Māhū Fire reviews:
From Publishers Weekly:

Hawaii's in a “hot wave” during a dry El Nińo spring made hotter by protests against same-sex marriage advocated by the gay and lesbian members of Hawaii's Marriage Project in Plakcy's engrossing third Mahu mystery (after 2007's Mahu Surfer).

Kimo Kanapa'aka, an openly gay Honolulu detective who's investigating a homeless man's murder, gets distracted after a bomb goes off at a Hawaii Marriage Project fund-raiser. Vice-mayor Wilson Shira, an antigay politician, dies in the explosion, while others are injured, including Kimo. As leads on the homeless man's murder dwindle, Kimo focuses on finding the bomber and even goes undercover with the aspiring cop daughter of his boss, Lieutenant Sampson, to attend a meeting of the antigay Church of Adam and Eve.

Kimo's lusty affair with his new fireman boyfriend, Mike Riccardi, softens the edges of this sharp whodunit. Readers should be prepared for explicit gay sex.
From Library Journal:

Gay Honolulu police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka (Mahu; Mahu Surfer) finds himself in the midst of a murder investigation involving a terrorist attack on the Hawai'i Marriage Project, a group fighting to legalize gay marriage. Add to the mix the arsons against gay-owned businesses and the arrival of an ultraconservative religious group, and the result is an emotionally charged sizzler of a mystery
Bill Chenevert has this to say about Mahu Fire in his "Guide to All Things Queer and Hip" for Out.com on Monday, July 7:

Hopefully you're doing something productive while you fry yourself in the sun this summer -- you know, like catching up on music, cruising hot boys, or reading tawdry gay romances. Mahu Fire by Neil S. Plakcy isn't necessarily tawdry, but the follow-up to Mahu and Mahu Surfer does tell the tale of a hunky gay detective in Hawaii trying to solve a mystery with the help of perhaps an even hunkier mustachioed fireman. You'll read it in three sittings, maybe four.
Jesse Monteagudo's review at AfterElton.com:

It was almost a relief to turn from M. Christian’s doubles to a plain, straightforward mystery novel like Mahu Fire: A Hawai’ian Mystery by Neil S. Plakcy (320 pages; $14.95).

Openly gay, Honolulu Police detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, is probably the best gay literary sleuth since Michael Nava’s mystery-solving attorney, Henry Rios. In Mahu Fire, Kimo’s third literary mystery, this hunky Hawai’ian is hot on the trail of an extremist religious group that he suspects burned down a gay community center.

We also learn more about Kimo’s friends and family, his community involvement and his fledgling relationship with humpy fire fighter Mike Riccardi. In a perfect world, the adventures of Kimo would be made into a TV series, or at least a movie. For now we must settle with enjoying his adventures in print, thanks to the literary talents of Neil S. Plakcy.
Gaydar Nation, a British website, had this to say:

You may remember Paws and Reflect, Neil S. Plakcy's recent co-authored book about the special bond between gay men and their dogs. This is an author who has more than one string to his bow, having already published two books (read our review of his second, Mahu Surfer) that feature his Hawaiian police detective, Kimo Kanapa'aka. Now he's back with a third, Mahu Fire, and the writing is stronger than ever.

The story starts like this: the issue of gay marriage is dividing the citizens of Honolulu. When The Church of Adam and Eve, opposed to the possibility that Hawaiian citizens may soon enjoy same-sex partnership rights, stage a demonstration outside the gay-friendly Hawaii Marriage Project, there is an explosion and all hell breaks loose. But is there more to this than meets the eye? Kimo has just opened an investigation into the murder of a homeless man, could the two events be linked? And what about the sexy fireman who appears in the scene after the explosion?

Nobody could accuse Mahu Fire of being high art, but I assure you that once you start reading the short, punchy chapters that make up this book, nothing will make you want to put it down again until you've finished it. It's writing that knows its audience well, and delivers exactly what you want it to deliver: a gripping story, engaging characters and a bunch of suspenseful twists and turns.

But it's the location that really makes Mahu Fire an interesting read. This book reminded me of Elizabeth Sims and her Lillian Byrd thriller series, set largely in Detroit. Like her, Plakcy has a great understanding of how the setting can lift a run-of-the-mill story up onto another level. Thus it is that his Mahu series shows us a side of Hawaiian life that we might otherwise never have considered. He manages to include discussions about the islanders' ethnic heritage, for example, there are threads of Hawaiian language throughout. This contributes to a story in which the people and places come alive rather than relying on tired old stereotypes. It's all a far cry from a tacky Tiki cocktail glass or an episode of Hawaii Five-O.

