Aloha, Mr. Lucky by Corson Hirschfeld, Forge Books, soft cover ISBN 0-312-87601-7
" . . . quirky and hilarious debut novel, set against a Hawaiian backdrop, Hirschfeld announces himself as a player in the mystery genre. . . . Hirschfeld fills the landscape of his novel with unforgettable characters, and he captures the flavor of Hawaii with much the same skill as Carl Hiaasen captures south Florida. Hirschfeld will no doubt be compared with Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard, and more novels like this one will keep him in such company. An outstanding first effort, one that should be popular in public library fiction collections." Craig L. Shufelt, Library Journal. Starred Review.
". . . Hollie goes on a journey that is not only wildly entertaining but also surprisingly spiritual. Native Hawaiian religion is treated with great respect here, not as a plot device or the butt of jokes. In this remarkably good first novel, Hirschfeld introduces a memorable cast of characters operating in an underutilized fictional space. With any kind of luck, there will be many more adventures for Hollie, Mr. Lucky, and their friends." George Needham, Booklist. Starred Review.
"Raucous first outing . . . the plot unfurls with distractions as gaudy as the ubiquitious Hawaiian shirt . . . A polished first effort." Kirkus Review.
"Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, watch your backs! In Aloha, Mr. Lucky, Corson Hirschfeld has a big, big winner—rollicking characters, bubbling story, exotic locale in the Hawaiian forest, a likeable central figure who's his own worst enemy but has plenty of runner-up enemies, all with just enough pathos to give it heart. This one will keep you hooked!" David Nevin, New York Times bestselling author of 1812.
"Mr. Lucky is a modern-day hero, that is, a basically decent sort who flirts with decadence, who encounters one disaster and disappointment after another, yet struggles on, not quite sure why. . . . Hirschfeld has immersed himself in the culture, geography, and biology of Hawaii, and it results in a vicarious tour that leaves readers, at the end, feeling they should unpack some suitcases. . . . Hirschfeld's writing is crisp, his characters fully realizaed, his plot credible and full of suspense. There are a few books one is sorry to finish. Aloha, Mr. Lucky makes the list." T. C. Samford, Ohioana Quaterly.
"Hawaii is one of my favorite subjects. Never have I seen it treated in such an original way, or so vividly, as in Corson Hirschfeld's Aloha, Mr. Lucky. It would take Carl Hiassen and Elmore Leonard working together with some assistance from Donal Westlake to achieve what Corson has done." Thomas Fleming, New York Times bestselling author of Remember the Morning.
"Had enough car chases? How about pursuit through lava tube caves, a demon wind, lethal hot rocks?
Have you learned everything you want to know about crack houses and slice-and-dice serial killers? Then you might want to mix your crime reading with archaeology, folk myth, ornithology and herpetology.
It's a fast and funny read with the same crisp color and indelible images that have been the hallmark of Mr. Hirschfeld's photos." Laura Pulfer, The Cincinnati Enquirer.
"I really liked Aloha, Mr. Lucky. It has humor, engaging characters, adventure, and the beauty and magnificance of Hawaii. In fact, someone ought to rush out and tell Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen they have a literary offspring lurking in the pineapple groves. This is a scrumptious luau of a book!" Barbara D'Amato, award-winning author of Good Cop, Bad Cop.
"Owing money to Hawaii's most dangerous loan shark is serious enough, but now, easygoing journalist Star Hollie must investigate the death of a woman who answered his personal ad only 24 hours earlier by handing him a mysterious, sealed envelope . . delightfully funny mystery. Cincinnati/Hamilton County Public Library, Hot Picks.
"Corson Hirschfeld's DNA was obviously assembled in some laboratory using strands of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard . . . and perhaps a gene or two of Hunter Thompson. Even for DNA, that's pretty twisted. Open up Aloha, Mr. Lucky and get ready for a roller-coaster ride you'll never forget." Spider Robinson, award-winning author of Callahan's Legacy.
"Cross
Elmore Leonard with Carl Hiassen, transplant him to Hawai'i and you have
some idea of Corson Hirschfeld's style. Everybody loves this book, and
you will, too; it's the next best thing to your own Hawaiian vacation."
Sheldon McArthur, The Mystery Bookstore, Los Angeles.
"Aloha, Mr. Lucky is a splendid book by any standards but as a first novel it's downright amazing. In fact, if someone had typed in Carl Hiaasen's and Elmore Leonard's names under the title, I'd have believed it. Corson's quirky characters provide enough dark humor to turn the tale into a flat-out all-night page-turner." Ed Gorman, editor of Mystery Scene Magazine.
"Aloha, Mr. Lucky is a splendid book by any standards but as a first novel it's downright amazing. In fact, if someone had typed in Carl Hiaasen's and Elmore Leonard's names under the title, I'd have believed it. Corson's quirky characters provide enough dark humor to turn the tale into a flat-out all-night page-turner." Ed Gorman, editor of Mystery Scene Magazine.
