The Land of Aloha
By C.B. Wilson
Aloha! From savoring high tea at the Moana Surf to relaxing on Turtle Beach near Haleiwa, Hawaii has always been my happy place. In fact, I am lucky to admit that my family lives on Oahu and I do get to “go home to Hawaii” for the holidays.
The island’s concept of Ohana (meaning family) inspired my newest novel, Puppied to Death. In this ninth installment of the Barkview Mysteries, protagonist Cat Wright Hawl travels from Barkview, America’s dog-friendliest city, to Hawaii. There, she must protect her half-sister from a murderer while reconciling with her late father’s absence and navigating her complex relationship with her mother. Oh, and as the title suggests, there are puppies!
No Hawaiian adventure is complete without immersing oneself in the island’s distinctive culture. When the mystery’s clues revolve around a traditional Chinese Mahjong game, Cat finds herself depending on the dubious detective abilities of the Miss Marple Mahjong Mamas and their distinctive perspective on Chinese immigration. (Take a peek at the below clue. Can you solve the puzzle?)
Yes, I do play Mahjong. Creating the clues required a deep dive into Mahjong’s history and the true meaning of the tiles. I have a new appreciation for winds and dragons.
When I wrote Puppied to Death, I wanted the story to be more than a fun visit to Hawaii. My consultations with Chinatown’s TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practitioners gave me a wonderful insight into the value of lā’au lapa’au (herbal remedies) that I use today. A word of advice when meeting the practitioner for the first time: don’t ask them what Hawaiian plants can kill someone. I swear a Chinatown police officer followed me the entire day.
I also spent time at the Hamilton Library located at the University of Hawaii Manoa. The information in the China Collection is fantastic. It has inspired me to write another Chinese history-based novel. (More to come on that.) While digging through immigration documents and diaries, I learned that the challenges faced by early 20th-century female immigrants parallelled many struggles of contemporary women raising children, genuinely adding a timelessness to Cat’s underlying problem and the conflict between her and the all-knowing Chinese matriarch in the story.
When a tea sommelier is found murdered, an ancient Chinese secret dating back to the Qiang Dynasty falls under threat, and a French Bulldog, a Beagle, and a cat hold the answer to the mystery; only one intrepid sleuth has the ability to cut through the confusion and capture the true culprit.
I hope you enjoy your island journey. For those returning, prepare for a nostalgic trip to your beloved landmarks across Waikiki, Chinatown, and the North Shore. For first-time visitors, a heartfelt Aloha e komo mai—welcome to paradise.
A Murder, an Ancient Secret, and a Puppy You Can’t Help but Love
A desperate call from her sister sends investigative reporter Cat Hawl on a rescue mission to Hawaii. But when she arrives, it’s more than she bargained for. Not only is a tea sommelier found dead, but a mischievous puppy has turned the crime scene into a dog’s breakfast. And to top it off, Cat’s sister, Lani, has gone missing. Is she a witness or on the run?
Join Cat on her quirky, whirlwind adventure, where a trail of tea leaves leads her through a mystery that’s as puzzling as a puppy’s antics. Cozy mystery lovers will find themselves charmed and intrigued at every twist and turn!
Universal link: https://mybook.to/PuppiedtoDeath
Award-winning author C.B. Wilson’s love of writing was spurred by an early childhood encounter with a Nancy Drew book where she wrote what she felt was a better ending.
An animal lover, the Barkview Mysteries combine C. B.’s love of mysteries and dogs. The current 10 book series follows Cat Wright, a feline-loving, former investigative reporter’s, journey to find the right dog for her. C.B.’s motivation to grow this popular series is a result of her belief that every animal deserves a forever home. You will likely find adoptable dogs at her appearances.
Join C.B. in Barkview and help Cat decide if there is a perfect dog for our resident cat lover.
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Ladies of Mystery 
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