The Summoning by Heather Graham

The Summoning

(Krewe of Hunters #27)

by 

Heather Graham 

Although I have read other books by Heather Graham, this is a new series to me. I found the setting and history very interesting. The characters were likable and fit well to the story. The mix of paranormal and living is a well thought mix and written in a very believable way that puts you right there in the scenes, like its happening right in front of you.  Although it seemed drawn out at the start, (that might be because I haven't read any others yet in the series) by a few chapters in, I was right in the middle of this mystery and couldn't wait for the ending. I give this book a solid 9 out of 10 and will recommend it to others, And I have now started reading the series. Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis


When Kristi Stewart inherits a property in the old part of Savannah, she knows it comes with stories of hauntings. But she doesn’t believe in ghosts, even while she runs seances for the guests of McLane House Bed-and-Breakfast. Until the inexplicable midnight appearance of one of her infamous ancestors. Terrified, she flees into the night—and right into the arms of Dallas Wicker.

Dallas is trying to uncover the truth about a colleague who died under suspicious circumstances. As strange happenings continue to plague Kristi’s home, it is soon clear that there’s a very living threat in the neighborhood—several people have disappeared without a trace. Dallas can’t find any connection between the victims, but someone wanted them gone, and it might be linked to the history of McLane House. And that means Kristi should be very afraid.

PURCHASE ON AMAZON-CLICK HERE

The Blue Ribbon goes to Annette Dashofy for Fair Game

Fair Game (A Zoe Chambers Mystery Book 8)

I received a ARC copy of Fair Game from Edleweiss and Henrey Press, in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes Zoe to the county fair for a week, where she is working with the ambulance service as well as entering her horse Windstar into competition as well. While there, she finds herself in the investigation of a mysterious death of an acquaintance from her 4H days.

Fair Game takes place through most of the book at the county fair which gives us a chance to see much more of Zoe’s love for horses and learn about her time in 4H and we get to know more about Zoe and Pete and this weaves in alongside of the mystery story line very well. 

I love that this book was “on location” because Annette has a genuine style and attention to detail that really draws a reader into the story (one of the things I really like about her books). Not only picturing in your mind what you are reading, but you can hear all the sounds of people, the games, hear the sounds, smells and feelings that go along with horses and Demolition Derby, wonderful carny foods and everything else at a county fair. It really brought back memories of yearly visits to the county fair for me. This is a five star from me, and a must-read addition to your reading list! I’ve included the link to purchase below and along with the intro for the book. 

Click here to PREorder FAIR GAME on Amazon

Synopsis:

Paramedic Zoe Chambers hoped a week at the Monongahela County Fair, showing her horse and manning the ambulance, would provide a much-needed diversion from recent events that continue to haunt her. 

An old friend, a bossy nemesis, and a teenage crush from her 4-H days fail to offer the distraction she had in mind. But ever the caregiver, she soon bonds with a troubled teen and a grieving father.

Back in Vance Township, a missing woman turns up dead, leading Police Chief Pete Adams into a journey through her mysterious final hours. With each new clue, the tragic circumstances of her death grow increasingly muddied. 

A cryptic phone call leads Pete to join Zoe for an evening at the fairgrounds where the annual school bus demolition derby concludes with a gruesome discovery and a new case that may or may not be connected to the first. 

Pete’s quest for the motive behind two homicides—and Zoe’s stubborn determination to reunite a family—thrust them both onto a collision course with a violent and desperate felon.

Cry Wolf (A Zoe Chambers Mystery Book 7)

Cry Wolf (A Zoe Chambers Mystery Book 7)

If you have not already, you MUST read the Zoe Chambers Mystery Series!  Cry Wolf has to be the best book of the series so far. But if you have read every book like I have, you know that appears to be the case for every new Zoe book released. Cry Wolf takes us to solve a mystery at Golden Oaks Zoe is filling in for the Chief Coroner and is now getting the chance to dive right in to the investigation. Is it just a simple death, a homicide, or could there me much more to this case? Zoe gets some unlikely help from a few of the residents at Golden Oaks during her investigation and gives us a chance to get to know more about them, they fit in very well with the story and adds to the mystery. Every chapter drew me into the story more and more leaving me saying “just one more chapter” but I just could not put it down. Annette’s writing style puts us right alongside Zoe and working and guessing with her until the very end. Cry Wolf gives more than solving the investigation, but it also brings more questions and mystery, I love that there is unanswered questions for us to look forward too. What is Zoe’s mom hiding about her father? Is there more going on at Golden Oaks that we still don’t know? Is there something in Pete’s past to uncover? Cry Wolf gives more than solving the investigation, it also brings more questions and mystery to look forward to in Book 8. I can’t wait to read Fair Game!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE CRY WOLF ON AMAZON

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER FAIR GAME NOW ON AMAZON

Synopsis:

Rural Pennsylvania’s Vance Township Police Chief Pete Adams is down an officer and has been dealing with extra shifts as well as a pair of bickering neighbors, one of whom owns a machete and isn’t afraid to use it. 

Golden Oaks Assisted Living is outside Pete’s jurisdiction, but a murder in the facility his Alzheimer’s-afflicted father calls home makes the case personal. 

Paramedic and Deputy Coroner Zoe Chambers has been itching for an opportunity to take the lead in a death investigation. She gets her chance when her boss is hospitalized and not only assigns her to the Golden Oaks homicide but puts her in charge of the county coroner’s office. 

As if she doesn’t have enough to handle, a long-lost, over-protective, older half-brother walks into her life threatening to drive a wedge between her and the man she loves. 

A second dead body leads them to realize the case may have dark ties to a distant past…and if Zoe doesn’t untangle the web of lies, Pete will be the one to pay the ultimate price.

Grace Topping is Staging the way to a great series

Staging is Murder (A Laura Bishop Mystery Book 1)

I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss and Henery Press in exchange for an honest review. But I also purchased a kindle version of this book from Amazon.

The debut book in the Laura Bishop series, Staging is Murder is a great start to a new series by Grace Topping. The characters are likable and interesting. The introductions and character backgrounds are done smoothly and are well paced through the book and not drawing away from the flow of the mystery. I really enjoyed reading Staging is Murder, it kept me interested, and cheering for Laura as she tries to prove her assistant’s innocence when a murder literally lands at her feet. Each chapter also leads off with a helpful hint in “Staging” your home to sell, which I found to be a nice added touch. Staging is Murder by Grace Topping gets five stars from me and I recommend you give it a read. I look forward to more from this series!

Available for Purchase on amazon

Click here to purchase

Synopsis:

Laura Bishop just nabbed her first decorating commission—staging for sale a 19th-century mansion that hasn’t been updated for decades. But when a body falls from a laundry chute and lands at Laura’s feet, replacing flowered wallpaper becomes the least of her duties. 

To clear her young assistant of the murder and save her fledgling business, Laura’s determined to find the killer. Turns out it’s not as easy as renovating a manor home, especially with two handsome men complicating her mission: the police detective assigned to the case and the real estate agent trying to save the manse from foreclosure. 

Worse still, the meddling of a horoscope-guided friend, a determined grandmother, and the local funeral director could get them all killed before Laura props the first pillow.