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New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper returns with a breathtaking new thriller of a young woman's homecoming - to a town of menacing whispers, bad dreams, and dangerous secrets...
Another nightmare, in the woods this time. Different: She was running. Trying to escape. But the same ending. Always the same ending. Another dead girl…
Emma Rayburn was born and raised in Baron Hollow, North Carolina, It was a quiet life, then came the accident… and the nightmares - each filled with unshakable visions of darkness, blind panic, and desperate women chased toward inevitable death. With no reports of local women missing or found dead, Emma has written it off to troubled imaginings - night after dreaded night. Until her sister arrives.
Jessie Rayburn, a psychic investigator for a firm called Haven, has been estranged from Emma for years. Unresolved issues from Jessie’s past have not only kept them apart but have been clouding Jessie’s unique abilities. A return to her hometown to face a dark and violent incident from years gone by is her chance to regain them. But reconciliation with the past comes with a price. Few people in Baron Hollow are welcoming Jessie back. No one dares to breathe a word. And in this conspiracy of silence, Emma’s nightmares are becoming more vivid than ever.
Even with the help of Noah Bishop, head of the FBI Special Crimes Unit and cofounder of Haven, Jessie and Emma soon find themselves outnumbered by the secrets buried in Baron Hollow - and outrunning an evil that has been festering for years, one that’s targeting Jessie and Emma one last time.
Another nightmare, in the woods this time. Different: She was running. Trying to escape. But the same ending. Always the same ending. Another dead girl…
Emma Rayburn was born and raised in Baron Hollow, North Carolina, It was a quiet life, then came the accident… and the nightmares - each filled with unshakable visions of darkness, blind panic, and desperate women chased toward inevitable death. With no reports of local women missing or found dead, Emma has written it off to troubled imaginings - night after dreaded night. Until her sister arrives.
Jessie Rayburn, a psychic investigator for a firm called Haven, has been estranged from Emma for years. Unresolved issues from Jessie’s past have not only kept them apart but have been clouding Jessie’s unique abilities. A return to her hometown to face a dark and violent incident from years gone by is her chance to regain them. But reconciliation with the past comes with a price. Few people in Baron Hollow are welcoming Jessie back. No one dares to breathe a word. And in this conspiracy of silence, Emma’s nightmares are becoming more vivid than ever.
Even with the help of Noah Bishop, head of the FBI Special Crimes Unit and cofounder of Haven, Jessie and Emma soon find themselves outnumbered by the secrets buried in Baron Hollow - and outrunning an evil that has been festering for years, one that’s targeting Jessie and Emma one last time.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2012
About the author
Kay Hooper
110 books2,479 followersKay Hooper (aka Kay Robbins) was born in California, in an air force base hospital since her father was stationed there at the time. The family moved back to North Carolina shortly afterward, so she was raised and went to school there.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
The oldest of three children, Kay has a brother two years younger and a sister seven years younger. Her father and brother are builders who own a highly respected construction company, and her mother worked for many years in personnel management before becoming Kay's personal assistant, a position she held until her untimely death in March 2002. Kay's sister Linda works as her Business Manager, Events Coordinator, and is playing a major role in the creation and operation of The Kay Hooper Foundation.
Kay graduated from East Rutherford High School and attended Isothermal Community College — where she quickly discovered that business classes did not in any way enthrall her. Switching to more involving courses such as history and literature, she also began to concentrate on writing, which had been a longtime interest. Very quickly hooked, she asked for a Christmas typewriter and began seriously working on her first novel. That book, a Regency romance titled Lady Thief, sold to Dell Publishing in 1980. She has since published more than 60 novels and four novellas.
