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rdhk's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
the most compelling parts of this novel were: 1. the discovery of a dead body by way of a slowly melting foot in a pool of lava (!), 2. the choice to center an older lesbian couple rather than a more traditional hero or heroine, and 3. the hawaiian setting, which was sketched respectfully and with due regard to indigenous beliefs, practices, and colloquialisms. everything else - the writing, the plotting, the characterization - was bland and almost amateurish. in the vein of a chai that hasn't been steeped long enough, the book goes down easy but the reader retain little. i'd recommend this for night-time insomnia company (hi, it's me) but that's about it.
plannedandplanted's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Loved the setting and the insights into Hawaiian culture but the plot and ending was not too compelling
dollycas's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
4.0
Dollycas's Thoughts
Valerie Corbin is having a tough time. A few weeks ago she and her younger brother Charlie were in a terrible car accident. She survived, he didn't. She had been planning a vacation with her wife, Kristen to the Big Island of Hawai'i to celebrate her 60th birthday and Kristin's retirement. They decide to keep their plans and go. Valerie hopes seeing their friend Isaac and enjoying all the things he wants to show them and the entire experience will help her deal with her guilt and her grief.
Isaac can't wait to take Kristen and Valerie to see a volcano with an active flow. Valerie gets all caught up in the mass of red and orange crawling across the base of the black rock. She separates herself from Kristen and Issac to take some pictures. Suddenly she sees a boot about to be covered with lava. Then she realizes the book is attached to a leg. Before she can call for help lava covers the leg, boot, and everything around it.
Since she is the only one who saw what happened not even Isaac and Kristen will believe her but she knows the person was murdered and the killer left the body near the lava so it and all the evidence would be covered quickly and forever. Valerie decides to do sleuthing on her own to get justice for the victim. Unfortunately, her investigation puts a target on her back and she realizes she could be the next person swimming in the flowing lava.
____
I have always wanted to travel to Hawai'i but short of that I enjoy literary vacations to the islands. With Ms. Karst living part of the year there and her descriptive writing style she brought the Big Island to life for me. I also learned that you must respect the volcanos and their lava flow. A tourist site or neighborhood can quickly turn to disaster as fissures open and red ooze flows. I can't believe how close people can get to it. Geothermal development was a big theme in the book. While I knew the basics it was truly put into perspective in this story. I also became more knowledgeable about avocados and cliff fishing.
The author introduces us to Valerie Corbin, a retired caterer, and her wife Kristen, a now-retired journeyman carpenter. I really didn't like Kristen, but I identified immediately with Valerie. She has suffered a horrendous traumatic loss and it happened just a short time ago. Of course, she is grieving and a trip to Hawaii is not going to fix it. Yes, as the days, weeks, months, and years go by it gets easier to move forward but Valerie survived the accident that killed her brother and she will need help to get beyond that. Then she sees a person buried under the lava and again, it shook her to her core. It was hard for her to open up, which was understandable, but there was conflict between the couple throughout the story. I just would have liked Kristin to be more supportive from the start as she did get better by the final page.
The murder mystery was very unique with an eerie start. What a way to get rid of a body. It made sense for Valerie to get involved. Anyone who saw such a sight would want answers. I liked that Valerie didn't give up especially when no one believed her. Her sleuthing took her all around the island. I was very entertained following along each step of the way. The ending was very exciting.
The author does use "spelling and punctuation routinely employed currently in the Hawaiian Islands", Hawaiian and Pidgin English. It messed with the flow for me at the start of the story, as I had to take a moment to get the context. There is a glossary at the end of the book and some recipes too.
Molten Death is more than a cozy mystery. It is also a story of the complex relationship between Valerie and Kristen. I believe it was struggling before Valerie's brother's death, but that event opened a chasm. Kristen not believing Valerie about the body broke her trust as well.
I am intrigued to see where Ms. Karst takes this series. Valerie's first trip to the island was pretty eventful. It will be interesting to see what she gets tangled up in next.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
allena_inwonderland's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
When I saw that this book was book was set in Hilo I just HAD to read it.
Valerie just lost her brother in a traumatic accident, putting a strain on her and Kristen's marriage.
So they decide to go to Hilo to celebrate Valerie's 60th birthday. One morning while they're exploring a lava flow - Valerie walks off and while on own she sees a boot sticking out of the lava! With a harder look realizes the boot is still ATTACHED to a leg.
What's supposed to be a vacation turns into a mystery solving Nancy Drew moment for a mysterious person sinking into lava.
The author interwove Hawaiian culture and language throughout this book. It felt like I was back in Hilo while reading this 🖤 and at the end there's even some recipes from the meals featured in the book!
Thank you BookSparks for my copy!
Valerie just lost her brother in a traumatic accident, putting a strain on her and Kristen's marriage.
So they decide to go to Hilo to celebrate Valerie's 60th birthday. One morning while they're exploring a lava flow - Valerie walks off and while on own she sees a boot sticking out of the lava! With a harder look realizes the boot is still ATTACHED to a leg.
What's supposed to be a vacation turns into a mystery solving Nancy Drew moment for a mysterious person sinking into lava.
The author interwove Hawaiian culture and language throughout this book. It felt like I was back in Hilo while reading this 🖤 and at the end there's even some recipes from the meals featured in the book!
Thank you BookSparks for my copy!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Death
katreader's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
MOLTEN DEATH by Leslie Karst
The First Orchid Isle Mystery
Their trip to Hawai'i was supposed to be a time to rest and relax, but that goes out the window when Valerie Corbin sees a body disappearing in the molten lava and neither her wife, Kristen, or friend Isaac seem to believe her. Witnessing that leg disappearing in the fiery lava reminds Valerie too much of the accident that recently killed her brother. After reading about a missing person and unable to get the horrific images out of her mind, she decides to start asking some questions. Although her preoccupation is causing a rift between her and Kirsten, Valerie needs answers. But will her push for the truth cause more harm than good?
MOLTEN DEATH is a truly unique mystery. Technically, there is no crime, so there’s no police involvement. Valerie sees a leg that is engulfed by lava before anyone else sees it. While readers believe her, everyone else is doubtful. Before she can even suggest foul play, Valerie deems it imperative to find out to whom the leg, and presumably body, belonged. The novel is a mix between Valerie trying to identify the body and determining what happened to it, relaxing and enjoying the sites and food of Hawai'i, and dealing with relationship issues along with the aftermath of the accident that killed her brother.
While I truly appreciate the Hawaiian spellings and use of Pidgin, trying to mentally pronounce everything tended to be a distraction, if not taking me out of the story then slowing the pacing to a crawl. That being said, I loved the information provided, especially the reasoning behind speaking Pidgin and the ability some people have to easily switch between that and standard English. One of my favorite aspects of the book was all the knowledge that was shared, from the various sites, cultural aspects, food, and weather!
MOLTEN DEATH is an appealing entry to the Orchid Island Mystery series with diverse characters, an exotic setting, and a compelling story. There are also plenty of great foodie descriptions with recipes included at the end of the book.
The First Orchid Isle Mystery
Their trip to Hawai'i was supposed to be a time to rest and relax, but that goes out the window when Valerie Corbin sees a body disappearing in the molten lava and neither her wife, Kristen, or friend Isaac seem to believe her. Witnessing that leg disappearing in the fiery lava reminds Valerie too much of the accident that recently killed her brother. After reading about a missing person and unable to get the horrific images out of her mind, she decides to start asking some questions. Although her preoccupation is causing a rift between her and Kirsten, Valerie needs answers. But will her push for the truth cause more harm than good?
MOLTEN DEATH is a truly unique mystery. Technically, there is no crime, so there’s no police involvement. Valerie sees a leg that is engulfed by lava before anyone else sees it. While readers believe her, everyone else is doubtful. Before she can even suggest foul play, Valerie deems it imperative to find out to whom the leg, and presumably body, belonged. The novel is a mix between Valerie trying to identify the body and determining what happened to it, relaxing and enjoying the sites and food of Hawai'i, and dealing with relationship issues along with the aftermath of the accident that killed her brother.
While I truly appreciate the Hawaiian spellings and use of Pidgin, trying to mentally pronounce everything tended to be a distraction, if not taking me out of the story then slowing the pacing to a crawl. That being said, I loved the information provided, especially the reasoning behind speaking Pidgin and the ability some people have to easily switch between that and standard English. One of my favorite aspects of the book was all the knowledge that was shared, from the various sites, cultural aspects, food, and weather!
MOLTEN DEATH is an appealing entry to the Orchid Island Mystery series with diverse characters, an exotic setting, and a compelling story. There are also plenty of great foodie descriptions with recipes included at the end of the book.
jen_baroness_mom's review
4.0
Molten Death by Leslie Karst is a superb start to a new, cozy mystery series.
