I love a mystery book and trying to figure out who did it. I also love books placed in Hawaii with situations applicable to the islands. This book provides both. As a listen, the book was very engaging regardless of what i was doing throughout my day. I enjoyed listening to it and would recommend this book to anyone!

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

We follow Maya an ex-reporter working freelance, who goes back home to Hawaï for a project as a ghost writer for the biography of a land developer Parker Hamilton.
She finds herself in the middle of a suspicious death within the Hamilton family. The investigation is led by her ex boyfriend who broke her heart years prior.
This was your “typical” MC who has left her small town to live in a big city coming back to her roots.
I liked the fact that we not only had the murder mystery but also the family and friends dynamic mixed with the culture, very much present in the story.
The contrast between the Hamiltons and Maya’s family.
The end left some room for maybe another book? Which I would definitely read!

My rating system:
Narration: 4
Story: 4
Entertainment: 4
Emotions: 4
Overall: 4

***Spoiler***

I will say though that I was disappointed by the choice for the love interest. It would’ve been nice for once that the MC doesn’t end up with their high school sweetheart or whatever. She could’ve been the one that got away for Koa

Maya Wong is an out of work newspaper reporter returns home to Hawai’i to ghostwrite controversial land developer Parker Hamilton’s biography. Then the Hamilton patriarch is found dead! Was it natural causes ot murder? Maya’s ex boyfriend happens to be the detective working the case.

I enjoyed this book very much, and hope to see more books by Jennifer K. Morita! Jennifer Robideau was the absolutely perfect choice to narrate this book, being from Hawai’i she was able to bring the story to live with the correct accents and pronunciations. So important.

Thank you NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks! #GhostsofWaikiki #NetGalley.

Although I liked the premise, I didn’t care for the characters.

I also feel that I would’ve enjoyed it much more if I were Asian, as there were constant references to Asian food, sayings, etc… like overpowering references…

That being said, I love Hawaii,and vacationed there on our honeymoon…so this book definitely called to me.

And, it opened with a HUGE bang! A dead body in a pool…one that the main character had just interviewed!

So, there is the ability to get my attention! But for me, it floundered a bit after that. I felt like I was NOT so invested in the characters…or the plot.

It definitely had its good moments, and I did read it all the way through, but I just feel like I wasn’t fully invested.

For that reason, I’m giving it 2 1/2 ⭐️⭐️💫, rounded up to 3.

And because this is not a great review, I’ll limit it to here and Goodreads.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #SpotifyAudiobooks for an ARC of the audiobook which releases on 11/19/24.

The Ghosts of Waikiki by Hennifer Marita and narrated nicely by Jennifer Robideau.

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I really enjoyed this mystery debut! It even brought me back to Hawaii life! The story follows Maya Wong, a journalist who’s out of work and ends up back in Hawaii, ghostwriting for a controversial land developer, Parker Hamilton. Things get intense when the Hamilton family’s patriarch is found dead under suspicious circumstances, dragging Maya into the investigation. One of the best parts of the book is how it mixes a gripping mystery with real issues locals face, like getting priced out of their own home.

Maya is a down-to-earth main character with a lot going on, dealing with being back home, tension with her family and friends over her job, and working with her ex, Detective Koa Yamada. The back-and-forth between Maya and Koa added some nice tension that made the mystery even more interesting. The pacing kept me hooked, with enough twists to keep things exciting, and the scenes of her hanging out with old friends and family dinners added a warm, real touch.

If you like mysteries that keep you guessing and also touch on real life issues, Ghost of Waikiki is a good pick! It also brings the sights and feels of Hawaii to life!

Debut mystery thriller set on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

I love Hawaii and all things Hawaiian. It's my happy place, but I've only been lucky enough to visit there 4 times in my life. So, when this title popped up on my request list, I had to read it.

The descriptions and details about the setting bring back memories for me and create the perfect backdrop for the story. The main character, Maya Wong, returns home to Waikiki to ghostwrite a book that a wealthy land developer, Parker Hamilton, wants to write about his family. She finds him and his kin to be a bit sketchy and things really get crazy when the elder patriarch, Charles Hamilton, is found dead, floating in the swimming pool. Of course, Maya is drawn into the investigation which brings her back into contact with her ex who is now Detective Koa Yamada.

Soon Maya is nosing into things that bring her face to face with danger and that situation irritates Koa and the police. She can't help but continue her side snooping while also reuniting with her old friends and extended family. Meanwhile, some social issues are explored as the plight of locals versus wealthy investors starts putting their livelihoods in peril.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The audiobook was fabulous and the narrator, Jennifer Robideau, was perfect in her performance. Her pronunciations and voice really enhanced the production, and I plan to look for more recorded books done by her.

I don't know if this is the start of what could be a new series, but I really hope the author writes another book set in this locale.

Title: The Ghost of Waikiki
Author: Jennifer K. Morita ~ Debut author.
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Jennifer Robideau
Publisher: Spotify Audiobook
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: November 19, 2024
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages 320

Thirty-three year old reporter Maya Wong needs a job. She saw an opportunity to be a ghostwriter. She wasn’t sure what it was all about but did some research.
A ghostwriter is hired to write works that officially credit another person as the author. Typically ghostwriters sign a contract with the credited
author that requires them to keep their work confidential, often through a nondisclosure agreement
She applies and is offered the position in Waikiki for the prominent Parker Hamilton. She returns to her native Oahu. When she meets Charles the family patriarch, she is impressed that this seventy year old swims every day.
However, he is found dead in the swimming pool during her first meeting at the mansion, Maya's reporter instincts and investigative skills kick in as why would someone with Charles’ abilities drown??
Detective Koa Yamada is the lead investigator and is Maya's ex-boyfriend. He tries to get Maya to stop interfering but she is too curiosity even when she is mugged and personal items are taken additionally she is robbed when someone break-into her apartment.
Whodunit was a surprise.

I loved this setting and learning more about the culture 💕 I enjoyed the story.
I thought it had the making of a great cozy mystery and although the foul language was typical for today’s authors and readers but a bit too much for this cozy fan.

Ms. Morita is a debut author. I enjoyed reading her Author notes as well as her acknowledgements and I would love to read another, I know most underestimate the value of us cozy mystery lovers but I hope she gives us some serious thought.

Want to thank NetGalley and Spotify Audiobook for this early audio.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 19, 2024

Thank you NetGalley and Jennifer K. Morita for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

In 'Ghosts of Waikiki', Maya returns to her roots to ghostwrite a biography for a divisive land developer. However, the sudden death of the family's patriarch under questionable circumstances entangles her in a complex situation. Maya must rekindle her connection with her ex-boyfriend, now a homicide detective, to crack the case. I was enamored with the immersive setting and cultural richness in 'Ghosts of Waikiki', which added a captivating dimension to the story. The descriptive language enabled me to feel like I was in Waikiki, collaborating with Maya and Koa to solve the mystery.