Understand, I am a fan of Carolyn Hart and have read every one of her books. This is one of her very best. No longer is the writing somewhat stilted and the characterization shallow. Here we have a suspenseful, well-reasoned plot with an interesting assortment of characters. The exotic setting of a Hawaiian island is evoked with economic use of adjectives. In fact, this is a very believable story. If you enjoy good solid writing in a conservative style, you will enjoy this book.

This was the first Henrie O book I've read. It won't be the last. I liked Henrie O. She is a strong character who can face her fears and do what needs to be done. In this case, she needs to begin to solve the mystery of her husband's death. So it's off to Hawaii to meet one of her husband's old friends, who is also a lady and thus begins her experience.

This is not like the Carolyn Hart mystery series Death on Demand. The characters are very different and the mystery a bit more dark. Also, she doesn't put in all the references to other mystery novels as she does in her Death on Demand books.

Enjoy.

Six years ago, Henrietta "Henrie O" O'Dwyer Collins' beloved husband, fellow newspaper reporter, Richard, fell to his death off of a cliff in the Hawaiian island of Kauai. When he died, Richard was visiting a close friend, the legendary foreign correspondent, Belle Ericcson, a woman he had bonded with in Nam during the war. Now Henrie O learns that her beloved spouse's death was not an accident, but was apparently cold blooded murdered.

Henrie O is angry and wants vengeance on the perpetrator. She travels to Hawaii to visit Belle, who was her rival for her spouse's affections. She knows that the killer is at a family reunion being hosted on the woman's estate. No matter what she must do or who she must hurt in the process, Henrie O plans to complete her quest of identifying her husband's killer and bringing the individual to justice.

Carolyn Hart proves why she deserves all the awards (winner of the Agatha, Anthony, and Macauley awards for this mystery series) she has garnered. DEATH IN PARADISE: A Henrie O Mystery is one of the author's best mystery novels to date because the book is an enjoyable, exciting and intellectually stimulating who-done-it with a suspenseful ending. This reviewer strongly recommends the entire series, but especially this particular tale.

Harriet Klausner

If you're from the Mainland and have visited Kaua'i, you are no doubt still haunted by its charms - this book will bring you right back. The photography is wonderful.

My wife and I have been to Kauai several times and have not, until now, been able to fully relate to friends on the Mainland the awesome, magical sensation that is Kauai. This collection of embracing color photographic art does just that and even more. Absolutely phenominal color photography. Panoramic, comprehensive and select Island views that truly capture the magnificient beauty that is uniquely Kauai; unspoiled, tropical island paradise. If you've been there, this book will vicariously return you; If you haven't been there, well, this is the second best place to experience "da kine" Garden Isle. Aloha!

I really enjoyed seeing the towns, instead of all the usual scenic things, like those unavailable westside beaches. I had spent 6 weeks over there after hurricane Iniki working and had driven to so many areas that it was nice to see where I had driven from the air. I liked seeing where roads went from a new perspective and the towns like Kapaa where I lived near, and Wailua, etc.

Often I read historical information on the English, French, Chinese etc. but this book was a particular find as many of its stories were entirely unknown to me -although I have visited Hawaii many, many times over the years. It helped me to appreciate the rich cultural history and not just the island's lovely beaches.

It has been a great pleasure to uncover this particular book. Nothing I have read thus far on the islands carries the thread to this depth.
Charles Braithwaite III

Unbelievably accurate accounting of history as spoken by the natives themselves. History at it's best. We all frequently visit Hawaii but usually do not take the time to understand anything about the islands beyond the beautiful beaches. This is our book to learn and understand what this culture is really about. Easy to read. A must!

As a frequent visitor to Kauai and and from an old family in Koloa., I would like to compliment Dr. Donohugh for the thoroughness, accurate story. I found the story to be very readable, scholarly, and historically accurate. Since I am a friend of Dr. Donohugh I am staying with him and he was kind enough to share a copy with me. I plan on buying some for my relatives.

Sincerely,

Dorothea Ladd

Thus book was a labor of love. With years of experience as a lifeguard and surfer, John's curiousity went beyond. He studied oceanography, read all he could, and interviewed all those who knew anything about each beach. The result is the best source of information that will ever be available about Hawaiian beaches.

THE GREATNESS OF KAUAI'S BEACHES.

Boy, I wish I had had this guide at the beginning of our recent trip to Kaua'i. It's terrific! We've snorkeled in many of the places described - Ke'e, Tunnels, 'Anini, Po'ipu, Pu'u Poa, Hideaways - and the information jives with what we experienced. However, with this guide in hand we'd have known not just which places to go (other guidebooks steered us there), but more detailed information about the reef formation, currents, and safety aspects of each spot. For instance, I spent most of my time at Ke'e fighting the current on the left side of the bay, when all along the best conditions are to the right.

