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 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.

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.