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Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mystery #1
Prospect for Murder
Retired travel writer Natalie Seachrist has had visions since childhood. But the sight of a girl's lifeless body draped over a vintage Mustang shatters her personal world when she learns her vision has been prescient. The horrible truth is that her twin's granddaughter Ariel is dead!
While the Honolulu Police Department conducts its customary investigation, Natalie decides to move into the Makiki apartment complex where her grandniece died. Aided by her friend Keoni Hewitt, a retired police detective, and her fleet-footed feline companion Miss Una, Natalie begins her very personal on-site sleuthing.
She soon discovers the fascinating Shànghai origins of apartment owners Pearl Wong and her sister Jade Bishop…and more than a little discord. Will Natalie be able to solve the riddle of Ariel's death before the police close their investigation without an arrest? Or has Natalie put herself in the way of a killer who's willing to murder again to hide their secret?
While the Honolulu Police Department conducts its customary investigation, Natalie decides to move into the Makiki apartment complex where her grandniece died. Aided by her friend Keoni Hewitt, a retired police detective, and her fleet-footed feline companion Miss Una, Natalie begins her very personal on-site sleuthing.
She soon discovers the fascinating Shànghai origins of apartment owners Pearl Wong and her sister Jade Bishop…and more than a little discord. Will Natalie be able to solve the riddle of Ariel's death before the police close their investigation without an arrest? Or has Natalie put herself in the way of a killer who's willing to murder again to hide their secret?
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
286 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2018
19 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Burrows-Johnson
5 books6 followersMy work as an author of fiction and non-fiction embraces my background in the performing arts, education, and commerce. I moved to Hawai`i with my cat in 1973, where I taught performing arts classes and helped run Highland Games. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with distinction from the University of Hawai`i and membership in: Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Alpha Theta; the National Writers Union; Sisters in Crime; Arizona Mystery Writers; and the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Highland Division. While completing coursework toward a Master of Arts degree (concentration, the Allied Occupation of Japan, 1945-1954), I worked as a teaching assistant in the World Civilization program of the history department of the University of Hawai`i. Professionally, I have provided marketing advice to entrepreneurs and executives for many years. Perhaps it is not surprising that the rich environs of Hawai`i provide the setting for the Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 2, 2016
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
The means for executing good barbecue is something a true man of the Islands is seldom without - plus a supply of beer and a macho vehicle.
At this point, Natalie, let's dispense with formalities. Please call me John, and I'll call you Miss Marple.
Don't give me that 'I'm just fine' routine. Be a good retired cop and go quietly with the guys with the stethoscopes.
My Review:
Being a resident of Hawaii, I could not pass up a murder mystery based in Honolulu. It was thrilling while at the same time oddly relaxing to read a story with so many local references to places, food, culture, and traits. I was quickly drawn into the narrative and enjoyed being in Natalie's head as she processed information and formulated her plans. The writing was insightful, observant, emotive, and intelligent. Each scene, task, and event was highly detailed and meticulously described - she really was a close approximation or the Hawaiian version of Jessica Fletcher, as her friend had teased. I savored the sense of familiarity as well as the intriguing storyline.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
The means for executing good barbecue is something a true man of the Islands is seldom without - plus a supply of beer and a macho vehicle.
At this point, Natalie, let's dispense with formalities. Please call me John, and I'll call you Miss Marple.
Don't give me that 'I'm just fine' routine. Be a good retired cop and go quietly with the guys with the stethoscopes.
My Review:
Being a resident of Hawaii, I could not pass up a murder mystery based in Honolulu. It was thrilling while at the same time oddly relaxing to read a story with so many local references to places, food, culture, and traits. I was quickly drawn into the narrative and enjoyed being in Natalie's head as she processed information and formulated her plans. The writing was insightful, observant, emotive, and intelligent. Each scene, task, and event was highly detailed and meticulously described - she really was a close approximation or the Hawaiian version of Jessica Fletcher, as her friend had teased. I savored the sense of familiarity as well as the intriguing storyline.
March 20, 2017
My original Prospect for Murder audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Prospect for Murder by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson is a well written cozy mystery peppered with historical references that are enlightening and engaging. A young woman seeking a place to live visits an apartment complex only to be found dead, lying on top of a vintage vehicle. Her grand-aunt steps in to solve the mystery. The deadly fun begins as Natalie, the grand-aunt, moves into the very apartment her grandniece fell from; guided by interviews of the tenants and her uncanny visions, Natalie delves deeper into the mystery. Methodically moving from tenant to tenant, exploring and researching Natalie makes a horrifying discovery.