Kay is single and lives in a very small town in North Carolina, not far from her father and siblings. Deigning to live with her are a flock of cats — Bonnie, Ginger, Oscar, Tuffy, Felix, Renny, and Isabel — of various personalities who all like sleeping on manuscripts and whatever research happens to be spread across Kay's desk. And living amongst the many felines are two cheerfully tolerant dogs, a shelter rescue, Bandit, who looks rather like a small sheepdog, and a Sheltie named Lizzie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 538 reviews
August 17, 2012
I can't remember being so disappointed in a book in years. I love Kay Hooper, have been reading her for 30 years beginning with her 2nd Chance at Love series books under the name of Kay Robbins, continuing through her Candlelight Ecstasy and Bantam Loveswept lines as Kay Hooper and everything since. It's been - what? 3 years since the last Bishop book and my anticipation was high...I even reread the series to get all the characters fresh in my mind and was reminded of just how good a storyteller Ms. Hooper is. The characters stick with you, the plots are intriguing, and in the old days when she still included romance in her romantic suspense (i.e. Amanda, After Caroline, Finding Laura, Haunting Rachel, and even the first half of the Bishop books), the romance was deep and lasting.
But I found no sanctuary in the pages of Haven. The two main characters, sisters Jessie and Emma Rayburn just don't connect - with each other or the reader. They're not so much estranged (even though Jessie's been gone for 15 years) as uninvolved with each other, and we're never told why other than the fact that their father was detached and traveled alot, their mother died when they were young, and we don't even get much feeling from that other than a little story about how their father allowed them each to chose a piece of their mother's jewelry to keep before he gave all her stuff away. And that is only included as a plot device! So, we get it...they're not very emotional. BUT. For two women we're led to believe are successful and intelligent, almost every action of theirs in the book is, well, dumb. Emma suffers from visionary dreams of women being murdered after she suffered a head injury a few years before, but won't believe that the dreams mean anything - even though her sister is psychic! Jessie comes back to discover the truth behind a teenage trauma, finds that it's connected to a possible serial killer in her old hometown - but won't ask for or accept any help even when she finds out that one of her Haven co-workers is there to assist! And even when Jessie asks if there have been any murders in the area, Emma - who dreams of women being tortured and murdered - doesn't tell her sister...and after half the characters in the book go on ad nauseam about how easy it is for hikers to just disappear from the area and no one knows what happens to them!!! Even I wanted to knock the 2 of them around half way through the book, if only to knock some sense into them. And the murderer could only be 1 of a couple of people - we're thrown the bone of a couple of other possibilities, but they're not real suspects as they don't really appear other than being mentioned a few times in passing. That's the whole trouble with the book...everything seems to be at a distance, just in passing, no real connection. Our supposed hero is a hunky ex-military guy who's appeared in at least 1 other book, I think, Nathan Navarro. He's interesting and has an intriguing psychic skill, but his hotness is just thrown away in this story even though we discover, again just in passing, that he and Emma had maybe shared a fling a summer ago, both of them using other names. Again, too little involvement, too little detail. Bishop, Maggie, Hollis, some of the most important people in this series, make cursory appearances, but even they can't save it. Oddly enough, the most affecting passage in the whole book is the prologue where we see Catherine Talbert escaping from her torturer into the woods of the North Carolina mountains. In those few pages, she is fully fleshed out as a character, and we are with her 100 percent as she flees her captor. Too bad the remaining few hundred pages didn't leave us as breathless and emotionally enthralled.
But I found no sanctuary in the pages of Haven. The two main characters, sisters Jessie and Emma Rayburn just don't connect - with each other or the reader. They're not so much estranged (even though Jessie's been gone for 15 years) as uninvolved with each other, and we're never told why other than the fact that their father was detached and traveled alot, their mother died when they were young, and we don't even get much feeling from that other than a little story about how their father allowed them each to chose a piece of their mother's jewelry to keep before he gave all her stuff away. And that is only included as a plot device! So, we get it...they're not very emotional. BUT. For two women we're led to believe are successful and intelligent, almost every action of theirs in the book is, well, dumb. Emma suffers from visionary dreams of women being murdered after she suffered a head injury a few years before, but won't believe that the dreams mean anything - even though her sister is psychic! Jessie comes back to discover the truth behind a teenage trauma, finds that it's connected to a possible serial killer in her old hometown - but won't ask for or accept any help even when she finds out that one of her Haven co-workers is there to assist! And even when Jessie asks if there have been any murders in the area, Emma - who dreams of women being tortured and murdered - doesn't tell her sister...and after half the characters in the book go on ad nauseam about how easy it is for hikers to just disappear from the area and no one knows what happens to them!!! Even I wanted to knock the 2 of them around half way through the book, if only to knock some sense into them. And the murderer could only be 1 of a couple of people - we're thrown the bone of a couple of other possibilities, but they're not real suspects as they don't really appear other than being mentioned a few times in passing. That's the whole trouble with the book...everything seems to be at a distance, just in passing, no real connection. Our supposed hero is a hunky ex-military guy who's appeared in at least 1 other book, I think, Nathan Navarro. He's interesting and has an intriguing psychic skill, but his hotness is just thrown away in this story even though we discover, again just in passing, that he and Emma had maybe shared a fling a summer ago, both of them using other names. Again, too little involvement, too little detail. Bishop, Maggie, Hollis, some of the most important people in this series, make cursory appearances, but even they can't save it. Oddly enough, the most affecting passage in the whole book is the prologue where we see Catherine Talbert escaping from her torturer into the woods of the North Carolina mountains. In those few pages, she is fully fleshed out as a character, and we are with her 100 percent as she flees her captor. Too bad the remaining few hundred pages didn't leave us as breathless and emotionally enthralled.
December 2, 2016
3.75 stars
Kay Hooper has been one of my favourite authors for some time now. HAVEN is a fun, fast-paced, quick and easy to follow along read with a good plot. Although, the characters weren't as well developed as I would have liked and the physic aspects of the novel didn't really give me any satisfaction. I needed more of Bishop and his Agents! Usually I get really drawn into the characters and excited with all the different aspects of the supernatural within Kay Hooper novels so that is why it didn't get a 5 star rating from me.
I did like that she added an Agent Bios and Psychic Terms & Abilities to the back of the book which was helpful in refreshing my memory on some of the recurring characters.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I do love Haven, Bishop & his Psychic Agents.
You would easily be able to read this one without reading any of her other novels.
There are some good twists and turns which make it a fairly good suspenseful mystery in not a lot of graphic detail.
Kay Hooper has been one of my favourite authors for some time now. HAVEN is a fun, fast-paced, quick and easy to follow along read with a good plot. Although, the characters weren't as well developed as I would have liked and the physic aspects of the novel didn't really give me any satisfaction. I needed more of Bishop and his Agents! Usually I get really drawn into the characters and excited with all the different aspects of the supernatural within Kay Hooper novels so that is why it didn't get a 5 star rating from me.
I did like that she added an Agent Bios and Psychic Terms & Abilities to the back of the book which was helpful in refreshing my memory on some of the recurring characters.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I do love Haven, Bishop & his Psychic Agents.
You would easily be able to read this one without reading any of her other novels.
There are some good twists and turns which make it a fairly good suspenseful mystery in not a lot of graphic detail.
September 24, 2012
This time around I will admit that, despite any of the criticisms in my previous review of the book (below), for whatever reason I liked the book much better. Therefore, i upgraded my rating from 2 to 4 stars.
(Original review) This year I read all the previous Bishop/Special Crimes Unit novels to prepare myself for the release of Haven. The previous books were so good that I felt let down by this one - the first in a new trilogy by Hooper. Haven is the organization utilizing psychic private investigators who are not a part of the Special Crimes Unit run by Bishop. So strike one - not enough Bishop in the story. Strike two: The lack of involvement between the 2 sisters who are the main characters of the novel and 2.5 hardly any interaction between them and the other Haven agent Nathan Navarro. Strike 3: the overuse of the small town near the Appalachian mountains setting. The series overall began in the Pacific Northwest, then moved to the southeast and seems to have been stuck there. I think that we get the fact that it's easy to be a serial killer there because of the number of people moving through the area & the amount of wilderness.
SCU agents Hollis Templeton & Reese DeMarco get a little face time in the book.
Hooper has been a favorite author for years. I hope the next Haven book picks it up a notch & gets back onto the "I can't put this book down" track.
