Review: Wicked Deeds by Heather Graham

Vickie Preston and Griffin Pryce are on their way to Virginia for Vickie to enter the FBI Academy. They stop in Baltimore for a pleasant, romantic few days, but alas that's not in the cards for them.

The body of a popular writer is found in the basement of the Edgar Allan Poe themed restaurant that the couple ate at the night before. His wife calls on the Krewe of Hunters to help prove that it was murder and not suicide and to catch the murderer. It could be any one of the staff or a member of the Edgar Allan Poe appreciation society that has met there. More Poe related crimes occur and more of the Krewe come for backup.

At the same time, Vickie begins to have vivid dreams about Edgar Allan Poe and his demise in Baltimore. Nightmares. Are her dreams somehow connected to the events in present day Baltimore?

Vickie and Griffin were introduced in Krewe of Hunters #21- Dying Breath. They appeared again in #22 - Dark Rites. This is their third outing. While this could be read as a stand alone, I think you get more out of it and the characters if you've read the previous 2 books as well.

The action grabs you early on. There are few well-timed lulls. It's pretty much a fast-paced mystery with a touch of romance.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this book was the background on Poe and how the author used it in the crimes. You get information on his biography and a few of his relevant works. This is mostly courtesy of the character Vickie as she is a historian. There are other contributors as well. And Vickie poses an interesting explanation for Poe's death in Baltimore.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The characters are enjoyable. The mystery is fast-paced. And the information shared on Poe makes it all the more interesting.

Wicked Deeds is #23 in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. It's due to be published September 19, 2017 from MIRA Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Review: Dark Rites by Heather Graham

When the book opens, there have already been several attacks on people in the Boston area. Each one was beaten and left with a note comprised of an old warning about witchcraft. Professor Alex Maple, Vickie Preston's close friend, was among those attacked, but now he's gone missing. Vickie is convinced that it has to do with the same people that attacked him.

Shortly afterward, Vickie begins to have visions of a woman with her throat slit. The question becomes who is this woman? And who is orchestrating the attacks on people in Boston and why? And why are the perpetrators ready to die rather than be caught?

On the eve of their trip to Virginia, Vickie Preston and her beau Special Agent Griffin Pryce are caught up in the search for Alex. They are also involved in finding out who is perpetrating the attacks and why.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. Heather Graham once again does a wonderful job blending fact and fiction as they search for Alex and the killers. The characters are well drawn and sympathetic. The plot moves along at a good pace. And the mystery kept me guessing. I thought the leader was one character when he really turned out to be another. The main characters are the same as they were in Book #21 in the Krewe of Hunters series. You could read this as a standalone, but it would be better to at least read the book before it to get a better understanding of the characters and to see the beginning of the relationship between Agent Pryce and Vickie. I would recommend this book and the series to readers who enjoy romantic suspense with a paranormal bent.

Dark Rites by Heather Graham is #22 in the Krewe of Hunters series. It's due out July 25, 2017 from MIRA.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the ARC from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Review: Dying Breath by Heather Graham

In her youth, Vickie Preston survived the attack of a serial killer while babysitting. It was the first time she ever saw a ghost, but not the last.

Griffin Price was there that night as a policeman. Now though, he is a Special Agent with the FBI in the Krewe of Hunters. He is in Boston working on the case of another serial killer called The Undertaker. The killer is kidnapping women and putting them into tight spots with not much air and sending notes, hints about their locations, to the police.

Vickie becomes involved when one of the notes mentions her by name. Her vast knowledge of the history of Boston becomes a tool in the arsenal of the Hunters. As Vickie and Griffin work together, they find that they are drawn together.

This is one of the best Krewe of Hunters books that I have read. I loved the way the clues were delivered and the explanations as they were figured out by Vickie, Griffin, the police, and other members of the Krewe. There is information shared about the Boston of today as well as historical Boston. It makes for interesting reading. And it's a good mystery.

Vickie and Griffin are both good characters. The character of ghostly Dylan and Darlene are good and not overused as a plot device. There is romance between Vickie and Griffin. And it does lead to some sex scenes. The mystery takes the forefront of most of the story. The romance is slightly secondary.

