PLEASING THE DEAD
By Deborah Turrell Atkinson
Poisoned Pen Press, February 2009 ($24.95)
ISBN-10: 1590585976
ISBN-13: 978-1590585979
Reviewed by Cherie Jung
When most people think of Hawaii, they imagine long streches of beach. Sun. Sand. Surf. They imagine frolicking vacationers in a tropical paradise. Japanese gangsters don't usually come to mind.
Storm Kayama is a lawyer handling the legalities of setting up a new dive shop for a client on Maui. The dive shop is still under construction, and when Storm arrives to meet the owner, she overhears one of the Japanese workers being reprimanded for drunkenness on the job. She later sees another employee sobbing in a local cafe. Storm has an uneasy sense that something is not right.
Following some unnerving events -- death and an explosion, to mention only two -- Storm Kayama (and the reader) soon begin exploring the dark side of paradise. Storm discovers the Japanese crime organization known as the yakuza, are active in the islands.
Storm is a very likable character. Her knowledge of Hawaii and it's customs lends an authenticity to the story that will endear her to many readers. She's a plucky heroine that will have readers turning pages as fast as they can.
This is the fourth mystery to feature Storm Kayama but only the first one that I've read. I had no trouble beginning with this title and I don't think other readers will either. I am on the lookout for the previous books in the series because I had so much fun reading PLEASING THE DEAD that I don't want to miss out on any of Storm's adventures!
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