Taking place in Hawaii, Burrows-Johnson masterfully describes the locations, people and history in vivid detail that flows almost poetically. Although it is a slow-moving cozy mystery, it is captivating. The story moves slowly as it is filled with Hawaiian and Shanghai history focusing around the WW2. Methodical and detailed, Burrows-Johnson reveals each clue until the last clue of the killer is revealed. Furthermore, her character development and back story is well-developed also. This allowed for me to connect to the characters and wish to see justice done. I enjoyed the retired copy, Keoni and Natalie together, and how they danced around their relationship. The supernatural piece was well written into the story.
This is a very enjoyable book. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a perfect book for you. I enjoyed it immensely. The book does center around an older woman so don't expect any death-defying rumble tumbles. The lack of emotion Natalie displays was a bit odd but in looking back, I find myself detached from emotional moments as well. It is a bit predictable, at one point I wanted to scream - am I the only one who sees what is going to happen? But this was excusable as the book overall was very interesting and entertaining and educational - I had no clue of the history of Hawaii.
The narrator, also the author, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson did an excellent job of reading the book. The enunciation and clearness of her speech as well as the passion was not over the top or fake; she not owned the book as an author but as the narrator as well. Her voice was soothing and calming.
There were no issues with the audio production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Prospect for Murder by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson is a well written cozy mystery peppered with historical references that are enlightening and engaging. A young woman seeking a place to live visits an apartment complex only to be found dead, lying on top of a vintage vehicle. Her grand-aunt steps in to solve the mystery. The deadly fun begins as Natalie, the grand-aunt, moves into the very apartment her grandniece fell from; guided by interviews of the tenants and her uncanny visions, Natalie delves deeper into the mystery. Methodically moving from tenant to tenant, exploring and researching Natalie makes a horrifying discovery.
Taking place in Hawaii, Burrows-Johnson masterfully describes the locations, people and history in vivid detail that flows almost poetically. Although it is a slow-moving cozy mystery, it is captivating. The story moves slowly as it is filled with Hawaiian and Shanghai history focusing around the WW2. Methodical and detailed, Burrows-Johnson reveals each clue until the last clue of the killer is revealed. Furthermore, her character development and back story is well-developed also. This allowed for me to connect to the characters and wish to see justice done. I enjoyed the retired copy, Keoni and Natalie together, and how they danced around their relationship. The supernatural piece was well written into the story.
This is a very enjoyable book. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a perfect book for you. I enjoyed it immensely. The book does center around an older woman so don't expect any death-defying rumble tumbles. The lack of emotion Natalie displays was a bit odd but in looking back, I find myself detached from emotional moments as well. It is a bit predictable, at one point I wanted to scream - am I the only one who sees what is going to happen? But this was excusable as the book overall was very interesting and entertaining and educational - I had no clue of the history of Hawaii.
The narrator, also the author, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson did an excellent job of reading the book. The enunciation and clearness of her speech as well as the passion was not over the top or fake; she not owned the book as an author but as the narrator as well. Her voice was soothing and calming.
There were no issues with the audio production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
April 26, 2021
Mystery full of history and tropical locale
Although this cozy started out slowly I am glad I stuck with it. It was a well written story with plenty of Chinese and Hawaiian history and culture presented. If you are looking for a mystery with more depth without much violence this is a great pick . I especially liked it as I spent 4 years of my childhood living in the islands and can relate on a deeper level
Although this cozy started out slowly I am glad I stuck with it. It was a well written story with plenty of Chinese and Hawaiian history and culture presented. If you are looking for a mystery with more depth without much violence this is a great pick . I especially liked it as I spent 4 years of my childhood living in the islands and can relate on a deeper level
June 18, 2017
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! For the full, rather long review (and others that are shorter!), check out my blog at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
This one is kind of set up like Jessica Fletcher takes Hawaii, where Natalie Seachrist is the retired writer who constantly gets embroiled in a murder case. While I didn’t really feel the connection to Jessica Fletcher until it was mentioned, I do see the similarities between these two main characters. Both are writers who, as this first book illustrates, tend to stick their noses into others’ fishy business.
Still, this story felt much darker than any Murder She Wrote ever has; not that that’s a bad thing but it doesn’t match the mood I’ve come to know from the television series. With Natalie’s memories of visiting war-torn countries on assignments, the gruesomely detailed death around which the main mystery revolves, and just the number of deaths in total – unrelated to the current crime but this family has been wiped out! – it was escaping that “cozy” feeling for me.
