Hilo Chief of Detectives Koa Kane has two big problems on his hands. Thirty years ago he killed a man and now that man's grandson has managed to get the investigation reopened. And, to his surprise, this leads to the discovery of a fingerprint that isn't Koa's. While he's struggling with the ethical and legal issues of his personal situation, he's also got a real mess of a mystery on his hands. A woman who worked for a defense contractor has been murdered but there's something else going on there- and the FBI is involved. This is a complex novel which raises as many questions as it answers. I'd not read the earlier books in the series but this was fine as a standalone. Loved the characters and the atmospherics and if some of it is a little unlikely, well that's ok by me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A very good read. I'm going to look for more from McCaw.

Having read all the previous books in the series, I was wondering if the author would deal with Koa's guilt in the fourth book, and I was right. It's an interesting twist to have you maid lead detective guilty of murder, but investigating others. As Koa tries to keep things that point to himself hidden, he also had to deal with his overwhelming need to confess, as the guilt now starts consuming him. But the truth is not what it seems, and someone else knows his secret. As his current case is blocked and starts to intersect with his past, he has to wonder where right and wrong really lie. I thinks may be the best book in the series, as it really delves into Koa's inner character and history. It can be read alone, no need to read the previous books to learn Koa's past, and a good intro to the series.

Treachery Times Two brings to the forefront one of the biggest ongoing arcs in the Koa Kāne series – Koa’s one mistake that made him who he is, but the revealing of which could take away everything that he’s earned. Does the book do the arc justice? Read on to find out.

Genre:
Mystery

Length:
361 pages

Blurb:
Numerous bodies are unearthed in an old, abandoned cemetery when a volcanic earthquake disrupts Hawai’i island. In them is the mutilated body of a woman, unrecognizable, and clearly buried only days ago. Chief Detective Koa Kāne’s investigation into the woman’s death leads him into the world of a politically connected defense contractor, an incredibly powerful and secret military weapon – Deimos, and an FBI espionage investigation. Forced to defy his Chief of Police in his search for justice for the victim, Kāne faces a new threat – that of his thirty-year-old secret being revealed. Years ago, Kāne had killed his father’s nemesis – the man who’d been responsible for Kāne’s father’s death – and covered up the murder. Now, the grandson of the dead man has arrived, and Koa is forced to investigate the homicide he had committed. Until another man is falsely accused of the murder. Can Koa stand by and watch an innocent man pay for his crime? Or will he accept his guilt before everyone, losing the chance to find justice for the mutilated, forgotten woman, and losing the woman he loves, the respect he’s earned, and everything he has ever held dear?

Overall Rating:
9 out of 10

Plot:
10 out of 10

Characterization:
10 out of 10

Primary Element:
10 out of 10 for its mystery

Writing Style:
9 out of 10

Part of a Series:
Yes. This is Book No. 4 in the Koa Kāne series. The books are connected and are best read in order, but can be enjoyed as standalone-s too. Check out the review for Book No. 1, Death of a Messenger, here, and Book No. 3, Fire and Vengeance, here.

Highlighted Takeaway:
Even better than its prequels, Treachery Times Two brings everything you’ve come to love about the Koa Kāne series – mystery, culture, and characterization – and ups the ante.

What I Liked:
There were three things that I liked the most in Treachery Times Two:
> It’s got the perfect mix of culture and story, with neither outshining the other.
> It showcases Koa Kāne in his rawest, most human form – flawed yet morally strong.
> It has multiple storylines and brings them all together perfectly.

What I Didn’t Like:
There is nothing I can say I actively disliked in the book. I found it to be even better than the earlier books in the series (except for Book No. 2, which I am yet to read), and feel that it’s set the bar higher for the series.

Who Should Read It:
If you like mysteries, especially those that have multi-layered plots, you’ll definitely enjoy Treachery Times Two and other Koa Kāne books.

Who Should Avoid:
I don’t think anyone would really dislike this book, unless you absolutely do not enjoy mysteries.

Read It For:
Koa Kāne’s ultimate test – professional and personal. And the always-enthralling representation of Hawaiian culture.

Treachery Times Two releases in January 2022 – pre-order it from most online bookstores or Amazon.

Treachery Times Two by Robert McCaw is the fourth book the Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series but is easily read as a standalone.
In short, Chief Detective Kane’s investigation starts when an unusually disruptive earthquake unearths a woman’s partially ravaged body in an isolated cemetery. Koa’s search for her identity soon escalates into a complex FBI espionage adventure. Alongside this investigation Koa is also fighting his own personal demons which threaten exposure to his crime committed 30 years earlier. Is a coverup always worse than the crime?
I thoroughly enjoy Treachery Times Two, it’s a clever, fast paced thriller with oodles of twists and turns and a gripping conclusion. This is all set in the backdrop of Hawaii and there are plenty of interesting details regarding the Hawaiian culture which elevates it from a standard American thriller. I loved Koa’s character, “he likes challenges. It forced him to analyse all the possibilities.’…well in this investigation he needs to analyse everything! He’s the new Sherlock! I look forward to reading more of the Chief Detective Koa Kane cases.
Big thanks to Robert McCaw, Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.