Murder on Mokulua Drive

2018 Arizona Literary Excellence Contest

2nd Place, Published Literature

Semi-retired Natalie Seachrist and PI Keʻoni Hewitt are now a couple. Under the supervision of Miss Una, her tortoise shell feline companion, they've moved into the Lanikai cottage of Natalie's late Auntie Carrie. Will they find the seaside bliss they are seeking? They seem to have everything life could bring...until Natalie experiences a bone-chilling vision of a moonlit garroting at her neighbor's home.

Jordana Landsma, The US Review of Books

This author knows her genre, and she skillfully blends familiar ingredients that faithful cozy mystery readers will appreciate. The story is further enhanced with several compelling flourishes. First, the author draws on the rich history of Denmark’s safe evacuation of its Jewish population during World War II and integrates this legacy into her 21st-century characters. Next, while cozy sleuths are often known for their intuition, Natalie’s dreams are downright prescient, bringing a mystical quality to the crime-solving activities. Finally, the book’s love affair with its Hawaiian setting is contagious, and the location details create an alluring atmosphere. All these added components bring depth and freshness to a familiar format.
 

Kirkus Reviews

The most striking feature...is a winsomely detailed setting...the protagonist is first-rate. Natalie, for example, despite using her visions as an investigative tool, produces a significant break in the case with mere deductive reasoning. Her special ability does factor into the probe, but she would have made headway on smarts alone. The plot offers a couple of impressive twists…A diverting tale led by a smashing amateur detective whose dexterity far exceeds her paranormal gift.

Portland Book Review, Star Rating 5 of 5

Both setting and character are wonderfully and intricately described, building a slice of life that draws the reader in…
 

Susan Miller, Manhattan Book Review, Star Rating 4.5 of 5

Initially, it was the gorgeous cover that drew me to this book....I liked the character of Natalie and I felt that as a narrator she was able to create quite an intimate setting. It felt like she was talking to me personally from the comfort of the cottage. I don't often get this warm and cozy atmosphere in mystery stories, so I appreciated this aspect of the book. Overall, I was impressed by the character development in the book....The use of Hawaiian words and explanations was also a very nice touch, making me feel that I was part of the local culture. . . . It's nice to read about characters of all ages, and this book had the young and the old. The story had many layers as well as some twists and turns, which kept me glued to the pages. . .

Elizabeth Konkel, Seattle Book Review, Star Rating 4.5 of 5

Burrows-Johnson fills Murder on Mokulu Drive with strong female relationships as these incredible women work together to help and provide shelter for women in bad situations….and create this warm environment that even murder can't break….Even Natalie's cat plays a role in the story as a prominent member of the family and a watchful protector of sorts for the characters….The mystery itself is tragic and full of twists as Natalie and Keoni work to protect someone they care about and end up falling into the crosshairs of someone dangerous….A murder mystery in paradise, Murder on Mokulua Drive is full of heart, sweet romance, and a deep sense of family with layered characters, strong female relationships, and the scenic setting of Hawai'i.

Tamara Benson, San Francisco Book Review, Star Rating 4 of 5

…this book is truly a good book for a rainy day and has been a pleasure to read.

Frank Kaleba, Amazon Book Reviews, Star Rating 5 of 5

​​Jeanne Burrows-Johnson once again paints her protagonist, Natalie Seachrist, into a lush and immersive ramble through Hawaiian culture, food, and milieu. It is a tropical milieu you can quickly embrace, as the sights, fragrances, and tastes of the island develop on the pages....This, like the first novel, is not a police procedural. Natalie is not a detective, but a catalyst for the solution. I thoroughly enjoyed this second entry into the Natalie Seachrist series because it revolves around the strong and principled character of Natalie and is about as far away from the artificial “Hawaii 5-0” storylines as you can get, without leaving the islands. Highly recommended to spirit you away.  
 

​N. Jones, Amazon Book Reviews, Star Rating of 5 of 5

This is my first Natalie Seachrist story, but won't be my last. The story was quick paced, yet lingered appropriately on Hawaii life. I love a good story that has me fooled and keeps me from guessing the outcome. This one delivered!

Semi-retired journalist Natalie Seachrist has had visions all of her life. But when she has one about a child escaping by boat from Denmark to Sweden in a murky predawn, she has no idea how scenes resembling a World War II movie will impact her twenty-first century life in Hawaiʻi.  Soon after, she and her boyfriend, homicide-detective-turned-private-investigator Keoni Hewitt, move into the Lanikai cottage she has recently inherited. The warm welcome they receive from Miriam Didión, a widowed human rights activist, sets the ideal tone for life in the delightful windward neighborhood. Unfortunately, their expectations of a relaxing seaside life are soon shattered. 

By the time Natalie throws Keʻoni a birthday party, she has become close to Miriam and her personable housemates Joanne and Izzy.  Even Natalie’s feline companion Miss Una embraces the women who live next door by keeping watch on their property each night. Abruptly, their lives change when Natalie experiences a horrifying vision of a scuba diver garroting a woman.  And when one of her neighbors is found dead in the maid’s quarters of Miriam’s home the following morning, Natalie must reveal her murderous vision to Keʻoni’s former partner, Honolulu Police Detective John Dias. Hoping her unusual gifts may prove useful once more, the Lieutenant asks Natalie and her twin Nathan (a psychologist) to read the victim’s journals.

​

While fascinated by the decades-long commentary, Natalie finds no clue to the brutal murder.  But when the body of a nefarious suspect is discovered at Diamond Head Beach, the murder appears solved. Believing that her life of semi-retirement is back on track, Natalie schedules a tour of historic Kawainui Marsh with a few of her new friends. Too soon, the unraveling of a day of playing tourist as well as the perceived resolution of the murder place Natalie and her companions in the cross hairs of an unexpected and dangerous adversary. Does resolution of the gruesome crime lie buried in the deceased’s transnational past?  Or does it lie in the visible present among innocuous seeming companions?​