About the Book
A vision of a predawn escape by boat from Denmark seems confusing to Journalist Natalie Seachrist. She has no idea how scenes apparently from a World War II movie will impact her modern life in Hawai’i. Soon, she and boyfriend, private investigator Keoni Hewitt, move into the Lanikai cottage she recently inherited. The warm welcome they receive from Miriam DidiÓn and her housemates sets an ideal tone for life in the seaside neighborhood. As Natalie throws Keoni a birthday party everybody, including Natalie’s feline companion Miss Una, have become fast friends.
Abruptly, everyone’s life changes when a body is found at Miriam’s home. Eerily, the murder parallels another of Natalie’s visions of a scuba diver garroting a woman by moonlight. Natalie reveals the murderous vision to Keoni’s former partner, Honolulu Police Detective John Dias. Discovery of a suspect’s body on Diamond Head Beach suggests resolution of the crime and Natalie and her new friends relax. But a day of playing tourist devolves and Natalie and her friends are suddenly in the cross hairs of a dangerous adversary.
About the Author :
Jeanne Burrows-Johnson draws on a multi-faceted background in the performing arts, education and marketing. The well-researched elements of her Natalie Seachrist mystery series invite the reader and listener into the sensory rich environs of Hawai`i, where she lived for over twenty years. Like her heroine, she and her husband enjoy feline companionship in an environment featuring dynamic skies, landscapes and characters. Academically, she was accepted for membership in Phi Beta Kappa while completing her Bachelor's degree in History at the University of Hawai`i. During graduate studies and a teaching assistantship, she became a member of Phi Alpha Theta. She is also a Lifetime Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dancing, Highland Division.
Review :
Waking from visions of an unfamiliar escape by boat from Denmark, journalist Natalie Seachrist tries to focus on her pending move. Still processing the murder of her great-niece and the death of her Aunt, Natalie looks forward to her move into her Aunt's old house with her boyfriend, former detective Keoni Hewitt. Her new home, filled with fond memories from her past, is given new life from her blossoming friendships with her new neighbors Miriam, Joanne, Izzy and Samantha while strengthening her bonds with old friends and family. But her new, yet familiar home, is soon shaken by an intense vision of a murder and the horrible similarities those visions have to the murder that occurs next door. Murder on Mokulua Drive by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson is a novel steeped in beautiful details. Both setting and character are wonderfully and intricately described, building a slice of life that draws the reader in and connects them to the story and its characters. While some readers may find that the early pace of the story seems slow, those who can appreciate the authors attempt to connect the reader to the characters will find themselves much more heavily impacted by events of the story as they unfold. And the attention the author pays to the Hawaiian locations is especially meaningful to those who have visited or lived on O'ahu. While there is a small element of fantasy incorporated into the story through the protagonists' visions, the author does a wonderful job of balancing it for those who are more pragmatic about their choice of mystery novels. The visions give context and background, helping to build the connections mentioned earlier, while still giving clues to murders and mysteries. Murder on Mokulua Drive is an engaging and enjoyable read for those who love deeply built connections and rich details.A worthwhile read, even for those who may enjoy a slightly faster paced and higher energy murder mystery. - - Portland Book Review
"...it had seemed like life was finally moving away from deadly matters." If life is what happens when you're making other plans, then in a cozy mystery, murder is what happens when you're making life. Such is the way of things for Natalie Seachrist who, in her second outing in this series, is at a relatively happy crossroads-moving in with her boyfriend Keoni and relaxing into a warm and welcoming community-until murder interrupts the peaceful idyll. Shocked by the death of a new friend and deeply troubled by psychic dreams that may have foreshadowed and revealed details about the murder, Natalie and her close-knit community of colorful characters are rocked by the jarring homicide and desperate for answers. Life gets further complicated when a face from Natalie's past arrives to solve the case, making for a crowded and potentially awkward situation just when Natalie and Keoni were set to enjoy this new stage in their relationship. This author knows her genre, and she skillfully blends familiar ingredients that faithful cozy mystery readers will appreciate. The story is further enhanced with several compelling flourishes. First, the author draws on the rich history of Denmark's safe evacuation of its Jewish population during World War II and integrates this legacy into her 21st-century characters. Next, while cozy sleuths are often known for their intuition, Natalie's dreams are downright prescient, bringing a mystical quality to the crime-solving activities. Finally, the book's love affair with its Hawaiian setting is contagious, and the location details create an alluring atmosphere. All these added components bring depth and freshness to a familiar format. If the mystery itself fails to hold the reader at seat's edge for the final reveal, the book creates sufficient curiosity that, when paired with the friendly cast and creative touches, the novel makes a pleasant and satisfying diversion for a cozy afternoon. - - The US Review of Books
