Thursday, August 13, 2020

The Burning Island by Hester Young

The Burning Island
by Hester Young
narrated by January LaVoy

Published: 2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Hardback: 416
Rating: 5
Mystery, Paranormal | Goodreads | Website
Island: Hawaii

Charlie Cates series:
The Gates of Evangeline
The Shimmering Road
The Burning island

First sentence(s):
In the dream, I wear his eyes like a pair of sunglasses.

Journalist Charlie Cates has always believed in facts, in what can be proved--her career depends on it. Which is why she has never truly accepted the supernatural visions that guide her to children in danger. After her work on a high-profile missing-child case brings unwanted fame, she reluctantly flees to the lush Big Island of Hawaii with her best friend, Rae. Determined to avoid her disturbing visions, Charlie begins writing what seems to be a harmless interview of a prominent volcanologist, Victor Nakagawa. But her hopes for a peaceful vacation are soon dashed by haunting dreams of a local girl who went missing six weeks earlier.

In the small and sleepy town of Kalo Valley, Charlie and Rae come to realize that even paradise has its ugly secrets, and the Nakagawa family is no exception. In order to find the missing teenager and stop a dangerous predator from striking again, Charlie is forced to embrace the gift she has always tried to conceal. Meanwhile, someone is watching her every move, and the closer Charlie gets to the truth, the more distant her chances of ever leaving the island alive.


My two-bits:

It was refreshing for me to read this mystery where the sleuth is a journalist with "special skills" and not a detective.

This story pulls you into the island, island folklore, island living and locals.

Teen drama and weird family dynamics swirl to a satisfying ending.

~*~

* Listened to audiobook version.

* Mr. Darcy mentioned in Chapter 7.


* part of Summertime time ( schedule )
 
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