Mahu
by Neil S. Plakcy

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Book Reviews of Mahu

Book Review: Kimo Thrills
Summary: 4 Stars

Summary of Mahu

Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka is the best on the force, but he lives with a secret he barely acknowledges even to himself. His days are spent serving and protecting Hawaii, surfing the waves, and bedding female tourists. One night, he inadvertently sees someone dump a body in an alley outside a gay bar, and, because of his own inability to come to grips with his sexuality, makes a decision that threatens all that is important in his life-his career, his friendships, and his family.

As Kimo and his partner search the tropical paradise for the killer through a maze of unusual characters, he struggles to find his way as an openly gay man in a macho world. Unable to deny the truth any longer, Kimo begins the process of coming out, of understanding and accepting his homosexuality, all while trying to find answers to a mystery that even involves his own family.

Mahu-a generally negative Hawaiian term for homosexuals-introduces a unique character to detective fiction. Kimo Kanapa'aka is a handsome, mixed-race surfer living in Honolulu, a police detective confronting his homosexuality in the atmosphere of macho bravado within the police force. A man of intelligence, strength, honesty, resourcefulness, and intense dedication to the people of Hawaii, Kimo is a hard-boiled hero you will never forget. Fast-paced, intricately plotted, and thoroughly enjoyable, this is a sexy, surprisingly moving mystery that is as much about discovering oneself as it is about catching a killer.

An excerpt from the novel: "I think you should give this up," my father said. "There are other things you can do where they won't care about you. Be a decorator. A hairdresser. Something like that, that mahus do."

"I don't want to be a decorator. I want to be a cop."

"Well, you can't be," my father said, yelling. "They don't want you. They can't be any clearer than they have been."

And:

I was expecting clouds, rain, wild thunder. Instead there were flashbulbs and the clamor of news people. "Detective Kanapa'aka," a Chinese reporter said. "Is it true you're being suspended from the police force because of your homosexuality?"

I was stunned. How could they have found out so quickly? I just stared at the guy, my mouth agape. "Detective, have you hired an attorney yet?" a Hawai'ian guy, who I recognized from my brother's station, asked. "Will you be suing the police force for reinstatement?"

"Do you think this is a discrimination case?" asked another.

I just stood there. They called out more questions, but I couldn't answer them and I couldn't seem to move.

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