Tori Eldridge infuses her writing with spirit and specificity, finding a personal connection to every story, whether it’s through the unparalleled morality of a character like Lily Wong (the heroine of her popular Ninja series), or the epic and ancestral scope of a novel like Dance Among the Flames. Now, with Kaua’i Storm—the launch of her latest series—Tori Eldridge pays homage to her homeland of Hawai’i with a work that is as exciting as it is emotionally resonant.
Right from the start of Kaua’i Storm, Tori Eldridge places the reader’s mind into that of an outsider. Makalani Pahukula has been away from Hawai’i, living on the mainland for long enough that she feels disconnected from her homeland. And yet, the essence of being Hawaiian still flows through her blood and the moment she is back on Kaua’i, she feels the tug of the land and the history that comes with it, which is why she can almost immediately sense that something is amiss.
Kaua’i Storm is a mystery in that after discovering that her cousins have gone missing, Makalani launches an investigation to figure out what happened. This leads to an exploration of lineage in Hawai’i—some of it native and some of it imposed by outside forces. The central conflict in the novel centers on this concept and makes for some compelling reading. But the true heart of Kaua’i Storm is family and the exploration of how this young woman once again connects with her heritage.
Tracing land ownership in minority cultures seems to be having a moment within crime fiction. Kaua’i Storm reminded me a bit of Wanda Morris’s What You Leave Behind which tackled the topic from the perspective of the Gullah and Geechee peoples of the Southern United States. Like that excellent novel, Kaua’i Storm’s strength is how much authenticity Tori Eldridge places on the page. Readers not only learn about the people of Hawai’i, but also the flora, fauna, and food of this island setting. Steeping the reader in all things Hawaiian makes Kaua’i Storm an all-consuming journey. Some readers may at first struggle with unfamiliarity of names and the quantity of native language included, but over time reading this novel, this concern becomes a distant memory.
Lastly, there is the character of Makalani Pahukula herself. Tori Eldridge knows how to craft a complex character that is capable of carrying a mystery series. Readers are only given a small glimpse of Makalani’s journey in Kaua’i Storm. Certainly, there are more aspects readers will long to know about her, which is why they will return for further entries in the series. Given recent governmental decisions about the value of park rangers, it will be interesting to see how that affects Makalani moving forward.
Pick up Tori Eldridge’s Kaua’i Storm for the mystery but stay for Makalani Pahukula’s fealty to land and family. You won’t regret this journey to—and through—this Hawaiian Island.
BUY LINKS: Kaua’i Storm by Tori Eldridge
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
