Title: The Burning Island by Hester Young
Charlie Cates Mystery Series Book Three
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Supernatural Elements
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
The newest haunting mystery from the beloved author of The Gates of Evangeline, featuring Charlie Cates, a headstrong heroine who must confront her unwanted supernatural gift and bring dark secrets to light if she ever wants to leave the Big Island . . .
Journalist Charlie Cates has always believed in facts, in what can be proved–her career depends on it. Which is why she has never truly accepted the supernatural visions that guide her to children in danger. After her work on a high-profile missing-child case brings unwanted fame, she reluctantly flees to the lush Big Island of Hawaii with her best friend, Rae. Determined to avoid her disturbing visions, Charlie begins writing what seems to be a harmless interview of a prominent volcanologist, Victor Nakagawa. But her hopes for a peaceful vacation are soon dashed by haunting dreams of a local girl who went missing six weeks earlier.
In the small and sleepy town of Kalo Valley, Charlie and Rae come to realize that even paradise has its ugly secrets, and the Nakagawa family is no exception. In order to find the missing teenager and stop a dangerous predator from striking again, Charlie is forced to embrace the gift she has always tried to conceal. Meanwhile, someone is watching her every move, and the closer Charlie gets to the truth, the more distant her chances of ever leaving the island alive.
With a deliciously eerie and fast-paced story told in vivid prose, all with an overlay of supernatural suspense, The Burning Island is a pulse-pounding mystery perfect for fans of Jennifer McMahon and Kate Atkinson.
Review:
The Burning Island by Hester Young is an engrossing mystery with slight supernatural elements. This third installment in the Charlie Cates series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.
Charlotte “Charlie” Cates escapes to Hawaii with her best friend, Rae Shapiro, to escape the media circus after her fiancé, Noah, spills the beans about her psychic dreams. She has utilized her unique ability to find endangered children or help solve their deaths but she has been reluctant for her gift to become public knowledge. Charlie’s trip to the Big Island is a working vacation since she is interviewing Volcanologist and Iron Man competitor Victor Nakagawa for a magazine article. She is surprised to discover Victor’s sixteen year old daughter Lise went missing about six weeks earlier. He is convinced Lise has run away from home and therefore, he is surprisingly unconcerned about her disappearance. Victor’s wife, Sue, requests Charlie’s help in finding out the truth about what happened to Lise. The police have zeroed in on Lise’s ex-boyfriend Isaac as their only suspect, but their investigation has stalled due a lack of evidence. After realizing Lise is teenager she has been seeing in her dreams, Charlie and Rae try to find out the truth about the missing young woman.
Charlie has never felt comfortable with her psychic visions and she is not at all happy about becoming fodder for the media. Hoping her and Rae’s Hawaiian vacation will allow time for her to fade from the public eye, she is not at all happy to become part of another missing person’s case. She is frustrated by the lack of cooperation from Lise’s family and the locals as she and Rae begin their investigation. Charlie is also a little confused about her dreams since they are not her typical visions.
Rae is quite helpful with the investigation even though Charlie does not always appreciate some of her ideas. One very memorable (and hilarious) plan finds the two friends joining two twenty-somethings who have ties to Lise. Although Rae is sometimes impetuous as she tries to help Charlie, she is occasionally the voice of reason as she tries to convince her friend to be more cautious during her attempts to right the wrongs they uncover.
With wonderful insight into Hawaiian culture and interesting folk lore, The Burning Island is a riveting mystery. Charlie’s investigation in Lise’s disappearance is interesting and takes some heartbreaking twists and breathtaking turns. Hester Young reveals the truth about what happened to Lise during a nail-biting conclusion that is mostly satisfying. This latest release wraps up the three book Charlie Cates series, but my fingers are crossed there are plans for future novels starring the likable psychic detective.