In addition to on-the-nose snorkel information, the authors do a very good job of advising novice snorkelers on equipment, techniques, and safety concerns. There are helpful sections on general fish types (not an exhaustive guide, but enough to help a beginner distinguish a wrasse from a parrotfish), plus plenty of pertinent information on the island, its weather, and interesting excursions out of the water. Although we've been to the island twice now, I learned some useful things for our next (anxiously awaited) trip.

This is the book I'd recommend first to anyone interested in snorkeling on Kaua'i. There are other fine general guidebooks out there, don't get me wrong, but this is exactly what it says it is: SNORKEL Kaua'i.

Mahalo, Judy and Mel!

Of all the Kauai guidebooks we've read, this has the best snorkeling details by far. We went to Hoai Bay in Poipu, and it didn't look that promising. But when we swam out to just where the book says, there were more turtles than we'd ever seen before in one spot.

All the beach info is helpful, too, and the maps are easy to follow. Well worth taking along.

This book really helped me discover Kauai! Easy to use, clear, complete--an excellent resource.

This is one of those "I couldn't put it down until I finished it" books although I took 2 and 1/2 days to read it because of other interruptions. The first since I got hooked on Tom Clancy and several of his books.

The first several chapters kept drawing me to read more. I liked the way Mr. Barton established the subject and the characters in such a way as to keep me wanting to read the next page and/or chapter to see what was going to happen next in the story and the characters.

My favorite characters are Jack Cahill, Julie Stinson, and Old Man Parker.

I now want to read more of Mr. Barton's books and I think I will start with "Camouflage".

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and perhaps a book writing about the aftermath of an hurricane on a small Hawaiian island should be as visual and expressive as possible.

However I loved the caption writing that supported these photographs and wished there was more of it. It is like the coulis you really prefer around a staid pudding. Myles Ludwig emits an air of sanguine lackadaisicality, whilst emanating a barely suppressed passion and sensitivity for his surroundings.

I'll keep an eye out for any other work from this talented writer.

We tested all the features of this book on our vacation last month. This book is definitely our first choice of all the Kauai guides. It proved itself a great alternative to all the package tours that can run up to over $100 per person for one outing. The authors provide easy driving directions, accurate trail descriptions, hike degree of difficulty, potential hazards.

It was a big help knowing where to go the minute we hopped off the plane and was responsible for us having one fantastic time.

This book served as our primary field guide for finding hiking routes. We had heard Kauai was known for its uncrowded spaces and this book proved it very true. No other book lists so many trails. It is well written and contains precise directions and maps that made driving to the traiheads easy. During our two week trip there was never any down time which is amazing for a family of five. When the boys wouldn't walk another step, we hauled them to recommended beaches where they could boogie board and build sand castles. We're lending this treasure with all our underlining and notes to the family next door and plan to buy their Maui book for our Christmas vacation next year.

I bought KAUAI TRAILBLAZER for a recent trip to the Garden Isle and found it a friendly companion to have tucked under my arm. It's got explicit directions, so if you get lost, it's because you want to be lost! There is a soft subtlety in the photography--like snapshots in my memory, evocative. Imbued in the text is a sensitivity to the land and peoples of Hawaii. I was struck by a certain reverence that allows witness without disturbance. There is a marked dry wit to Sprout's writing style; he lightly peppers his guide with humor without detracting from the densely packed info he delivers to anyone wishing to visit Kauai--whether they want a useful first-time tour of some well-known sites, or desire to stray off the beaten path. The book definitely helped me and I highly recommend it. Aloha & best wishes, Doreen Sinky, BC, Canada

Jim Denny's excellent photographs complement his excellent text. The book is neither a field guide (for that, use Douglas Pratt's Field Guide to the Birds of Hawai'i and the Tropical Pacific) nor is it a site guide (use Pratt or Sohren for that), but something else: an accurate and fascinating review of the birds of the island and how they fit into the marvelous land. Bits of interesting history are interwoven with the descriptions, and Denny's relation of the tragedy of the lost birds of Kaua'i can make you weep. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has or will look for birds on this remarkable island. My one complaint is that the paintings Denny chose to illustrate those birds he could not photograph are not the most accurate depictions available, though they are of historical interest.

This book is essential for anyone planning to visit this beautiful island, and if you have no plans to go there... look through this wonderful guide, and you may change your mind! The glossy pages are filled with photos of the most illusive and rare birds of Kaua'I. These colorful creatures are found nowhere else on earth. They are photographed in their native surroundings, which are as unique and bold as the birds themselves. Jim Denny did a wonderful job describing each species in detail. Wonderful photos, great reading! I highly recommend this book for lovers of birds, and lovers of beauty. Thumbs up!

I have never seen a book this good about birds from the Islands