(Original review) This year I read all the previous Bishop/Special Crimes Unit novels to prepare myself for the release of Haven. The previous books were so good that I felt let down by this one - the first in a new trilogy by Hooper. Haven is the organization utilizing psychic private investigators who are not a part of the Special Crimes Unit run by Bishop. So strike one - not enough Bishop in the story. Strike two: The lack of involvement between the 2 sisters who are the main characters of the novel and 2.5 hardly any interaction between them and the other Haven agent Nathan Navarro. Strike 3: the overuse of the small town near the Appalachian mountains setting. The series overall began in the Pacific Northwest, then moved to the southeast and seems to have been stuck there. I think that we get the fact that it's easy to be a serial killer there because of the number of people moving through the area & the amount of wilderness.
SCU agents Hollis Templeton & Reese DeMarco get a little face time in the book.
Hooper has been a favorite author for years. I hope the next Haven book picks it up a notch & gets back onto the "I can't put this book down" track.
August 3, 2012
*pokes book* *sighs*
I'm not sure how to feel about this one. On the one hand, I pretty much twigged onto the identity of the bad guy right away, but on the other, I wasn't sure I was right because Hooper was throwing out red herrings every which way. Also, I think I went into it expecting romantic suspense and this was a mystery, plain and simple, with a minor romantic element. Even the psychic element wasn't as prevalent as it has been in previous books, random ghosts aside. The question of whether or not the killer had psychic powers as well was also never fully answered either.
As long as you know that this world has psychic law enforcement members, Haven can probably stand-alone. There were cameos for long time readers like Hollis, Bishop, and Tony, but it was easy enough to infer their identities from context.
I guess, bottom-line, if you want a fairly suspenseful mystery that doesn't involve a lot of gore and moves quick, check out Haven, but get it from the library.
I'm not sure how to feel about this one. On the one hand, I pretty much twigged onto the identity of the bad guy right away, but on the other, I wasn't sure I was right because Hooper was throwing out red herrings every which way. Also, I think I went into it expecting romantic suspense and this was a mystery, plain and simple, with a minor romantic element. Even the psychic element wasn't as prevalent as it has been in previous books, random ghosts aside. The question of whether or not the killer had psychic powers as well was also never fully answered either.
As long as you know that this world has psychic law enforcement members, Haven can probably stand-alone. There were cameos for long time readers like Hollis, Bishop, and Tony, but it was easy enough to infer their identities from context.
I guess, bottom-line, if you want a fairly suspenseful mystery that doesn't involve a lot of gore and moves quick, check out Haven, but get it from the library.
March 4, 2013
Kay Hooper is one of my favorite authors, I’ll just put that out there right now. In addition, this series she’s been working on for years, The Bishop Series, is one of my favorites. Noah Bishop is the head of an elite, specialized unit within the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As an off-the-chart psychic himself, Bishop put together a unique team of investigators, all with varying degrees of psychic abilities; and a never-ending series was born. Haven is the 13th offering by New York Times bestselling author, Kay Hooper, in The Bishop Series.
Haven is an off-shoot, civilian sister operation to Bishop’s FBI Special Crimes Unit. In Touching Evil we were introduced to Maggie Barnes and John Garrett. By the end of that book, they had formed the Haven organization. So that’s enough backstory.
Haven follows operative Jessie Rayburn who heads home, ostensibly to go over her inheritance, but is actually going to remember the horrific event of a night long ago. One of four men, or even all, could be the abusers of that night, but Jessie simply can’t remember enough to bring anyone to justice. After that night, Jessie fled her hometown, but the man who committed that long ago crime has become something much, much worse. Now a serial killer, he is on the loose, and hunting in the mountains outside Jessie’s hometown. Can she remember before it grows too late? For somehow, her sister Emma is inexplicably tied up in that same nightmare.
Kay Hooper takes us on this twisted journey home, layering the characters, events, and story, keeping us engaged from the opening paragraph of the book: “In the first few minutes of Catherine Talbert’s escape, she did her very best to be as quiet as possible. She thought he was gone, but she wasn’t all certain of that, and in her terror she just wanted to run.“
In essence, Hooper’s writing grabs the reader by the throat and she doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. There are twists, turns and a stunning surprise, especially for a Kay Hooper novel, near the end of the book. As always, it was a more than satisfying read. Hooper always gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. She is one of those authors that I watch for the new books and pick them up as quickly as possible upon them hitting the shelves. You just can’t wrong with Kay Hooper.
