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Hokuloa Road
From Shirley Jackson Award-winner Elizabeth Hand comes a haunting and atmospheric new mystery about a young man drawn into a Hawaiʻian island’s darkest secrets—perfect for fans of Peter Heller and The White Lotus.
On a whim, Grady Kendall applies to work as a live-in caretaker for a luxury property in Hawaiʻi, as far from his small-town Maine life as he can imagine. Within days he's flying out to an estate on remote Hokuloa Road, where he quickly uncovers a dark side to the island’s idyllic reputation: it has long been a place where people seem to vanish without a trace.
When a young woman from his flight becomes the next to disappear, Grady is determined—and soon desperate—to figure out what's happened to Jessie, and to all those staring out of the island’s “missing" posters. But working with Raina, Jessie’s best friend, to uncover the truth is anything but easy, and with a sinister presence stalking his every step, Grady can only hope he'll find the answer before it's too late . . . and that it might hold the key to what's been terrorizing the island all along.
On a whim, Grady Kendall applies to work as a live-in caretaker for a luxury property in Hawaiʻi, as far from his small-town Maine life as he can imagine. Within days he's flying out to an estate on remote Hokuloa Road, where he quickly uncovers a dark side to the island’s idyllic reputation: it has long been a place where people seem to vanish without a trace.
When a young woman from his flight becomes the next to disappear, Grady is determined—and soon desperate—to figure out what's happened to Jessie, and to all those staring out of the island’s “missing" posters. But working with Raina, Jessie’s best friend, to uncover the truth is anything but easy, and with a sinister presence stalking his every step, Grady can only hope he'll find the answer before it's too late . . . and that it might hold the key to what's been terrorizing the island all along.
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First published July 19, 2022
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About the author
Elizabeth Hand
187 books1,317 followersA New York Times notable and multiple award– winning author, Elizabeth Hand has written seven novels, including the cult classic Waking the Moon, and short-story collections. She is a longtime contributor to numerous publications, including the Washington Post Book World and the Village Voice Literary Supplement. She and her two children divide their time between the coast of Maine and North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
April 7, 2024
No. No. No. No. No.
First up: Hawai'i. Hawaiian. There's no ʻokina (glottal stop) in Hawaiian. Someone needs to fix the blurb and ad copy online because “Hawai’ian” is inaccurate and embarrassing.
Second up: You can miss me with this Mainland white lady coming in and profiting off "supernatural" Hawaiian folklore.
Third up: The white male protagonist doesn't start caring about those who are missing until a (presumably attractive) woman (another visitor, not local) becomes one of them? And he takes it upon himself to investigate because nobody else "seems to care" about her and the missing homeless people? It's 2022. The white savior storyline has been done once or twice before. Time to find a new one.
Last, but certainly not least: A story about "missing homeless people" in Hawai'i? Guess the racial background of more than 50% of un-housed folks across the state. Go ahead, guess.
Hokuloa Road purports to be a story exploring the "real" Hawai'i and the many, many issues brought by tourism and yet is still told through the prism of a hapless Mainland white guy and uses harmful colonialist tropes. This is even further proof that publishing needs more diversity. DO BETTER.
First up: Hawai'i. Hawaiian. There's no ʻokina (glottal stop) in Hawaiian. Someone needs to fix the blurb and ad copy online because “Hawai’ian” is inaccurate and embarrassing.
Second up: You can miss me with this Mainland white lady coming in and profiting off "supernatural" Hawaiian folklore.
Third up: The white male protagonist doesn't start caring about those who are missing until a (presumably attractive) woman (another visitor, not local) becomes one of them? And he takes it upon himself to investigate because nobody else "seems to care" about her and the missing homeless people? It's 2022. The white savior storyline has been done once or twice before. Time to find a new one.
Last, but certainly not least: A story about "missing homeless people" in Hawai'i? Guess the racial background of more than 50% of un-housed folks across the state. Go ahead, guess.
Hokuloa Road purports to be a story exploring the "real" Hawai'i and the many, many issues brought by tourism and yet is still told through the prism of a hapless Mainland white guy and uses harmful colonialist tropes. This is even further proof that publishing needs more diversity. DO BETTER.
November 30, 2022
Crap. This was good. I shake my head in bemused wonder at the naysayers here and encourage the rest of y'all to settle in for a cracking good read. I mentioned in an earlier review that I needed to start a shelf of books that Goodreaders got wrong, and this would be the latest entry (I still haven't started that shelf!!).
I've not read Elizabeth Hand prior to this novel and I marvel at that. Where has she been? Or rather, where have I been?! I'd love recommendations from any fans for what to read next from her extensive oeuvre.
But back to the title at Hand (hah!). Hokuloa Road is a rich and rewarding novel that blends mystery, folklore, and horror with contemporary environmental and social issues, set against the spectacular backdrop of a Hawai'i that defies tourist brochures, and somehow manages to be the only Covid-concurrent novel to date that doesn't shy away from a true representation of how Covid restrictions played out in real life.
Months into the pandemic, bored and isolated in his Maine hometown, Grady Kendall answers a Craigslist ad for a caretaker/handyman at a Hawaiian estate. After a cursory Zoom interview, he's hired and on his way to changing his life. Funny thing, though. Grady is expecting paradise, but as he passes through desolate towns with cheap strip malls and trailer parks, it seems an awful lot like economically depressed rural Maine he'd just fled. At least it's warm.
One man lives at the estate on the remote (and fictional) Hokuloa Peninsula Grady is hired to caretake: billionaire Wes Minton. Minton spends most of his time at an even more remote homestead on Hokuloa Point, where he'd intended to build an exclusive resort. That plan was thwarted by indigenous Hawaiians and environmental activists intent on preserving ancestral land and the endangered flora and fauna which inhabit the pristine region.
Turns out it's not just flowers and birds that are threatened. People have a way of vanishing on Hokuloa, too. Mostly forgotten folk: drifters and those without fixed abodes; vulnerable young women and a few tourists that no one notices are gone until it's too late. But one of the recent missing is Jessica, a woman Grady met on the flight from L.A.. They'd made plans to meet up after the mandatory two-week quarantine. Jessica breaks quarantine a few nights early, heads to a bar with friends and disappears on the short walk home. Grady, lonely and bored, decides to find her.
His forays beyond the gates of Minton's estate push him into the backyards and onto the patios of a few locals. These new friends and sort-of neighbors become Grady's—and the reader's—guide to contemporary life and the history of this most sacred, fragile and beautiful place. Grady knows nothing about Hawaiian culture and the gentle but frank instruction he receives allows both him and the other characters to grow and deepen as the plot intensifies.