A semiretired journalist in Hawaii who experiences visions tries to solve a neighbor's murder in this second installment of a mystery series. No longer constantly overseas as a travel writer, Natalie Seachrist has more time to spend at home in Hawaii. She's preparing to leave her Waikiki condo but decides to stay at her aunt's cottage in Lanikai. With help from her boyfriend, Keoni Hewitt, and her twin brother, Nathan Harriman, Natalie gets settled at the cottage and mingles with neighbors. But before long, she has a vision. Her sepia-toned visions often show her an event during or before its occurrence. This time, she sees a concealed man murder one of her new neighbors, but Natalie convinces herself it was nothing more than a nightmare. She unfortunately learns the next morning that the same woman from her vision has mysteriously died. Luckily, Lt. John Dias, the old partner of former homicide detective Keoni, is on the case. John, whose grandmother had a gift akin to Natalie's, willingly listens to her breakdown of the vision. Putting together the skills of John and Natalie, who's an exceptional researcher, the two hope to prevent one particular individual from getting away with murder. The most striking feature of Burrows-Johnson's (Prospect for Murder, 2016) book is a winsomely detailed setting, from seafood and Kona coffee to Hawaii's generally relaxed ambiance (including a hammock on the lanai). As such, the story's mystery is simply another task for Natalie, along with moving to Lanikai and planning Keoni's surprise birthday party. Nevertheless, the protagonist is first-rate. Natalie, for example, despite using her visions as an investigative tool, produces a significant break in the case with mere deductive reasoning. Her special ability does factor into the probe, but she would have made headway on smarts alone. The plot offers a couple of impressive twists, and though some of the case unfolds outside of Natalie's first-person narration, the protagonist sees it through to the end. A diverting tale led by a smashing amateur detective whose dexterity far exceeds her paranormal gift. - - Kirkus Reviews
Natalie Seachrist has had a vision in the night of a Jewish child fleeing Denmark to Sweden with her family during WWII. But Natalie has no idea who this child could be or why she's had this particular vision. Though she is sure the reason for the vision will become clear at some point. Instead of dwelling on it, she turns her attention to moving house. With the death of her aunt Carrie, she has inherited White Sand Cottage, in Lanikai near Kailua on the windward side of Oahu in Hawaii, and she has to clear out her condo in Waikiki. Her boyfriend, Keoni, is there to help not just with the move but with the renovations at the cottage as well. As they settle into the cottage, they get to know their neighbors and all seems picturesque and idyllic until one of the neighbors, Miriam Didion, is murdered. Natalie and Keoni, a retired police officer, are determined to help find the murderer before he or she can strike again. Initially, it was the gorgeous cover that drew me to this book. I loved the sunset view and the fact that the story was set in Hawaii made it all the more interesting. I liked the character of Natalie and I felt that as a narrator she was able to create quite an intimate setting. It felt like she was talking to me personally from the comfort of the cottage. I don't often get this warm and cozy atmosphere in mystery stories, so I appreciated this aspect of the book. Overall, I was impressed by the character development in the book. I felt that I got to know everyone rather well. The use of Hawaiian words and explanations was also a very nice touch, making me feel that I was part of the local culture. It also made the setting seem more realistic. I enjoyed the ending and was intrigued to find out a little more about Miriam and how the story tied back to the beginning of the book. I also liked that just because Miriam and "her ladies" were retired and older, it didn't mean they weren't lively and active. It's nice to read about characters of all ages, and this book had the young and the old. The story had many layers as well as some twists and turns, which kept me glued to the pages, particularly the story of Samantha and Luke.I'm excited to discover a new mystery writer, and I'm hoping there will be more cases for Natalie, Keoni, and Miss Una to solve in the not-too-distant future. - - Manhattan Book Review