It isn’t necessary that you’ve read the other novels in the series; each, as is proper, stands on its own. But should you desire to pick up those earlier books and become acquainted with all the agents and civilians who fight evil, then pick up Stealing Shadows published in September of 2000. That’s where it all began.
Haven is an off-shoot, civilian sister operation to Bishop’s FBI Special Crimes Unit. In Touching Evil we were introduced to Maggie Barnes and John Garrett. By the end of that book, they had formed the Haven organization. So that’s enough backstory.
Haven follows operative Jessie Rayburn who heads home, ostensibly to go over her inheritance, but is actually going to remember the horrific event of a night long ago. One of four men, or even all, could be the abusers of that night, but Jessie simply can’t remember enough to bring anyone to justice. After that night, Jessie fled her hometown, but the man who committed that long ago crime has become something much, much worse. Now a serial killer, he is on the loose, and hunting in the mountains outside Jessie’s hometown. Can she remember before it grows too late? For somehow, her sister Emma is inexplicably tied up in that same nightmare.
Kay Hooper takes us on this twisted journey home, layering the characters, events, and story, keeping us engaged from the opening paragraph of the book: “In the first few minutes of Catherine Talbert’s escape, she did her very best to be as quiet as possible. She thought he was gone, but she wasn’t all certain of that, and in her terror she just wanted to run.“
In essence, Hooper’s writing grabs the reader by the throat and she doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. There are twists, turns and a stunning surprise, especially for a Kay Hooper novel, near the end of the book. As always, it was a more than satisfying read. Hooper always gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. She is one of those authors that I watch for the new books and pick them up as quickly as possible upon them hitting the shelves. You just can’t wrong with Kay Hooper.
It isn’t necessary that you’ve read the other novels in the series; each, as is proper, stands on its own. But should you desire to pick up those earlier books and become acquainted with all the agents and civilians who fight evil, then pick up Stealing Shadows published in September of 2000. That’s where it all began.
October 5, 2023
Haven
2 Stars
Two decades after leaving, Haven operative, Jessie Rayburn, returns home to Baron Hollow, North Carolina, in search of the lost memories that are preventing her psychic abilities from fully materializing. Jessie's estranged sister, Emma, never left their small town but following a recent accident is experiencing traumatic nightmares of young women being brutalized and murdered. Can two very different women hold the key to exposing the evil that is haunting this troubled town?
Series note: This book begins a new trilogy although characters from previous books put in an appearance.
Very disappointing.
To begin with, there is nothing original about the plot, the setting or the characters. The prologue is virtually identical to many books in this genre and even in this series. Moreover, for the first 3rd of the book, it is unclear which Rayburn sister is the heroine, and it is only once past relationship with emerges does it become clear.
Speaking of which, there is no romance in this book. Readers are informed of prior meeting, but absolutely no details are provided and neither characters' feelings, whether past or present, are stated or developed. Consequently, the book does not meet the necessary criteria to be considered romantic-suspense in any shape or form.
The suspense element is a typical serial killer storyline, which moves slowly at first but picks up pace at the halfway mark. This is an unfortunate characteristic of Hooper's writing style. There are several possible suspects and some excellent twists and turns, especially the revelation that as is hinted at throughout. Nevertheless, virtually every female character in the book exhibits some form of TSTL behavior even the so-called trained investigator, and there are a couple of unresolved plot points, such as the reasons for the killer's actions, which are hinted at but never fully explained.
In sum, not one of the better additions to this series. Perhaps it is time to wind it down.
2 Stars
Two decades after leaving, Haven operative, Jessie Rayburn, returns home to Baron Hollow, North Carolina, in search of the lost memories that are preventing her psychic abilities from fully materializing. Jessie's estranged sister, Emma, never left their small town but following a recent accident is experiencing traumatic nightmares of young women being brutalized and murdered. Can two very different women hold the key to exposing the evil that is haunting this troubled town?
