|
[ Home ]
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
Feelings are running high in Honolulu, where there's serious lobbying going on in support of gay marriage. As you'd expect, the religious and family values crowd are against it, and a series of attacks on businesses could be linked. And then a charity event is bombed and police launch a murder hunt. Hawaii police obviously don't fuss too much about a conflict of interest, as homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka muscles his way onto the case – despite having been at the event and being decidedly emotionally involved. And they're obviously short of cops on the island, as he appears to be investigating alone (oh, OK, he's found himself a hunky fireman for company). Kimo's had an eventful time coming to terms with his sexuality, and his professional life still isn't always comfortable. But he's getting to know himself better, and one of the pluses of Plakcy's series is the portrayal and growth of the main character – an ordinary guy who loves surfing and who just happens to be gay. In MAHU FIRE, there's a focus on the family, as Kimo and his brothers must come to grips with their father's ill-health and also that of a much-loved family friend. The interplay between the three brothers, who are all so different, is an attraction of the book. And Kimo, who volunteers at the Gay Teen Center, also intercedes for a young man disowned by his father. Kimo's growing more confident in his private life and there's the 'will he, won't he' plot strand with butch fireman Mike Riccardi who has his own issues to deal with. The only scene that doesn't ring true between them is an unlikely sex scene in a public toilet. Would two guys with high-profile jobs, and one of them in the closet, take that risk, particularly given the cautious nature of their burgeoning relationship? Plakcy tells a good story, and the plot itself is fine, although not terribly complex. There's one twist I didn't spot, and a high-octane chase at the end which heats up both literally and metaphorically. MAHU FIRE is a welcome addition to an unusual and adventurous series – unless of course you're a bible thumper!
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, June 2008
[ Top ]
QUICK SEARCH:
Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
[ About | Reviews | Search | Submit ]
[ Home ]
| 
