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Naomi Hirahara: Naomi Hirahara is the Edgar-winning author of the Mas Arai mystery series, including Gasa Gasa Girl, Summer of the Big Bachi, Snakeskin Shamesin, and Blood Hina. She is also the author of the new series of L.A.-based Ellie Rush mysteries, 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 was born and raised in Altadena, CA; she now resides in the adjacent town of Pasadena.
A delicious multicultural mystery with an instantly lovable heroine, lively family dynamics, and a vivid sense of place. I inhaled it like my favorite shave (not shaved!) ice! -- Sarah Kuhn, author of Heroine Complex Iced in Paradise proves why Edgar-winning author Naomi Hirahara is among today's best traditional mystery writers. She magically intersperses Hawaiian culture with an intriguing murder mystery. It's a good thing this is a planned series because you'll want to spend lots of time with Leila Santiago and in her family's shave ice store. The next best thing to actually going to Hawai'i. -- Kellye Garrett, Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty award-winning author of Hollywood Homicide After returning home to Kaua'i to help her family, Leilani Santiago finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation and torn between her loyalties. Naomi Hirahara perfectly captures Leilani's Caucasian-Filipino-Japanese multicultural family, with its unique blend of traditions, dialogue, and food. Hirahara depicts local flavors and a gorgeous setting few Mainlanders ever see, along with the challenges of life on a tourist-driven island. This is a delightful new series that promises more compelling adventures of this sharp-witted, relatable heroine. -- Cynthia Chow, branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library, O'ahu
