Jessica takes a working vacation, so to speak to Hawaii to give lectures at the Maui College along with retired detective Mike Kane. If you know Jessica, then you know that even a trip to the sunny islands will not go without a murder to solve.

On Jessica's first day there she meets Mala Kapul, a professor at the college who has strong beliefs about Haleakala volcano. She is active in keeping it preserved from those who feel that a solar telescope built on the mountain will be a great asset to the islands. Then the worst happens and Mala is found dead at the bottom of a cliff. It looks like this botanist should have known better than to search for new plant life on the edge of a dangerous cliff. Surely she was not that careless or did someone push her to her death?

Jessica with the help of Mike, interviews those that knew Mala, friends and foes. Could it be someone who did not agree with her beliefs on saving Haleakala from a telescope? Perhaps it was just a freak accident? A lot of skeletons seem to come out of the closet and they learn more about the locals than anyone would have guess. Did someone see something that first night during the luau? Will Jessica be able to find out who it was before someone puts a stop to her nosy meddling?

MURDER SHE WROTE:ALOHA BETRAYED is another well-done mystery with suspense waiting around every corner. It has an ending that I didn't see coming with a suspect that left me a little surprised. Let's just say that Jessica has done it again getting to the bottom of things.

Book Summary