Assessment:
Plot: Levine offers a solidly compelling premise for a thriller - a serial killer in Hawaii is murdering native women who he thinks are diluting the bloodstream. The lead detective's own past becomes embroiled in the case, leading to a satisfying degree of uncertainty regarding the culprit.
Prose: The prose is largely straightforward and clear, although there are some examples of overwritten prose where too much description causes confusion. The epigraphs at times also take readers out of the story.
Originality: The premise of the novel follows the fairly straightforward formula of a serial killer who targets individuals who he sees as a threat to something he holds precious and a detective with his own complicated past. The Hawaiian setting--particularly the darker side of paradise--and the target victims, provide a degree of welcome freshness to the storyline.
Character/Execution: The characters and circumstances are undeniably intriguing and readers will eagerly turn the pages, even as they may wish for a degree of additional nuance in terms of their psychological complexity and motivations.
Date Submitted: May 10, 2022
