In 1920 Honolulu, a series of human-sacrifice style murders of the elite occur, some of them at heaiu (temples). The hooded killer leaves notes promising more murders to come and are signed: "Cult of Ku". Grant Kingsley, son of a prominent sugar baron, returns home to the islands after his heroic military service in World War One. His angry grandmother confronts him because his half Hawaiian mother's death bed note suggests his father was Hawaiian, not her sugar planter son. When she is brutally murdered Grant is arrested. Released from jail, Grant knows he must clear his name quickly because of public pressure. More brutal murders of the elite occur, each with the same note from "Cult of Ku". His frantic search leads him to the Chinese criminal underworld, Hawaiian martial arts lessons, plantation labor union violence, the Bishop Museum, and a unique Honolulu detective who carries a whip. Grant comes close to capturing the killer and races his car down city streets to catch him. A famous Hawaiian swimmer and surfer befriends him. Grant finds relief from tension as he learns to enjoy the ocean sports with native Hawaiians who were not included in his social world. When a navy officer suggests that Japan is preparing for war, Grant finds himself recruited to be a spy. Grant worries about losing his sugar baron father's love because of the clouded ancestry. Torn by his love for his father but discovering the brutal side of the sugar industry toward its workers, Grant struggles for an answer. A Euro-Asian scholar helps him in his search. As Grant races to try to prevent another murder, he accosts the killer at a seaside heiau (temple) where they battle amidst crashing waves. The discovery of the identity of the killer and his motive stun him.
About the Author: Half Native Hawaiian, Bill Fernandez grew up on the small island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. After barefoot years making his own toys and tin canoes, Bill was sent to Honolulu to attend Kamehameha Schools. There he learned about the racism between the military and locals, which shocked him. A trip around the continental United States in 1948 revealed the deep racism of the country: against Jews, Mexicans, African-Americans. His goal of being a fisherman ended when he entered Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford Law School, Bill practiced law in Sunnyvale, CA, and served on the city council and as mayor. He was appointed to the California courts and served in Santa Clara County. When he retired, he turned to writing. He has published three memoirs and two novel series, Grant Kingsley and John Tana. He serves on the Hawaii Juvenile Justice State Advisory Commission, is on the board of Hale Opio a social service agency, and the board of the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce on Kaua'i.