I will say, a minor disappointment for me was that the big reveal wasn’t at the 90% mark of the book. I’ve seen so many Murder She Wrote episodes that I’ve come to time them, and Jessica always confronts the killer with exactly 10 minutes left in the episode 😛 But hey, Natalie’s got a different system!
She also has a twist that Jessica doesn’t have to use to her advantage. Natalie has visions, often of things that have passed, and a strong bond with her brother who has a similar gift. I was quite surprised by this, as I was expecting a more traditional mystery. It felt awkward at first but as the story warms up, this strange addition to the genre actually fits in rather well.
The detail of this book was part of what brought my rating down. The writing overall felt very formal. Every aspect of Natalie’s day was spelled out, from showering to putting on makeup, and even every item she had to eat that day. This detail really wasn’t needed for the story and it made it feel more like a journal entry than a narrative. Some of these things can just be imagined by the reader so we didn’t need it explicitly stated.
My other issue was, as a story set in Hawaii there were very few Hawaiians! The main family moved to Hawaii because of their involvement in the Navy, as many others in this story have done as well. There was one family that hailed from China, though the father was Hawaiian, but I was really uncomfortable with their depiction. One woman was often referred to as small: comments on her height, small feet, and lack of wrinkles. Asian representation was really not handled well in this book and Hawaiian rep was almost non-existent. It felt a shame after all the rich history about the state that makes up a large part of the story.
This one is kind of set up like Jessica Fletcher takes Hawaii, where Natalie Seachrist is the retired writer who constantly gets embroiled in a murder case. While I didn’t really feel the connection to Jessica Fletcher until it was mentioned, I do see the similarities between these two main characters. Both are writers who, as this first book illustrates, tend to stick their noses into others’ fishy business.
Still, this story felt much darker than any Murder She Wrote ever has; not that that’s a bad thing but it doesn’t match the mood I’ve come to know from the television series. With Natalie’s memories of visiting war-torn countries on assignments, the gruesomely detailed death around which the main mystery revolves, and just the number of deaths in total – unrelated to the current crime but this family has been wiped out! – it was escaping that “cozy” feeling for me.
I will say, a minor disappointment for me was that the big reveal wasn’t at the 90% mark of the book. I’ve seen so many Murder She Wrote episodes that I’ve come to time them, and Jessica always confronts the killer with exactly 10 minutes left in the episode 😛 But hey, Natalie’s got a different system!
She also has a twist that Jessica doesn’t have to use to her advantage. Natalie has visions, often of things that have passed, and a strong bond with her brother who has a similar gift. I was quite surprised by this, as I was expecting a more traditional mystery. It felt awkward at first but as the story warms up, this strange addition to the genre actually fits in rather well.
The detail of this book was part of what brought my rating down. The writing overall felt very formal. Every aspect of Natalie’s day was spelled out, from showering to putting on makeup, and even every item she had to eat that day. This detail really wasn’t needed for the story and it made it feel more like a journal entry than a narrative. Some of these things can just be imagined by the reader so we didn’t need it explicitly stated.
My other issue was, as a story set in Hawaii there were very few Hawaiians! The main family moved to Hawaii because of their involvement in the Navy, as many others in this story have done as well. There was one family that hailed from China, though the father was Hawaiian, but I was really uncomfortable with their depiction. One woman was often referred to as small: comments on her height, small feet, and lack of wrinkles. Asian representation was really not handled well in this book and Hawaiian rep was almost non-existent. It felt a shame after all the rich history about the state that makes up a large part of the story.
March 20, 2017
***This book was reviewed for San Francisco Book Review***
Burrows-Johnson's cozy mystery Prospect for Murder is set in the Hawai'ian Islands, proving that even Paradise has its dark side. We begin with the odd occurrence of our protagonist having a psychic vision. Both she and her brother have unique gifts, different yet complementary. Sadly, Natalie's vision is one of gruesome death, one with personal ties to Natalie herself. The victim is her niece, who’s fallen from the fourth storey of an apartment building where she had gone to look at a possible rental.
The death is first considered accidental, possibly suicidal. Natalie doesn't buy this, and using the skills of a researcher, and the gifts of a psychic, she sets out to prove murder, or at the least, a true motive for the death. She finds suspects in the landlady who was going to let the apartment, Natalie's mysterious roommate, who had not shown to view the place, and the maintenance man for the complex (her niece fell on his priceless, customised car). During all of this, she is also doing historical research for a friend named Keoni.
