Tis my first Robert McCaw book and I wished to read it for one simple fact: I am a big ole fan of all things Hawaii. On top of that is I am a big, big fan of murder mysteries. So combine those two facts, and then mix in the notion that NetGalley graciously allowed me the chance to read this story and…well, you get the picture.
Chief Detective Koa Kane works the Big Island in Hawaii ( heaven on earth!) and leads an investigation that, sadly, just didn’t get me all that excited. The book is written in a rather fundamental style and I found myself speed reading instead of marinating in each chapter : for instance, read a Reginald Hill book or a Christopher Fowler mystery and then sit back, compare and contrast.
So 3 stars for “Retribution.”

Well, this was riveting! Truthfully, I couldn’t put it down. I love books with this kind of pace. Great book and congrats. I’m sure many more will enjoy it as well. I loved it . . . stayed up late to finish it!

Koa has to fight local politics, inept colleagues and a growing terrorist threat to save his brother from jail, but the biggest threat may be an actual conspiracy

In the back alley of a bar on Hawaii Island, a young man is found stabbed to death. When Hilo Chief Detective Koa Kane begins investigating the crime, the murder weapon is recovered only a few feet away from the body. Crime scene technicians find fingerprints on the knife—they are a perfect match for Koa’s younger brother, Ikaika.

Whew, let's get into it. Listen this book is the fifth installment of the series but don't let that intimidate you because it can be read as a standalone book. I will be honest I didn't go back and read the others only this one.
I am late giving this Earc review because life was lifing and I ended up with breast cancer last year but here we are.

The book follows Detective Koa Kane in Hilo, Hawaii the twister is that his brother is a prime suspect in a murder investigation. If this is not enough to get your mind going Kane's partner is viciously attacked, when you think you know who the target is think again you are wrong. This book is fast-paced, full of twists and turns everywhere you look. The storyline is suspenseful and will keep you engaged until the end. I was not disappointed at all.
Thank you so much Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for this advance read.

It turns out this title is the fifth in a series about this detective.
At first, I was concerned that I wouldn't connect with the characters since I hadn't read the other four, but this was a great book and could be considered a stand-alone.
If you enjoy detective novels and plot twists check this one out!

The book is a thought-provoking crime thriller that takes readers on a captivating journey through the dark side of Hawaii. Set against the backdrop of the island paradise, the novel depicts the relentless pursuit of Detective Koa Kane, a native Hawaiian cop.

When a series of gruesome murders shocks the neighbourhood, Kane becomes determined to unravel the mystery behind the killings. As he dives deeper into the investigation, he identifies a web of corruption, political intrigue, and long-buried secrets that threaten to shatter the fragile peace of the island.

The author weaves together a complex plot filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The descriptions of Hawaii's landscapes and cultural nuances are detailed, adding depth and authenticity to the story, and giving a bird’s eye view of the island's rich history and traditions to the reader.

The book is an irresistible page-turner that combines a determined protagonist, a diverse setting, and an engrossing plot. The author’s masterful storytelling and well-developed characters make this book a must-read for fans of crime fiction and anyone who enjoys a thrilling and immersive reading experience.

Chief Detective Koa Kane finds himself at the center of a violent crime spree that points to him being the ultimate target. Those he loves and the police force he's spent years devoted to are the targets of a ruthless adversary out for retribution and it's up to Koa to stop him.
The characters feel real and the violence just as much, which is why I'm not giving this one a full five stars. It feels a bit like reading the violent crime section of a newspaper. I commend McCaw for being true to lie, but there's a reason why I don't read true crime.
I read this book in one night without realizing that that was what I was doing simply because McCaw's writing flows so smoothly that it only made sense to keep going. The pacing is superb, with one incident leading to another in a very natural way. The story pulled me in and the writing kept me reading.
I do feel like having read the previous volumes in the series would have made some things easier to understand, but it's not enough to be an obstacle to jumping in with this one.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the great read!

