Elysium Tide

Author: James R. Hannibal
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Release Date: June 7, 2022

Dr. Peter Chesterfield is the top neurosurgeon at the Royal London Hospital. He's also a workaholic, and after a blow-up with a colleague, his boss orders him to attend a medical symposium at the luxurious Elysium Grand on the island of Maui. During a midnight walk on the beach, Peter pulls a woman with a skull fracture from the water. Despite all his skill, she dies in his arms, leaving him with only one clue to what happened to her: the word "honu."

Obsessed with finding the cause of his patient's death--discovering what or who ripped the power over life and death from his surgeon's hands--Peter becomes entangled in an ongoing investigation. He also becomes a source of deep irritation to detective Lisa Kealoha, who has jurisdiction over the case.

The reluctant pair join forces, diving deep into Maui's evolving gang culture, and unearth a conspiracy that runs deeper than either could have imagined. Knowing too much is deadly--and they must catch the killer before the killer catches them.

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Reviewer: Beverly Laude

Dr. Peter Chesterfield is a top neurosurgeon at a London Hospital. He is a brilliant surgeon, but his attitude toward his colleagues is less than wonderful. When he has a blow-up with a fellow surgeon, his boss orders him to go to Hawaii for a medical conference and to get his act together.

Soon after arriving, Peter discovers a young woman floating in the ocean with a skull fracture. Despite his skill, he cannot save her and becomes obsessed with finding her killer. He meets Detective Lisa Kealoha, who has recently returned to the Island after a stint with the LAPD. Lisa has close ties to the victim and feels partly responsible for the death of her young friend.

This unlikely pair find themselves drawn into a world of auto theft, smuggling, and more. Along the way, both are in danger, and Peter questions everything he has thought about a higher being. Lisa and her family and friends have a close relationship with God, and Peter begins to wonder if there is more at the end of life than he had thought.

The book was well written, and the characters were wonderful. There were plenty of action and twists along the way, and I felt like I was a part of the investigation as I read the book. I especially appreciated the lack of swearing, sex, and gore, which seems to be the norm for most books in this genre. I also enjoyed Peter's awakening to God and the faith shown by the other characters. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews and Reviews.

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Reviewer: Nikita Wells

5 stars for this fantastic book! It will have you reaching for it every chance you get!

Famous British neurosurgeon Peter Chesterfield is on a mandatory vacation in Maui when he discovers a fatally injured woman at the edge of the tide.

Though he's out of his medical jurisdiction, he tries his best to save her but fails. When her death appears to result from foul play, he desperately sets out to find her killer.

Maui P.D. Detective Lisa Kealoha grew up babysitting the young woman found on the beach. She is also hot on the culprit's trail despite a fierce and feisty rival cop on the force. Is this crime the work of a local gang or a criminal new to her island home?

Kudos to James Hannibal on his newest book! In Elysium Tide, he delivers even more of the intense action, mysterious puzzles, wild chases, and thrills all his fans (myself included) LOVE!!

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell and NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

Superb procedural.

What a fantastically plotted suspense. This is my first novel by this author, and I was drawn in from the first page. The setting was the Elysium Grand, a resort on Maui, and I felt as if I were there. In fact, the whole book played out in my head as a well-scripted movie.

Overworked neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Chesterfield has landed on Maui for a medical conference that is more of a punishment than for information. He finds himself teaming with Maui detective Lisa Kealoha on a murder case. He is befriended by the resort doctor, Tu Iona, Tuna for short, who, in my mind, looked and acted a lot like Lieutenant Tanaka from the original Magnum PI.

A lot of action and thinking skills were put to use. The story showed the close ties of family. Some of the characters are Christians, and that aspect was portrayed naturally. Peter is not yet a Christian, but through the story, he questions his mortality and sees Tuna and Lisa live out their faith. 

The villains were crafty, and the real motives were not revealed until near the end. I did not figure out some things and was surprised. Peter and Lisa made a great team, trying to stay one step ahead of the game. I hope this is not the last we see of these characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

This was such a good book! Fast action from the beginning and great characters with an awesome plot. I simply couldn't put this book down!

So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which made it an excellent story because it kept you turning the pages to see what happened next. This will be one of my favorite suspense books because I really enjoyed the chase that went on. 

Peter and Lisa did make an awesome team. I really liked them. The cover really piqued my interest. It was what made me want to read it. I wasn't disappointed.

5 stars for excellent writing and well-rounded characters, especially the secondary ones. In my opinion, they are what made the story. 

I was provided a review copy courtesy of Revell, through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

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Reviewer: Kristina Hall

Characters: These characters … Peter, the genius surgeon with a mouth that got him in trouble more often than not. Lisa, the troubled teen who ran from Hawaii and returned as a cop many years later. All the side characters (some I didn't know if I could trust) and the abundance of villains. Yes, James Hannibal knows how to develop unique, memorable characters.

Language: Clean.

Moral/theme: I really enjoyed the parts where Peter was faced with the reality of God and eternity. I'm hoping there's a sequel where Peter continues to grow in this regard.

Plot: This plot had so many twists and turns! The story was moved along with suspenseful moments, action scenes, and multiple villains. My only complaint would be when the characters solved parts of the case off scene. I would've liked to see their thought processes and how they actually figured those things out.

Romance: Clean. This novel contained only a couple of hints of romance that I'm thinking will be developed in the sequel I'm really hoping James Hannibal writes.

Writing: James Hannibal's fast-paced, clear writing worked great for this book. He described things in a way that I could picture them, but his descriptions didn't bog down the action.

Overall: Elysium Tide was an exciting read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction and suspense novels.

Disclosure: I received this book free from Revell through Interviews & Reviews. My opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

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