Off the Grid by Robert McCaw

The story starts with Chief Detective Koa Kane of the Hilo police at the scene of an accident. A county vehicle seems to have collided with a car and caused a small explosion. Before the fire department could put off the fire, there’s another explosion, a bigger one this time, and it completely evaporates the victim stuck in the car.

At the same time, Koa gets another call – a dead body at the Royal Gardens. There are signs of torture and the man was thrown into the flowing lava! Who would have wanted to gruesomely kill this man and why?

Koa’s life hasn’t been easy so far and things seem to be settling now – with Nalani as his lover and a good job, what else does he need. But as Koa discovers that the two murder cases are linked, his life is in a toss again. Corrupt politicians and Defense Intelligence officials trying to stop Koa from solving the murder and his job is in jeopardy.

Off the Grid is the second book in Robert McCaw’s Koa Kane Hawaiian Mystery series. This is the first Robert McCaw book that I read. With corruption, government secrets and some Hawaiian vibes (think orchids and pineapples!!), this book is an entertaining read.

There are many characters in this story, some good and some corrupt (includes cops and politicians). But the one character that stands out from the rest is the protagonist – Koa Kane. Koa is not perfect. His past haunts him every now and then. Flashbacks bring back horrific memories of the battle at Mogadishu but Koa is strong. And the man doesn’t take a no for an answer. No corrupt politician or CIA can stop him from investigating the case he has set his eyes on.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this story. Initially, Koa feels that the case is going nowhere. But this ends when he discovers a closet full of skeletons. I did find the story to be a tad lengthy and descriptive but that didn’t stop me from liking this story. As I first started reading, I was thinking that this is going to be like an episode from Hawaii Five-O but nope! There was more drama, adventure and action. (Steve McGarrett gets what he wants without sweat or grit, but Koa is different. Way different!)

The ending was absolutely brilliant. The suspense is well-maintained throughout the story. The reader is in for a lot of surprises, especially in the second half of the book. If you like books of the genre mystery and thriller – especially a well-concocted police procedural then I recommend you to read Off the Grid.

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Many thanks to Michelle from FSB Associates for the ARC.