Over Her Head - A Gemi Kittredge Mystery, Book 3 (EBOOK)
Over Her Head - A Gemi Kittredge Mystery, Book 3 (EBOOK)
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Gemi Kittredge thought she was done with all the secrets, lies, and violence. She’s got a great, meaningful career, and her life finally is moving in the direction she dreamed of for years. Then her friend Detective Malia Kalani asks her to meet for dinner.
Malia tells her that three women have gone missing from Maui in the last week. They think the yakuza are involved, and she’s hoping Gemi’s insider information regarding the group will help take down the kidnapping ring.
Then things get personal. A resident from the women’s and children’s shelter Gemi and her sister run becomes the fourth to be abducted.
And when a ghost from Gemi’s past shows up outside the shelter and is kidnapped before her eyes, Gemi can’t stop herself from searching for these women. Even if that means stepping back into the crime world. Something she swore she’d never do.
OVER HER HEAD is the third book in the Gemi Kittredge Mysteries series.
She should ask for help but going rogue is so much faster. If you love kickass heroines and tropical locations, you're going to love the Gemi Kittredge Mysteries!
This EBOOK will be delivered on release day, May 15, 2025, via a BookFunnel email.
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Chapter 1
Sometimes, the lush perimeter of tropical flowers, palms, ferns, and heliotropes disguising the security fence gave me flashbacks. On rare occasions, my breath would catch and literally stop me in my tracks. In those moments, I would see a woman with a bruised, swollen, unrecognizable face. Or a man in an aloha shirt, a koa wood band inlaid with black onyx and blue opal on the ring finger of his right hand. His head lying a few feet away from his body.
Right now was one of those occasions. With my hands propped on my hips, I pushed my shoulders back and my chest forward to allow more air to flow deep into my lungs.
This fence reminded me of the Tanaka compound . . . and Noboru Shinoda, the beheaded man. The heliotropes made me think of Heleena.
“Gemi?”
I blinked to clear the images from my mind. I blinked again and my sister’s beautiful, concerned face staring back at me from a few paces ahead became clear.
If plants and a fence did this to me, what kind of flashbacks did she suffer? Held captive in a shed so small there wasn’t enough room for her to fully extend her legs when sitting on the ground. Wrists and ankles rubbed raw from the ropes that bound her and prevented her from standing straight. Dehydrated. Covered in insect bites.
“Are you okay, Peep?”
I inhaled deeply, the peachy scent of plumeria and something almondy invading my nose. “I’m okay. Just thinking about housing.”
She’d buy that. We had been discussing our shelter, after all.
“Let’s talk about housing, then.” Ashlyn gave a go-with-the-flow shrug. “There’s only one one-bedroom apartment left and two huts.”
“We’ve got plenty of space.” I continued walking with her along the path of lava rock pavers set in pea gravel toward the north end of Palekana, our ten-acre shelter for women and their kids. Palekana meant a variety of things—saved, rescued, protected, security, safety—all of which was exactly what our residents needed.
“We agreed to keep the living quarters together, though,” Ashlyn noted as we passed behind the small but nicely stocked gymnasium and toward the cluster of housing options that occupied half of the property. “If we moved the playground equipment closer to the gym, we could fit in two or three more huts.”
“We could probably fit four more between the perimeter and the walking path along the west border.”
Most of the women would be okay with that. A few would not. It was only a visual barrier, but the three-foot-wide path gave those women an extra sense of security. They said it felt like a sort of invisible force field, another layer of protection keeping attackers or abusers away. Something I never would have guessed when we installed it. I simply wanted them to have a walking path.
“What about near the residents’ parking lot?” Ash suggested. “We could fit two or three huts there.”
We continued walking toward the lot, which only held a few vehicles. Less than half of the residents had cars. Those that did arrived at our gate with all of their possessions crammed into the trunks, backseats, and passenger seats.
As we got close, I envisioned more of the small structures there. “We could fit two. More than that and it will feel too crowded.”
“We could do one-bedroom huts instead of two.” Ashlyn shook her head, dismissing her own suggestion. “No, the huts are for women with kids. Two bedrooms are a must.”
As we stood there discussing eliminating or moving a section of the walking path and how close was too close to the parking lot—we decided our residents wouldn’t care if the view out their back windows was of a small parking lot—a car skidded to a stop outside the main security gate and a man jumped out.
This is the final book of the series, so we must say goodbye to Gemi and all her antics. The story ends nicely with no cliffhangers. However, there are twists and turns all throughout the book. Well worth the read! I will miss Gemi and all the other characters in this series. This book (all 3 books in the series, actually) left me hooked and unable to put them down. You never know what trouble Gemi is going to get herself into next.
Over Her Head by Shawn McGuire delivers a gripping, fast-paced ride packed with mystery, danger, and heart. Although it’s the final book in the Gemi Kittredge trilogy, it stands strong on its own—thanks to the author’s skillful storytelling and character development.
Gemi is an unforgettable heroine: a fierce MMA fighter, a compassionate advocate running a women’s shelter in Hawai’i, and a determined investigator unafraid to dive into the darkest corners to uncover the truth. When women start disappearing—including one from her own shelter—Gemi is pulled into a high-stakes mystery involving the Yakuza, daring rescues, and personal stakes that run deep.
The plot moves at a relentless pace, with twists that keep you turning pages and just enough emotional depth to make the characters truly resonate. Whether you're new to the series or a returning fan, this book will keep you hooked.
Highly recommended for fans of action-packed mysteries with a strong, smart female lead.
I was blessed with an ARC copy of this book and have read the reviews already written. I realize I do not have to say the reviews are mixed and totally can relate. For myself, I could put myself in Gemi's shoes. She and the other women involved are icons of the how to be better, how to be safe, how to give of ones self to save others and then teach them how to save themselves.
This book is intriguing and enlightening, then sad, then all emotions involved to a great ending. I totally enjoyed the entire series and have learned a lot from all of them. While reading all three books which if you haven't read the first two you should! It will give much more understanding of the power of women. I also can sit here after finishing this book and wonder in awe, the amount of research that went into the writing of this book. Can also maybe understand why so long for this one to be written as I've wondered for a long time on how it would end and wishing that it did not. I absolutely never give spoilers in a review but give credit where credit is due. Shawn McGuire is an amazing story teller with a keen mind for detail after detail with all the facts to put you right into the story. This book is centered in the beautiful state of Hawaii but could also be right around where you live... You can never be disappointed in this book and if you read the first two it will put you in the right position for book 3.
Even though this is the third and final book in the Gemi Kittredge trilogy, it can be read as a stand-alone, since the author is exceptionally good at explaining the characters and backgrounds. Gemi is a force to be reckoned with. Not only does she have remarkable MMA skills, but she is also running a unique shelter for women in Hawai’i. Gemi is also very adept at solving mysteries, and not afraid to go all-in to help people.
The disappearance of various women, including one currently at her shelter, has Gemi crossing paths with the Yakuza. A detective friend asks her to assist, and the dangerous twists and turns in the story make it difficult to put down the book. There is also a family dynamic at work, as well as daring rescues. There is a lot of mystery and excitement in this book!
I highly recommend Over Her Head by Shawn McGuire.
Gemi is the top-ranked MMA fighter on the island of Maui, and with her sister, Ashlyn, runs Palekana, a shelter for women and their children.
Not all is a bed of Plumeria blossoms for the sisters though. Both have trauma from past events, and their mother's abandonment of them years ago. Gemi has good instincts for trouble which lead to her involvement in potential crime her friend, Detective Malia Kalani, is concerned about.
Life could get dangerous for Gemi and her sister if the local yakuza factions are involved, especially with their ties to one faction.
Where and how do all the threads tie together? Take the time to read Over Her Head for satisfying answers to Gemi's story.