Jane Lasswell Hoff, a forensic anthropologist who has worked on cases throughout the country for the U.S. Army, Medical Examiners and for tribal groups, has released a mystery novel, “Bones of Paradise.”
Jane Lasswell Hoff, a forensic anthropologist who has worked on cases throughout the country for the U.S. Army, Medical Examiners and for tribal groups, has released a mystery novel, “Bones of Paradise.”
“People encouraged me to write about my work, but I was worried about issues of confidentiality. Finally, I had a brainstorm — use aspects of old cases but put them into a local setting. Make the book about life in Hawaii, too,” said Hoff.
After that, the words began to flow.
Hoff graduated from the University of Hawaii but moved away for graduate school and marriage.
“One summer I came back to Honolulu, to work for the Army, analyzing recovered military remains. Besides being interesting work, that experience reminded me how much I wanted to return to Hawaii,” said Hoff.
She moved to Hilo in 2005.
Hoff said she has so many stories stored up that she intends “Bones of Paradise” to be the first in a series of Big Island mystery novels. In the book, she’s kept the science real, but the mood light.
“I can’t use some of those old cases because they are really just too bizarre to be believed or too violent for the islands,” she said. “I love Hawaii. I don’t want the Big Island to sound dangerous — that wouldn’t be good for tourism and it wouldn’t ring true to readers.”
The book is available at Kona Stories in Keauhou and Hilo bookshops, as well as online at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Info: www.janehoff.com.