Book Review: Wicked Deeds by Heather Graham

Title: Wicked Deeds

Author: Heather Graham

Source: NetGalley, for an honest review

Goodreads Summary:

Eager to start their life together, historian Vickie Preston and Special Agent Griffin Pryce take a detour en route to their new home in Virginia and stop for a visit in Baltimore. But their romantic weekend is interrupted when a popular author is found dead in the basement of an Edgar Allan Poe-themed restaurant. Because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the corpse, the FBI's Krewe of Hunters paranormal team is invited to investigate. As more bizarre deaths occur, Vickie and Griffin are drawn into a case that has disturbing echoes of Poe's great works, bringing the horrors of his fiction to life.

The restaurant is headquarters to scholars and fans, and any of them could be a merciless killer. Except there's also something reaching out from beyond the grave. The late, great Edgar Allan Poe himself is appearing to Vickie in dreams and visions with cryptic information about the murders. Unless they can uncover whose twisted mind is orchestrating the dramatic re-creations, Vickie and Griffin's future as a couple might never begin...

My thoughts:

Ah, a return to the Krewe! I took a break from Graham and the Krewe of Hunters series for a bit, and it was worth it. I enjoy this world of FBI agents who can communicate with the spirit world. Every book is a bit of old and new - new agents, a new setting, a new mystery, matched with agents from previous books, favorites of the readers. Making these books comfortable, familiar, yet still interesting.

This book focuses on Baltimore, deaths that are straight out of Poe, and even on Poe himself. I have always loved Edgar Allen Poe, and I thought that Graham wound his story and mystery surrounding his last days through this book very well. Different theories as to his whereabouts, what he was up to, are bounced around between some of the characters, and I found them fascinating. Why was he wearing different clothes, clothes that weren't even his at the time of his death? We will never actually probably know the truth, although fiction writers and historians both try their best to explain what might have happened all the time. If only they had a psychic like Preston on their team! I thought the theory that Graham came up with (which might actually be a popular theory already, I just don't know) sounded pretty plausible, based on the facts that her characters presented. I love when books inspire me to go digging around in history, to read more about something else - and now I am all about googling and reading about Poe.

Anyway, back to Wicked Deeds. Besides the Poe mystery talk, there is a killer on the loose killing people Poe style. And by that, I mean, literary-ly from his works. (lol sorry) It kept me guessing, and took us to some spooky places, including an old mansion complete with its own cemetery, out in the middle of nowhere. In a storm, no less! Does the power go out? You bet it does. Did it give me the creeps right before bed? You bet it did.

The Krewe gets to work solving this mystery, which has many players and many stories and backgrounds. Just like the Scooby Doo gang, you know they'll catch that villain.

Book Review: The Silenced by Heather Graham

Title: The Silenced
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

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?


My thoughts:

I was so excited to read this new installment in the Krewe of Hunters series! I haven't been reading much due to my schedule these days, with a newborn at home and all, and this is one of the first books I had time to read. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my excitement.

This is the first in the series that I haven't enjoyed. I was in love with the setting of the civil war battlefields, especially Gettsyburg, a place I have visited many times, and I was looking forward to a book set in the area.  Alas, this book just felt a little flat and boring to me. The romantic aspect felt blah, like something was missing. There also wasn't enough of the supernatural element at all, which I feel is an important part of these books! As for the actual mystery, it was ok. I didn't feel like I got enough of an explanation on the motivations of one of the characters but otherwise it wasn't too bad. At least it was better than the rest of the book.

Sadly, this book just didn't do it for me this time. I expect these books to be formulaic to a certain extent, but maybe this was just one book too many in the series for me.

Book Reviews: The Hexed and The Betrayed by Heather Graham

 Title: The Hexed (Krewe of Hunters)
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Devin Lyle has recently returned to the Salem area, but her timing couldn't be worse. Soon after she moved into the eighteenth-century cabin she inherited from her great-aunt Mina—her "crazy" great-aunt, who spoke to the dead—a woman was murdered nearby. 

