The book opens with an intriguing prologue told from the viewpoint of a young native girl stranded/sequestered in a hidden cave, leaving me eager to learn of her fate. Instead, the author shifts to the present and takes the reader on a rather lengthy travelogue detour, setting up the mystery. I found myself longing to skip some of the many setup charters in favor of getting to the good stuff of a mystery-the circumstances leading up to the murder. And the fate of the young girl in the cave.

       By the time the first murder finally happened, I'd nearly lost interest in the book. Nevertheless, I found the last several chapters engrossing enough to read in one sitting. In addition, the solution of the mystery is well written. Even so, I do not foresee reading any more books in this series. However, readers who like mysteries that immerse them in an exotic locale rich in history and culture, and who do not mind taking a lengthy, travelogue like detour, will no doubt find Ms. Hamilton's The Moai Murders an enjoyable read.