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Leilani Santiago finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that endangers her family and friends after saving a mysterious woman wearing a lei from drowning in Waimea Bay. She must learn of this woman's identity and connections to others on the island to save herself and those dearest to her.
About the author
Naomi Hirahara is the Edgar-winning author of the Mas Arai mystery series, including
Blood Hina,
Strawberry Yellow,
Sayonara Slam, and the seventh and final in the series,
Hiroshima Boy. She is also the author of the L.A.-based Ellie Rush mystery series, published by Penguin. Her Mas Arai books have earned such honors as the Chicago Tribune's Ten Best Mysteries and Thrillers and Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. The Stanford University alumna lives in Pasadena, California.
Summary
Leilani Santiago finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation that endangers her family and friends after saving a mysterious woman wearing a lei from drowning in Waimea Bay. She must learn of this woman’s identity and connections to others on the island to save herself and those dearest to her.
Additional text
“Wryly humorous, well-plotted, and timely without being depressing, An Eternal Lei will inspire daydreams of (post-pandemic) travel to Hawaii.” —Katie Noah Gibson, Shelf Awareness
“Hirahara gives us a multilayered story, rich in island detail.” —Booklist
“Fans of intrepid amateur sleuths will want to see more of Leilani.” —Publishers Weekly
“With a strong sense of place, community, and culture, Hirahara’s follow-up to 2019’s Iced in Paradise opens a window on a Hawai’i unseen by most mainlanders . . . the multilayered central puzzle rivets from start to kindhearted finish.” —Mystery Scene
"Naomi Hirahara’s second novel featuring the multicultural Santiago family from the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i deftly uses COVID-19 as background for an energetic story about how the pandemic has affected tourism, small businesses and the vagaries of families in a tidy plot.” —Sun-Sentinel
“An Eternal Lei returns us to the diverse, beautiful, and complex setting of Hawai’i, and the world of Hirahara’s sharp and utterly relatable heroine, Leilani Santiago. Complicated family dynamics, pandemic issues, a wonderfully multicultural cast, and the unique politics of the island add color and depth to the latest installment of this fantastic mystery series. I can’t wait for the next book and am already searching for the nearest shave ice spot!” —Mia P. Manansala, author of Arsenic and Adobo
“A thrilling cozy with a gutsy young sleuth in authentic, contemporary Hawaii; packed with cultural insights and twisty reveals, it’s paradise in a book.” —Jennifer J. Chow, Lefty Award-Nominated author of the Sassy Cat Mysteries
“Kama‘āina rejoice! Naomi Hirahara has served up a detective who looks, talks and acts like one of us, a true breath of fresh air . . . An Eternal Lei is a cozy with a hardboiled heart, overflowing with Leilani’s cynical observations and introspection and staring down one of the Pacific’s ugliest issues without flinching. It’s a rainbow shave ice complete with azuki beans and ice cream for those of us who like something dark and rich lurking under the pretty colors.” —Scott Kikkawa, Elliot Cades Award winning author of Kona Winds and Red Dirt, and associate editor of The Hawai‘i Review of Books