Craig Rockwell—known as Rocky—is a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI's team of paranormal investigators. He never got over finding a friend dead in the woods. Now another body's been found in those same woods, not far from the home of Devin Lyle. And Devin's been led to a third body—by...a ghost? 

Her discovery draws them both deeper into the case and Salem's rich and disturbing history. Even as the danger mounts, Devin and Rocky begin to fall for each other, something the ghosts of Mina and past witches seem to approve of. But the two of them need every skill they possess to learn the truth—or Devin's might be the next body in the woods...

My Thoughts: 

The weather here is cool today, putting me in the mood for fall. I am not quite ready to let summer go, but I feel autumn right around the corner. It probably doesn't help that I have ready so many books that mention Salem lately either!

I loved this book, it might be my favorite of the whole series. It takes place in Salem, and main character Devin is living in her deceased aunt's house, known locally as the witch house. It is isolated in the woods, which would be perfect, except for all the recent murders happening. These murders seem to be connected to the Salem witch trials, and the story includes ghosts and legends and history of the area and of the trials themselves. I thought the book was very well researched, and I loved reading about the historical aspects, as well as the fiction story as well. I really liked this Krewe of Hunters! There was of course the requisite love story that accompanies this series, which wasn't too bad either.

Title: The Betrayed
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

One night, New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney receives a visitor in a dream?an old friend named Richard Highsmith. The very next day he's sent to Sleepy Hollow because Richard's gone missing there.

Maureen?Mo?Deauville now lives in the historic town and works with her dog, Rollo, to search for missing people. She's actually the one to find Richard?or more precisely his head, stuck on a statue of the legendary Headless Horseman.

Mo and Aiden, a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators, explore both past and present events to figure out who betrayed Richard, who killed him and now wants to kill them, too. As they work together, they discover that they share an unusual trait?the ability to communicate with the dead. They also share an attraction that's as intense as it is unexpected?if they live long enough to enjoy it!

My thoughts:

On the converse, I didn't like this one as much! It should have been awesome, set in Sleepy Hollow, home of the Headless Horseman, one of my favorite legends of all time. This time, main character Mo and her wolfhound Rollo have a gift - together, they can find the missing. This story leans heavily on the local legends, with headless corpses popping up all over the place. A prominent politician is one of the victims, and he had gone missing in sort of a locked room mystery. His body is later found by Mo and Rollo, along with that of another victims. I felt that this mystery was a little lacking. I didn't care about the characters as much, and I felt that the setting was not played up enough either. There was certainly a lot of references to the Headless Horseman, but I didn't get a feel for this area, and I felt that there could have more mood setting, if that makes sense. Overall, this wasn't bad, I just didn't like it as much as The Hexed.

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.

Book Review: Waking the Dead by Heather Graham

Title: Waking the Dead
Author: Heather Graham
Source: Library

From Graham's website:

In the case of Ghosts in the Mind by Henry Sebastian Hubert, that's more than just an expression. This painting is reputed to come to life—and to bring death. The artist was a friend of Lord Byron and Mary Shelley, joining them in Switzerland during 1816, "the year without a summer." That was when they all explored themes of horror and depravity in their art?.

Now, almost two hundred years later, the painting appears in New Orleans. Wherever it goes, death seems to follow.

Danielle Cafferty and Michael Quinn, occasional partners in solving crime, are quickly drawn into the case. They begin to make connections between that summer in Switzerland and this spring in Louisiana. Danni, the owner of an eccentric antiques shop, and Quinn, a private detective, have discovered that they have separate but complementary talents when it comes to investigating unusual situations.

Trying to blend their personal relationship with the professional lives they've stumbled into, they learn how much they need each other. Especially as they confront this work of art—and evil. The people in the portrait might be dead, but something seems to wake them and free them to commit bloody crimes. Cafferty and Quinn must discover what that is. And they have to destroy it—before it destroys them.

