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kimdavishb's review against another edition
5.0
MOLTEN DEATH is the first book in the brand-new Orchid Isle Mystery series by Leslie Karst. Set against the lush backdrop of Hawaii and the terrifying ferocity of an active volcano, the author brings the setting to life through her vivid descriptive voice. You can feel the heat of the lava flow, smell the tropical flowers, taste the fresh papaya, and see the glorious beauty of the crashing waves. I also love that the protagonist, Valerie Corbin, and her wife, Kristen, are retirement-age women. It brings a maturity to the storyline and (I hate to admit it) more relatable to my age group. They’re both inquisitive, active, and full of life instead of the stereotypical ‘sitting in a rocking chair knitting’ at their age. Ms. Karst also captures the Hawaiian culture and politics. It’s obvious she’s done her research and, from her author’s note and “about” at the back of the book, lives part-time in Hilo, Hawaii, which gives her an insider’s view of the residents. I appreciated the Hawaiian and Pidgin (a mixture of Hawaiian, English, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, and Filipino) words and phrases provided, although she expertly crafts her sentences so that the meaning is perfectly clear while reading the story, without slowing down the pace.
The plotline is clever: how can you prove a murder happened when only the protagonist saw a foot and a leg devoured by flowing lava? And any clues left behind by the perpetrator are non-existent because of the destructive lava as well. Most people, including her wife, don’t believe Valerie when she claims she saw a body. Yet her tenacity, despite only being a visitor to the island, has her digging up information and uncovering secrets that people would rather remain hidden. There were clues to follow and a few suspects to keep me guessing. The story kept me engrossed, and I had a hard time putting the book down when other obligations called. By the conclusion of the book, I was ready to book a vacation to the islands and ready to read the next in the series!
There are also several tempting Hawaiian recipes included at the back of the book for the home cook to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thought and opinions are my own.
The plotline is clever: how can you prove a murder happened when only the protagonist saw a foot and a leg devoured by flowing lava? And any clues left behind by the perpetrator are non-existent because of the destructive lava as well. Most people, including her wife, don’t believe Valerie when she claims she saw a body. Yet her tenacity, despite only being a visitor to the island, has her digging up information and uncovering secrets that people would rather remain hidden. There were clues to follow and a few suspects to keep me guessing. The story kept me engrossed, and I had a hard time putting the book down when other obligations called. By the conclusion of the book, I was ready to book a vacation to the islands and ready to read the next in the series!
There are also several tempting Hawaiian recipes included at the back of the book for the home cook to try out.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thought and opinions are my own.
readingonthehorizon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Molten Death by Leslie Karst is an incredibly detailed and carefully thought through novel based on the volcanic activity that occurred on the Big Island in 2018. It follows Valerie and Kristen, a married couple on a holiday to Hawai'i in order to rebuild their relationship, that soon turns into an exciting yet cosy mystery with lots of lava and a few stolen avocados.
This novel is unique and surprisingly educational, with a few fun recipes and a list of glossary terms in the back.
Thank you so much to Severn House and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
This novel is unique and surprisingly educational, with a few fun recipes and a list of glossary terms in the back.
Thank you so much to Severn House and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury and Death
niaamore's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Ever wonder what would happen if you hid a body in flowing hot lava? Well I have a book for you…
Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have their Hawai’i vacation shaken up when a body is seen almost completely covered in lava. With the evidence now gone, Valerie decides to start an investigation of her own with the help of friendly island locals.
I’ve always wanted to visit Hawai’i, but I respect the locals’ request enough to settle for a fictional trip through any books and tv shows I can find! This book is no exception, with its colorful Hawai’ian dialogue, tourist attractions, and delicious cuisines. The author has even included recipes at the end! I’d love to give one or two a try.
The murder mystery is very cozy, and I found myself enjoying the Nancy Drew-like sleuthing. It’s fun, tropical, and heartwarming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC.
Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have their Hawai’i vacation shaken up when a body is seen almost completely covered in lava. With the evidence now gone, Valerie decides to start an investigation of her own with the help of friendly island locals.
I’ve always wanted to visit Hawai’i, but I respect the locals’ request enough to settle for a fictional trip through any books and tv shows I can find! This book is no exception, with its colorful Hawai’ian dialogue, tourist attractions, and delicious cuisines. The author has even included recipes at the end! I’d love to give one or two a try.
The murder mystery is very cozy, and I found myself enjoying the Nancy Drew-like sleuthing. It’s fun, tropical, and heartwarming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for this ARC.
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