Murder, Local Style, a guest blog by Leslie Karst

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Every time I read one of Leslie Karst's Orchard Isle books, I wonder, Why didn't I set my mysteries in Hawai'i? We both like writing about the joys and travails of small town living, we both have a great couple at the center of our stories, I even have moments of humor - although considering how many times Leslie's been nominated for a Lefty Award, she's got me beat on that front.

I can only conclude it's because I settled on the frozen tundra in Maine, and she was smart enough to live on the Big Island. And we both firmly believe writing what you know creates the best experience for the reader. As you'll see when she talks about Murder, Local Style...

 

 

 

Traditional and cozy mysteries are often set in a small town or village, and for good reason. People in a small town tend to know one another, so when something goes awry—such as a murder—they make for good suspects and witnesses. And when the amateur sleuth lives in the same community, she too will have a special connection to and insider information regarding the crime.

 

The street I live on in Hilo, Hawai‘i is in one of the town’s older neighborhoods (dating from 1930s), and many of its residents are the children or grandchildren of families who bought the properties when they were new. Although originally a Japanese-Hawaiian neighborhood, it’s now a blend of the original families along with “locals” (generally a mix of native Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, and Chinese) and haoles (those of European descent).

Our neighborhood on Boy's Day

 

My wife Robin and I, of course, fall into the latter category, but we were welcomed warmly into the neighborhood when we bought our house eighteen years ago. And we love our street. Folks not only know one another, but often host social events for others on the street: Halloween parties and boxcar derbys! And it’s marvelous watching the  kids play together in the street and on our front lawns—riding their bikes and playing hide-and-go-seek, just like I did when I was a kid back in the 1960s. 

The view from my office window

 

Of course no neighborhood is perfect, and ours definitely has its drawbacks. Lawnmowers, blowers, and weed whackers are a frequent background noise. People use loud pneumatic tools to work on their cars. Dogs on chains whine and bark. And neighbor disputes arise over trees blocking ocean views and the feeding of feral cats. 

Some island dogs - not belonging to my neighbors!

 Not so fun, these things.

 

But, I thought one day as I slammed shut my bedroom window in a vain attempt to block out the grinding of a neighbor’s power saw, what a marvelous premise for a murder mystery!

 

What would happen if the resident of a tight-knit street in little Hilo town ended up dead in a highly suspicious manner? And what if he’d been having disputes—from the serious to the petty—with many of his neighbors in the months leading up to his death? And to add an additional local element to the story, what if I set it within a neighborhood orchid society? Because we all know how competitive hobbies like orchid growing can be.

 

Thus was born Murder, Local Style, book three in my Orchid Isle mystery series (yes, another reason for the orchids) set on the magnificent Big Island of Hawai‘i.

 

Mind you, this is not a critique of Hilo. Quite the opposite. In setting this series on Hawai‘i Island, my biggest desire (in addition to crafting a compelling mystery story) was to bring to readers a picture of what the place is truly like—not for tourists, but for those who actually live here. 

My beautiful neighborhood

 

“Local style” is a phrase commonly heard in Hawai‘i, and means something that is typical of the way people do things in the islands. Kicking off your rubber slippahs and leaving them scattered about the front porch, eating Spam musubi for lunch, and throwing the “shaka” to say “thank you” or “hey!” are all examples of local style. The phrase signifies casual comfort, sharing food, and respecting local culture. And since this new book is set in Valerie and Kristen’s small neighborhood in Hilo and concerns the relationships between (and disputes among) the people who live there, Murder, Local Style seemed the perfect title for the story.

 

So, if anything, this is a love letter to my adopted town. For in the end (no spoiler here; this is after all a cozy mystery), we see how a small community in distress can come together to bring a killer to justice and restore order to their beloved neighborhood.

 

And yes, there’s plenty of beautiful Hawaiian culture, delicious food, and aloha spirit along the way! 

Hilo Farmers' Market

Readers: For a chance to win a signed copy of Murder, Local Style, answer this question: Do you live in a close-knit neighborhood, and if so, are there disputes between the residents? (Sorry, US only.) 

 

About Murder, Local Style:

It’s been an eventful transition, but retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen are finally settling into life on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Val’s even joined the neighborhood orchid society to make some new friends. So when she’s asked to step in to cater their latest social event, as the newbie of the group she can’t exactly say no.

But what should have been a straightforward gig is soon a dining disaster when the food from the event poisons and kills the society president. As Val herself becomes a suspect in the murder investigation, she’s determined to uncover the truth. Who would want to kill the mild-mannered president of the orchid society? Turns out the list is longer than a celebrity chef's tasting menu. Apparently some of the residents did not “love thy neighbor.” Can she reveal the killer’s identity before they strike again?

 

Bio: Leslie Karst is the Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity Award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle Mysteries, the Sally Solari culinary mysteries, and the memoir, “Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law,and Cooking for RBG.” When not writing, you’ll find her cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. Leslie and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.