Series note: This book begins a new trilogy although characters from previous books put in an appearance.
Very disappointing.
To begin with, there is nothing original about the plot, the setting or the characters. The prologue is virtually identical to many books in this genre and even in this series. Moreover, for the first 3rd of the book, it is unclear which Rayburn sister is the heroine, and it is only once past relationship with emerges does it become clear.
Speaking of which, there is no romance in this book. Readers are informed of prior meeting, but absolutely no details are provided and neither characters' feelings, whether past or present, are stated or developed. Consequently, the book does not meet the necessary criteria to be considered romantic-suspense in any shape or form.
The suspense element is a typical serial killer storyline, which moves slowly at first but picks up pace at the halfway mark. This is an unfortunate characteristic of Hooper's writing style. There are several possible suspects and some excellent twists and turns, especially the revelation that as is hinted at throughout. Nevertheless, virtually every female character in the book exhibits some form of TSTL behavior even the so-called trained investigator, and there are a couple of unresolved plot points, such as the reasons for the killer's actions, which are hinted at but never fully explained.
In sum, not one of the better additions to this series. Perhaps it is time to wind it down.
September 30, 2012
I have read other books in this series and enjoyed the psychic FBI agents. The writing isn't top drawer, but I liked the plots.
The heroine in this story appears to be Jessie, a woman who comes back to her hometown to put to rest nightmares she's had about women who are being tortured and killed.
I'm not going to spell out the plot because I don't want to spoil it for those who follow this series, but there's a phrase used for romantic suspense heroines who deserve to die TSTL--To Stupid To Live. Jessie wears the all-time crown, in my opinion.
This is the last book I'm going to read in this series. It was that bad.
The heroine in this story appears to be Jessie, a woman who comes back to her hometown to put to rest nightmares she's had about women who are being tortured and killed.
I'm not going to spell out the plot because I don't want to spoil it for those who follow this series, but there's a phrase used for romantic suspense heroines who deserve to die TSTL--To Stupid To Live. Jessie wears the all-time crown, in my opinion.
This is the last book I'm going to read in this series. It was that bad.
August 27, 2012
I love the Bishop series but this offering left me confused - lots of characters, most of them not finely drawn, and the plot - gapping holes in places. The author concealed more than she revealed in this novel
synopsis of cover
Emma Rayburn lived a quiet life in the sleepy town of Baron Hollow, North Carolina, until she injured her head in a riding accident. Afterwards, her dreams were full of nameless girls being tortured and murdered, nightmares that didn't seem to have any link with her life...until her estranged sister, Jessie, returned to Baron Hollow. Now an investigator who uses her psychic abilities in her work, Jessie has long been plagued by something that happened to her as a teen girl, before she ran away from Baron Hollow. She's come back to uncover the truth - and to discover the ones responsible for the deed. Could Emma's nightmares be connected to Jessie's quest? But it isn't just the truth at stake - there's an evil that's haunting the present, an evil that has roots in the darkness of the past and a terrifying violence that neither sister can remember...
synopsis of cover
Emma Rayburn lived a quiet life in the sleepy town of Baron Hollow, North Carolina, until she injured her head in a riding accident. Afterwards, her dreams were full of nameless girls being tortured and murdered, nightmares that didn't seem to have any link with her life...until her estranged sister, Jessie, returned to Baron Hollow. Now an investigator who uses her psychic abilities in her work, Jessie has long been plagued by something that happened to her as a teen girl, before she ran away from Baron Hollow. She's come back to uncover the truth - and to discover the ones responsible for the deed. Could Emma's nightmares be connected to Jessie's quest? But it isn't just the truth at stake - there's an evil that's haunting the present, an evil that has roots in the darkness of the past and a terrifying violence that neither sister can remember...
