Armchair Aloha from Leslie Karst #giveaway

by Posted on

Edith/Maddie, at this very moment winging my way to Japan.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t welcome my good friend Leslie Karst to the blog! She has a hot new series debut out next week that I was lucky enough to get an early read of. I promise you’ll love Molten Death. Check out the gorgeous cover and the blurb:

Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawai‘i to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. After the recent loss of her brother, Valerie is in sore need of a distraction from her troubles and is looking forward to enjoying the delicious food and vibrant culture the state has to offer.

Early one morning, the couple and their friend—tattooed local boy, Isaac—set out to see an active lava flow, and Valerie is mesmerized by the shape-shifting mass of orange and red creeping over the field of black rock. Spying a boot in the distance, she strides off alone, pondering how it could have gotten there, only to realize to her horror that the boot is still attached to a leg—a leg which is slowly being engulfed by the hot lava.

Valerie’s convinced a murder has been committed—but as she’s the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who’s going to believe her? Determined to prove what she saw and get justice for the unknown victim, Valerie launches her own investigation. But, thrown into a Hawaiian culture far from the luaus and tiki bars of glossy tourist magazines, she soon begins to fear she may be the next one to end up entombed in shiny black rock . . .

An Armchair Aloha!

I recently received a review from Booklist of my new Orchid Isle mystery, Molten Death, which called it “part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people,” and concluding that “[a]rmchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

I was pleased, not simply by the fact that it was such a favorable review of the book, but also because one of my primary purposes in writing Molten Death was to do exactly that: introduce readers to my beloved Hawai‘i Island.

I’ve lived on the “Orchid Isle” half-time for sixteen years and have been visiting since 1990, and over that time I’ve grown to appreciate how very special a place it is for so many different reasons.

First, there’s the fact that the Big Island is home to eight of the thirteen total climate zones that exist on earth, from humid/tropical on the lush windward side of the island to polar/tundra atop the frigid slopes of Maunakea. So no matter whatever is your pleasure climate-wise, you’re bound to find it here.

Second, there’s the unique geology of the island. The presence of two active volcanoes (three, if you count Hualālai, which looms over the tourist town of Kailua-Kona and last erupted in 1801—just yesterday, in geologic terms) is, for me, one of the most compelling aspects of living here. It’s an island still being formed—a living, breathing place where fissures open and spill forth steam and hot lava, where new land is continually being created. And if you ever get the chance to actually witness that hot lava, I can guarantee it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget.

Hawai‘i’s volcanoes have influenced the local culture since the arrival of the intrepid Polynesians who made the long voyage from the South Pacific to the archipelago by outrigger canoe some eight hundred years ago. Not surprisingly, living on an island where at any moment your village could be inundated by molten rock resulted in a society whose dance, chanting, song, and religion have historically been focused on the power behind that awesome force. And even today, residents of the Big Island are extremely respectful of the volcano goddess Pele, with her streaming hair of fire.

There are also, of course, all the attractions one finds in glossy tourist magazines: azure waters flanked by both white- and black-sand beaches; rainforests bursting with eye-popping ginger, heliconia, and orchids; coconut palms swaying in the gentle trade wind breeze; and coral reefs populated by tropical fish in a host of psychedelic colors.

And then there’s the food. Oh, my. Seared ahi tuna with a sesame-furikake crust; smoky, succulent kālua pork with papaya chutney; kalbi beef ribs in a teriyaki glaze; macadamia nut-encrusted mahi-mahi; and of course fresh mangoes, pineapples, papaya, breadfruit, apple bananas, lychee, jackfruit, starfruit, the list goes on and on.

Not to mention the Mai Tais, Lilikoi (passion fruit) Martinis, Blue Hawai‘i cocktails, and Pineapple Margaritas.

So if you want to take a trip to the Big Island without leaving your living room, you can find all of the above (including recipes!) in Molten Death—along with the mystery of a body in the lava flow, which my protagonists, Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen, undertake to investigate, swapping surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions.

Readers: What’s your favorite place you’ve ever traveled, either in person or via an armchair and a book? Comment below (with your email address) for a chance to win a copy of my new Orchid Isle mystery, Molten Death! (US residents only)

Buy link: https://tinyurl.com/3sxeckvf

Leslie Karst is the author of the Orchid Isle Mystery Molten Death, of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari series, and of Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG. When not writing, you’ll find her cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.

