Leslie Karst, a former appellate attorney turned novelist, returns with her latest mystery novel, Molten Death, published by Severn House in April 2024. Known for her Sally Solari series and the memoir Justice Is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG, Karst introduces a new series set in Hilo, Hawai’i.
Molten Death kicks off the Orchid Isle series and follows retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen on vacation. The couple finds themselves swapping surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when Valerie discovers a leg engulfed by lava, triggering an investigation that exposes them to a Hawaii far from the familiar tourist imagery.
Booklist praises the novel as “part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people.” The book is expected to appeal to both armchair travelers and mystery aficionados.
Further details about Molten Death can be found on the Stanford Law School website.