This is the fifth novel in the series following detective Koa Kane in Hilo, Hawaii. It can be a stand alone read as I have not read the previous novels and I could follow along perfectly. In this volume, not only is detective Kane's brother a prime suspect in a murder investigation, his colleague is viciously attacked. Kane is on the case! BIg question, who is the target? Be ready for fast-paced action! Thank you Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 Stars

It turns out this title is the fifth in a series about this detective. At first, I was concerned that I wouldn't connect with the characters since I hadn't read the other four, but this was a great book and could be considered a stand-alone. If you enjoy detective novels and plot twists check this one out!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

This book was not what I expected, and unfortunately, it is not my favourite. While there are some parts that I enjoyed, there were many other parts I did not.

While there clearly are many people who would like this book, and I would still encourage people to read this to get their own opinion of this book.

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing, NetGalley, and Robert McCaw for the opportunity to read and review Retribution Book 5 in the Hawaiian Koa Kane series. Although I have not read the previous books I am a new fan of this series and these books are now added to my TBR pile. This book is full of thrilling action and fascinating characters that I quickly discovered had such hidden depths that I wish I had known about them sooner. If you’re looking for books along the lines of Steve Berry, James Rollins or Clive Cussler run to grab this book (the series lol). It works as a standalone but one is definitely not enough, trust me.

Fabulous!! This was a great story which I could not put down. Would recommend this to everyone who loves this genre.

(3.5 stars)
This is my first Robert McCaw book, which I picked up for a taste of Hawai'i. It's a crime novel centred around Chief Detective Koa Kāne who works lives on the big island of Hawai'i. It's a reasonable if a bit crudely written book. Sometimes I found the language a bit off-putting, perhaps it reflects American biases. For example, "a bearded figure with brown skin and brutal features" felt racially stigmatising, and a person who has problematic use of drugs and alcohol was referred to as "her plight was self-inflicted." I also found the language a bit overblown: "she'd seen barefaced evil, and it had left its mark on her psyche."

In terms of characterisation, the lead protagonist Koa is likeable, but the repetition to establish his flawed nature got a bit boring: "Having fooled the system, he was determined to avoid being outsmarted the way he'd deceived the cops who'd investigated the crime." The author has a fairly wooden way of describing things: "A young woman wearing a sequinned tee-shirt over bare breasts tended the bar." While I liked the Hawaiian language inclusions like "the big haole behind the bar" and "a patch of smooth, black pāhoehoe lava", I think a glossary would assist foreign readers, especially as Hawaiian is not a language that devices like Kindles readily translate to.

At times it found the insertion of police procedural information and Hawaiian history got in the way of the story, because it was done in a such a dry and heavy-handed way: "In compliance with federal requirements, the Hilo police had notified the bureau of the bombing of Nālani's car, and subsequently, the explosion at the hospital." Getting in these facts, like that "police and the justice system that arrested, prosecuted, and incarcerated native Hawaiians at disproportional rates" and information about the sovereignty movement is definitely interesting and important but the way they are added is clunky.

Detective Makanui Ka’uhane has put many violent criminals behind bars in her long career, first in the Honolulu Police Force, and now in Hawaii County. When a sniper almost takes her life, the list of potential suspects is long, including a bomber who’s just escaped prison after threatening to kill her, a terrorist group, and a Philippine insurgent. When other attacks take place against other members of the Hawaii County Police Force, and against the family and friends of the police chief, Koa Kane, it seems that the chief is the real target. The person who’s responsible for the vendetta is someone who really hates Kane, but since his worst enemy is locked up in a high security facility, he has no idea who else wants to destroy all he held dear.
Retribution is an excellent police procedural, and the plot has plenty of twists and turns. The characters are well-drawn, and the setting in Hawaii adds to the richness of the story. The tension between Native Hawaiians and white incomers, both historic and current, is handled with sensitivity, and that history is interesting and enlightening. Highly recommended.

