A story full of plots, twists and turns that I read at one go. Main characters are relatable, the description of the places in Hawaii are just so well made that you can picture them! Also the way the detective´s thinking is constructed helps you get immersed in the story. I did enjoy reading this book !
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.25/5

Off the Grid is the second book in Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series. With corruption, government secrets and some Hawaiian vibes (think orchids and pineapples!!), this book is an entertaining read.

There are many characters in this story, some good and some corrupt (includes cops and politicians). But the one character that stands out from the rest is the protagonist - Koa Kane. Koa is not perfect. His past haunts him every now and then. Flashbacks bring back horrific memories of the battle at Mogadishu but Koa is strong. And the man doesn't take a no for an answer. No corrupt politician or CIA can stop him from investigating the case he has set his eyes on.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story. Initially, Koa feels that the case is going nowhere. But this ends when he discovers a closet full of skeletons. I did find the story to be a tad lengthy and descriptive but that didn't stop me from liking this story.

The ending was absolutely brilliant. The suspense is well-maintained throughout the story. The reader is in for a lot of surprises, especially in the second half of the book. If you like books of the genre mystery and thriller - especially a well-concocted police procedural then I recommend you to read Off the Grid.

This book felt like a puzzle that we need to put together with each twist and turn. I did enjoyed that it was set in Hawaii and it reflected the culture and history of the island. I read this book in one sitting and it was a good procedural. I love that the characters weren't perfect.

Off the Grid is the first Robert McCaw novel review in the blog, and it’s the author’s second thriller with the protagonist, Chief Detective Koa Kane whose beat is Hawaii, the big island. Kane has risen from poverty on the island where his father had labored in the sugar cane fields, only to be killed when he was pushed into a giant grinding machine. Kane escaped by joining the military, and then he retired to the local police force where he worked his way up to chief detective. But, all was not well in paradise. Kane discovered a body that had been tortured before being cast into the active lava field where the expectation was that his body would be burned to a cinder and never discovered. It was the second homicide on the same day, the first of a woman, a reclusive and unsuccessful artist. It turns out the two murdered people were linked. They were mysterious fugitives, but suddenly, Koa’s investigation was hampered by the CIA, the DIA, the Chinese, and his own police chief. As Koa went about his business as a detective, he reveled in his love for Nalani, a beautiful and gracious native Hawaiian who was working as a ranger and naturalist at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Koa revealed his own dark secrets.

This book checks all the boxes – a great venue in Hawaii’s back country which is artistically described, a strong protagonist in Koa Kane, a troubling crime that begs to be uncovered, obstacles to solving the case, bad police supervisors, and a love story. The plot is well told and the character development is excellent. This one gets my strong recommendation.