Overall, I give Dying Breath 4 out of 5 stars. It's a well-written mystery with romance. I was guessing at who did it right up until the end.

Dying Breath by Heather Graham is #21 in the Krewe of Hunters series. It was released May 30, 2017 from MIRA.

My copy of the book was an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Teaser Tuesday: Dying Breath by Heather Graham

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Dying Breath by Heather Graham is #21 in the Krewe of Hunters series. It was published May 30 by MIRA.

Is that why she felt a ridiculous bond with him? As if they should be much more than occasional acquaintances. Was it Noah's absolute certainty that Griffin shared her odd talent - that he was totally aware that Dylan was still with them - at least, Dylan's ghost or his spirit? 

~ 28% through on my Kindle

Would you keep reading?

What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Review: Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20) by Heather Graham

Expected publication:
September 27th 2016 by Mira

Charlene Moreau, aka Charlie, is back in her hometown acting in a film. One evening she finds a dead man somewhat buried on the land they are using as a set for filming. It's a recent murder. And the victim was one of the Civil War reenactors involved in the movie.

Ethan and Charlie have a history together. He rescued her from a serial killer back when she was in high school and he was in college. Now, she calls upon the Krewe of Hunters, Ethan's new unit, to send him on down to Louisiana and help out. Ethan sees ghosts the same way she does. And she knows he won't think she is nuts for receiving information from the dead.

Two men have died with seemingly no link to their murders even though they were friends. It will take the investigational strengths of the Krewe to prove Charlie's father is innocent and catch the villain or villains.

This involves a trip on the Mississippi River on the boat, the Journey. The Journey is run by the same company that ran the ships that the last 2 cases the Krewe investigated were on. Charlie's father travels and lectures on the boat on a regular basis.

Since Charlie's father is a historian, there are bits of history here and there throughout the story. I'm not sure which parts were real and which parts were designed to help the plot along though. Still, if you enjoy reading about the Civil War era, it really adds to the story. There is also mention of several local landmarks at which Charlie's father leads tours, in particular, several plantations.The majority of the action though occurs on the film set or aboard the Journey.

The romance between Charlie and Ethan is sweet. It's like they are taking up where they left off years earlier, but better. There is sex, but not overwhelmingly so.

The pace of the book is good. The writing keeps you turning pages to find out what happens next. It's a good mystery. It does seem to wrap up a little quickly, but it works. It's like the story has come full circle.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy your mysteries with a touch of romance, the paranormal and history then this would be a good book for you. This is #20 in the Krewe of Hunters series. It's written in such a way that you could pick it up and enjoy it on its own even if you haven't read any of the others in the series. The 2 books in the series immediately preceding this book do share some of the same characters.

Darkest Journey is due out September 27, 2016 from MIRA.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham

The serial killer known as the Archangel Killer is on the loose on a cruise ship after his latest murder in New Orleans. Will our heroes find out who it is before the next victim is found?

This is number 18 in the Krewe of Hunters series. The Archangel Killer is so named because of the way that he displays his victims in churches with saintly medallions at their throats. Jackson Crow, head of the Krewe of Hunters, has been assigned the case after having the ghost of one of the victims appear to him. Jude McCoy, a local agent in New Orleans, is assigned to work with Jackson. He doesn't know that they both are capable of seeing and interacting with the dead.

After following what they think might be the killer on board the cruise ship Destiny, Jude has an occasion to meet Alexi Cromwell who works the ship's piano bar as the entertainment. The more they interact, the more their attraction grows and the clearer it becomes to Jude that they are both seeing ghosts to his surprise, and not just the victim's ghost.

The race is on though. They are expecting at least 3 more murders because there are 3 more medallions in the set that the killer has been using to mark his victims. Can Jackson and Jude keep people safe while searching for the killer and without causing a panic?

So, we have here a book with a strong mystery and a secondary romance. They work well together and I had my doubts as to how well it would work on a limited location like a cruise ship. I liked that the characters come to accept seeing the ghosts as unquestionable rather easily. So many books end up giving a lot of space to the denial of their abilities as part of the plot. The pace of the mystery  is good. It gradually increases until it's solved. I found myself reading fast trying to find out who the murderer was and being somewhat surprised at the identity. There were some good red herrings in the pool of suspects.

