Diamond Head

Outstanding in every way!This is a fast roller coaster ride, full of mystery, adventure, sex, and BIG thrills. The encounter with the sharks was the scariest scene in a book that I have read, period! The author knows Hawaii, and understands the REAL Hawaii that most of you never see, warts and all. Yes, some of the things in the book push the envelope of the possible, even for a top former Navy SEAL, but then that's what thrilling adventure books do.OVERALL SCORE: (A+)READABILITY: (A), PLOT: (B+), CHARATERS: (A+), DIALOGUE: (B-), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (A+), ANTAGONISTS: (B+), ROMANCE: (B), SEX: (Very Adult Content), AGE LEVEL: (NC17)

I'm not familiar with John McDonald's Travis McGee, so hero John Caine is new to me and has reeled me in. I loved this book, learned a lot about Hawaii and became enamored with everything about "Diamond Head." I'm so glad I ordered all three of the John Caine books, including "Sand Dollars" and "Emerald Flash." I finished "Diamond Head" and could hardly wait to start the second book. I wasn't disappointed! So what if it's a little hard to believe how tough the aging ex-SEAL is; so what if he can accomplish more with less than any hero I can think of right now. I don't care--I LOVE IT. If I wanted reality all the time, I'd just turn on the news channel. When I read, I want to be entertained--and boy does Charles Knief entertain in his John Caine novels. The characters, even the crooks like Chawlie Choy, are lovable! Give me more, more more!

Of all the 'new Travis McGee' characters I've found, this one captures the character best. He's almost too close, but then if you liked the original, you want it to be close. The introspection is there, the 'broken bird' (especially in the second and third novels) is there, and the atmosphere is there. Because John D. MacDonald is no longer with us, this IS the next best thing.

John Caine is a great character. Living on a sailboat near Pearl Harbor, he shares a bit on what life is like living on the islands as he carries out his missions with a real macho style.

I highly recommend Diamond Head. The main character, John Caine, is in the mold of Tom Selleck in Magnum PI. Great Hawaii locals which I can attest to being accurate as I have been to all those mentioned in the book. Lots of suspense, plot twists, and action. Great characters and development. A must read for mystery fans.