Talk Story
Paradise Crime Cozy Mystery #7
ISBN: 978-1-968949-01-3
Release date: August 27th, 2026
I’m Kat Smith, former U.S. Secret Service agent and current small-town Maui postmaster. When my cat Tiki brings me a stolen petroglyph fragment, I know the island is asking me to intervene. Sacred Valley has been held in trust by the same Hawaiian families for generations, but now a builder from a major crime family backed by shell-company money is trying to develop it. They are willing to steal sacred artifacts and threaten anyone who gets too close.
With my hot pilot fiancé Mr. K, the unstoppable senior Red Hat Society ladies, a sharp young Hawaiian archaeologist named Pali Moku, and one very determined formerly feral feline, I race to uncover a conspiracy before Awawakapu Valley is lost and the people who have always protected it are silenced for good.
Talk Story is a tropical cozy mystery rich in Hawaiian culture, found family, senior friendship, and the enduring power of community. Perfect for fans of smart female sleuths, clever felines, and mysteries with aloha spirit. If you enjoy Jana DeLeon, Rita Mae Brown, or the small-town colorful characters of Louise Penny’s Three Pines mysteries, you’ll love Kat, Tiki, and sleuthing in paradise!
$6.99
"So excited for another funny cat cozy in Hawaii. My all-time favorite mysteries!"
~Reader Fan
Ellen White –
I found this latest book with humor and interesting to know more about the history of
Hawaiian. Kat is a post master when her cat Tiki brings home a gift to her.
It’s a stone from Sacred Valley, who wanting to redevelop it with the backing of a crime family. Soon the gardens are vandalizing, emergency meeting of the community is called. How will Kat and her cat Tiki stop it read and find out.
I always enjoy books by the author and recommend them.
Nadine Houston –
Who knew being a postmaster could be so interesting. Kat Smith an ex Secret Service agent who has been transferred to Hawaii as the Postmaster finds herself in another mysterious adventure. Tiki her used to be feral cat brings her this artifact and now it’s origin must be discovered. Bring in Mr K and Detective Lei and let’s go deep into Hawaiian history. Of course to some money is more important than history but not to this group who feel the need to keep history where it belongs for the future generations coming up. I love these characters and love how Ms Neal tells the story. I’ve never been to Hawaii but she describes it so well that I feel it’s my home away from home. This is a very exciting adventure and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Now onto the next adventure with Kat and Tiki …..
Sheree Ito –
Toby Neals Talk Story is another winner in the Paradise Crime Cozy series featuring Kat, former Secret Service agent turned Postmistress at a little town on Maui. With her new job, Kat also inherited a feisty, prescient cat named Tiki. Together with Kat’s hunky pilot boyfriend, the trio are once again brought into a case involving desecrated and important historic Hawaiian artifacts.
As with all Neals books, she weaves history, mystery, culture and wonderful characters all into something so immersive that it is easy to escape into the world she created with her words.
Cheryl Davis –
Another great cozy mystery in the series. Love the characters and love the grumpy intelligent feline! I really enjoy all the details of Hawaii that are in the book even if the location is “made-up”. Love the storyline. Actually there isn’t anything I don’t love about this book! If you love cozy mysteries you will love this book and this series!
Marie Connolly –
Talk Story is a fascinating book. Toby Neal included lots of Hawaiian history. I never realized that Hawaii has petroglyphs. I especially like how all the characters with various ethnic backgrounds could work together. I was glad to see Tiki, Kat’s one-eared adopted cat, played in the book. I can’t wait for the next story in this series.