Bone Hook

Wow! Major cliff hanger. <br /><br />I'm so glad I don't have to wait six months to read the next part of this saga....<br /><br />So good! Why aren't my friends reading this series???

I’ve liked this series from the very first book and this one did nothing to change that. One reason is Neal has made me care about the characters, cheer their successes, bemoan their failures.<br /><br />Lei and Michael are at a rough place in their marriage and personal lives, Lei still mourning the loss of a child, Michael coping with PTSD. While Lei investigates the underwater murder of a marine biologist, Michael signs on with a private security service to train military police in a foreign country.<br /><br />This book like earlier ones has a mix of Lei’s private and professional lives. Some of them leaned more toward one or the other but this one is about equally split between them.<br /><br />Neal ends this book on an honest to God cliffhanger. I’m not a fan of them because done poorly, they either give too little away (The reader has to buy the next book to find out what did happen) or they give too much away, turning the cliffhanger into a mere porch hanger. Neal struck a good balance here, telling the reader enough to make him <i>want</i> to read the next book as soon as possible.<br /><br />That's what I want to do.

Another excellent story in the Lei Crime series! Ms. Neal is spot-on with her portrayal of life and multi-cultural themes in Hawaii. Set on the island of Maui, Sergeant Lei Texeira struggles with her marriage, raising a young stepson, and her difficult job of homicide detective. This particular installment deals with alcoholism, drugs, fish poaching, infidelity, and -- oh yeah -- murder. The beautiful scenic backdrop of Hawaii seems ideal. It is very beautiful. But there's always a dark side to everything, and this novel explores it all!

It’s easy to like the hero of this book, Sgt. Lei Texiera of the Maui Police Department. She’s young, ambitious, and loves her family and her job. And, since this is a murder mystery, Lei is also a homicide detective. <br /><br />Fans of murder mysteries love to be deceived. A surprise ending when a reader learns whodunnit is always satisfying when the clues were there all along. But the ending of Bone Hook was not a surprise. What surprises the reader in this book is how inept the hero-detective is. <br /><br />She follows her hunches and is guided more by emotion than facts. She exposes her fellow officers to danger. She locks up suspects despite a lack of evidence, in one case, simply because she doesn’t like him. And her lack of diligence results in the escape of a prime suspect not once but twice. <br /><br />In the end, the murderer was the suspect I thought was guilty at the beginning of the book. And, yes, the clues were there all along. I was only left wondering why I could figure it out, and Sgt. Texiera couldn’t. <br /><br />The good news is that it’s a short book.

A preview copy was given as a prize for a newsletter contest and this is my honest review. <br /><br />Lei Texeira is a character I can look up to and be proud of her accomplishments. Throughout this series she has survived house fires, attempts on her life, a miscarriage and now her marriage is struggling. Michael Stevens, her husband of about five years, is in law enforcement and suffers from PTSD. He has tried to battle this demon with alcohol and realizes he needs to take drastic measures to get over his issues. Lei is left with Kiet, while Michael serves his country, and she has this murder case that has touched on very personal issues. The case is fascinating with deception, affairs, illegal fishing and meth labs. Literally there is non stop action with this book and Neal leaves us with a cliffhanger, the first time ever! Normally she solves the case and wraps up the personal issue but not this time. Be prepared to be captivated.

Toby Neal doesn't disappoint! Wasn't sure how I felt about<br />the beginning of this book due to the fact that she skips ahead in Lei's story a few years. As always I am intrigued by the characters and the mystery of the case. She gives the characters texture and has a way of making the reader emotionally involved. I am glad that I didn't read this sooner before the next book was done because it would have killed me to wait with a Cliffhanger like that! Toby Neal has become one of my most favorite authors and I can't wait for the next! If anyone is looking for a great crime drama with a great backstory you need to read the Lei crime series. Hopefully Steven's and Lei's story isn't ending yet. I have to move on to the the next book to fined out. Great writing Toby Neal!

Wow! Definitely addicted to Toby Neal's books. Lei's husband Michael signs on for a 6-month classified position somewhere unknown thinking this will help deal with his PTSD and alcohol issues and is captured--cliffhanger ending. Lei is also working on a case of a murder involving someone who is trying to protect Hawaii from fish poachers that also leads her to a meth case. Love the mystery suspense that also intertwines with Hawaii's history and culture. Can't wait for the next book.

<strong>OMDess!</strong><br /><br />After too long Ms Neal finally brings Lai again! Then she leaves us hanging, but in such a good way. It's hard to read about the marital troubles about my favorite couple, who become so real to me whenever I read a new book, but Ms Neal makes it so real that you agonize right along with her. Bone Hook thrills in every way all this series does and leaves you wanting more! Can't wait!

I'm still enjoying this series, watching the main characters as they evolve through their lives. I'm not sure I can buy into Steven's choice of how to solve his problems, but it does keep the drama going. I really like the main plot of the murder that Lei has to solve in this one. I learned about the theft of wild tropical fish to sell for aquariums and the fragile ecology of the ocean in the Hawaiian islands. But a cliffhanger at the end of the book? Ugh.

<strong>My new favorite!</strong><br /><br />I've said it before it now I'll say it again....each of these books keeps me hooked and become a new favorite. Unfortunately this one ended with a cliffhanger so I have to keep going. Fortunately I don't have to wait for it to be written. This story by far had the most complex murder mystery with numerous plot twists and turns. What I missed, though, was the amazing relationship between Lei and Stevens so I'm hoping to get that back in the next book.