Review: Mai Tais and Murder by J.C. Long

Title: Mai Tais and Murder (Gabe Maxfield Mysteries Book One)

Author: J.C. Long

Length: 156 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Mystery

At a Glance: I enjoyed this book immensely, and can’t wait to see what Gabe gets wrapped up in next.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Gabe Maxfield never wanted to be a detective or a policeman or anything of the sort. The closest he wanted to come to the law was writing legal briefs and doing research for a big-shot law firm. Nice and safe, and without all the stress. No unanswered questions, just well-defined legal precedents.

When he moves to Hawaii in the wake of a disastrous breakup and betrayal by an ex, a murder investigation is the last thing he expects to get wrapped up in, but he can’t help himself when a dead body, a hunky cop, and his best friend get involved.

So much for sipping Mai Tais on the beach and admiring the well-tanned bodies around him.

Review: Gabe Maxfield left a disastrous relationship behind in Seattle, and made his way to the island of Oahu. He hasn’t done much in the short time he’s been there; he’s just trying to get his life back together. He worked in Seattle as a paralegal, never felt the need to be more than that, and now he has to think about a new job before his finances run low. He’s been waiting for all his belongings, which were delayed. Then, when the movers finally arrive, they bring in a few boxes before deciding to take a lunch break… Gabe has tried to understand the more relaxed attitude of the island but is baffled by this. A neighbor, Maka Kekoa (who seems a bit stalker-ish), comes over and explains to Gabe what’s going on. Maka lends a helping hand and talks with the movers, who get right back to work. When Maka leaves, the movers tell Gabe that Maka is dangerous and has a bad temper, but Maka has made Gabe feel something that he hasn’t felt in a long time.

Gabe’s best friend, Grace Park, is the reason he moved to Hawaii. She was there to support Gabe when he landed on some hard times. Grace and her business partner, Carrie Lange, own Paradise Investigations, and Grace has encouraged Gabe to come and work with them. After a lunch date, she and Gabe head to the office to drop off some information on a case. But things are not looking at all good when Carrie is found dead.

When the Honolulu police arrive, Gabe is dumbfounded to see Maka Kekoa get out of the car. Maka is a detective and, needless to say, he’s not real thrilled to see Gabe at the crime scene. Gabe is none too happy, either, with the way he and Grace are being questioned. And before he knows it, Grace has been arrested. To help Grace, Gabe goes into investigative mode. When clues start to pile up, it brings danger to Gabe’s doorstep, but thankfully Maka arrives just in the nick of time, and he and Gabe team up—in more ways than one.

Mai Tais and Murder is a character driven story. Gabe is a great guy, a little shy and softhearted, fun, and he has a good head on his shoulders. I liked his enthusiasm when it came to solving the crime; his legal skills kick in and he makes a pretty good sleuth. He jumps in with both feet and doesn’t let Maka’s presence get in his way. Maka is interesting too; he grows on you and turns out to be quite talented, and he also helps familiarize Gabe with island culture. I enjoyed this book immensely, and can’t wait to see what Gabe gets wrapped up in next.

You can buy Mai Tais and Murder here:
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