Kaua'i Storm

by Tori Eldridge

Overview

Returning to Kaua‘i, park ranger Makalani finds her family divided and their way of life at risk in this rich and emotional adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.

After ten years as a national park ranger in Oregon, Makalani Pahukula is back on Kaua‘i for her grandmother’s birthday. Having been gone for so long, Makalani finds the disconnect with her people and her struggles have never been more profound. Neither has her need to reacquaint herself with everything she left behind. When she reaches the homestead, she finds a bickering family and the disconcerting news that her cousins—a failed college football player and a rebellious teenage girl—have gone missing.

Makalani hopes they just ran off, too careless to realize the worry they’ve caused. But when hunters find a dead body in the Keālia Forest Reserve, Makalani fears something ominous is at play, and the search for her cousins grows more desperate. Although her help may not be welcomed by family and locals, Makalani is determined to solve a mystery that poses a greater risk than anyone imagines.

The investigation will open her heart, reawaken her love for the land she calls home, and strengthen her bond with her family. Because no matter how long she’s been away, for Makalani, Hawai‘i is in her blood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662525247
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	05/20/2025
Series:	Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery , #1
Pages:	445
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Tori Eldridge is the Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian author of the Lily Wong mysteries, Dance Among the Flames, and numerous short stories. Born in Honolulu, she graduated from Punahou School with classmate Barack Obama before performing as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway, television, and film, and earning a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. Her literary works have garnered Anthony, Lefty, and Macavity Award nominations and the 2021 Crimson Scribe for Best Book of the Year. Tori lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, near her precious mo‘opuna (grandchildren). For more information about Tori, her book club extras, and her reading ‘ohana, visit www.torieldridge.com.

Editorial Reviews

An atmospheric love letter to Hawaii’s Garden Isle with episodes of action and mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Author and narrator Tori Eldridge invites listeners into an entertaining and enlightening new series. Eldridge’s engaging performance and immersive writing ensure that listeners remain captivated from beginning to end—and eager for the next installment in this promising series.” —AudioFile Magazine

“The book [is] an excellent tutorial in both human nature and in the history and culture of Kaua’i.” —Deadly Pleasures Magazine

“Eldridge, who has Hawaiian ancestry, has crafted an emotionally riveting, multi-generational story with authentic characters who engage readers in what being Hawaiian means.” —Carole E. Barrowman, Minnesota Star Tribune

“A deftly crafted novel from start to finish, Kaua’i Storm showcases author Tori Eldridge’s genuine mastery of the mystery/suspense genre.” —Midwest Book Review

“In Kaua’i Storm, Eldridge combines a story of a strong woman torn between family and duty with a pulse-pounding mystery. Steeped in Hawaiian culture, it’s as beautiful and complex as the island itself. A fantastic read!” —Rebecca Cantrell, New York Times bestselling author of It Wants Us Alive

“Anchored by a strong, capable park ranger reminiscent of Nevada Barr’s iconic Anna Pigeon, this thought-provoking, engaging debut immerses readers in Native Hawaiian culture, language, complex genealogy and social issues while delivering a solid mystery with more than a few surprises.” —Paula Woods, Los Angeles Times

“Tori Eldridge has taken the genre to another level. This is a story that leads you to the jagged edge of Kauai’s most treacherous cliffs and dares you to jump off. I was consumed.” —Jasmin Iolani Hakes, award-winning author of Hula

From the Publisher

2025-04-04
While searching for a missing cousin, a park ranger reconnects with her large family and rediscovers her love for Hawaii.

A brief opening chapter finds Oregon-based ranger Makalani Pahukula running for her life in a Hawaiian rain forest. Then the story flashes back a week to her arrival at her native Kaua'i to celebrate her grandmother's 85th birthday. She receives the sad news that her 17-year-old cousin, Becky Muramoto, is missing, along with another cousin, 22-year-old Solomon Ching. Uneasy about Solomon’s sketchy reputation, Makalani feels compelled to investigate. Her probe proceeds slowly against a backdrop of the island’s beautiful natural attractions and several subplots involving different members of her family, making readers appreciate the detailed genealogy that Eldridge has provided at the beginning. Scenes with Makalani's resilient Mama and Tūtū are particularly affecting. Eldridge attempts to maintain the suspense surrounding the case of the missing duo by offering red herrings, glimmers of the truth, and new developments like the discovery of a corpse in the Keālia Forest Reserve. But these may not be enough to satisfy readers impatient for a solution to the juicy mystery, whose eventual arrival is followed by still more family drama. A lengthy glossary will educate interested readers further in Hawaiian culture. The richly detailed descriptions of the natural wonders of Kaua'i and of Makalani's large and tangled family hint at more Hawaiian mysteries to be solved by the resourceful forest-ranger-turned-sleuth. Apparently, you can go home again.

An atmospheric love letter to Hawaii’s Garden Isle with episodes of action and mystery.

Kirkus Reviews