Enjoyable to read!
House of the Hanging Jade is the latest mystery novel by Amy M. Reade. Kailani Kanaka is a chef that is currently living in Washington, D.C. Kailani is from Hawaii and is not enjoying a D.C. winter. Kailani decides to return home to Kona and her family. Geoffrey Corcoran is the owner of the restaurant where she works and her current boyfriend. They have only been dating for a short while, but Kailani knows he is not the one (too clingy). The Kanaka is happy for their daughter to return home and spread the word that she is looking for a position. Kailani receives a call from Dr. Barbara Merriweather-Jorgensen. Barbie (as she prefers to be called) is looking for a personal chef for her family (husband and two children). Kailani will live on the premises and she is asked to introduce more nutritional foods to the family. Kailani soon finds that there are secrets within the Jorgensen house and Kailani does her best to protect the children. Then Dr. Douglas Fitzgibbons, an associate of Barbie's turns up dead at the house. The number one suspect is Lars Jorgensen, Barbie's husband (turns out that Douglas was more than a work associate). Then Kailani's ex-boyfriend turns up on the Big Island. Geoffrey cannot seem to take no for an answer. How far is Geoffrey willing to go to have Kailani as his girlfriend? Who killed Dr. Fitzgibbons? What happens when someone else turns up dead on the estate?
Overall, I enjoyed reading House of the Hanging Jade. I was immediately drawn into the book. I just wish the murder had been harder to solve (I could have told you who the killer was right after they found the body). There is also the expected romance (I could see it coming but I kept hoping the author would not do it). The book is peppered with native phrases (glossary at the end of the book). There is quite a bit of food talk in the book (she is a chef) and gorgeous descriptions of the scenery. Kailani's reactions to the Geoffrey are odd. Kailani did not tell him to buzz off or go away (at first). She did not want to hurt his feelings (if a guy is being creepy you need to be firm). I give House of the Hanging Jade 3.75 out of 5 stars. The book had a good flow (no slow parts) that kept me reading. I will definitely read more books by Amy Reade.
I received a complimentary copy of House of the Hanging Jade from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.