Visit Leslie at: lesliekarstauthor.com/

Unknown's avatar

Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Dot and Amelia Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

60 Thoughts

  1. I was fortunate to visit the Big Island. Everything about it was over the top fabulous. Visiting Volcano’s National Park is hard for me to describe. I can’t wait to read your book to revisit that magical place.

    Like

  2. Northern Arizona. Got to see some of the national parks right when they started out or had yet to be national parks yet. Which was nice since not many had seen them yet. Been 30 years since I saw them.

    Like

  3. I’ve been to Thailand and it’s quite exotic. Love the beaches and the culture. Hope to go back just wish the flight wasn’t so long. I have been to Hawaii also and was amazed at all the natural beauty. I could imagine myself living there. Thank you for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57@aol.com

    Like

  4. Since retiring and marking places off our bucket list, it’s hard to pick just one. So I will pick two for completely different reasons. One is our trip to the New England states in the fall. We’d always wanted to see all the vibrant colors of fall and we weren’t disappointed in any way. It was also the trip that took us to Niagara Falls. Gorgeous to say the least, but it was also where I took my first helicopter ride – even if I remember nothing of it. I was so excited trying to capture with my camera all that I was seeing that I remember nothing of the helicopter turning this way and that. Hubby says that’s a good thing. I do have the photographs to prove it though.

    Second would be our first trip to Yellowstone National Park. Fun fill days with amazing things to see, but it’s where I truly developed my love of bears. There was one black bear male that walked right by the car. If I had my window down, I could have ran my hand down his back. Hubby had to remind me to breathe I was so excited. Once again, I was able to capture so awesome memory photographs and one graces our living room wall in a 16″x20″ canvas print.

    Looking forward to this summer and our much looked forward to trip to Alaska. Alaska is my almost home state and I’ve always wanted to see it. We are taking an extended trip heading first up to see a small portion of Alaska and see the bears fishing before heading towards CA to see the redwood trees (lived in CA 9 years and never got to see them) and some of the Pacific Ocean. Then going through NV to see some of the national parks (trip there was cancelled when Covid hit) before heading home. I see many memory making moments and lots of photo taking in our summer.

    Each time we mark a place off our bucket list, we seem to add another – which is fine with me because we all need something to look forward too. We would LOVE to see Hawaii some day too! For now, I would love to armchair travel through the pages of MOLTEN DEATH, which sounds not only totally amazing and on my TBR list, but also a visual experience of the island and a scrumptious taste bud feast. Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Like

    1. I’m too chicken to ride in a helicopter, but that ride over Niagra Falls sound amazing, Kay! As does your trip this summer–I hope you see lots of bears and redwoods, my dear!

      Like

  6. Congratulations, Leslie! I’d love to see Hawaii, but the 12 hours on a plane isn’t appealing. The mountains I saw flying to and from San Diego last year were pretty amazing. The rain forest and beaches of Puerto Rico were amazing.

    Like

    2. Yes, I’m lucky in that it’s only a 5-hour flight to Hawai’i from California. For me, the trip to Puerto Rico was incredibly long, but it was so worth it–what a marvelous island and people!

      Like

  7. Welcome back and congratulations on the new series! It sounds fantastic! Picking a spot is hard. It’s a toss up for me London/Stonehenge/Acadia National Park.

    Like

    1. Thank you, Sherry–so great to be back with the Wickeds!

      Having just revisited Stonehenge last fall, 50 years after my first visit, I can agree that it’s a truly amazing place. And they’ve done a terrific job handling all the thousands of tourists that visit each month these days.

      Like

  8. Apple bananas! Haven’t had those since I lived on the beach in Jamaica. Oh, my! Now I have to go to Hawai’i.

    My favorite place to travel – two Cornish coast of England and the Caribbean. I admit the Caribbean I long for disappeared twenty years ago, but my heart visits often.

    Like

    1. Apple bananas are SOOO delicious–almost citrusy in their flavor. I haven’t been to Cornwall or the Carribean in many years, but I’m glad I got to visit way back when,

      Like

  10. Congratulations, Leslie! My favorite trip so far was to Scotland and England with one of my sons. We spent 9 lovely days in cities and small villages and it was all delicious! Although, truth be told, my son is an excellent traveler and delightful company so I likely would have enjoyed just about anywhere with him!

    Like

  11. An travel experience which was memorable and special was my first ever international trip. We spent two weeks in Italy. I was under a spell the entire time. The historic beauty of the towns and locales, the culinary delights, and the unforgettable walks made this a memory which I hold dear today.