The one thing no one can explain is why a dog-like creature that can stand like a man and shriek like a terrified woman appears like a waking nightmare in the front yard of the worker's cottage Grady now calls home.
Is a serial killer is on the loose or has a demon been unleashed to exact revenge on behalf of its ancestors, or...? You won't be able to stop turning the pages until you find out. Elizabeth Hand carefully plays out the mystery while enthralling the reader with atmosphere and stealing hearts with soulful characters.
This is an inspired, original, beautifully-written novel. The mystery falters at the end — it's far-fetched in a novel that remains so wonderfully grounded, even with its supernatural element. But the rest is so deeply satisfying, I was willing to grant wide latitude. Well done!!
I've not read Elizabeth Hand prior to this novel and I marvel at that. Where has she been? Or rather, where have I been?! I'd love recommendations from any fans for what to read next from her extensive oeuvre.
But back to the title at Hand (hah!). Hokuloa Road is a rich and rewarding novel that blends mystery, folklore, and horror with contemporary environmental and social issues, set against the spectacular backdrop of a Hawai'i that defies tourist brochures, and somehow manages to be the only Covid-concurrent novel to date that doesn't shy away from a true representation of how Covid restrictions played out in real life.
Months into the pandemic, bored and isolated in his Maine hometown, Grady Kendall answers a Craigslist ad for a caretaker/handyman at a Hawaiian estate. After a cursory Zoom interview, he's hired and on his way to changing his life. Funny thing, though. Grady is expecting paradise, but as he passes through desolate towns with cheap strip malls and trailer parks, it seems an awful lot like economically depressed rural Maine he'd just fled. At least it's warm.
One man lives at the estate on the remote (and fictional) Hokuloa Peninsula Grady is hired to caretake: billionaire Wes Minton. Minton spends most of his time at an even more remote homestead on Hokuloa Point, where he'd intended to build an exclusive resort. That plan was thwarted by indigenous Hawaiians and environmental activists intent on preserving ancestral land and the endangered flora and fauna which inhabit the pristine region.
Turns out it's not just flowers and birds that are threatened. People have a way of vanishing on Hokuloa, too. Mostly forgotten folk: drifters and those without fixed abodes; vulnerable young women and a few tourists that no one notices are gone until it's too late. But one of the recent missing is Jessica, a woman Grady met on the flight from L.A.. They'd made plans to meet up after the mandatory two-week quarantine. Jessica breaks quarantine a few nights early, heads to a bar with friends and disappears on the short walk home. Grady, lonely and bored, decides to find her.
His forays beyond the gates of Minton's estate push him into the backyards and onto the patios of a few locals. These new friends and sort-of neighbors become Grady's—and the reader's—guide to contemporary life and the history of this most sacred, fragile and beautiful place. Grady knows nothing about Hawaiian culture and the gentle but frank instruction he receives allows both him and the other characters to grow and deepen as the plot intensifies.
The one thing no one can explain is why a dog-like creature that can stand like a man and shriek like a terrified woman appears like a waking nightmare in the front yard of the worker's cottage Grady now calls home.
Is a serial killer is on the loose or has a demon been unleashed to exact revenge on behalf of its ancestors, or...? You won't be able to stop turning the pages until you find out. Elizabeth Hand carefully plays out the mystery while enthralling the reader with atmosphere and stealing hearts with soulful characters.
This is an inspired, original, beautifully-written novel. The mystery falters at the end — it's far-fetched in a novel that remains so wonderfully grounded, even with its supernatural element. But the rest is so deeply satisfying, I was willing to grant wide latitude. Well done!!
July 15, 2022
Oh my goodness! This took so long to pick up! A good majority of the book nothing happens. I went into this expecting a creepy, horror story and was disappointed that it fell flat.
Grady Kendall jumps at the chance to work as a caretaker for a luxury mansion on on the famous Hokuloa Road in Kolihi, Hawaii.
Grady can’t stop thinking about Jessie, the girl he met on his flight. He also can’t stop thinking about the islands reputation for people going missing. When Jessie disappears, he springs into action determined to figure out what happened.
Hokuloa Road is available July 19, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Grady Kendall jumps at the chance to work as a caretaker for a luxury mansion on on the famous Hokuloa Road in Kolihi, Hawaii.
Grady can’t stop thinking about Jessie, the girl he met on his flight. He also can’t stop thinking about the islands reputation for people going missing. When Jessie disappears, he springs into action determined to figure out what happened.
Hokuloa Road is available July 19, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 27, 2022
Grady Kendall has lost his job and his apartment in Maine during the pandemic but finds new hopes when he sees the ad for a live-in caretaker job for a luxury property in Hawaiʻi. When he arrives at the beautiful estate on the remote Hokuloa Road, he finds an eccentric and filthy rich boss, but also a place where people seem to go missing without a trace. One of these missing people is the young woman whom he met on the plane and Grady is determined to find her.
A commentary on nature and culture preservation, pandemic, social ills, but also a love letter to Hawai’i, its mythology, its birds and fauna… If you know Elizabeth Hand’s writing, you’ll know this too is a slower burn, a calm mystery. Having never been to Hawai’i, this book did take me there for a few hours – very appreciated getaway.
A commentary on nature and culture preservation, pandemic, social ills, but also a love letter to Hawai’i, its mythology, its birds and fauna… If you know Elizabeth Hand’s writing, you’ll know this too is a slower burn, a calm mystery. Having never been to Hawai’i, this book did take me there for a few hours – very appreciated getaway.
October 18, 2022
This book was a much slower burn than I was expecting. I also think the author tackled something really difficult in writing about the early days of the pandemic. I went into this hoping for an attention grabbing creepy story and while there were some cool creepy elements there was too much nothing in between them which lowered the suspense factor quite a bit. Grady is living in Maine and working odd jobs since the lockdown started until his brother randomly sends him an ad to work as a caretaker for a rich man in Hawaii . He applies and moves 5000 miles in the pandemic and enters a beautiful paradise. But there are constant reminders this place isn’t perfect with lots of missing people. When a person who he had met (an attractive woman he hoped to see again of course) also goes missing he starts to pay more attention to try to figure out the island’s secrets. I think this is my first book by this author but based on what I’ve seen and the flashes of good in this one I will give her another try.
March 1, 2022
I read this book without remembering who the author was, but *knew* it was an Elizabeth Hand book as the story progressively and subtly got stranger and odder and ever more interesting. I love her writing, and this is an excellent addition to her works.
April 10, 2022
This was a slooooooow burn. Very slow. And not a lot of action, really at all, certainly for a horror novel.