Plakcy's characterisation is also strong. Kimo is a sexy guy, but he's also believably straightforward and a little bit square, just like a real life police detective. There are teenaged rent boys and religious fanatics, always a winning combination and, unusually for gay men's fiction Mahu Fire includes some lesbian characters, which is to be applauded.

Then there's Mike Riccardi, the hunky fireman, Kimo's love interest and the object of a handful of saucy sex scenes. Readers an allow the author a little foray into fantasyland with this character, who is almost too good to be true, because the rest of the book is so well-observed.

At times Mahu Fire comes across as a little hokey. It reads as though the author has tried to gay it up as much as possible and squeeze in a whole load of gay issues, rather than trust the story to unfold of its own accord. But this is an endearing book, gripping and enjoyable to read, and a bit of cornyness never did anyone any harm.
Sharon Wheeler wrote this review for the mystery website Reviewing The Evidence:

Feelings are running high in Honolulu, where there's serious lobbying going on in support of gay marriage. As you'd expect, the religious and family values crowd are against it, and a series of attacks on businesses could be linked. And then a charity event is bombed and police launch a murder hunt.

Hawaii police obviously don't fuss too much about a conflict of interest, as homicide detective Kimo Kanapa'aka muscles his way onto the case – despite having been at the event and being decidedly emotionally involved. And they're obviously short of cops on the island, as he appears to be investigating alone (oh, OK, he's found himself a hunky fireman for company).

Kimo's had an eventful time coming to terms with his sexuality, and his professional life still isn't always comfortable. But he's getting to know himself better, and one of the pluses of Plakcy's series is the portrayal and growth of the main character – an ordinary guy who loves surfing and who just happens to be gay.

In MAHU FIRE, there's a focus on the family, as Kimo and his brothers must come to grips with their father's ill-health and also that of a much-loved family friend. The interplay between the three brothers, who are all so different, is an attraction of the book. And Kimo, who volunteers at the Gay Teen Center, also intercedes for a young man disowned by his father.

Kimo's growing more confident in his private life and there's the 'will he, won't he' plot strand with butch fireman Mike Riccardi who has his own issues to deal with. The only scene that doesn't ring true between them is an unlikely sex scene in a public toilet. Would two guys with high-profile jobs, and one of them in the closet, take that risk, particularly given the cautious nature of their burgeoning relationship?

Plakcy tells a good story, and the plot itself is fine, although not terribly complex. There's one twist I didn't spot, and a high-octane chase at the end which heats up both literally and metaphorically. MAHU FIRE is a welcome addition to an unusual and adventurous series – unless of course you're a bible thumper!
Author Carolyn Haines wrote this review for the Authors on Authors website:

Mahu Fire, though labeled a Hawaiian mystery, is less about a series of bombings directed at gays and more about the day-to-day life of police detective Kimo Kanapa’aka, who has recently acknowledged his homosexual lifestyle to his family and an often judgmental public.

This is Plakcy’s [third] installment in the series, and he writes with a clean, sure voice about the attitudes and prejudice that confront the gay population. Using the current hot topic issue of legalizing marriage between homosexual couples as a catalyst for a twisted antagonist who lashes out at the homosexual community, Plakcy makes this book in the series especially timely.

Kimo is a likable character, and the book is told in the first person, so his internal commentary is effective and often used to connect the external plot of the police examination into a series of bombings with the emotional conflicts surrounding Kimo and his friends. He makes several good points about laws that punish homosexual couples by excluding a life partner from insurance or possibly having a say in the dying wishes of a partner.

The Hawaiian setting provides the perfect exotic backdrop.

There were times I questioned Kimo’s police procedure. And there were moments when I felt the character’s focus slipped from the investigation to matters of a more personal nature when it wasn’t appropriate. But it is Kimo’s quest for justice that kept me reading.

While Kimo’s romantic and personal struggles were interesting, at times these issues stopped the forward movement of the police plot. That balance between the romantic development and the plot development is a hard one to strike. But Kimo is a police detective, not an amateur sleuth, so I expected the bombings and shootings to be in the forefront of his thoughts.

