Book Review: The Cursed by Heather Graham

Title: The Cursed
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Hannah O'Brien, who grew up in the house and now runs it as a B and B, has always had a special ability to see a pair of resident ghosts. But when a man is murdered in the alley behind her place, she's dismayed when his spirit appears, too, asking for help. 

FBI agent Dallas Samson has a passionate interest in the murder, since the victim's a colleague whose death is connected to the smuggling ring known as Los Lobos—the wolves. Now Dallas is even more committed to chasing them down…. 

Unaware that Dallas has certain abilities of his own, Hannah calls her cousin Kelsey O'Brien, a member of the FBI's Krewe of Hunters, an elite unit of paranormal investigators. The present-day case is linked to a historical mystery involving salvagers, a curse and a sunken ship. Danger and desire bring Hannah and Dallas together, but to survive, they have to solve the mysteries of the past—and stay alive long enough to solve the crimes of the present!

My Thoughts:

I love the settings that Graham uses in this series! This book is set in Key West, one of my favorite places. Her descriptions of the lifestyle and island are fabulous, and she has definitely done her research on this place.

The action begins right away, when a tourist couple staying at Hannah O'Brien's B & B Siren of the Sea sees what they think is a ghost. However, the ghost was not an apparition but a real person, one who had sustained deadly injuries. Since this occurred directly behind the Siren of the Sea, Hannah becomes involved - even more so since the man's ghost appears to her, asking for her help.

The Krewe of Hunters are a special arm of the FBI, who investigate crimes with a possible supernatural cause. These agents are able to communicate with ghosts, and the ghosts help them to solve murders. Of course there is the requisite love story that accompanies Graham's books, which is a nice sideline. In this book, it is between Hannah and a gruff FBI agent named Dallas.

This book is peppered with local Key West legends, including Robert the Doll and the Elena De Hoyos story. If you google Elena, be prepared for some creepy photos and a grisly tale! I made the mistake of reading more about her before bed, and was thoroughly freaked out. I loved reading about the local lore and legends, and the mention of the Hemingway cats.

The mystery itself was really well done. I didn't figure this one out, and I felt that this one was a bit creepier than the other books in this series. All in all, this was a very entertaining and enjoyable story. I recommend reading this book on a warm night, with the breeze blowing through the window and a mojito on the table beside you.