Blood Orchids

Leilani Texeira was a cop in the small Hawaiian town of Hilo and on a routine patrol with her partner Pono, they discovered the bodies of two young women in the ponds. Lei knew one of the girls - she'd busted her a couple of weeks prior, but as the investigation began with Detective Michael Stevens in charge, Lei felt echoes from her past. Soon she was being stalked and although her guard dog and best friend, Rottweiler, Keiki, was a constant when she was off duty, her paranoia was beginning to cripple her. When another woman disappeared, this time a close friend, Lei and her colleagues were desperate to find this person or persons. But would they? Could they stop this brutal killer before more died?<br /><br />It's amazing how we find new authors I think. I needed a book set in Hawaii for a challenge and when I searched, I discovered I had <i>Blood Orchids</i> on my kindle, there since March 2012, originally published 2011. And wow! What a gritty, tension-filled ride it took me on! Lei is a very damaged young woman, with a past she hasn't dealt with yet. Keiki is adorable (even though I'm pretty scared of Rotties myself) But I thoroughly enjoyed <i>Blood Orchids</i>, 1st in the Paradise Crime Mysteries, unable to put it down, especially as I neared the end. My first read by Toby Neal (whom I thought was male until I checked her profile!) and it won't be my last! Highly recommended.

This was just an okay read for me. The main character, Lei, was so messed up and had so many bad things endlessly happening to her that it became tiresome after awhile and I found myself losing interest in the story the more it went on. I did like the setting of Hilo, Hawaii, though and I loved Lei's dog, Keiki.

Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page. <br /><br />The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.<br /><br />i would highly recommend this author and this book.

I downloaded this free ebook from Barnes &amp; Noble and what a nice surprise. Toby Neal has written a series of crime novels set on the Hawaiian Islands. Lei Texeira is the spunky young crime fighter with the Hilo Police Department trying to solve a deadly crime wave while simultaneously fighting her own demons. <br /><br /><br />I was intrigued by this book when I learned the backdrop would be Hawaii. Would the author share an authentic Hawaiian background in terms of its people, food, and culture? Toby Neal did not disappoint. Not only was the story a page-turner, but I also felt as though I was back in Hawaii, absorbing the sights, smells, sways of the Hawaiian way of life.<br /><br />I'm looking foward to reading the second book in the series, TORCH GINGER!

I actually haven't been reading very many mysteries of late, so I enjoyed diving back into the genre with Blood Orchids, Toby Neal's debut crime novel. This was a fast-paced book that proved to be a quick read and was perfect for the last few evenings. Not only do we have the mystery behind the discovery of that first murder scene, but ultimately Lei Texeira is embroiled in her own frightening scenario involving a creepy stalker. Naturally, one starts to wonder if the two mysteries are connected, though Neal presents several plausible possibilities and keeps you guessing.<br /><br />I liked the fact that it wasn't immediately obvious as to who the various perpetrators might be. However, in the end when the cases were resolved, it almost felt like the answer came out of left field. I didn't think there were enough clues that would enable you to solve the crimes on your own. Sure, there were a few suspicious characters along the way, but when did we learn about the key points that would have made us realize who the true murderer or stalker was? Or perhaps Neal was sneaky enough to just slip things in where they might be missed?? :-)<br /><br />In the end, that was my only complaint about the book. Blood Orchids was full of action and some romance, too. The dynamic between Lei and Michael Stevens was exciting to watch unfold. I also enjoyed that the story was set in Hawaii. I admit that I'm not too familiar with the culture there, so I was able to get a brief glimpse into a small part of the island life. You'll find an interesting mix of characters, including the psychiatrist that Lei has to go see for mandatory counseling. <br /><br />If you are looking for a mystery that's relatively quick to read and will get your heart racing just a bit, then I urge you to give Blood Orchids a try. Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour!!

I love a good mystery, but I have found that not all authors deliver one that I can't figure out. I love to be kept guessing. Toby Neal fit the bill. A likeable female cop with her share of issues is trying to solve a murder and put an end to someone stalking her.Lots of mystery, with a healthy dose of romance. I like that the romance doesn't take over the story.<br /> This is a series and I will so be continuing to read this author. Well done Toby Neal!

Blood Orchids<br />(Paradise Crime Mysteries, Book 1)<br />By: Toby Neal<br />Narrated by: Sara Malia Hatfield<br />This is an amazing mystery for a serial killer. The main characters are cops. The book is very character driven but has plenty of clues too! Very easy to fall into this world.<br />The narration is spot on.

Hawaiian noir? Emotionally damaged police officer—check. Weird, multiple bad guys—check. Oh—wait a minute—there is also a romantic subplot that seems out-of-place in a police procedural/thriller. Perhaps Neal’s plots will evolve in her subsequent offerings. Regardless, I enjoyed getting to know Lei Texeira of the Hilo Police Department residing on the Big Island with her wonderful dog Keiki, and am putting the next offering on my TBR list.

I would call this novel a murder/mystery with just enough romance. A perfect read!<br />Lei Texeira is the main character of the story. She has spent half her life in Hawaii and half in California. When her mother overdoses on drugs and her father is sent to jail, she is sent to California to live with her Aunty. She returns to Hawaii as a police officer, where she is put on a serial rapist/killer case and has a stalker to deal with. These cases open memories she has buried from the past forcing her to deal with them<br />Michael Stevens, the secondary character, is not only Lei’s co-work on the rapist/killer case but also her compelling love interest. With his patience and understanding their story develops wonderfully. There are a great many wonderful and touching scenes between Stevens and Lei.<br />I loved how Toby Neal kept me guessing. I would catch a clue and think that I knew who the stalker or killer was and then something would happen to make it obvious that I was so wrong. I was kept guessing til almost the end of the book and after all was said and done I had that AH-HA moment where it all made sense. <br />Toby Neal wrote a great novel. Grabs you from the very beginning and keeps you into it til the very last page. I love a great murder/mystery story, the romance was just an added perk. Everyone should check out Blook Orchids, A Lei Crime Novel. I shall be anxiously awaiting the next novel’s release.<br />

I got this book during a free promo. After reading it, I would have happily paid for it.<br /><br />I liked the protagonist, flaws and all. Too many times, authors make flawed characters so angst-ridden that the books are just painful to read. In this case, Lei, a junior officer in the Hilo Police Department, does not take it too far. She brings in a reasonable degree of issues that affect her, but not overwhelm her.<br /><br />The entire setting was very "Hawaii." The author pretty much nailed that right on the head. I could almost smell the islands as I read.<br /><br />As a police drama, the book was a bit formulaic and the reveal a little too pat (I like stronger "hints" that make me go back and think "Ah, I should have caught that earlier!") but there are only so many directions an author can take in a genre. The defining criteria on if a book is good or not becomes how well an author manages to pull it off. In this case, the author did an admirable job and created a book that I heartily recommend.