DIAMOND HEAD **AWARD WINNER**

New York, NY, U.S.A.: St. Martin's Press, 1996. 2nd ed. Fine in dust jacket. Features John Caine, a retired Naval Officer who lives in Hawaii on a boat. The author's first novel, WINNER of the St. Martin's Press/PWA Best First Private Eye Novel contest. "Readers who miss John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee will be pleased to meet John Caine, who's as McGee-like as they come, from his courtly attitude toward women and on-the-water living accommodations to his compunction to right all wrongs. Even better, first-time author Knief's writing style is almost as ingratiating as MacDonald's (if significantly more graphic), even to the sidebar philosophical commentary on modern society. After moving to Hawaii and setting up his own private-eye business, retired navy man Caine agrees to find the psychopath responsible for the death of his former commander's daughter. Caine wants to keep the whole story under wraps, but police detective Kate Alapai has other ideas, despite the obvious sexual attraction she shares with the maverick P.I. Knief's writing is smooth and seamless, and he's concocted an involving plot to go with his likable, attractively macho hero and exotic setting. The result: an action-packed, satisfying debut." -- Booklist. 2nd Ed. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. Book.