Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations Paperback – August 29, 2014

Int. he has never been invited to Murder on the Beach bookstore in Delray Beach 40 min from his job in Ft.Lauderdale. Have read entire seriesand have been to donut shop in Honolulu....

You will never go wrong with a "Mahu" themed book from Neil Plakcy. I've bought everything in the series and have loved each book. The characters, the development of those characters across the series, the pacing, plotting, and the description of locations along with insights into the local culture all work together for a satisfying mystery experience. I can say nothing critical about his work. This author has another series that is a bit racier. This one deals with a pair of bodyguards who work in exotic locations around the Mediterranean, including Northern Africa, Southern France, and Corsica. If you like erotica, and I unapologetically do, Plakcy has written and/or edited collections of MM erotica so hot the pages threaten to self-ignite. Add to all this information the fact Plakcy is an Ivy-educated man who studied writing at (PENN) and business at Columbia (MBA), then earned an MFA in Creative writing at a small Florida institution, and you realize you have one obviously smart, clearly gifted fellow writing for your personal entertainment.

fun stories to fill in between the longer books

great read

This collection of short stories builds on the excellent series of "Mahu" books featuring Kimo Kanapaka and his partner Mike Riccardi. Having read all the books in the series, I found these stories immediately engrossing. The story of the birth of their children delivered real emotional punch for those who have followed the lives of these men. Again, I find myself eager to read the next novel or story collection.

Accidental Contact, and other Mahu InvestigationsBy Neil PlakcyFour starsShort stories are difficult. Difficult to write well, and often less satisfying (for me) to read. But I always counter that with the fact that a good anthology can be a real pleasure—like this group of tales that Plakcy has written as sort of “in-betweens” for his seven “Mahu” novels.As a major fan of Plakcy’s “Mahu” series, I of course wanted to read these stories, which are scattered around throughout the course of the seven novels that document Kimo Kanapa’aka. Because I know the Mahu books so well, it is effortless to enter the world of Hawai’i created by Plakcy—the duality of this tropical paradise, beauty and ugliness. If you’ve read the “Mahu” series, each story becomes a little nugget of extra flavor to enjoy, thinking about the various larger themes that pervade this group of novels—Kimo’s coming out, his maturation as a proud gay man, his evolving relationship, and—most important of all—the critical importance that his network of family and friends, ‘Ohana, has for him.Some of the stories are sad, because the murders involved are, well sad. I think my favorite story, however, is “Kelly Green,” not only because it reminds me of my own propensity to wear pants that color in my younger days, but because the story is about parents and gay children finding each other again. No murder in this one.This is not an anthology that would make a lot of sense to someone who hasn’t read the Mahu books—at least the background information wouldn’t resonate. But Plakcy’s simple, clear descriptive writing would be a pleasure to read regardless. But, I’d save this book until I’d finished the series—it’s like whipped cream on a great dessert (or gravy on a favorite dish?).

Another Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.com reviewRating: 4.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 5)Sex, mayhem and justice in the Aloha State as openly gay Honolulu homicide detective tracks murderers, missing people & a dog with unusual appetites.Openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka has had a long and storied career with the Honolulu PD in the Aloha State of Hawaii. In this selection of ten short investigations in the Aloha State, Kimo goes from rookie officer to seasoned homicide detective in a range of cases from a hearse carrying more than bodies and a psychic with some surprising information for Kimo and his partner.A wonderful introduction to the rich cultures of the Hawaiian populace as seen through the eyes of its complicated native son. The stories are captivating, sometimes humorous and always richly layered. A must for all lovers of detectives on the hunt and mysteries waiting to be solved.I first discovered Neil Plakcy and his Hawaiian detective, Kimo Kanapa’aka, towards the end of the Mahu series with the novel Natural Predators (Mahu #7). That book was such a revelation. Plakcy had created in Kimo Kanapa’aka a richly nuanced, highly complex character, one steeped in his family and Hawaiian culture. Coming in at the seventh story, I had missed out on all the character and relationship growth that had taken place prior so that Kimo, his domestic partner, and, foster son could have an established and happy home life. But the novel had enough glimpses into past stories to let the reader know that the climb to such a contented arrangement has been fraught with pain, difficulties, and a few partings. That alluring back history was enough to send me racing back to the beginning to see how it all began and meet Kimo at the start of his career.Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations allows a reader new to the Mahu series a chance to dip into the life and cases of Kimo and his department at various stages of his life and career. As the blurb informs “from murderers to missing babies to a shaggy dog with an unusual appetite, openly gay Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka has his hands full…” with cases both extraordinary and colorful. But what really sets this detective apart from his counterparts is Plakcy’s ability to bring all aspects of the myriad Hawaiian cultures to life via vivid imagery and a use of colloquialisms and dialects, slang and tonal flow of the voices that swim in that great pot of peoples, traditions, lore, and even societal prejudices known as Hawaii.I can get lost in the conversations alone that Plakcy lays out for his characters. It can sound like music, all soft and flowing with all those 5 vowels and 7 consonants that make up the Hawaiian alphabet, yet what they are actually conveying can be painful and harsh. Such a dichotomy originates and flows from the land itself. The author makes the reader see and feel the real Hawaii, not just those postcard beaches and Diamond Head scenes so familiar from travelogues everywhere. From the ghettos and dark streets teaming with characters as unforgettable as the cases they appear in to the hillsides where the huge and diverse Kanapa’aka family reside, this author takes us on a journey limited only by the natural boundaries of the islands. And no matter where the destination, or level of society, Plakcy imbues his characters so throughly with all the flaws and human dimension that all levels feel authentic and believable. Even the criminals here have their own language with which they impart their own rules and lawlessness yet still remained tied in their own way to their families and cultures.Accidental Contact and Other Mahu Investigations gets its name from a most memorable excuse an offender offers up to Kimo and his partner during an investigation. I won’t spoil the reference for you all, its just one of the many delights to be found here. Normally with a collection, I rate the stories but I can’t do that with this collection. Each brought its own groups of surprises and memorable moments. Some ended abruptly just as shaggy dog stories should, others continue to the final satisfactory ending you would hope for. The end result of them all is to send me once more back to that first story and being my journey with Kimo all over again.When I think of fine regional voices, the ones that pull you immediately into a culture and region, Neil Plakcy jumps immediately to mind. His Mahu series should be on everyone’s list of Must Have, Must Read stories and series. And Kimo Kanapa’aka rates just as highly among the detectives I have come to know and love. Let this collection be a quick introduction to this marvelous series and author. And then let it guide you back to all the other fine stories and a romance and love affair to savor. I highly recommend them all.Cover art by Kris Jacen. I love the cultural feel of this cover. Works perfectly for this collection of stories.

Only 3 stars for a Neil Plakcy, because it's mainly short stories. For his full length books they are very good.The stories are quite good, but then they are over. If it was not a Neil Plakcy I might rate higher.

This collection of short stories will not disappoint. Can't wait for the next full length Mahu book.