You may remember Paws and Reflect, Neil S. Plakcy's recent co-authored book about the special bond between gay men and their dogs. This is an author who has more than one string to his bow, having already published two books (read our review of his second, Mahu Surfer) that feature his Hawaiian police detective, Kimo Kanapa'aka. Now he's back with a third, Mahu Fire, and the writing is stronger than ever.
The story starts like this: the issue of gay marriage is dividing the citizens of Honolulu. When The Church of Adam and Eve, opposed to the possibility that Hawaiian citizens may soon enjoy same-sex partnership rights, stage a demonstration outside the gay-friendly Hawaii Marriage Project, there is an explosion and all hell breaks loose. But is there more to this than meets the eye? Kimo has just opened an investigation into the murder of a homeless man, could the two events be linked? And what about the sexy fireman who appears in the scene after the explosion?
Nobody could accuse Mahu Fire of being high art, but I assure you that once you start reading the short, punchy chapters that make up this book, nothing will make you want to put it down again until you've finished it. It's writing that knows its audience well, and delivers exactly what you want it to deliver: a gripping story, engaging characters and a bunch of suspenseful twists and turns.
But it's the location that really makes Mahu Fire an interesting read. This book reminded me of Elizabeth Sims and her Lillian Byrd thriller series, set largely in Detroit. Like her, Plakcy has a great understanding of how the setting can lift a run-of-the-mill story up onto another level. Thus it is that his Mahu series shows us a side of Hawaiian life that we might otherwise never have considered. He manages to include discussions about the islanders' ethnic heritage, for example, there are threads of Hawaiian language throughout. This contributes to a story in which the people and places come alive rather than relying on tired old stereotypes. It's all a far cry from a tacky Tiki cocktail glass or an episode of Hawaii Five-O.
Plakcy's characterisation is also strong. Kimo is a sexy guy, but he's also believably straightforward and a little bit square, just like a real life police detective. There are teenaged rent boys and religious fanatics, always a winning combination and, unusually for gay men's fiction Mahu Fire includes some lesbian characters, which is to be applauded. Then there's Mike Riccardi, the hunky fireman, Kimo's love interest and the object of a handful of saucy sex scenes. Readers an allow the author a little foray into fantasyland with this character, who is almost too good to be true, because the rest of the book is so well-observed.
At times Mahu Fire comes across as a little hokey. It reads as though the author has tried to gay it up as much as possible and squeeze in a whole load of gay issues, rather than trust the story to unfold of its own accord. But this is an endearing book, gripping and enjoyable to read, and a bit of cornyness never did anyone any harm.
Read our review of Paws and Reflect and Mahu Surfer, the second book in the Kimo Kanapa'aka series, and our interview with Neil S. Plakcy.
Mahu Fire: A Hawai'ian Mystery, by Neil S. Plakcy
Published by: Alyson Books
Released: 5 June 2008
ISBN: 1593500793
Buy Mahu Fire: A Hawai'ian Mystery online and save some money to put towards Mahu and Buy Mahu Surfer, the other book in Neil S. Plakcy's Mahu series of detective novels.