I am picky about reading cozy mysteries. It's a bias about the word 'cozy’, which makes it seem to me that the story would be trivial. This has never actually been the case, and I am really glad that I gave this story a chance. I live in CA, and have a hope to one day visit Hawai'i. I enjoyed reading about Natalie's research work as much as the murder plot.
The story is well-written, though there were a few places where pacing slowed down a bit. Natalie reminds me somewhat of Fletcher, from Murder She Wrote, with a bit of the X-Files added thanks to the psychic thread. However, she also reminded me a great deal of my forensic anthropology professor, and that's the person Natalie 'looked like' to me as I read. I'd love to read more of Natalie's adventures in the future!
Burrows-Johnson's cozy mystery Prospect for Murder is set in the Hawai'ian Islands, proving that even Paradise has its dark side. We begin with the odd occurrence of our protagonist having a psychic vision. Both she and her brother have unique gifts, different yet complementary. Sadly, Natalie's vision is one of gruesome death, one with personal ties to Natalie herself. The victim is her niece, who’s fallen from the fourth storey of an apartment building where she had gone to look at a possible rental.
The death is first considered accidental, possibly suicidal. Natalie doesn't buy this, and using the skills of a researcher, and the gifts of a psychic, she sets out to prove murder, or at the least, a true motive for the death. She finds suspects in the landlady who was going to let the apartment, Natalie's mysterious roommate, who had not shown to view the place, and the maintenance man for the complex (her niece fell on his priceless, customised car). During all of this, she is also doing historical research for a friend named Keoni.
I am picky about reading cozy mysteries. It's a bias about the word 'cozy’, which makes it seem to me that the story would be trivial. This has never actually been the case, and I am really glad that I gave this story a chance. I live in CA, and have a hope to one day visit Hawai'i. I enjoyed reading about Natalie's research work as much as the murder plot.
The story is well-written, though there were a few places where pacing slowed down a bit. Natalie reminds me somewhat of Fletcher, from Murder She Wrote, with a bit of the X-Files added thanks to the psychic thread. However, she also reminded me a great deal of my forensic anthropology professor, and that's the person Natalie 'looked like' to me as I read. I'd love to read more of Natalie's adventures in the future!
February 20, 2020
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
This story is reminiscent of a typical cosy murder mystery novel. The plot is not particularly complex or surprising, and the fact that the method and intentions of the murderer are never truly revealed feels like a bit of a cop-out. However, the journey to the end of the book is a pleasant one, as the author takes you on a slow, meandering stroll through Hawaiian history, local culture, and of course, investigating the mysterious death.
As the book is set in Hawaii, it also features a sprinkling of the Hawaiian language and local words used by characters in the story. These little snippets of the local language and culture really brought the Hawaiian setting to life and their inclusion is a real testament to the experiences and research that the author has poured into this book.
In addition to the Hawaiian language and phrasing, there is plenty of real-life local - and not so local - history and cultural events peppered throughout Prospect for Murder. The way that the author has expertly weaved fact with fiction is a firm nod to her skills as a writer, historian, and researcher.
However, above all else, it is the beautifully-described setting and thorough research that set Prospect for Murder apart from other books of its genre.
This story is reminiscent of a typical cosy murder mystery novel. The plot is not particularly complex or surprising, and the fact that the method and intentions of the murderer are never truly revealed feels like a bit of a cop-out. However, the journey to the end of the book is a pleasant one, as the author takes you on a slow, meandering stroll through Hawaiian history, local culture, and of course, investigating the mysterious death.
As the book is set in Hawaii, it also features a sprinkling of the Hawaiian language and local words used by characters in the story. These little snippets of the local language and culture really brought the Hawaiian setting to life and their inclusion is a real testament to the experiences and research that the author has poured into this book.
In addition to the Hawaiian language and phrasing, there is plenty of real-life local - and not so local - history and cultural events peppered throughout Prospect for Murder. The way that the author has expertly weaved fact with fiction is a firm nod to her skills as a writer, historian, and researcher.
However, above all else, it is the beautifully-described setting and thorough research that set Prospect for Murder apart from other books of its genre.
October 6, 2019
When Natalie Seacrest 's niece Ariel is apparently murdered at the Makiki apartment complex she move into the very apartment. As Natalie tries to igure out what happened Jeanne Burrows-Johnson gives you a look at Hawaiian and Chinese history. Prospect for Murder is a good read not exactly a cosy to me but not exactly a hardbitten story either.