The book concludes with a nerve-gangling abduction and fire where Plakcy hits his stride with the plot. The revelation of the antagonist isn’t unexpected, though there is a nice twist involved.
Here's a nice review from JRG deMarco, the editor at Mysterical-e:

This is the third time readers meet up with police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka. A dedicated police officer and a newly out gay man, Kanapa'aka is doing his best to deal with everything his life is throwing at him. He's known as “that gay police detective” and while that bothers him, he is more concerned that he isn't being credited with his professionalism as well as his dedication to other aspects of his life including family and friends.

The murder of a homeless man leads to an investigation of a series of arson fires, bombings, and a shooting all aimed at gay-friendly businesses. Kanapa'aka finds that his notoriety as a gay man comes in handy in this investigation. He becomes a target for the killers but also a trusted presence in the gay community.

Additionally, Kanapa'aka takes on personal issues in this installment: his father's declining health, the welfare of some homeless gay teens, and the start of what could be a promising relationship. As he has all along, Plakcy shows the reader some growth in his characters, including developments with Kanapa'aka's friends introduced in earlier books.

Kanapa'aka is a strong character, with a developing sense of gay pride and concern for the new community he finds himself immersed in. Well written, the book is filled with a sense of wonder at the emergence of another person into the joys of a life he couldn't imagine before he came out and accepted himself.

The Hawaiian background is engaging and interesting as is all the lore and language Plakcy manages to put into the mix. His characters are likeable and believable. One can't help cheering them on in what they do. Plakcy has a great series and his fans are waiting for the next installment.
Review by Janie Franz for Myshelf.com

To the mystery genre, Kimo Kanapa' aka is a refreshing tropical breeze. He's a police detective in Hawaii who not only surfs but does yoga and is the only police officer officially out of the closet in the islands. Given life by author Neil Plakcy, Detective Kanapa' aka has a knack for putting the pieces of a criminal puzzle together with the aloha spirit Hawaii is known for. Plakcy introduced Kanapa' aka and his extended family in the first book, Mahu, and proceeded to carve out a literary niche by being the first to write about a gay Hawaiian detective.

In Mahu Fire, the third in this series, Kanapa' aka is trying to cope with fitting into the Honolulu Police Department where he has been transferred and without a police partner. He also is still looking for Mr. Right. His current case starts out with the murder of a homeless man and a dead chicken. Then a fundraiser for a non-profit organization supporting gay marriage is bombed and Kanapa' aka begins to wonder if it is connected to a series of arsons of businesses that have been serving the gay community. Kanapa' aka is assisted in his investigation by an attractive fireman who lights a fire of his own.

Mahu Fire is both a mystery and a romance. The mystery element is strong with interesting characters and a breathtaking ending. The romance fairly sizzles. Plakcy has provided an entertaining mystery along with a gay romance that is contemporary and hot enough for the reader seeking something more than innuendo. It should be noted that sometimes the language or the lovemaking may become shocking, but it is no more graphic than many romances between men and women. What may make these love scenes uncomfortable for some readers is their unfamiliarity with some behaviors within this community. Plakcy handles them well. He knows his readership and gears his work accordingly.

I liked Detective Kanapa' aka and his perspective on life in Hawaii, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. The romance was interesting, though I don't normally review romances. I did feel sometimes that I was intruding a little too much into someone's personal life. That's probably because I was reading a book that wasn't written for me as a middle-aged woman. That said, I would gladly read the next Mahu mystery with Dectective Kanapa' aka.
Author Catherine Maiorisi posted this review to the DorothyL mystery list serve:

Neil Plakcy's Hawai'ian Mystery series featuring Detective Kimo Kanapa'aka keeps getting better and better. Mahu Fire is the third in the series.

Detective Kimo Kanapa'aka, still dealing with being an openly gay cop, goes up against anti-homosexual activists who will stop at nothing to destroy gays and lesbians, and derail gay marriage. After the first incident, the bombing of a fund raiser for the Haiwai'i Marriage Project, Kimo partners and investigate with Mike Riccardi, a handsome fireman. Kimo is attracted to Mike who may or may not be gay and struggles to deal with his feelings while investigating.

I enjoyed Mahu Fire. Plakcy's descriptions of the bombing and later the fire in the hills were wonderful. I could almost feel the flames and smell the smoke. Recommended.
Here's a nice interview about Mahu Fire from In LA Magazine.
Reviews of Mahu Surfer, the second book in the series.
Reviews of Mahu, the first book in the series.