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Chip Hughes
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Murder on Moloka'i (Surfing Detective Mystery Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Chip Hughes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 1,661 ratings
When Boston heiress Adrienne Ridgely strides into his Honolulu office, Surfing Detective Kai Cooke likes what he sees, but doubts what he hears. Adrienne’s sister, environmental activist Sara Ridgely-Parke, plunged to her death from a mule on Moloka‘i – the first fatal incident on the soaring cliffs above Kalaupapa’s fabled leper colony. Murder, cries Adrienne, perpetrated by Sara’s ex-husband, developer J. Gregory Parke. Cooke flies to Moloka‘i, tracking tantalizing leads to an unlikely murder that, despite himself, he starts to believe in.

Was the mule prodded or spooked or drugged? Did Parke do it for vengeance, or Adrienne for an inheritance, as Parke alleges? Soon Kai uncovers a motive more noxious than either of these – entangling him in the shady dealings of big-time developers, corrupt politicians, and underworld thugs. As he hops from island to island seeking a pivotal clue, the clock ticks down on more than the P.I.’s case or even his own life. The future of Moloka‘i itself is at stake.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Book 1 of 6
    Surfing Detective Mystery Series
  3. Print length
    220 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    7 - 12
  6. Accessibility
    Learn more
  7. Publication date
    1 Oct. 2004
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0931548628
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There are 6 books in this series.

Product description

About the Author

Chip Hughes earned a Ph.D. in English at Indiana University and taught American literature, film, writing, and popular fiction at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. His non-fiction publications include BEYOND THE RED PONY: A READER'S COMPANION TO STEINBECK'S SHORT STORIES—also translated into Japanese; JOHN STEINBECK: A STUDY OF THE SHORT FICTION; and numerous essays and reviews. An active member of the Private Eye Writers of America, Chip launched the Surfing Detective mystery series in 2004 with MURDER ON MOLOKA'I. The second book, WIPEOUT!, followed in 2007. The third, KULA, in 2011. Other titles, in various stages of development, include MURDER AT VOLCANO HOUSE, BARKING SANDS, and THE MAUI MASSEUSE. The series has been optioned for television. More at http://surfingdetective.com. Chip lives in Windward O‘ahu with his wife and two retrievers. He surfs when time allows.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003Z9K9OU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Island Heritage
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Oct. 2004
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 311 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 220 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0931548628
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 12
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ Surfing Detective Mystery Series
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 18 years
  • Customer reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 1,661 ratings

About the author

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Chip Hughes

Chip Hughes

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Chip Hughes earned a Ph.D. in English at Indiana University and taught American literature, film, writing, and popular fiction for nearly three decades at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. His non-fiction publications include two books and numerous essays and reviews on John Steinbeck.

An active member of the Private Eye Writers of America, Chip launched the Surfing Detective mystery series with Murder on Moloka‘i (2004) and Wipeout! (2007), published by Island Heritage. The series is now published exclusively by Slate Ridge Press, whose volumes include Kula (2011), Murder at Volcano House (2013), and reissues of the first two novels.

Chip and his wife Charlene split their time between homes in Hawai‘i and upstate New York.

Photo credits: Dennis Oda, Deborah Booker & Nathalie Walker

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
1,661 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read, with one describing it as a great summer garden/beach read. Moreover, the writing quality receives positive feedback, particularly for its descriptions of the island setting. Additionally, customers appreciate the intrigue, with one noting it has plenty of twists to find the truth.

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15 customers mention ‘Readability’15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning it's a great summer garden or beach read.

"...the excellent descriptive writing helps to make this a relaxing, easy holiday read set against the stunning backdrop that is Hawaii." Read more

"A good read, enjoyed some of the little twists in the storyline. Got this on a free download, would have been happy to pay for it." Read more

"Great book, plenty intrigue, twists and turns. Enjoyed it very much." Read more

"Ok quick read. Good for travenlling" Read more

7 customers mention ‘Intrigue’7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the intrigue of the book, with one customer highlighting the twists and turns in the plot.

"This is a good detective novel especially if you have visited the island of Molokai...." Read more

"...the beautiful Hawaiian islands and in this respect, the surfing detective doesn't disappoint...." Read more

"A good read, enjoyed some of the little twists in the storyline. Got this on a free download, would have been happy to pay for it." Read more

"Great book, plenty intrigue, twists and turns. Enjoyed it very much." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Writing quality’6 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, particularly noting the excellent descriptions of the island setting and beautiful Hawaiian landscapes.