I admired it more than I enjoyed it. It is clearly a book that wants to show us Hawai'i in depth, but it can never fully win you over as we see the whole thing through the eyes of an outsider, even if he's a sympathetic outsider. I liked the angle of bringing in Hawai'ian folklore, but we don't get to explore it in all that much detail. And ultimately, there isn't a lot of mystery here, not enough of the supernatural or the psychotic to surprise.
I admired it more than I enjoyed it. It is clearly a book that wants to show us Hawai'i in depth, but it can never fully win you over as we see the whole thing through the eyes of an outsider, even if he's a sympathetic outsider. I liked the angle of bringing in Hawai'ian folklore, but we don't get to explore it in all that much detail. And ultimately, there isn't a lot of mystery here, not enough of the supernatural or the psychotic to surprise.
July 23, 2022
DNF. 171 pages in and it’s still the same — he’s alone, he drinks beer, he likes the birds, people are missing. I’m sure there’s a point where it picks up but I didn’t connect with the story and character enough to want to stick around.
August 19, 2022
everyone who is acquainted with elizabeth hand knows she is a genius. her novels are different from any other novels and her masterful recurring character, cass neary, treads the line between good and degenerate in a way that is so striking, so morally clear, so titillating, you cannot but love her.
in this novel the protagonist is, uncharacteristically, a young man, and even elizabeth hand's genius couldn't make young grady interesting. the story is full of really good stuff -- there is a lot of groovy surfer punk, social critique, and frankly some pretty depressing but necessary description of 21st century poverty and neglect (take-home message: america is massively failing its own, and it's all intentional).
but i think hand is more interested in paying a tribute to hawaii (which she does, beautifully) than in making the story as gritty as she knows how. i don't know why, but she pulls punches. grady is such an ill-defined character: is he brave? is he a wuss? why does he make such a song and dance about every little injury when cass could cross the same territory in flip flops, cut offs, and a thimbleful of dirty water?
i missed the grit, and mostly i missed cass.
in this novel the protagonist is, uncharacteristically, a young man, and even elizabeth hand's genius couldn't make young grady interesting. the story is full of really good stuff -- there is a lot of groovy surfer punk, social critique, and frankly some pretty depressing but necessary description of 21st century poverty and neglect (take-home message: america is massively failing its own, and it's all intentional).
but i think hand is more interested in paying a tribute to hawaii (which she does, beautifully) than in making the story as gritty as she knows how. i don't know why, but she pulls punches. grady is such an ill-defined character: is he brave? is he a wuss? why does he make such a song and dance about every little injury when cass could cross the same territory in flip flops, cut offs, and a thimbleful of dirty water?
i missed the grit, and mostly i missed cass.
August 27, 2022
This book was so slow and boring. I've read another book by this author Curious Toys and I liked that book. It was also slow but it kept me engaged. This book on the other hand just never really captured me. Several times I had to reread pages because I spaced out.
I'm not writing this author off just yet. Every book isn't for everyone. I'm sure some people will enjoy this but it just wasn't for me.
I'm not writing this author off just yet. Every book isn't for everyone. I'm sure some people will enjoy this but it just wasn't for me.
May 26, 2024
Grady Kendall is a handyman living in Maine. Set during the pandemic, we easily see how he has lost his job and subsequently, his home. His brother sees an ad in Craigslist for a live-in caretaker in Hawaii. He interviews with a somewhat reclusive billionaire and is hired. He flies out on a very sparsely populated plane and meets a woman heading into the same area. There is a 2-week quarantine and then he is free to roam around this beautiful area has lucked into. As this was categorized as horror, I was expecting a little more tension and suspense leading up to roughly a couple of "horror-like" moments that really didn't affect me. The area Grady is in has a lot of missing people and one of them soon includes the woman, Jessica, he met on the plane. He becomes obstinate when he finds out she's missing and soon meets her roommate, Raina. Raina and Grady just don't have the chemistry I think the author wanted us to feel as they become closer and closer in his quest to find Jessica, and others. What saved this book for me were the beautiful and awe-inspiring descriptions of Hawaii and specifically the flora and fauna. I really felt I had traveled there. However, I wasn't so enamored of the protagonist and at times felt like he needed a good thump on the head. Again, not the frightening horror I was expecting. If there was a category of book called sparse moments of horror, this book would fall more into that category.
August 9, 2022
This atmospheric tale is certain to interest bird enthusiasts and folklore fanciers. Come peek at the dark and creepy side of Hawai’i!
Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to be a caretaker in Hawai’i. Grady feels like he’s in paradise when he gets the job. No worries about paychecks, since his employer is a billionaire. The luxury resort is located in a remote area that is filled with beautiful birds. Some of which have been declared extinct. Life doesn’t get much better…but it does get worse.
This is my first read by this author but not my last!
Sincere thanks to Novel Suspects, Mulholland Books and Elizabeth Hand for this gifted ARC This review is my honest opinion.
#NovelSuspectsInsiders #novelsuspects #hokuloaroad #elizabethhand #Mulholland #giftedbook #ARC #honestreview #inexchangeforreview #hawaii #paradise #darkthriller #mustread #folklore #legends #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendation #justfinishedreading #newrelease #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #summerread
Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to be a caretaker in Hawai’i. Grady feels like he’s in paradise when he gets the job. No worries about paychecks, since his employer is a billionaire. The luxury resort is located in a remote area that is filled with beautiful birds. Some of which have been declared extinct. Life doesn’t get much better…but it does get worse.
This is my first read by this author but not my last!
Sincere thanks to Novel Suspects, Mulholland Books and Elizabeth Hand for this gifted ARC This review is my honest opinion.
#NovelSuspectsInsiders #novelsuspects #hokuloaroad #elizabethhand #Mulholland #giftedbook #ARC #honestreview #inexchangeforreview #hawaii #paradise #darkthriller #mustread #folklore #legends #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendation #justfinishedreading #newrelease #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #summerread
July 6, 2022
This is a slow burn, I mean very slow. It was also repetitive and overly descriptive. I liked the Hawaiian folklore and setting but I’m still not sure of what exactly happened at the ending and what was the motive?
September 4, 2022
I went to Hawaii on my honeymoon and I was really excited to read a book set during the pandemic at one of my favorite places. However, this was such a slow burn. Normally, I'm a fan of a slow burn and I get really invested, but that just wasn't the case with this book. It felt like it was never going to end and it took me quite a long time to finally finish! When I did eventually get to the end, I felt like there were some loose ends and I was pretty underwhelmed.
Some people may not be ready for a novel set during the pandemic, but it really worked for this one. Grady was so isolated out on Hokuloa Road where he was caretaking for a wealthy man who spent weeks out at the tip of Hokuloa Road where visitors and island inhabitants were strictly prohibited from visiting.
