Review of Tropical Scandal
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Rajnee Varma
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Review of Tropical Scandal
[Following is a volunteer review of "Tropical Scandal" by David Myles Robinson.]
Tropical Scandal by David Myles Robinson is a legal thriller featuring Pancho McMartin, a criminal defense attorney in the county of Honolulu, Hawaii. He took over the case of Dayton, who was accused of murdering his grandmother, from a trial attorney named Goldblum. Dayton Kalama, due to his mother's drug addiction during pregnancy, was a not-so-bright, illiterate man in his thirties. Abandoned by his father, he was taken care of by his grandmother, Eleanor Palakiko, and adored her. Prior to Eleanor's death, Dayton had been arrested for drug peddling, but he denied killing his beloved grandmother. The motive, apparently, was the inheritance of a large portion of Eleanor’s estate, which he would lose if convicted of murder. Pancho and his private investigator, Drew, along with the medical knowledge of Pancho’s girlfriend, Padma, discovered a large family drug business running with the complete knowledge and blessing of 74-year-old Eleanor. The high-profile family members, including doctors, attorneys, business owners, and a police chief, were all involved. But who murdered Eleanor—and why and how—was the mystery to be solved if Dayton was to be acquitted of the murder charge.
The complex plot involves drug peddling, corruption in the judiciary, drug addiction, financial fraud, domestic violence, murders, blackmail, and incest, making the novel an amazing suspense thriller. The author has woven an intricate web of crime and corruption around the theme of one of the oldest reasons for crime—greed. Every character has their own kind of greed, be it greed for money or fame or greed to preserve their clean, untarnished image in society. All characters are well drafted and fit their roles in the story. Eleanor is a woman who loved her grandson, Dayton, and her actions were driven by necessity and for the sake of her protective love for Dayton. The mutual love and devotion between Eleanor and Dayton are remarkable, and they never wavered from the honesty of their relationship.
The author has successfully illustrated Dayton’s lack of shrewdness. Dayton was simpleminded but not unperceptive, and his character emphasizes how drug abuse harms an unborn child. The story illustrates the corruption that permeates the judiciary and how difficult it is to identify and prove it. The complexity of investigating various aspects of a criminal case, analyzing the facts, the courtroom procedures, and the finer details keep the reader captivated throughout the story. The editing is good, and there is nothing to dislike about the book. There is no reason to deduct a star, and I am happy to rate the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is very entertaining and masterfully written. I believe it is worth one’s time and money. I would recommend it to lovers of crime and suspense, and especially to lovers of legal thrillers. Personally, I fully enjoyed it and would be delighted to read another book from the author.
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Tropical Scandal
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tropical Scandal by David Myles Robinson is a legal thriller featuring Pancho McMartin, a criminal defense attorney in the county of Honolulu, Hawaii. He took over the case of Dayton, who was accused of murdering his grandmother, from a trial attorney named Goldblum. Dayton Kalama, due to his mother's drug addiction during pregnancy, was a not-so-bright, illiterate man in his thirties. Abandoned by his father, he was taken care of by his grandmother, Eleanor Palakiko, and adored her. Prior to Eleanor's death, Dayton had been arrested for drug peddling, but he denied killing his beloved grandmother. The motive, apparently, was the inheritance of a large portion of Eleanor’s estate, which he would lose if convicted of murder. Pancho and his private investigator, Drew, along with the medical knowledge of Pancho’s girlfriend, Padma, discovered a large family drug business running with the complete knowledge and blessing of 74-year-old Eleanor. The high-profile family members, including doctors, attorneys, business owners, and a police chief, were all involved. But who murdered Eleanor—and why and how—was the mystery to be solved if Dayton was to be acquitted of the murder charge.
The complex plot involves drug peddling, corruption in the judiciary, drug addiction, financial fraud, domestic violence, murders, blackmail, and incest, making the novel an amazing suspense thriller. The author has woven an intricate web of crime and corruption around the theme of one of the oldest reasons for crime—greed. Every character has their own kind of greed, be it greed for money or fame or greed to preserve their clean, untarnished image in society. All characters are well drafted and fit their roles in the story. Eleanor is a woman who loved her grandson, Dayton, and her actions were driven by necessity and for the sake of her protective love for Dayton. The mutual love and devotion between Eleanor and Dayton are remarkable, and they never wavered from the honesty of their relationship.
The author has successfully illustrated Dayton’s lack of shrewdness. Dayton was simpleminded but not unperceptive, and his character emphasizes how drug abuse harms an unborn child. The story illustrates the corruption that permeates the judiciary and how difficult it is to identify and prove it. The complexity of investigating various aspects of a criminal case, analyzing the facts, the courtroom procedures, and the finer details keep the reader captivated throughout the story. The editing is good, and there is nothing to dislike about the book. There is no reason to deduct a star, and I am happy to rate the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is very entertaining and masterfully written. I believe it is worth one’s time and money. I would recommend it to lovers of crime and suspense, and especially to lovers of legal thrillers. Personally, I fully enjoyed it and would be delighted to read another book from the author.
******
Tropical Scandal
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Three Weeks in Winter by Joseph LeValley