Loved the diverse characters and the character development. The pacing didn’t let up and plot twists were great. Disappointed I hadn’t read his previous books but after reading this one, I’m going to read them all!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a police procedural set in Hawaii. Lots of characters & a well plotted whodunnit mystery.

A Complex Revenge Story on the Big Island of Hawaii

Off the big island of Hawaii, a Muslim climbs down in a ladder from a Philippine Freighter into a speed boat that takes him away. His mission is to avenge the killing of his brother. Then, Makanui Ka‘uhane, a detective assigned to Hilo, is called by her old boss, head of the Honolulu PD anti-terror squad, that a terrorist who threated to kill her has escaped. From this start, more attacks and deaths start that all have a nexus, Chief Detective Koa Kāne.

The main storyline becomes very complex and quickly. Det. Kāne is called to back-alley murder. He soon learns that the prime suspect is his brother, so he is barred from that investigation. Next, his Det. Ka‘uhane is shot as she is leaving her home. The tension climbs as more attacks occur. To add to the tension, a few of the chapters are narrated by the perpetrators where the reader learns that above them there are multiple layers directing the attacks. The novel offers rapid action and still makes the reader think about who and why behind the attacks. Then, some attacks turn deadly that drives the tension even higher. Action and thinking, I was hooked.

This is the fifth novel in the series, but the first that I have read. The main character, Koa Kāne, is well developed through his actions and dialog with his wife and friends, personal and professional. The relationship between him and his brother is portrayed extensively. Kāne’s actions and interactions are very consistent throughout the story. The background on Makanui Ka‘uhane was quite extensive also. To me, both seemed to be well-developed characters. Also, I did not feel that I was missing anything about these characters by not reading the previous novels. There is an interesting B-storyline between Kāne’s wife, Nālani, and her fellow park ranger Olina Crow. These aspects increased my reading enjoyment of this novel.

For the aspects that quickly turn off some readers, there are not any intimate scenes. Vulgar and rude language is very low, and with just a few impious references. Most of the violence is described in the more edgy as it occurs but is not excessive at all. The author does use some native Hawaiian language. When its use is not obvious, the authors added a translation or explanation. Most readers should be able to read this novel without any issues or reading the previous novels.

This novel was sailing for a five-star review when at 92% through the novel, an anonymous character was introduced. This character played a critical role in the main storyline, but by the end of the novel, this character’s identity is still a mystery. I am not against a multi-novel thread, but when it is pops up at the end of a novel, it just leaves a bad last impression of the novel. Without reading any of the author’s previous novels, I am not sure if he uses this technique or not that would ameliorate it for me. If this is not an issue for you, this novel should be a five-star read for you. For me, it is four-star review.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Oceanside Publishing. My review is based only on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Oceanside Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

An outstanding novel set amongst the beauty of Hawaii.

I regret that this is my first encounter with the police force, especially Detective Kane and Hilo Detective Makanui Ka’uhane of the Big Island of Hawaii. One can read this as a stand-alone novel; However, I want to read the previous books in the series as Robert McCaw has described in minute detail life in Hawaii. He also uses the native language of the islanders.

This storyline follows the detectives desperately trying to trace and recapture an escaped prisoner. A man is hellbent on causing untold pain and suffering to Detective Kane.

A truly remarkable novel with many twists and turns before justice finally wins. Robert McCaw is an exceptionally brilliant author.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

This was a great action book with lots of mystery! I enjoyed trying to unravel the pieces of the puzzle and solve the crime. Great journey.

Chief Detective Koa Kane must use all of his skills to identify and stop the person responsible for the attacks on those nearest to him and his work colleagues.

Excellent thriller set in Hawaii and great characters in this fast paced novel. Detective skills are brought to the front to solve the person behind these attacks.

My first Koa Kane novel but will certainly find others to read and enjoy.