The pandemic and strict quarantine measures enforced in Hawaii really added to the level of eeriness that steadily built throughout the novel. Hand did a great job weaving island myths/legends and history into the story and really capturing native Hawaiians attitudes and opinions about tourists, the US, and their home.
The novel had a bit of a paranormal/folklore aspect that I enjoyed because it felt genuine to Hawaii. There was also a big missing persons piece that was certainly interesting but maybe a little overplayed and ultimately unresolved.
I didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters and felt like Grady lacked depth, Raina was a mess, and Jessica was put on a pedestal. Lor and Dalita were definitely the most interesting characters but I felt like their chapters were always punctuated with "real life" moments taking them away from the story (i.e. errands for their kids, making dinner, etc.) and adding nothing to the plot.
Regarding formatting, the chapters in this book are ridiculously short and there are well over 100. Normally, I love a quick chapter and it keeps me flipping the pages. However, the chapter breaks were way overused and often, it felt like the chapters really just rolled into each other rather than stating a new thought or plot point. I would have much preferred longer chapters with better structure.
All in all, this was an atmospheric and relatively entertaining read. I loved the setting, the Hawaiian history and folklore, and the overall uniqueness of the story. I will definitely be willing to check out more by Hand in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland books for a copy of this novel.
Some people may not be ready for a novel set during the pandemic, but it really worked for this one. Grady was so isolated out on Hokuloa Road where he was caretaking for a wealthy man who spent weeks out at the tip of Hokuloa Road where visitors and island inhabitants were strictly prohibited from visiting.
The pandemic and strict quarantine measures enforced in Hawaii really added to the level of eeriness that steadily built throughout the novel. Hand did a great job weaving island myths/legends and history into the story and really capturing native Hawaiians attitudes and opinions about tourists, the US, and their home.
The novel had a bit of a paranormal/folklore aspect that I enjoyed because it felt genuine to Hawaii. There was also a big missing persons piece that was certainly interesting but maybe a little overplayed and ultimately unresolved.
I didn't feel much of a connection to any of the characters and felt like Grady lacked depth, Raina was a mess, and Jessica was put on a pedestal. Lor and Dalita were definitely the most interesting characters but I felt like their chapters were always punctuated with "real life" moments taking them away from the story (i.e. errands for their kids, making dinner, etc.) and adding nothing to the plot.
Regarding formatting, the chapters in this book are ridiculously short and there are well over 100. Normally, I love a quick chapter and it keeps me flipping the pages. However, the chapter breaks were way overused and often, it felt like the chapters really just rolled into each other rather than stating a new thought or plot point. I would have much preferred longer chapters with better structure.
All in all, this was an atmospheric and relatively entertaining read. I loved the setting, the Hawaiian history and folklore, and the overall uniqueness of the story. I will definitely be willing to check out more by Hand in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland books for a copy of this novel.
August 14, 2022
I generally try to avoid reading about a book until I’ve finished it, but happened to glance at a couple of unfavorable reviews here when I marked this as “currently reading.”
The criticisms I saw largely concerned the incorrect use of “Hawai’ian” (it’s just “Hawaiian” — but what does it say that neither author nor editors/copyeditors caught this error?) throughout the book. Of greater concern is what this signifies: a non-native person writing about the folklore and legends and very real struggles of an only slightly fictionalalized place. Hokolua Road may not exist, but Hawai’i certainly does, and colonialism continues to impact the indigenous population in myriad ways. This applies both to the human and non-human. It’s tragic and complex.
I’m a long-time fan of Hand’s work. ‘Waking the Moon’ was magic to my teenage self and many of her books occupy a special place in my heart, haunted and decadent. I’m not at all interested in crime novels, but read hers because her writerly voice and view of the world feel like home. I trust her in a way that new readers might not.
Our protagonist, Grady, is that worst of all creatures — a white, American male. But he’s not a caricature. He’s insightful, uncertain, ready to doubt himself. He has empathy for both people and the land. (I know, empathy is an expression of shared, lived experience. But we a struggling to regain a sense of stewardship and responsibility to the land as a microcosm of the planet we’re failing, and I see it in this narrative.) He’s aware of his status as an outsider and the damage he does by simply being there. He also acts as an entry point for the reader, who may not be familiar with the toxicity of humanity’s impact on fragile island ecosystems, or how dangerous tourism can be for locals.
In reading this book with those critiques in mind, I see an author writing thoughtfully, aware of the criticism she will receive, and framing the book to respond to those valid concerns. Grady is — the reader is — a witness rather than a savior. He does not solve the island’s problems. But he does strive to be a part of the solution. I’d love to read the version of this story that centers an indigenous perspective, and I’m glad Liz Hand approached this thorny tale with her usual honesty and integrity.
The criticisms I saw largely concerned the incorrect use of “Hawai’ian” (it’s just “Hawaiian” — but what does it say that neither author nor editors/copyeditors caught this error?) throughout the book. Of greater concern is what this signifies: a non-native person writing about the folklore and legends and very real struggles of an only slightly fictionalalized place. Hokolua Road may not exist, but Hawai’i certainly does, and colonialism continues to impact the indigenous population in myriad ways. This applies both to the human and non-human. It’s tragic and complex.
I’m a long-time fan of Hand’s work. ‘Waking the Moon’ was magic to my teenage self and many of her books occupy a special place in my heart, haunted and decadent. I’m not at all interested in crime novels, but read hers because her writerly voice and view of the world feel like home. I trust her in a way that new readers might not.
Our protagonist, Grady, is that worst of all creatures — a white, American male. But he’s not a caricature. He’s insightful, uncertain, ready to doubt himself. He has empathy for both people and the land. (I know, empathy is an expression of shared, lived experience. But we a struggling to regain a sense of stewardship and responsibility to the land as a microcosm of the planet we’re failing, and I see it in this narrative.) He’s aware of his status as an outsider and the damage he does by simply being there. He also acts as an entry point for the reader, who may not be familiar with the toxicity of humanity’s impact on fragile island ecosystems, or how dangerous tourism can be for locals.
In reading this book with those critiques in mind, I see an author writing thoughtfully, aware of the criticism she will receive, and framing the book to respond to those valid concerns. Grady is — the reader is — a witness rather than a savior. He does not solve the island’s problems. But he does strive to be a part of the solution. I’d love to read the version of this story that centers an indigenous perspective, and I’m glad Liz Hand approached this thorny tale with her usual honesty and integrity.
September 1, 2022
Gradys Leben in Maine ist durch einen schweren Schicksalsschlag geprägt, der seinen Bruder in die Drogensucht gebracht und Grady das Selbstvertrauen genommen hat. Als er die Chance erhält, auf Hawaii einen Hausmeisterposten bei einem Millionär anzunehmen zögert er nicht lange und ergreift die Chance, sich endlich unter Beweis zu stellen und auf eigenen Füßen zu stehen.
Aber die Stimmung auf Hawaii ist stark geprägt von der ersten Covid-Welle, die den wirtschaftlich so wichtigen Tourismus stark einschränkt. Hinzu kommt, dass auf der Insel ständig Menschen spurlos verschwinden und Grady erfährt, dass unter anderem eine junge Frau verschwunden ist, die er auf dem Flug nach Hawaii kennen gelernt hat.
Während er seine Arbeit als Caretaker aufnimmt und die meiste Zeit vollkommen alleine auf dem riesigen Anwesen ist, wird er immer tiefer in die mysteriösen Vorgänge auf der Insel hineingezogen.
Mehr sei zur Handlung nicht verraten.
Die Geschichte schreitet sehr langsam voran, entwickelt dabei aber von Beginn an eine ganz eigene und eigenartige Stimmung, die mich gefesselt hat. Hand hat mit HOKULOA ROAD einen Roman vorgelegt, der sich auf kein typisches Genre festlegen lässt. Das Verschwinden der vielen auf der Insel lebenden Menschen deutet auf einen Krimi hin, möglicherweise treibt ein irrer Massenmörder sein Unwesen.
Zugleich spielt aber auch die Kultur, hawaiianische Mythen und Folklore, eine große Rolle und bringen ein übernatürliches Element in die Story ein.
Besonders genau beschreibt Elizabeth Hand die exotische Pflanzen- und Vogelwelt, die eine nicht minder bedeutende Rolle in dem Roman spielen.
Die enge Bindung an Landschaft und Folklore ließ mich an British Weird denken, ein Genre, dass ich in den letzten Jahren besonders schätzen und lieben gelernt habe. HOKULOA ROAD ist kein actiongeladener Krimi und kein blutiger Horrorroman, sondern eine subtil erzählte Geschichte, die auf intensive Stimmung und ein Gefühl der schwer greifbaren Bedrohung setzt. Mehr als einmal musste ich an Bücher von Jeff VanderMeer denken.
Lange sind sich Grady und der Leser im Unklaren darüber, was auf der Insel vor sich geht.
Gerne hätte ich HOKULOA ROAD mit fünf Sternen bewertet, aber die letzten 100 Seiten, die die Auflösung der mysteriösen Geschehnisse bringen, haben mich dann leider doch nicht mehr so ganz überzeugen können. Es war ab einem bestimmten Punkt klar, dass Elizabeth Hand nicht mit einer monokausalen Erklärung aufwarten kann, aber das Ende des Romans war für meine Geschmack unbefriedigend, auch wenn eine klare, eindeutige Erklärung und Auflösung der Handlung aufgrund der gesamten Anlage nicht möglich ist.
Aber die Stimmung auf Hawaii ist stark geprägt von der ersten Covid-Welle, die den wirtschaftlich so wichtigen Tourismus stark einschränkt. Hinzu kommt, dass auf der Insel ständig Menschen spurlos verschwinden und Grady erfährt, dass unter anderem eine junge Frau verschwunden ist, die er auf dem Flug nach Hawaii kennen gelernt hat.
Während er seine Arbeit als Caretaker aufnimmt und die meiste Zeit vollkommen alleine auf dem riesigen Anwesen ist, wird er immer tiefer in die mysteriösen Vorgänge auf der Insel hineingezogen.
Mehr sei zur Handlung nicht verraten.
Die Geschichte schreitet sehr langsam voran, entwickelt dabei aber von Beginn an eine ganz eigene und eigenartige Stimmung, die mich gefesselt hat. Hand hat mit HOKULOA ROAD einen Roman vorgelegt, der sich auf kein typisches Genre festlegen lässt. Das Verschwinden der vielen auf der Insel lebenden Menschen deutet auf einen Krimi hin, möglicherweise treibt ein irrer Massenmörder sein Unwesen.
Zugleich spielt aber auch die Kultur, hawaiianische Mythen und Folklore, eine große Rolle und bringen ein übernatürliches Element in die Story ein.
Besonders genau beschreibt Elizabeth Hand die exotische Pflanzen- und Vogelwelt, die eine nicht minder bedeutende Rolle in dem Roman spielen.
Die enge Bindung an Landschaft und Folklore ließ mich an British Weird denken, ein Genre, dass ich in den letzten Jahren besonders schätzen und lieben gelernt habe. HOKULOA ROAD ist kein actiongeladener Krimi und kein blutiger Horrorroman, sondern eine subtil erzählte Geschichte, die auf intensive Stimmung und ein Gefühl der schwer greifbaren Bedrohung setzt. Mehr als einmal musste ich an Bücher von Jeff VanderMeer denken.
Lange sind sich Grady und der Leser im Unklaren darüber, was auf der Insel vor sich geht.
Gerne hätte ich HOKULOA ROAD mit fünf Sternen bewertet, aber die letzten 100 Seiten, die die Auflösung der mysteriösen Geschehnisse bringen, haben mich dann leider doch nicht mehr so ganz überzeugen können. Es war ab einem bestimmten Punkt klar, dass Elizabeth Hand nicht mit einer monokausalen Erklärung aufwarten kann, aber das Ende des Romans war für meine Geschmack unbefriedigend, auch wenn eine klare, eindeutige Erklärung und Auflösung der Handlung aufgrund der gesamten Anlage nicht möglich ist.
August 13, 2022
I'm conflicted about this novel. On the one hand, the author did pull me in and hold me there; at times, I would sit and read 60-100 pages before getting up, so she did establish an evocative setting and build a suspenseful mystery that had me wanting to learn the resolution. In Hawaiian mythology, there are certainly some tales that make for a creepy and unsettling background. If you ask me about the time I spent four nights alone at a beach cottage in Lā‘ie, I'll tell you all about how I didn't sleep well at ALL and was convinced that the Nightmarchers were coming for me. Hand focuses more on a spirit dog called Kaupe, and I did not ever really learn much about that story, so I was intrigued.
On the other hand, I cannot ignore some of the problematic elements in the novel. First of all, based on my own understanding of the Hawaiian language, you use the ‘okina (the punctuation mark pictured before this word) to indicate a glottal stop, and if you are spelling Hawai‘i, you insert it between each "I." You do NOT use the ‘okina in the word "Hawaiian." The repeated inclusion of the ‘okina in "Hawaiian" irritated me and showed a lack of knowledge either from her, her editors, or both. I'm no Hawaiian language expert, but seven years of living there has taught me that much. While we are on the topic of Hawai‘i, it also bothered me that the author's construction of setting had me convinced I was on Big Island for the first 100 or so pages. Why? There were black sand beaches (which I know is not necessarily exclusive to Big Island) and...wait for it....a volcano with lava fields. Um, hello! Yet, once I got 100 or so pages in, a character mentions how something here is similar to Big Island, leading me to ask where this was supposed to be. There were also references to people who had come to the island from O‘ahu, so I knew it wasn't set there, either. Reading more about the author from her note at the end and some online research, I learned that she has a daughter living on Maui, and in her note at the end, it sounds like she also drew on information from other connections there. Yet, to me, some elements of the landscape she described seemed more indicative of Big Island. Her work was apparently inspired when she took a trip to Maui to visit her daughter and came across a haunting cement building that listed names of people gone missing. More on that here: https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-n...
That spawned an idea for a novel...what happened to all of these missing people? I also thought it was interesting the way she approached the pandemic and quarantine on the Hawaiian islands because I left in 2017 and have picked up my understanding of that strange time from friends who live there and/or Hawai‘i media outlets.
While I can support the author's desire to protect native species, I don't believe it was her place as a haole living on the mainland to write a novel exploring the tension between locals and tourists. Living in Hawai‘i as a haole from the mainland, you have to tread carefully and have respect for the people, the land, and the culture. I do think Hand is earnest in wanting to communicate the need for respecting the natural landscape and species. However, by creating a white male protagonist outsider who comes in and ultimately pieces together what's been plaguing the island, she perpetuates this notion that the locals could not have sorted it out themselves. I think I would be more apt to recommend this novel if she had instead given a character like Dalita (local female) more agency to uncover what was happening with the missing.
Lastly, outside of my issues of white people from the mainland who don't live in Hawai‘i trying to write an authentic story about Hawai‘i, I do think that Grady (the protagonist) whittled away way too much time drinking beer and frolicking around in the fauna. The descriptions of the birds and the natural landscape were too extensive and repetitive, and the narrative could have been substantially shortened with an editor's careful gaze.
On the other hand, I cannot ignore some of the problematic elements in the novel. First of all, based on my own understanding of the Hawaiian language, you use the ‘okina (the punctuation mark pictured before this word) to indicate a glottal stop, and if you are spelling Hawai‘i, you insert it between each "I." You do NOT use the ‘okina in the word "Hawaiian." The repeated inclusion of the ‘okina in "Hawaiian" irritated me and showed a lack of knowledge either from her, her editors, or both. I'm no Hawaiian language expert, but seven years of living there has taught me that much. While we are on the topic of Hawai‘i, it also bothered me that the author's construction of setting had me convinced I was on Big Island for the first 100 or so pages. Why? There were black sand beaches (which I know is not necessarily exclusive to Big Island) and...wait for it....a volcano with lava fields. Um, hello! Yet, once I got 100 or so pages in, a character mentions how something here is similar to Big Island, leading me to ask where this was supposed to be. There were also references to people who had come to the island from O‘ahu, so I knew it wasn't set there, either. Reading more about the author from her note at the end and some online research, I learned that she has a daughter living on Maui, and in her note at the end, it sounds like she also drew on information from other connections there. Yet, to me, some elements of the landscape she described seemed more indicative of Big Island. Her work was apparently inspired when she took a trip to Maui to visit her daughter and came across a haunting cement building that listed names of people gone missing. More on that here: https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-n...
That spawned an idea for a novel...what happened to all of these missing people? I also thought it was interesting the way she approached the pandemic and quarantine on the Hawaiian islands because I left in 2017 and have picked up my understanding of that strange time from friends who live there and/or Hawai‘i media outlets.
While I can support the author's desire to protect native species, I don't believe it was her place as a haole living on the mainland to write a novel exploring the tension between locals and tourists. Living in Hawai‘i as a haole from the mainland, you have to tread carefully and have respect for the people, the land, and the culture. I do think Hand is earnest in wanting to communicate the need for respecting the natural landscape and species. However, by creating a white male protagonist outsider who comes in and ultimately pieces together what's been plaguing the island, she perpetuates this notion that the locals could not have sorted it out themselves. I think I would be more apt to recommend this novel if she had instead given a character like Dalita (local female) more agency to uncover what was happening with the missing.
Lastly, outside of my issues of white people from the mainland who don't live in Hawai‘i trying to write an authentic story about Hawai‘i, I do think that Grady (the protagonist) whittled away way too much time drinking beer and frolicking around in the fauna. The descriptions of the birds and the natural landscape were too extensive and repetitive, and the narrative could have been substantially shortened with an editor's careful gaze.
August 8, 2022
Liz Hand tries a creep thriller with supernatural overtones. It's a mixed success: the thriller is closer in style to her Cass Neary books, and the creepiness is not nearly as effective as her truly creepy stories like Wylding Hall or some of her excellent short fiction, collected in 'The Best of Elizabeth Hand' or 'Bibliomancy'.
The immersive nature of the descriptions of Hawaiian wildlife remind me a bit of the immersive romanticism of her novel 'Mortal Love'. I felt that this book (at 389 pages) was over-extended by the copious descriptions of Hawaiian flora and fauna, although much of it is set in a nature preserve. She is making a didactic point about species extinction, as she notes in an afterword, but it detracts from the pacing of the book.
The immersive nature of the descriptions of Hawaiian wildlife remind me a bit of the immersive romanticism of her novel 'Mortal Love'. I felt that this book (at 389 pages) was over-extended by the copious descriptions of Hawaiian flora and fauna, although much of it is set in a nature preserve. She is making a didactic point about species extinction, as she notes in an afterword, but it detracts from the pacing of the book.
March 25, 2022
Grady Kendall has lived his whole life in Maine. An out-of-work carpenter—we’re in the third month of the pandemic—28-year-old Grady is living with his mother, with his one sibling in jail and his girlfriend long gone. So when the opportunity comes along to work as a caretaker in Hawaiʻi for billionaire Wes Minton, Grady jumps at the chance.
But as beautiful as Hawaiʻi might be, there’s an unsettling undertow. With tourism on hold, more people are without homes, sleeping rough on the beach. Drugs, opiates especially, are everywhere. A shocking number of people are missing, their names memorialized on a wall. And Hokuloa Road, a remote part of the island, is said to be dangerous—for many reasons. When Grady learns that Jessie, a young woman he met on the flight to the island, is among the missing, he makes it his job to find her.
Eventually this takes him even deeper into the wilderness, facing fears both man-made and mythological. This is a strong, unsettling narrative that manages to stay centered on Grady while he roams in search of the truth. Clear writing, a brisk pace, and a growing sense of dread make for an excellent work of crime fiction. —Brian Kenney
For more reviews of new crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
But as beautiful as Hawaiʻi might be, there’s an unsettling undertow. With tourism on hold, more people are without homes, sleeping rough on the beach. Drugs, opiates especially, are everywhere. A shocking number of people are missing, their names memorialized on a wall. And Hokuloa Road, a remote part of the island, is said to be dangerous—for many reasons. When Grady learns that Jessie, a young woman he met on the flight to the island, is among the missing, he makes it his job to find her.
Eventually this takes him even deeper into the wilderness, facing fears both man-made and mythological. This is a strong, unsettling narrative that manages to stay centered on Grady while he roams in search of the truth. Clear writing, a brisk pace, and a growing sense of dread make for an excellent work of crime fiction. —Brian Kenney
For more reviews of new crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
August 5, 2022
What an extremely disappointing book. I am not sure what has happened to Elizabeth Hand's writing, but here last few books have been utter crap, and this is the largest festering pile of excrement in the bunch. I am quite done with White authors appropriating other cultures in their books because the authors that are part of these cultures can't seem to get their works published. How the White Author has maintained its hold on authentic experiences from non-White cultures is patently ridiculous, and until White authors start to speak out about this problem AND stop writing books like this the problem is surely not going to disappear. Adding to that mess is the White Savior MC, which the non-White world, in fiction or in reality, has most definitely had enough of already. Fucking hell. The fact that Hand is using it in 2022 is beyond my ability to reason out. There isn't anything redeeming about this book that comes to mind, and while I will still grab Elizabeth Hand's next book (yay for libraries!), I am saddened that she would write something so tone deaf AND get it published. UGH.
June 28, 2022
I’m going to keep this brief and start with the positive. This book has so much potential. I was very into the underlying story until 3/4 in. The Hawaiian setting, history and folklore were fascinating. The mystery and intrigue were definitely not lacking. And I LOVE this cover 😍
Unfortunately, the execution was suboptimal. It was too lengthy, unnecessarily descriptive, repetitive, and confusing. I’ll wrap this up by saying the last 1/4 felt like an entirely different book and I still have no idea what actually happened 🤷♀️
⭐️⭐️
Thank you @mulhollandbooks for the complimentary copy. I’m grateful for the opportunity ❤️
Pub date: 7/19/22
Unfortunately, the execution was suboptimal. It was too lengthy, unnecessarily descriptive, repetitive, and confusing. I’ll wrap this up by saying the last 1/4 felt like an entirely different book and I still have no idea what actually happened 🤷♀️
⭐️⭐️
Thank you @mulhollandbooks for the complimentary copy. I’m grateful for the opportunity ❤️
Pub date: 7/19/22
August 22, 2022
Was this a horror story? If so, the creepy, supernatural elements were not emphasised enough to be that effective. It was also super slowly paced, and despite the great atmosphere and lovely description of the place I didn't find it very engaging.
March 28, 2022
Are you ready for a slow and creepy burn?
Join Grady Kendall as he decides to take a caretaker job for an eccentric millionaire on in Hawai'i. From the start, Grady is surprised by the lush surroundings, the beautiful flora and fauna and the long list of tourist and citizens that seemed to have just ...disappeared.
A chance meeting on the plane means that Grady is familiar with the latest missing person and he is not about to believe the offhand explanations given by the islanders. As he begins his own investigations, he uncovers more and more things that do not make sense. If you long for a creepy slow burn, to read more about the wild beauty of Hawai'i, or just love crime books #HokuloaRoad is for you!
#Mulhoolandbooks
Join Grady Kendall as he decides to take a caretaker job for an eccentric millionaire on in Hawai'i. From the start, Grady is surprised by the lush surroundings, the beautiful flora and fauna and the long list of tourist and citizens that seemed to have just ...disappeared.
A chance meeting on the plane means that Grady is familiar with the latest missing person and he is not about to believe the offhand explanations given by the islanders. As he begins his own investigations, he uncovers more and more things that do not make sense. If you long for a creepy slow burn, to read more about the wild beauty of Hawai'i, or just love crime books #HokuloaRoad is for you!
#Mulhoolandbooks
October 11, 2022
Grady arrives to work as a caretaker for a very rich, reclusive guy, who professes a deep love for the local fauna. Grady barely sees the guy, who spends most of his time elsewhere on his property. Grady acquaints himself with the billionaire's house, and becomes fascinated by the guy’s big aquarium, and by his caged birds (who are on the endangered list). Otherwise, Grady spends much of his time drinking, and being kind of aimless. Also, he is visited several times by a strange upright, dog-like figure.
There are also several missing young people, primarily people of colour, on the island, with the police either not investigating or having no success finding anyone.
Elizabeth Hand expertly paints a gorgeous picture of Hokulua Road and its surroundings. From that perspective, the book worked well. I could feel the hot air, hear birds and feel the rain. Also, it was interesting to see how people coped with COVID restrictions.
Much as I've loved the two other books I've read by Elizabeth Hand, I did not love this. There were lots of elements in this book that should have come together to make a fantastic read, but these things kept me from really enjoying this book:
-Grady is a pretty lacklustre main character. There's little about him that explained to me why he would become such a focal point in the story.
-I was also really uncomfortable that Hand had Grady, a white guy with no understanding of the beliefs and spirituality of the people of the island, repeatedly see a somewhat terrifying spirit.
-Grady really only cares that there are unexplained disappearances on the island when a young woman from L.A., who was on the plane with him, goes missing.
-The romance between Grady and the friend of missing young woman didn’t feel earned.
-The perpetrator is easy to figure out. This isn't usually a dealbreaker for me, but this was on top of all my other issues with this book.
Mostly, I felt underwhelmed by this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Mulholland Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
There are also several missing young people, primarily people of colour, on the island, with the police either not investigating or having no success finding anyone.
Elizabeth Hand expertly paints a gorgeous picture of Hokulua Road and its surroundings. From that perspective, the book worked well. I could feel the hot air, hear birds and feel the rain. Also, it was interesting to see how people coped with COVID restrictions.
Much as I've loved the two other books I've read by Elizabeth Hand, I did not love this. There were lots of elements in this book that should have come together to make a fantastic read, but these things kept me from really enjoying this book:
-Grady is a pretty lacklustre main character. There's little about him that explained to me why he would become such a focal point in the story.
-I was also really uncomfortable that Hand had Grady, a white guy with no understanding of the beliefs and spirituality of the people of the island, repeatedly see a somewhat terrifying spirit.
-Grady really only cares that there are unexplained disappearances on the island when a young woman from L.A., who was on the plane with him, goes missing.
-The romance between Grady and the friend of missing young woman didn’t feel earned.
-The perpetrator is easy to figure out. This isn't usually a dealbreaker for me, but this was on top of all my other issues with this book.
Mostly, I felt underwhelmed by this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Mulholland Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 3, 2022
Great story line but disappointing finish, really could have been a more exciting twist with what goes on at Hokuloa Point.
October 28, 2024
Utter dreck. A Haole alcoholic drifter living at home is offered a job as a caretaker to a wealthy Haole landowner during the pandemic. During the flight to Hawai’i he becomes obsessed with a young woman on the flight going to visit her friend. When she disappears- one of seemingly thousands of people who have disappeared- his creepy stalker tendencies ignite his heroic desire to “do something “ and stop the (?) serial killer whom he deduces the identity of based on circumstantial evidence.
He also has encounters with a kaupe, a Hawaiian dog spirit.
That this book is poorly written with a shaky plot line and un likable characters is secondary to the fact that it is completely ignorant about the plight of native Hawaiians in their land which was stolen from them. That the “hero” is a Haole male is deeply regressive. Read at your own peril.
He also has encounters with a kaupe, a Hawaiian dog spirit.
That this book is poorly written with a shaky plot line and un likable characters is secondary to the fact that it is completely ignorant about the plight of native Hawaiians in their land which was stolen from them. That the “hero” is a Haole male is deeply regressive. Read at your own peril.
August 1, 2022
“The reefs are filled with bones.”
•
Read for a an extremely slow, but vividly written suspense set in rural Hawaii.
•
I love me some Hawaii so I was really excited when @novelsuspects and @mulhollandbooks sent me a copy of Hokuloa Road.
Unfortunately, it fell short for me.
The positives are that the descriptions are vivid and really provide the atmospheric vibes that I think the author was going for. Those who like extremely descriptive writing will probably love this one! I also enjoyed the use of Hawaiian folklore and the obvious appreciation the author has for culture and the people there.
The negatives is that the writing may be lovely, but it honestly felt like a majority of the book was a description of Hawaii’s landscape and wild life. The pacing is so so slow. Way too slow, in my opinion. This is highlighted even more because the suspense wasn’t all that suspenseful as the “bad guy” is made pretty obvious from the start and the folklore wasn’t played into enough. The ending was completely anti-climatic and the romance was awkward. Then there was the over the top explanations about the Hawaiian lifestyle, language, lore, and issues the natives have. It got to be way too preachy; especially coming from a haole who hadn’t set foot on the islands until a couple years ago. That along with the blatant white savior vibes (the main character even gets called out for it in the book, but then just continues along the same path LOL) just made the read more cringy than fun for me.
I do think this book’s style will really appeal to some people, but I was just not one of them.
•
Read for a an extremely slow, but vividly written suspense set in rural Hawaii.
•
I love me some Hawaii so I was really excited when @novelsuspects and @mulhollandbooks sent me a copy of Hokuloa Road.
Unfortunately, it fell short for me.
The positives are that the descriptions are vivid and really provide the atmospheric vibes that I think the author was going for. Those who like extremely descriptive writing will probably love this one! I also enjoyed the use of Hawaiian folklore and the obvious appreciation the author has for culture and the people there.
The negatives is that the writing may be lovely, but it honestly felt like a majority of the book was a description of Hawaii’s landscape and wild life. The pacing is so so slow. Way too slow, in my opinion. This is highlighted even more because the suspense wasn’t all that suspenseful as the “bad guy” is made pretty obvious from the start and the folklore wasn’t played into enough. The ending was completely anti-climatic and the romance was awkward. Then there was the over the top explanations about the Hawaiian lifestyle, language, lore, and issues the natives have. It got to be way too preachy; especially coming from a haole who hadn’t set foot on the islands until a couple years ago. That along with the blatant white savior vibes (the main character even gets called out for it in the book, but then just continues along the same path LOL) just made the read more cringy than fun for me.
I do think this book’s style will really appeal to some people, but I was just not one of them.
December 31, 2022
I started off really enjoying this book. The fictional island was realistic and believable and the local slang was pretty good! I liked all the different (extinct native) birds and picturing what they looked like and how they sounded.
Grady leaves Maine at the beginning of the pandemic to take a job as a caretaker at a mysterious estate. He is isolated geographically as well as due to the quarantine and the owner of the property is often away at the point.
There are a lot of things going on. Missing people, unexplained sights and dead bodies washing up on the beach. The entire book has a dark and eerie tone. But when Grady goes on his long trek to the point, things get exciting.
I felt like in the end things were left unexplained and unfinished. What about the stone carving? Did Grady return it? Did the kaupe want Grady to see what was going on at the point, return the carving or get off the sacred land? What was up with Scotty? I thought he should have provided some insight. What about the locked room and the cell phones?!?! And the rest of the missing people?
Grady leaves Maine at the beginning of the pandemic to take a job as a caretaker at a mysterious estate. He is isolated geographically as well as due to the quarantine and the owner of the property is often away at the point.
There are a lot of things going on. Missing people, unexplained sights and dead bodies washing up on the beach. The entire book has a dark and eerie tone. But when Grady goes on his long trek to the point, things get exciting.
I felt like in the end things were left unexplained and unfinished. What about the stone carving? Did Grady return it? Did the kaupe want Grady to see what was going on at the point, return the carving or get off the sacred land? What was up with Scotty? I thought he should have provided some insight. What about the locked room and the cell phones?!?! And the rest of the missing people?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2022
I fell in love with this book. It gives you time to settle into the place and really feel it. The sights the sounds. The characters are very well written and their driving factors. I could myself pulled into the story and the mystery. Loved it.
January 16, 2023
as a thriller/horror this was fine but it works better as environmental fiction. there is much to take in: homelessness, poverty, political corruption, & desecration of the environment. hawaii reads as a main character & is well-developed as is the mythology of kaupe which informs much of this story . this is a slow burn with a ton of picking up beer, asking for beer, giving beer, & drinking beer. the ending is silly rushed & anti-climatic, there are loose ends, & we are led to believe that all the loose ends will work themselves out.
OTOH, i enjoyed looking up birds & fauna specific to hawaii: moloka'i 'õ'õ, 'ākepa, 'i'iwi, 'ōhi'a, parasol urchins (made up), lehua forest flowers, honeycreepers, & ki'i pōhaku. did you know cone shells are poisonous? i do now.
OTOH, i enjoyed looking up birds & fauna specific to hawaii: moloka'i 'õ'õ, 'ākepa, 'i'iwi, 'ōhi'a, parasol urchins (made up), lehua forest flowers, honeycreepers, & ki'i pōhaku. did you know cone shells are poisonous? i do now.
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