Overall I give this book 4 stars out of 5. Both the mystery and the romance were handled well. It's a good addition to the Krewe of Hunters series.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Waiting on Wednesday #128: Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Haunted Destiny is Book #18 in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. It's due out May 24, 2016 from MIRA.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
A historic cruise ship, a haunted ship, the Celtic American Line's Destiny, sets sail from the Port of New Orleans—with a killer on board. He's known as the Archangel Killer because of the way he displays his victims in churches. And how he places a different saint's medallion on each body. No one knows exactly who he is or why he's doing this. 

Jackson Crow—head of the FBI's Krewe of Hunters, a special unit of paranormal investigators—is assigned to the case, along with local agent Jude McCoy. Then Alexi Cromwell, who works in the ship's piano bar, is drawn into the situation when a victim's ghost appears to her—and to Jude. She and Jude share an attraction, and not just because of their mutual talent. 

There are many suspects, but one by one they're ruled out… Or are they? In the end, Jude and Alexi have to rely on each other to catch the killer and escape his evil plans for Alexi.

Why am I waiting on this one? Basically, I want to read it because I enjoy the Krewe of Hunters series. And I want to see how the mystery plays out on the ship. I like the character Jackson Crow and hope he gets some good page time in this book, but I know the other two main characters will probably have a little more.

What book are you waiting on this week? Please share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out.

Happy Reading!

Review: The Hidden by Heather Graham

The Hidden by Heather Graham is #17 in the Krewe of  Hunters series and is due out September 29, 2015.

People are being murdered in Estes Park, Colorado, particularly on the Conway Ranch. The one thing they seem to have in common is that they are descendants of Nathan Kendall who owned the ranch and was himself killed in a horrific manner about 150 years ago. Scarlet is working on the Conway Ranch as a historian in their museum and bunking above it. When images of one of the murders appear on her camera before the bodies are found, she becomes a prime suspect in the murders.

Scarlet is divorced from Special Agent Diego McCullough. But, when things get dangerous for her, he is the first one she thinks to call. Lucky for her, Diego has just opted to join an elite group within the FBI known as the Krewe of Hunters. They give him the support he needs to get to her quickly and to investigate just what is going on there, even the ghostly events. Along the way, Scarlet and Diego find that their romance isn't dead after all.

I would classify this as a paranormal romantic mystery. There are elements of all 3 present in this well-written story. Ghosts of murder victims are talking to both Scarlet and the investigators. A romance is rekindled between Scarlet and her ex-husband Diego. Then there are the mysteries as to who killed Nathan Kendall and his wife Jillian 150 years ago and who is killing people now. All 3 parts blend together to make a good story that kept me guessing as to the identity of the killer right up until the end. The book held up as a page turner. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next as I read. As a result, I read it quickly and was a little sorry to see it end, but felt the ending was satisfying.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: The Hidden by Heather Graham

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Miz B of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can participate, just do the following:

• Grab your current read and open to a random page
• Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and the author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers.

Expected publication:
September 29, 2015 by Mira

There was a knock at the museum door, and Scarlet nearly jumped out of her chair. "Do you think the guys are back already?" she asked Meg

"I don't know. Sit tight. " Meg was already on her way to the door. She opened it a crack and peered out. It wasn't the guys. 

It was Lieutenant Gray.

~ from 33% through on my Kindle

I know it's more than 2 sentences, but it all goes together. Would you read on? 

What's your teaser this week? Leave it or a link in the comments so we can check it out. Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday #92: The Silenced by Heather Graham

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. 

Expected publication:
June 30, 2015 by Mira

This week the book I am waiting on is The Silenced by Heather Graham. It's #15 in her Krewe of Hunters series. 

Synopsis from Goodreads.com: 

Lara, a congressman's media assistant, suddenly quits her job—and disappears on the way to her Washington, DC, apartment. 