Will Valerie figure out whose body she saw in the lava?
Valerie Corbin
Our sleuth is Valerie. She and her wife, Kristen, are on vacation in Hawaii. Valerie is still grieving the death of her younger brother in their home state of California. Kristen is worried about Valerie. She hopes that this vacation will help Valerie return to her old self. They will be celebrating Valerie's 60th birthday while there.
At first, I didn't care for Valerie, but after reading her point of view for the entire book, I started liking her. She wants to be herself, but she also wants respect and love. Valerie is having a hard time opening up to her wife about her grief. Being in a new place with no memories of her brother helps a bit.
The Mystery
While visiting the lava fields early one morning, as the others hike away, Valerie sees a boot and a leg being smothered by the lava. She is curious, but it also brings her back to her brother's death. However, Kristen and their friend don't really believe that what Valerie saw was a body. Now, nothing is left, so no one can know what Valerie saw.
The whole sleuthing starts out as Valerie trying to prove that she isn't losing her mind. She saw what she saw, and she is going to find a way to prove it.
Four Stars
I enjoyed Ms. Karst's writing style and the setting. It did feel as though Valerie and her friends were fascinated by the lava. That seems a bit weird to me. However, I still like the story that she was telling with Valerie moving forward. My rating for Molten Death by Leslie Karst is five stars. I do recommend this book to all the cozy mystery readers out there.
There are a few recipes at the end of the book. They are Val's Mai Tai, Poke Three Ways, Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Papaya-Yogurt Dressing, Miso-Sesame Chicken, Kalua Pork, and Papay Chutney. There is also a glossary of Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Molten Death by Leslie Karst.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
rusereviews's review
informative
mysterious
3.0
Molten Death by Leslie Karst is a cozy mystery featuring an retired sapphic couple, and the first book in the Orchid Isle Mystery series.
First off, the cover artist did a bang up job with this one!
Our main character, Valerie, is a retired caterer who recently suffered the loss of her younger brother due to a car accident. She travels to Hawai'i with her wife, Kristen, to take a vacation in hopes to heal. One day, they walk a lava field at sunrise and Valerie swears she saw a boot attached to a leg being covered by lava though everyone else doesn't quite believe it.
It's so nice to find cozy mystery series with a mature heroine. Valerie turns sixty during the course of this book.
The book does a great job describing the breathtaking scenery of the island. Apparently, the volcanic activity described in the book is modeled after an eruption that happened in 2018 on the Big Island, which is pretty cool.
There's also great descriptions of food and drink, as Valerie is a bit of a foodie. I learned a lot about avocados, and had a huge craving for fresh fruit while reading the book. There are several recipes included, including poke three ways, grapefruit and avocado salad with papaya-yogurt dressing, miso-sesame chicken, and kalua pork. Also included in the back of the book is a glossary of Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases, which was super helpful for me.
If you're into cozy mysteries with mature heroines or set in tropical locations, give this one a try!
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to BookSparks and Severn House for the complimentary hardcover copy and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions contained herein are my own. Molten Death just came out on Tuesday, April 2nd.
First off, the cover artist did a bang up job with this one!
Our main character, Valerie, is a retired caterer who recently suffered the loss of her younger brother due to a car accident. She travels to Hawai'i with her wife, Kristen, to take a vacation in hopes to heal. One day, they walk a lava field at sunrise and Valerie swears she saw a boot attached to a leg being covered by lava though everyone else doesn't quite believe it.
It's so nice to find cozy mystery series with a mature heroine. Valerie turns sixty during the course of this book.
The book does a great job describing the breathtaking scenery of the island. Apparently, the volcanic activity described in the book is modeled after an eruption that happened in 2018 on the Big Island, which is pretty cool.
There's also great descriptions of food and drink, as Valerie is a bit of a foodie. I learned a lot about avocados, and had a huge craving for fresh fruit while reading the book. There are several recipes included, including poke three ways, grapefruit and avocado salad with papaya-yogurt dressing, miso-sesame chicken, and kalua pork. Also included in the back of the book is a glossary of Hawaiian and Pidgin words and phrases, which was super helpful for me.
If you're into cozy mysteries with mature heroines or set in tropical locations, give this one a try!
I received a copy of this book to review. Thank you to BookSparks and Severn House for the complimentary hardcover copy and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions contained herein are my own. Molten Death just came out on Tuesday, April 2nd.
readingwithtaco's review
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0