Heading to the Big Island for a weekend away from escalating pressures, Storm narrowly escapes a terrible accident. Later, with her "aunt" Maile, a traditional Hawaiian healer, and Keone, a paniolo on the huge Parker Ranch, Storm encounters a legend from her youth and a family totem, or 'aumakua, which they say will protect her. Or will it? As Storm struggles to heal wounds from her childhood and bring justice to Hamasaki's killer, she also must come to grips with rifts in her life and culture.
Inspired by Tony Hillerman's work, Deborah Atkinson weaves the legends of Hawaii into fast-paced, high-tension suspense novels. Pleasing the Dead is the fourth in the series, which includes Primitive Secrets (2002), The Green Room, (Book Sense pick for October, 2005), Fire Prayer (2007, winner of a New Covey Cover Award).