Never in her wildest dreams (or nightmares!) would Emily Johnson believe she'd go through a messy divorce, find out she had no money and be so easily persuaded to move to the North Shore of Kauai to help run her Uncle Louie's rundown Tiki Goddess Bar. It's been almost six months since she moved to paradise, and she's actually starting to enjoy life and adjusting to the island rhythm.

Sure there are some problems to work through each day, such as the aging and eccentric Hula Maidens who dance regularly at the Goddess, but nothing resilient Em can't handle. That is until the afternoon she finds the cantankerous next door neighbor dead in the Goddess luau pit shortly before showtime. Everyone knows of the ongoing feud between Uncle Louie and the deceased, but was it enough to provoke murder? Actually, there are several possible suspects besides Louie, and the list keeps getting longer as Det. Roland Sharp proceeds with the investigation.

Now, this hunky island detective is more than just tall, dark, handsome and smart, he's also quite talented moonlighting as a fire knife dancer for luaus. Women of all ages drool over Roland, but it's Em who intrigues him the most -- and the feeling is mutual, much to her chagrin, since she's one of the suspects. To prove she's not a killer, Em enlists the help of the Maidens, as well as some other quirky islanders, to help solve the crime. Of course, this results in Em almost losing her life in the process.

I don't usually read cozy mysteries, but the premise and setting of this book had me intrigued. I have always enjoyed books by Jill Marie Landis, and even though this was a bit of a departure for her, I knew the writing would be first-rate. What did I have to lose? Well, my expectations were met and then some. The cast of characters are so perfectly brought to life, you feel like they are your personal friends and neighbors. MAI TAI ONE ON is a delightful mystery full of whimsy, with the right amount of whodunit and a subtle hint of romance. Ms. Landis' descriptive prose invokes the sights, sounds and smells of Hawaii to such a degree that you can almost feel the sand between your toes and taste the latest drink Uncle Louie has concocted for the occasion. I really loved this fun, fresh and fabulous mystery!

Book Summary

Six months ago, if anyone would have told Em Johnson she'd end up divorced, broke, and running the dilapidated Tiki Goddess Bar on the magical North Shore of Kauai she would have told them to shove a swizzle stick up their okole.

As if all that isn't bad enough, when an obnoxious neighbor with a grudge is found dead in the Goddess luau pit, suspicion falls on Em and the rest of the Goddess staff. With the help of a quirky dance troupe of over-the-hill Hula Maidens, Em and the cast of characters must ban together to find the killer and solve the mystery before the next pupu party. 

Read an Excerpt