"Murder at Sunrise" is the second book in the "Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mystery" series. It is a very good stand-alone book - I have not read book one, but I felt right at home with this book. The series appeals to me because I lived in Hawaii for five years, and I feel that Daley has captured the heart of the island and its people, as well as the very tangible military presence. Kailani "Lani" Pope attends a senior gathering to celebrate the summer solstice with her friend Elva. The next thing they know Lani is diving into the water to retrieve the body of the well dressed gentleman that her friend Elva is crushing on.
Lani is walking a fine line between wanting to be an active part of the investigation, and staying out of the way so that she does not offend her brother Jason, who is a policeman, and is actually in charge of said investigation. Then there is Luke, Lani's not quite boyfriend, With the help of Elva and the other seniors (and Luke!), Lani brings in clues for her brother that move the case forward, and, in the end, break it wide open!
The characters are interesting, well developed, and realistic. The scenery, and the tone of the island, is well presented. The pace of the book is consistent, with the little incidental situations, such as Lani being involved in saving two lives through her job at the resort, moving things forward nicely. I enjoyed this book, and intend to follow the series.