My Thoughts:

Once again, Graham has delivered a book that you can run away to when you to need a moment to yourself to unwind and relax. That being said, there are definitely some parts of this book that will give you the chills or make you look over your shoulder while reading it, especially if you are home alone at the time.

Michael Quinn and Dani Cafferty are reunited again in this book. It is the second in the Cafferty and Quinn series, the first book being Let the Dead Sleep. This time, the mystery involves a creepy painting on which are painted people in various murderous stages. A man with a gun behind his back, a kid with a toy sized guillotine chopping the head off of a doll who is screaming, among others.This painting was also said to have been painted when the artist was trying to impress the group of Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. We have all heard the origins of Frankenstein; this book builds on that story.

Graham references the Year Without a Summer in this book - it is the time in which this macabre yet creative group got together, and the painting was created in Waking the Dead. I knew that one summer, these literary geniuses got together and challenged each other to write scary stories, to match the weather outside. But I did not realize that this was a historical weather event, that there was a pervasive gloom across the globe, blocking the sun and causing snow in June, and famine. It was more than 100 years later that the cause was discovered: the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia. The Mount Tambora eruption is the worst volcanic eruption in the last 10,000 years - and those that lived through it (outside of the ones who were directly there) had no idea what was going on, why their worlds were so affected. I thought that this backstory was a great place for Graham to begin this book. Mysterious and I am sure some thought it was the end of days, it would have been the perfect environment for horror to breed in.

When this painting is moved to New Orleans, people start dying. Quinn and Cafferty are quick to figure out what is going on and what needs to be done, and do their best to save lives and to stop the murders entirely. There are even a few trips to Switzerland, to a creepy old mansion with a crypt.

My only issue is that something is missing in the relationship between Cafferty and Quinn. The basic formula is there for us to read, but I am not feeling a real connection between these two. Its almost there, but not quite. I feel more of a connection between Dani and Wolf, the dog, and Quinn and Wolf, than I do between Dani and Michael. And Wolf was definitely not in this book enough for me; poor guy was being shuffled around and left behind constantly. I of course am terrified every book that something will happen to him. Don't fear this book for that reason, if you are like me.

This book is pure escapism with a shot of fear. If you like to relax while reading a thriller supernatural mystery, this book is definitely for you. I know that I enjoyed it!

The Night is Watching - Review

Title: The Night is Watching (Krewe of Hunters)
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

The dead of nightThe Old West town of Lily, Arizona, is home to the Gilded Lily, a former theater…and bawdy house. These days, it offers theatrical productions geared to tourists, but the recent discovery of a skull, a real skull, among the props and costumes shakes everyone up.

So, who do you call? The Krewe of Hunters, a special FBI unit of paranormal investigators. In this case, it's agent Jane Everett. Jane's also a talented artist who creates images of the dead as they once were. But the Krewe always works with local law enforcement, and here that means Sloan Trent, former Houston cop and now sheriff. His great-great-grandmother was an actress at the Gilded Lily…and she's not resting in peace.

Then more remains appear in the nearby desert. As they search for answers, using all the skills at their disposal, Jane and Sloan find themselves falling into danger—and into love.


My thoughts:

I have read a majority of the titles in this series, and I have to say, I like this one the second best! Heart of Evil, the first in the series, remains my favorite.  However, I really liked this one!

This book takes place in Arizona, in a town similar to Tombstone, an old west ghost town.  This is not a setting where I usually read - I enjoyed the change up! But who couldn't love a book with cowboys, gold, a history of wild west shootouts, and outlaws?

The Night is Watching is a fun, entertaining book, with some crazy plot twists! I had no idea who the culprits were. I was just as shocked at finding out whodunit as I was when I was a  little girl watching Scooby Doo, and they pulled the mask off the bad guy.

This is definitely a book to pick up if you are looking for a quick read and a mystery with an ending you didn't see coming; a book to read on a sunny day with storm clouds gathering in the distance.

