nighttime firefight with a gang of hired gunmen and comes face-to-face with the ultimate betrayal.
THE LAST LUAU is a soft-boiled detective story of the old-school, wrapped inside a World War II thriller.
Let this WRITER'S DIGEST award-winning novel transport you back to Honolulu, 1941, a world of mystery and danger, where love is a matter of life and death.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5-STAR READER
"I have been reading hard-boiled detective stories for over 30 years. I really enjoyed this story and the historical time it took place in. I believe this is the start of a really good series."
Set in the hours before and days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, McCullough does a nice job of bringing the reader into the atmosphere of Hawaii and its melting pot culture during the 1940’s. This is a fun, easy read with a nice twist.”
"A whodunit reminiscent of novels by Chandler, Spillane, and Stout, except a bit more lyrical, as if the Hawaiian trade winds have softened the author's description."
"Time period novel at its As a 50-year resident of Hawai'i, I enjoyed this WW2 novel immensely. The author seems to know the ins and outs of 1940s Honolulu, and the story benefits from this knowledge and makes it a great read."
BookLife Judges (affiliated with PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY)
"The Last Luau blends elements of the detective genre with threads of historical fiction. The result is a wholly original and enjoyable mystery.
" In addition to capturing an appropriately vintage, noir-like aesthetic, McCullough's writing also features some stunning descriptions."
READER'S DIGEST called it "An enticing story from start to finish. I was reminded of novels like DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS at certain times while reading it."
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2024
61 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 8, 2025
An interesting mystery with a new detective by a new author, Guy McCullough. It’s a quick read. The story is set in Honolulu on the eve of Pearl Harbor. There are references to that day, but that is not what the story is about. Mac Ross is trying to solve two murders and build a relationship with a beautiful woman. There are some entertaining side characters helping him. I hope, if he continues the series, to see more of them. The story drags a little at times , but I enjoyed his romantic dinner with Nalani, and appreciated the twist at the end. My late brother in law, Glen Grant wrote stories set in Honolulu and this book reminded me of him.
November 26, 2024
An intriguing read set in Hawaii in December 1941. Mac is a PI investigating two deaths - that of his partner and that of a young man. Set in the midst of the attack on Pearl Harbor, there are a lot of moving parts that keep the plot going. As he investigates more, the cases look to be related and come to a surprising ending. Really enjoyed it!
February 22, 2025
time period novel at its best
As a 50 year resident of Hawai’i I enjoyed this WW 2 period novel immensely. The author seems to know the ins and outs of 1940s Honolulu and the story benefits from this knowledge and makes it a great read.
As a 50 year resident of Hawai’i I enjoyed this WW 2 period novel immensely. The author seems to know the ins and outs of 1940s Honolulu and the story benefits from this knowledge and makes it a great read.
February 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I remember my mother telling me about living in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
February 16, 2026
Paradise becomes hell as war comes to the islands…a rough time to try and solve a murder…
The Last Luau: A Mac Ross Mystery by Guy McCullough is a historical mystery novel set around the time of Pearl Harbor…a complicated period…
I liked Mac Ross…a PI who likes smoking, drinking, and music (whether live bands or records…everything from big band to jazz to Cuban music to anything else).
In December 1941, Mac Ross has it tough. His partner got killed by a shotgun murderer a month earlier and he’s been asked to look into the mysterious death of a Japanese man (with information being his payment…namely solving his partner’s death).
Shitty time for Japan to bomb Hawaii…
As he hands martial law and government crackdowns, shady cops, and myriad other hassles…Mac Ross dives into the Nisei community of Hawaiian hoping to kill two murder investigations with a single stone…
Naturally it won’t be that easy..but it will be interesting.
I liked this…
The Last Luau: A Mac Ross Mystery by Guy McCullough is a historical mystery novel set around the time of Pearl Harbor…a complicated period…
I liked Mac Ross…a PI who likes smoking, drinking, and music (whether live bands or records…everything from big band to jazz to Cuban music to anything else).
In December 1941, Mac Ross has it tough. His partner got killed by a shotgun murderer a month earlier and he’s been asked to look into the mysterious death of a Japanese man (with information being his payment…namely solving his partner’s death).
Shitty time for Japan to bomb Hawaii…
As he hands martial law and government crackdowns, shady cops, and myriad other hassles…Mac Ross dives into the Nisei community of Hawaiian hoping to kill two murder investigations with a single stone…
Naturally it won’t be that easy..but it will be interesting.
I liked this…
February 18, 2025
A short, fun read about a slightly clumsy, tough guy, good-hearted detective working on an ever-evolving murder case, while wooing a “working girl”; all set on the island of Oahu around the time of the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor. A lot going on here. Not my idea of great literature, lacking a certain amount of detail in spots, but enjoyable nonetheless.
February 19, 2026
Take Me to Hawaii
I really like the descriptions of a place I've never been but want to see. It was a good, light read, an intriguing detective novel.
I really like the descriptions of a place I've never been but want to see. It was a good, light read, an intriguing detective novel.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews