Off the Grid

Koa Kāne Hawaiian Mystery Series, Book 2

By: Robert McCaw

Narrated by: Francis G. Kearney

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Perfect for fans of James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux.

A scrap of cloth fluttering in the wind leads Hilo police chief detective Koa Kāne to the tortured remains of an unfortunate soul, left to burn in the path of an advancing lava flow. For Koa, it’s the second gruesome homicide of the day, and he soon discovers the murders are linked. These grisly crimes on Hawaii’s Big Island could rewrite history or cost chief detective Koa his career.

The dead, a reclusive couple living off the grid, turn out to be mysterious fugitives. The CIA, the Chinese government, and the Defense Intelligence Agency attempt to thwart Koa’s investigation and obscure the victims’ true identities. Undeterred by mounting political pressure, Koa pursues the truth, only to find himself drawn into a web of international intrigue.

While Koa investigates, the Big Island scrambles to prepare for the biggest and most explosive political rally in its history. Despite police resources stretched to the breaking point, Koa uncovers a government conspiracy so shocking, its exposure topples senior officials far beyond Hawaii’s shores.

©2019 Robert McCaw (P)2020 Robert McCaw

Interesting and different

The fact that the book was set in Hawaii made it interesting and different from the majority of books. The plot was good and kept me interested. Some facts about the policeman's past didn't quite make sense as it never came into play.
The narrator was a good choice and in my opinion did very well with the local words.
I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed the book.

Interesting listen

I liked this book but I didn't love it. It was a great mystery and the fact that it was set in Hawaii just elevated it from the norm. The story was well-written and as the mystery unfolded, the reveal of the whodunnit was quite entertaining. I think what keeps this listen from being great is the length. There was a lot of attention on the main characters military history and some dastardly deeds he did then. It only played a minimal roll in the overall direction of the story and if that was minimized, this listen would indeed be elevated to great.

The narrator was a good choice. He expertly handled the Hawaiin pronunciations and delivered a believable main character.

Excellent mystery with a feel for the Hawaii big Island.

The author obviously has knowledge of the law, the military, local police/detectives, and prosecutors, And how they work together and interact.

I have visited the Big Island and, in particular, Hilo. I really felt like it brought me back there, and I look forward to visiting again, and reading the next installment from Robert McCaw.

Move over Hawaii Five-O!

Think Hawaii Five-O, but on the Big Island! Chief Detective, Koa Kane, is investigating the murder of the tortured remains of body discovered in a lava flow...then the equally gruesome death of the victim’s wife. Not everyone is eager for Koa to solve these bizarre murders. The tangled web of lies and deceit could very well cost the detective his job, if not his life! If you enjoy fast paced, action packed police stories, then you definitely need to check out this series! The author-narrator team has knocked this book out of the park! Now on to the next book in the series.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!

aboriginal-people, action, archaeologist, conspiracy, crime-thriller, criminal-acts, cultural-anthropology, cultural-differences, cultural-heritage, due-diligence, Hawai-i, historical-figures, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, indigenous-people, integrity, interagency, international-crime-and-mystery, international-tensions, intrigue, investigations, law-enforcement, political-corruption, political-intrigue, politicians, politics, procedural, prosecutor, PTSD, survivor's-guilt, suspense, suspicion, threats, thriller, torture, unputdownable*****

Who were the victims REALLY? Who imported the assassins? Why is the police chief impeding the investigation? What's the truth about the mayor? Is the big money man at the root of all this? Why are the CIA and DIA sniffing around and ALSO impeding the investigation? Thanks be that the prosecutor is on the side of justice AND Kane. Fantastic read!
Francis G. Kearney is a great narrator for police novels and especially this series!