Let the Dead Sleep - Review

Title: Let the Dead Sleep
Author: Heather Graham
Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

It was stolen from a New Orleans grave – the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors – and by those with wickedness in their hearts.

One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.

Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job – it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.

Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.

My thoughts:

If a book is set in New Orleans, I will read it. A bit like Field of Dreams. "If you build it, they will come. " For me, if it is set in New Orleans, I will read it.  I have read other books by Graham set in the city, apparently she enjoys it as much as I do.

 A haunted antique, voodoo, a secret family history, the French Quarter and plantations, and interesting characters made this book entertaining and fun. It was easy to get lost in the words, and the answer to the mystery veiled just enough that you thought you knew it all but then you learn at the end, you didn't quite know it all.  The only criticism I have is that it became a little repetitive - the characters would get up, have breakfast, hunt for the bust, go home, shower, eat dinner, then get up and do the same thing all over again. 

This book is definitely a fun, easy read, pure escapism. If you like Heather Graham, or romantic supernatural thrillers, pick this one up for sure. 

The Evil Inside - Review

Title:  The Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters #4)

Author:  Heather Graham

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now…
A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for the chief suspect, a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.
With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hill to pinpoint who – or what – is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

My thoughts:

This book is set in Salem, MA, around Halloween, making it a perfect October read, in my opinion.  Jenna Duffy is a member of the Krewe of Hunters, an FBI group made up of people with a little bit different skills- they can see ghosts.  Jenna returns home to Salem at the request of her Uncle Jamie, a twee little Irishman, who can spin a good ghost story.  He is also respected psychiatrist in the community, and when one of his patients, a teenager named Malachi,  is accused of a murder Jamie doesn't believe he committed, he asks Jenna to return home and use her gifts to help free Malachi.  They enlist the help of hot-shot attorney Sam Hall; Jenna and Sam inevitably fall in love, but Sam does have to struggle with a few aspects of Jenna's life- such as her ability to see ghosts.  Jenna obliges her uncle, which leads to learning much more about the history of Lexington House, where Malachi lived and his family was axed to death.

In my opinion, we didn't learn enough about the history of Lexington House.  As with all the books in the series that I have read, I have enjoyed them immensely, but was left wanting to hear more of the back story.   This book in particular left me even more curious than the rest.  The house is "evil", filled with tales of murders that have taken place there throughout the decades, all the way back to the Salem Witch era, a period of time that has been an interest of mine for years.  I wanted to know more about the history of the house, and why what happened there, happened. 

This is a fun book, and while it didn't scare me, it did have some pretty gruesome scenes.  I enjoyed this book, and think it was a perfect addition to my October reading lineup.

I also read this for the Frightful Fall Readathon hosted by Castle Macabre.  I had intended to read more, but it just didn't work out this week.  

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you list the books you read last week and the ones you hope to read this week.

I missed last week, I was on vacation "up north" as Michiganders say. And I didn't eve read much!

Read Last Week:

Summer Rental by Mary Kay Andrews:  I started this book on vacation at my family's summer rental.  My room was a bug jar with the light on, so I couldn't fit much reading in at night! I enjoyed this book, it was a fun summer read.

Honolulu by Alan Bernnert:  This author has never let me down, I have found both his books to be beautiful and moving.  I recommend them to everyone.

Heart of Evil by Heather Graham:  Second in the Krewe of Hunters Series.  I enjoyed this second book much better than the first.  And I was in love with the ghost story!

Currently Reading:

The Kitchen House by Katheleen Grissom:  I have read favorable reviews of this book and so far so good!

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman:  Alice Hoffman is always a favorite of mine, and this books seems no exception. So far I have cried, and laughed, because my one of my favorite historical figures, Johnny Appleseed is a character! And I am not even that far into the book yet, so I wonder what other surprises are in store.

Gave up on for the moment:

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik:  This is not a bad book, I was just not in the mood.  I plan on revisiting Gopnik's Paris this fall or winter.

Heart of Evil - Review

Title:  Heart of Evil
Author: Heather Graham
Publisher:  Mira
Reviewed for netGalley

Goodreads Summary:

Emerging from the bayou like an apparition, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends…and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks its cemetery’s most majestic vault. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War. Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare – often inexplicable – intuition. Among them is Jake Mallory, a gifted New Orleans musician with talent that stretches beyond the realm of the physical, and a few dark ghosts of his own. The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried – even in death….


My thoughts:


I recently read Phantom Evil, and I was not overly impressed.  This is the sequel, and second in the Krewe of Hunters series.  I liked this one so much better!!!  The characters and the relationships did not seem as forced, there was not the sense of fake camaraderie that I felt in the first book.  The mystery itself was more interesting, and had me guessing until the end, and I usually figure mysteries out early on.  I loved the ghosts in this book too - poor Marshall! His story was just as intriguing as the central mystery in the novel, and really, I wouldn't mind reading a book about him and his poor wife.


This is the first book I have ever read digitally, and I am not sure how I liked it.  I used my husband's Nook and there were things I liked and disliked.  I liked:  the portability - it was alot easier to read in bed and on the couch than some of my books. I think that is all I liked.  I disliked:  It running out of power at inconvenient times, the sensory factors of a book like the rustling of pages or the crispness and smell of a new book, and the fact that I physically could not see how much I had read and how much I had left - for some reason this really bothered me!! I never would have guessed that would even come up.  It was a very odd feeling for me, I felt slightly adrift.  I also had a hard time actually reading it in this format - I am used to reading blogs and emails online, but nothing really long.  I found myself skimming, and having to go back and reread.    So, I am still not convinced about electronic reading devices.  Maybe it is just something I have to get used to.

Phantom Evil - Review

Title: Phantom Evil

Author: Heather Graham

Publisher: Mira

Goodreads Summary:

A secret government unit is formed under the oversight of Adam Harrison, famed paranormal investigator. The six members he’s gathered know a little of the otherworldly — each has honed a psychic talent of their own.

Jackson Crow, part English, part Cheyenne, heads the group. Haunted by his experience with an ancestral ghost who saved his life as a child, and the recent murders of two previous teammates, Jackson can’t tell if Adam’s demoted him or given him an extraordinary opportunity. Despite his link to the realm of spirits, he’s well aware that the living commit the most heinous crimes, with spiritualist charlatans existing merely to fool and seduce the unwary.

To counterbalance Jackson’s careful skepticism, Adam Harrison has paired him with Angela Hawkins, a young woman who learned the painful lesson of loss at an early age. A police officer utilizing her paranormal intuition in Virginia, she already has her hands full. But Adam’s call to New Orleans is strong.

The case: In a historic mansion in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a senator’s wife falls to her death from a balcony. Most think she jumped, distraught over the loss of her young son. Some say she was pushed. And yet others believe she was beckoned by the ghostly spirits that inhabit the house — once the site of a serial killer’s grisly work.

Whether supernatural or all too human, crimes of passion, greed and desire will cast the pair into danger of losing their lives... and their immortal souls.

My thoughts:

This book reminded me it has been too long since I have visited New Orleans- the sights, sounds, restaurants described all make me want to go back right this second. As for the book itself, I felt it was just ok.

The supernatural plot lines were the best - I felt that they were well written, and told a good story. Everything dealing with the house being haunted, the ghosts, the serial killer Newton- all were well done. I wish the rest of the book had been as good. However, there was just too much going on to be believable. The Aryans, the creepy church, just too much. I also did not like how the main characters, Angela and Jackson, kept referring to their teammates as "kids". Angela and Jack are in their thirties, while the rest of their crew were in their twenties. It drove me crazy, they just were not old enough to refer to them as kids- and it happened alot. It was a small thing that grated on my nerves. I am in my thirties, and have friends in their twenties, and I don't think of them as children.

I read this book because I am about to read the second in the series, Heart of Evil, for netGalley, and felt the need to read the first one before I did. I am anxious to compare the two.