    Like

  12. Exploring the Canadian Rockies many years ago left a deep impression. The magnificent scenic beauty, the lakes, mountains, and amazing sights gave my heart the lift it needed. I can picture the area which made a huge impact and changed my life.

    Like

    1. I’ve never visited the Canadian Rockies, but the photos I’ve seen are astounding. So glad you got to make that trip, and that you can continue to re-live it, Ellie!

      Like

  13. I loved visiting Alaska, Hawaii, Portugal, many more, but best of all was teaching in Jamaica for three months. Living and working is a deeper and more connected experience.

    Like

  16. Reading my ARC made me think of my trip there a few years back. I’m ready to visit again! (No need to enter me in the giveaway.)

    Like

  17. Congratulations on your new book! My favorite place I’ve ever traveled to would probably be Maine. My dad was born in Maine and I loved seeing the state. I haven’t made it to his hometown yet, but hope to soon. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com

    Like

    1. I love that cover so much, Leslie! My favorite trip destination was, by far, the Puerto Rico. My wife and I went in late February and would return in the drop of a sun hat.

      Like

  20. My favorite travel places were places when I went with my family to Cape Cod and also to Hampton Beach in NH. Fun family memories!

    Like

  22. Charleston SC is one of my favorite places that I’ve visited along with Natchez MS. I love the beauty of the South and all the old homes and the history. I’ve never been to Hawaii, but I would love to visit Hawaii. Years ago I had a cruise booked for a two week cruise and the cruise line canceled it the day before we were to leave. I was so disappointed, my boss wouldn’t let me change my vacation to go on the rescheduled cruise. I didn’t unpack for weeks. Maybe some day….

    Like

  23. I would have to say that the best place that I traveled in person is a small community in the Thomas, Davis, Canaan Valley area in West Virginia. In books, it would be Paris and London. Thank you so much for the opportunity. God bless you. dpruss@prodigy.net

    Like

  24. My favorite place to which I have traveled is Vermont, at least right now. I am lucky to have loved almost every place to which I have traveled with only one exception, but I don’t want to offend anyone. I will just never go there again. Books have taken me to Portugal and that is my favorite place ever.

    Like

  25. I just finished Leslie Karst’s Sally Solari book which I loved. So, I know that I will lover her new one. I loved this blog and the photos. I love everywhere I have traveled and there have been some amazing places, but my absolute favorite was 2 weeks in Peru. One week in the Amazon and one week in the rest of Peru visiting all of the ruins and to be able to see Machu Picchu was a once in a lifetime adventure. And I went there by myself. No husband, no friends, but I did join a group of people that were strangers. That was daring for me, and I would love to win this book. I have not been to Hawaii and would love to at least go there in my imagination. Hawaii Strong. Thank you.

    Like

    1. Thank you so much, Madeleine! I was lucky enough to visit Machu Picchu back in 1963 when I was a little kid, and I think we may have been the only ones there. I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should (being only 5), but the photos are magnificent!

      Like

  26. Stonehenge was the most magical experience that I have ever had in my life. I was lucky enough to visit England for a week with my sister and niece and stay with my niece’s friend in her home in the UK and visit all of that and one night in Paris for my birthday. But Stonehenge was amazing. Peru and Stonehenge. The best. I have not traveled too much to foreign countries–just Peru, Mexico, Costa Rica, England, and France, but what I have done has been memorable. I traveled with my parents 3000 miles through Mexico for three weeks as an adult and it was amazing. Being an art major, it was all fantastic.

    Like

  27. I loved scuba diving on the live coral reefs of Okinawa in the late 70’s but truly my heart belongs in Northern Italy and Venice during the off season. We lived there from 83-86.

    Like

  29. Hi Leslie. I visited 3 of the Hawaiian Islands in 1991 on my honeymoon (as clichè as that is), one of them being the Big Island. We went to Volcanoes National park where they just let you roam on your own — it was like walking on a giant brownie, lol (ok, this is why you have a series set in Hawaii and I don’t). But seriously, it was like being on another planet. Seeing the lava flows up close were amazing. Over the years I was married, our travels took us to Europe & we never got back to Hawaii, unfortunately, although we always said we wanted to. No need to enter me in the giveaway, your book is ready for my kindle.

    Like

  30. Hard to narrow it down, but visiting Meteora in Greece was pretty spectacular. From – Daria ddddfacebook05 at gmail.com

    Like

Comments are closed.