Today I'm happy to welcome author Debra Bokur back as she shares about the setting of her book, The Lava Witch.

Thanks, Donna.

Often, I’m asked why I chose Hawaii as the setting for my Dark Paradise Mysteries series. I should probably come up with a more interesting or entertaining story that has to do with a flash of insight while gazing at an erupting volcano, but the truth is pretty simple: I’ve always been fascinated by contrasts, particularly when it comes to extremes of concepts such as good and evil, or beauty and decay. That, for me, that makes Hawaii a natural choice.

When traveling in the Hawaiian Islands, it’s impossible for me to not be taken in by the breathtaking natural beauty: the birdsong and heavenly-scented blooms; the verdant mountains and the blue, crashing sea. A closer look, however, reveals a host of darker attributes and issues — large-scale homelessness, a monumental drug problem, serious health and environmental concerns, and an escalating division between wealth and poverty.

Some of these topics and social issues have found their way into THE LAVA WITCH, the third book of my series, which will be released on May 31. Once again, Detective Kali Māhoe is on the trail of a killer, and she’s determined that justice will be served. I hope you’ll consider joining her on her quest. Here’s a synopsis:

“In a remote, mountainous area of a Maui forest near Haleakalā volcano, the naked body of a young woman is found hanging from a tree. The devil is in the details: the woman’s nostrils, mouth, and lungs are packed with lava sand. Her hands are bound in twine. Her feet are charred and blackened, suggesting  a firewalking ceremony. Detective Kali Māhoe’s suspicions are immediately aroused. It has all the signs of a ritual torture and murder.

But Kali’s investigation soon leads her down a winding trail of seemingly unconnected clues and diverging paths—from the hanging tree itself, a rare rainbow eucalyptus, to rumors of a witch haunting the high areas of the forest, to the legend of the ancient Hawaiian sorceress Pahulu, goddess of nightmares. Casting a shadow over it all—the possibility of a Sitting God, a spirit said to invade and possess the soul.

Aided by her uncle Police Captain Walter Alaka’i, Officer David Hara, and the victim’s brother, Kali embarks down the darkest road of all. One that is leading to the truth of the mountain’s deadly core and a dark side of the island for which even Kali is unprepared.”

Check out the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Lava-Witch-Dark-Paradise-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09FFXTQFX

I invite you to visit my website, where you can find information on the books in the series, along with a selection of Hawaiian recipes from dishes mentioned in the books. You can also follow me on social media at Instagram (debrabokur), on FaceBook (Debra Bokur) and at Twitter (@spatravelpro).

Bio: Debra Bokur is an award-winning journalist, writer, and poet, and is the author of the Dark Paradise Mysteries series from Kensington. She is a regular contributor to Global Traveler Magazine, Sea Island Life and other publications; and serves as the Lead Researcher and Writer for the Association of Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT).