Chris McKinney was born and raised in Hawai'i, on the island of Oahu. He has written nine novels, including The Tattoo and The Queen of Tears, a coauthored memoir, and the screenplays for two feature films and two short films. He is the winner of the Elliott Cades Award and seven Kapalapala Po'okela Awards and has been appointed Visiting Distinguished Writer at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
Praise for Sunset, Water City CrimeReads Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of Fall “McKinney nails the landing in the wrenching conclusion to his 22nd-century sci-fi noir trilogy . . . As in prior entries, McKinney’s worldbuilding is top-notch, and he successfully launches more rattling—and gratifying—surprises than most would expect from a series finale. This brings a superior series to a sharp, startling conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Few SF trilogies are as ambitious as this one: it began—in 2021’s Midnight, Water City—with the world struggling to recover after a near miss with an asteroid. For McKinney, that catastrophe was merely the jumping-off point, and this satisfying conclusion to a magnificent trilogy offers a real treat for SF fans.” —Booklist Praise for the Water City Trilogy “Binge-worthy . . . The noir tone of the trilogy is sure to appeal as much to detective novel readers as it is to science fiction fans—and its commentary on class, climate, and the morality of truth is absolutely on point.” —Paste “This distinctive novel brims with delightful innovations, razor-sharp social commentary and richly wrought characters, all set against a teeming underwater city.” —Newsweek “An impressive feat of world-building, blending speculative but coherent takes on environmental issues and the future of tech, politics and the economy . . . There’s no denying McKinney has a fantastic imagination that’s running in high gear here, making this series well worth checking out.” —The Toronto Star “This gritty noir set in a sci-fi landscape is a real page-turner.” —Buzzfeed “Many writers use crime fiction to reveal hidden elements of society or expose the abuses of those in power . . . And that sense of powerful people concealing crucial secrets from the general public is very much on display in Chris McKinney’s Midnight, Water City—a novel which makes the most of its slow-burning narrative of detection.” —Tor.com “Eventide, Water City is sci-fi, neo-noir at its finest. Chris McKinney doesn’t just build a world—he conjures up a glimpse at what the world could be if we’re not careful.” —Eli Cranor, author of Don't Know Tough “Midnight, Water City is futuristic crime reinvented. A weird, smart blast of sci-fi noir, this narrative places readers in constantly shifting terrain. Politically engaged, environmentally conscious, and packed with action, this novel shows an all-too-plausible future. Chris McKinney has arrived, and his mixture of classic genre themes and innovation make his distinctive voice one that demands attention.” —Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs “Combine[s] brilliant worldbuilding and sophisticated plotting . . . McKinney keeps readers guessing about the story’s direction for much of the novel, and sticks the landing with a near-perfect conclusion. Sci-fi thriller fans will anxiously await the series finale.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review