June 1, 2019
Very solid on historical research and techniques, but not much of a mystery. Besides, the protagonist getting valuable clues by having visions is not very interesting.
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July 26, 2019this book was really good. i learmed a lot about the hawaiian culture as well as enjoyed this read. looking forward to reading more from jeanne burrows-johnson
January 14, 2020
Did not like this all and in fact couldn't finish it. Didn't like the writing style and it went off on too many tangents.
July 24, 2022
Who killed Ariel and why??? AND he felt no remorse, didn’t he???? I like the ending part of the story!!! I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.
January 23, 2019
Author Jeanne Burrows-Johnson sets out a daunting task for herself as she opens her new Natalie Seachrist series of mystery novels with Prospect for Murder (2016). In her notes, Burrows-Johnson says “I look forward to introducing historical characters and incidents with in the genre of a mystery novel.” I view this as daunting because most mystery readers have a pretty clear idea of what they want from a mystery novel, and they are not always happy if they don’t find what they expect in the first pages. Maybe they look for a Miss Marple-like polite and subdued British mystery heavy on clues, a police procedural with an abundance of forensic evidence, the private eye or noir mystery, or maybe they are looking for an action-packed hero like Jack Reacher who encounters constant danger on almost every page. The historical mystery is a genre of its own. However it is unusual to attempt to bring historical events into a contemporary setting, and still maintain that mystery aura.
Burrows-Johnson introduces us to semi-retired writer and researcher Natalie Seachrist, resident of Hawaii, who is unhappily thrust into a close-to-home mystery as she investigates the suspicious death of her great-niece, Ariel. The story unfolds slowly as Seachrist transforms herself into an amateur sleuth. Along the way, Natalie encounters characters that take her into historical events of both pre-Maoist China, and of Hawaii’s history as a nation state. Familial relations are big part of Natalie’s story, as is an emerging romance with an ex-cop.
If you are looking for a multi-faceted story that is less plot-driven but historically rich, you will enjoy this new offering best described as the cozy style. Prospect for Murder is the first in a series, so we can anticipate Natalie Seachrist challenging herself with new mysteries in the near future.
Burrows-Johnson introduces us to semi-retired writer and researcher Natalie Seachrist, resident of Hawaii, who is unhappily thrust into a close-to-home mystery as she investigates the suspicious death of her great-niece, Ariel. The story unfolds slowly as Seachrist transforms herself into an amateur sleuth. Along the way, Natalie encounters characters that take her into historical events of both pre-Maoist China, and of Hawaii’s history as a nation state. Familial relations are big part of Natalie’s story, as is an emerging romance with an ex-cop.
If you are looking for a multi-faceted story that is less plot-driven but historically rich, you will enjoy this new offering best described as the cozy style. Prospect for Murder is the first in a series, so we can anticipate Natalie Seachrist challenging herself with new mysteries in the near future.
November 23, 2016
Twins have "special" powers amongst each other. They can feel each others pain, sense when one is in trouble, and even communicate without speaking out loud. The twins in Prospect For Murder by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson are no different but are so different !!!
In Prospect For Murder you have twins Nathan and Natalie as well as Nathan's granddaughters, Ariel and Brianna, who are also twins. Natalie also has a "gift" of seeing things happen....like before she received word that Ariel had died, she had seen it ALL in a vision.
They know that there is no way that Ariel would have committed suicide and Natalie being the journalist that she is feels that it is up to her to find out what happened to her grand-niece. So in order for her to investigate thoroughly Natalie rents out the apartment that Ariel was looking at when she died.
How far would you go to solve a family members death ? Natalie goes farther than anyone would expect.....but will she solve the case or end up another casualty ? ?
In Prospect For Murder you have twins Nathan and Natalie as well as Nathan's granddaughters, Ariel and Brianna, who are also twins. Natalie also has a "gift" of seeing things happen....like before she received word that Ariel had died, she had seen it ALL in a vision.
They know that there is no way that Ariel would have committed suicide and Natalie being the journalist that she is feels that it is up to her to find out what happened to her grand-niece. So in order for her to investigate thoroughly Natalie rents out the apartment that Ariel was looking at when she died.
How far would you go to solve a family members death ? Natalie goes farther than anyone would expect.....but will she solve the case or end up another casualty ? ?
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April 21, 2017Review available at Foreword Reviews.
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May 28, 2019A Nook Free Friday read.
Lots of history about Hawai'i and the relationship with China.
Lots of history about Hawai'i and the relationship with China.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews