Hey, it’s Rey. (I am so lovin’ writing these posts. What happened?! LMAO)
The Boss is doing a blog tour re our second adventure—Can You Hula Like Hilo Hattie?—which has been organized by Jina S. Bazzar. A huge thank you to Jina! (There’ll be more about Jina, her blog, and writing in a future post.)
Here’s a rundown on what the three of us from the Triple Threat Investigation Agency—JJ, Linda, and yours truly—experienced during the Hula adventure, as detailed by The Boss.
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Can you Hula Like Hilo Hattie, the sequel to The Connecticut Corpse Caper, finds the three amateur sleuths—Jill (JJ), Rey, and Linda—serving as bona-fide detectives. The owners of the newfound Triple Threat Investigation Agency even have a paying assignment, courtesy of their first client, WP Howell: discover the secret of his young, pretty wife, Carmie. Millions, and a much-desired divorce, rest on it.
What seems straightforward enough quickly evolves into complicated when Carmie’s battered body is found in the sapphire waters of the Hawaiian Pacific. It soon becomes evident that Carmie was not the only one with a secret, nor the only one to die an untimely death. Who among a cast of curious, unconventional characters is tenacious (or crazy) enough to eliminate all living liabilities? JJ, Rey and Linda determine to find out.
In their quest for answers, the women encounter a plethora of suspects. It appears there is no lack of people who have a dislike for, or hold a grudge against, Carmelita Sangita Howell.
Their P.I. travels lead them along a few side roads and detours, where drug dealers and informants, treachery and blackmail, abound. Benny Pohaku, working both sides of the drug-pushing fence, is young and brash, and his arrogance ticks off the wrong people. Bullets soon silence those boastful lips. Dealer Cash Layton Jones is as galling as he is attractive, and his habit of entering Jill’s condo uninvited results in a few heated encounters. He also has JJ wondering if there’s more to the enigmatic man than a penchant for loud Aloha shirts and a proclivity for being “conveniently” close by.
Carmie’s intriguing if not odd, ‘tini friends serve as pieces to an expanding puzzle. A few have reasons to want her dead. Jon Jonson, a currently down-and-out musician, has been blackballed by Carmie from playing the local music circuit. He is definitely no fan of hers. Stacy Kapu, Carmie’s trainer and former lover, may not have cared to be unceremoniously dumped. Restaurant co-manager, Benoit Paillisson, has always had a hate-hate relationship with the rich young woman; he has had no qualms about telling people how happy he would be if she fell off the panoramic Pali Lookout.
And there is no love lost when it comes to hubby WP Howell. What had Carmie “known” that could have proven detrimental? Was it damaging enough to prompt the man to kill? Salv Smith, a young Trango gang member, and his affiliation with Carmie is not immediately evident. Because she sports the same black widow tattoo as her stepson, it appears Lee Smith has a connection to the gang as well . . . and it could be more ominous than anything Salv may be caught up in.
Gino Carpella, Carmie’s twin brother, has been rumored to associate with “questionable sorts”. It has even been suggested that he had had his sister’s fiancé executed. Is the rift in the twins’ once caring, close-knit relationship to blame for Carmie’s death? If so, how? Or has one of Gino’s enemies retaliated by striking out at his closest family member?
As the women detect, they find relations between people and happenings as clear as the contaminated waters of the Ala Wai Canal. Fortunately, in addition to perseverance, they receive assistance now and again. Composed, thorough, and discerning Detective Gerald Ives works closely enough with JJ, Rey and Linda to provide guidance, but not so much as to have them tramp on his toes . . . too much. A seasoned private investigator residing on Big Island, Petey May, serves invaluable to the women. His P.I. experience helps in bringing new facts—and evidence—to light. He also provides JJ with unpleasant news regarding a personal matter. Their bond will transcend many cases to come.
As the body count increases and the suspect list decreases, the women confirm the murderer’s identity, but proving it will not be easy. Resolve and help from pretty pink Tasers bring the evasive murderer, and cohort, to their knees. Literally.
While major incidents are explained, a few loose ends (and cannons) remain. These will be addressed, but not necessarily [yet] tied up, in the third novel, Coco’s Nuts. JJ, Rey and Linda are budding detectives, after all, but they do still have lessons to learn and skills to hone.
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So there you have it, the Boss’ take on the case. Not bad. A bit wordy for my liking (too bad she wouldn’t let me tackle it, LOL).
Again, a big thank-you to Jina. Please check out her site and work at: https://authorsinspirations.wordpress.com.
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