Novice FBI agent Meg Murray, a childhood friend of Lara's, gets a message from her that same night, a message that says she's disillusioned and "going home." To Richmond, Virginia. Meg discovers that she never got there. And bodies fitting Lara's description are showing up in nearby rivers… Could she be the victim of a serial killer? 

Meg is assigned to work with special agent Matt Bosworth, a hard-nosed pro in the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators—the Krewe of Hunters. They trace the route Meg and Lara took more than once in the past, visiting battlefields and graveyards from Harpers Ferry to Gettysburg. Places where the dead share their secrets with those who can hear… As Meg and Matt pursue the possibility of a serial killer, they find themselves in the middle of a political conspiracy. Is there a connection? And who—besides each other—can they trust?

Why am I looking forward to it? Basically it's part of a series that I really enjoy reading. Most of the novels in the series can be read as standalone books. And it's expected to be published on June 30, 2015 so there isn't that long to wait on it. I think that this series can make good beach reading or summer reading as well. It's basically paranormal romantic suspense. 

What book are you waiting on this week? Leave the title or a link in the credits so we can check it out. Happy Reading!

Review: The Cursed by Heather Graham

Published May 27th 2014
by Harlequin MIRA

What if you could see ghosts? And not just the ones that haunt your house, but other ghosts as well? Hannah O'Brien is used to seeing Melody and Hagen, the house ghosts, but is surprised when the ghost of a man murdered outside her house appears to her asking for help.

Hannah runs a bed and breakfast in the house she grew up in in Key West. Special Agent Dallas Sampson decides to take a room after realizing that Hannah might be in danger from whoever killed his friend, Jose, also an FBI agent.

Hannah calls her cousin Kelsey who is also an FBI agent and a member of a special unit referred to as The Krewe of Hunters. This special group all have some kind of special insight or ability to see things that most people don't, like ghosts.

The case in the present is linked to a missing piece of treasure from the past. They need to find the treasure, but more than that they need to find out who killed Jose and who is a danger to Hannah and them all.

The characters are almost equally strong. Hannah is a little weaker than the rest which makes Dallas want to protect her all the more. Her weakness is understandable considering she is the only one in the group who is not an FBI agent. Still, she is a pretty tough cookie.

It's a good book. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. My only complaint was that there was no clue as to where the treasure was and I think there should have been a little more foreshadowing. There were plenty of surprises. This isn't the first Krewe of Hunters book that I've read. This one is 12th in the series. I haven't managed to read all of them yet. I would recommend the series to those who like romance with their mysteries and enjoy the paranormal aspect as well.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Teaser Tuesday - The Cursed by Heather Graham

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of  Should Be Reading.

Anyone can participate. just do the following.

Rules:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t  give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Published June 1, 2014
by Harlequin MIRA

The Cursed by Heather Graham is #12 in the Krewe of Hunters series. This time the action takes place in Key West, Florida. Hannah O'Brien runs a B&B from the house she grew up in. She has always been able to see the 2 resident ghosts, Melody and Hagen. Now she is seeing others as well. She is in danger from a group called Los Lobos and their leader, The Wolf. Agent Dallas Samson is working on the case because his co-worker was killed while deep undercover by Los Lobos, they think. Dallas stays at the B&B so he can keep an eye on Hannah, and in turn gets a paranormal eyeful as well.

Melody was elegantly perched on the sofa. Hagen was standing by the mantel. And Agent Dallas Sampson was seated across from Melody, looking as if they had just been deep in conversation. Dallas turned to Hannah, "I've just met your charming residents," he told her, then continued with a slight rebuke in his voice. "It would have been polite to introduce us."

The Cursed is a paranormal mystery with some romance thrown in as well. I've not been to Key West yet, so I am finding the bits about the island interesting. It sounds like an interesting setting for this mystery. The Wolf seems to think there is a treasure of some sort within the walls of the B&B. It will be interesting to see if he is wrong or not. And who is he anyway?

So far, I am enjoying the book. The teaser is from 31% through the Kindle edition. I am currently at 66% through the book.

What book is your teaser from this week? Share a link or the teaser in the comments so we can check it out!
Happy Reading!