I have yet to meet a James Hannibal story I haven’t loved and Elysium Tide is no exception.

The story started with a gripping medical scene and then rolled over to compelling events in Hawaii. Then, boom, the race is on to find a killer. Firstly, as ever, this novel is hallmarked by Hannibal’s meticulous research. After I visited Maui several years ago, and above all, this squarely felt like I was back on the island.

The plot is a tightly woven and intricate, involving a series of murders with only a tenuous link. Overlapping the violence seems to be an illegal mining operation set up in disused sugar cane fields. The action is spread between an idyllic hotel, the beach, an offshore boat and a sketchy storage yard. And then there’s the LA street gang looped in to the action.

The banter-fueled relationship between Dr Chesterfield and Detective Lisa Kealoha provides a refreshing boost after grisly death abounds. For instance, their regular battles of wit lifts the story to a new level and I’m hoping that the ending (which I didn’t see coming) is a sign that there are more mysteries for Peter and Lisa to solve together. This is a crime-fighting duo that’ll bring some much needed joy to readers.

Definitely recommended to anyone who loves a good murder mystery.