"...of this author's books, however, as overall, it was a good, well written story." Read more

"...We recently visited Molokai and his descriptions of the island are very good and accurate...." Read more

"...too brief time in Honolulu, I love books that describe the beautiful Hawaiian islands and in this respect, the surfing detective doesn't disappoint...." Read more

"While the story was quite good, there was too much 'patois' which was sometimes confusing and distracting." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Shirley Blane, author of The Widow's Revenge
    4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting and enjoyable introduction to this author's work
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book, although found it a little slow to start. Having read the author's notes at the end, with sections that he subsequently edited out, I disagreed with the editing and would have kept them in for a more exciting start to the book. However, I became more engrossed in the book as it progressed. Having visited the islands several times, I still found so many of the local names and dialect difficult to cope with. I will try another of this author's books, however, as overall, it was a good, well written story.
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  • J. A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is a good detective novel especially if you have visited the island of Molokai. We recently visited Molokai and his descriptions of the island are very good and accurate. I have not read any of this author previously but will look out for his other books.
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  • Perkins
    3.0 out of 5 stars Routine detective story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Having stayed for an all too brief time in Honolulu, I love books that describe the beautiful Hawaiian islands and in this respect, the surfing detective doesn't disappoint. Wonderful descriptions of the islands and island life in general provide a much-needed lift for what is a pretty routine detective novel. Kai is an all round good guy who takes his work seriously, using his love of surfing to help him think through a problem. When beautiful, wealthy Adrienne asks him to investigate her equally beautiful, wealthy, eco-activist sister's death, he puts aside his scepticism in pursuit of the truth. The plot is pretty standard, the characters somewhat flimsy and their relationships puzzling in the extreme. It doesn't take Kai very much effort to overcome the bad guys and uncover the truth and unfortunately, the rather tortured Hawaiian dialect Kai affects when speaking to the locals comes over as a bit patronising and really detracts from the story. The expert vet's diabolical Austrian accent doesn't help much either and would really have been best avoided. Nevertheless, the excellent descriptive writing helps to make this a relaxing, easy holiday read set against the stunning backdrop that is Hawaii.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Vi A.
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, enjoyed some of the little twists in ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A good read, enjoyed some of the little twists in the storyline. Got this on a free download, would have been happy to pay for it.
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  • Cleopatra
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great book, plenty intrigue, twists and turns. Enjoyed it very much.
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  • Tina
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Good light holiday read
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  • Cuddlycathy
    2.0 out of 5 stars Good for
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ok quick read. Good for travenlling
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  • llady15
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Choose this book as I have read one of the other books in this series.
    Not mail biting or edge of your seat stuff but a good read nonetheless. Not bad
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Mr. Cadillac
    4.0 out of 5 stars Needs improvement
    Reviewed in Canada on 27 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The story needed more intrigue. The suspects needed to have more cause to appear to be guilty even though they were innocent. The hero needed to dodge a few more bullets, etc. And there needs to be more romance (not sex, but good romance).
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  • P V Krishnamurthy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in India on 25 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Absorbing
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  • Kathleen Smith
    4.0 out of 5 stars Light suspense; worth your reading time
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Keeping in mind this book is (I believe) the author's first or nearly first published fiction, I thought it was pretty good and I did enjoy it. Someone compared the writing to Raymond Chandler's; no, it's not *that* good. The mood is meant to be suspenseful, but it was rather lightweight. The characters were a little flat to me; all of the characters who were the distractions and red herrings, as well as the actual guilty parties, need a little jazzing up. I feel like Mr. Hughes was trying to write a 1930's style mystery set in the 2000's with modern concerns--which I'm sure can be done, but if so it would be by someone a little more skillful. The ending was a bit muddled, and felt rushed--as if the author ran out of patience or interest in this episode. "The Surfing Detective" needs the kind of surprises and depth the ocean he surfs upon has.
    On the other hand, I do find the lead character engaging enough that I will likely read the rest of the series at some point. Writers only get better and more inventive as they go, so I expect a steep improvement book by book. I'm giving it four stars because the author captures Hawaii rather well; just enough local flavor and lingo, without boring the reader with minutiae.
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  • Kayak Jay
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Trreasure
    Reviewed in the United States on 1 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Murder on Moloka'i is a little treasure. It combines a serious murder mystery with outstanding descriptions of the Hawaiian Islands, unusual characters, and a great exposition of the Zen of surfing. Kai is a part-Hawaiian detective brought in to investigate a death thought to be accidental. The slow resolution of who is involved and how they are involved takes many paths, with enough violence to keep the reader alert and engrossed. The language is smooth, with some rocky parts as kai interacts with other Hawaiians in island lingo. Detailed descriptions bring the narrative to life and help to create images for the reader. The book has been severely edited to provide a quick and non-demanding read. However the author includes a lengthy appendix to provide sample of some of the excised material. Based on the quality of writing I would have enjoyed the longer version as well.
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  • Cadmentr
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder on Molokai a good read
    Reviewed in Canada on 12 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    As a traveller who has been to Hawaii, I enjoyed this book. It took me places that I had been to in my travels, and I found the 'pidgin' to be authentic and endearing.
    I love Hawaii and this book provides a taste of "aloha" making me want to come back again.
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