August 31, 2012
This book has over 300 pages--250 pages too long. It could have been a short story--a boring short story at that. I finished it because I didn't have a back-up book and that's taboo for a reading junkie. I usually skip over this author because her books have that "look at Spot run" mentality. I need a little more depth, even if it is fiction. Just once I'd like to read a "suspense" novel that doesn't have a romantic story line. Does real-life crime result in a happy couple at the end? If a book is good, it doesn't need this kind of distraction. It's almost as mind-numbing as when the author feels compels to expound on his/her own political views. Leave romance and politics out of suspense/mystery novels. Whatever happened to a good plot, interesting, believable characters, a surprise ending? A book about psychics is bad enough but when one of the "very best" can't sense she's being set up in a trap?!? REALLY?
August 23, 2012
I love the Bishop Series written by Kay Hooper. I am always thrilled when a new one comes out. This book was exciting and kept me turning the pages. I love that she puts the paranormal in with her murder investigations.I feel the comments about the sisters not being close enough was all cleared up by the end of the story. I wish the ending could have been different, but it also went with the nature of the character of Jessie.Usually the Haven organization has a more hands on approach, then in this book.Perhaps if it had been that way then there would have been a different outcome and feeling about the story in general. I won't put in any spoilers..so I will just say I love the Bishop Series, and always look forward to the next one.
September 22, 2019
Jessie Rayburn, an operative to Haven, has had a block on her abilities lately, as nightmares and flash memories from a forgotten past begin returning. She decides to head home to her small town home of Baron Hollow to discover what she's forgotten and to maybe reconnect with her sister, Emma. Jessie quickly reports back to Haven about a spirit claiming that a killer is working in the town of Baron Hollow. So Haven sends another operative to investigate the murders while Jessie investigates her past. Nathan Navarro shows up at Emma's B&B and they instantly remember their summer together in St. Louis, both using aliases. Now they meet for real, and they learn that Emma has been dreaming about the murders...and when Nathan discovers a body exactly as Emma dreamed it, they know that this really happening - there's a serial killer at work. What Emma, Nathan and Jessie don't realize is that they're investigating the same thing - this killer was the evil that sent Jessie running and that wants her again, if only to stop her finding the truth.
This was still good, solid suspense, but for some reason, didn't grab me and hold me. I liked that we had a whole town full of suspects to choose from and plenty of really good possibilities. I also really liked the twist about what really happened when Jessie was 17, right before she ran. It certainly came out of left field. I also liked Nathan Navarro and his very distinct abilities. What I didn't care for were how little I connected to Jessie (and to a lesser degree Emma). At first, Emma's actions with Nathan were a bit of a mystery, but her reasons became clear later. She and Jessie were practically strangers and although it seemed that Emma wanted to try to connect with her sister, Jessie had absolutely no interest. And Jessie's TSTL actions later (or we could just call them stupid or insecure, I don't know) in which she knows she's investigating a killer alone and has found his house. She even goes in and finds his trophies. Does she call in for help? Nope. She tells everyone she's leaving town then drives back to his house. She had the opportunity to confide in her sister, ask the other Haven operative for help or confide in him and nada. So of course, when she disappears, nobody knows where she is...and nobody's willing to help look for her becasue she made it clear she was leaving. Oy vey, the stupidity from someone supposedly trained in investigation. I disliked Jessie so much that it didn't bother me Also, there's a subtle, under-the-radar romance between Emma and Nathan which is only suggested by their obvious past and the fact that Nathan sticks around after the events. It isn't much.
This was still good, solid suspense, but for some reason, didn't grab me and hold me. I liked that we had a whole town full of suspects to choose from and plenty of really good possibilities. I also really liked the twist about what really happened when Jessie was 17, right before she ran. It certainly came out of left field. I also liked Nathan Navarro and his very distinct abilities. What I didn't care for were how little I connected to Jessie (and to a lesser degree Emma). At first, Emma's actions with Nathan were a bit of a mystery, but her reasons became clear later. She and Jessie were practically strangers and although it seemed that Emma wanted to try to connect with her sister, Jessie had absolutely no interest. And Jessie's TSTL actions later (or we could just call them stupid or insecure, I don't know) in which she knows she's investigating a killer alone and has found his house. She even goes in and finds his trophies. Does she call in for help? Nope. She tells everyone she's leaving town then drives back to his house. She had the opportunity to confide in her sister, ask the other Haven operative for help or confide in him and nada. So of course, when she disappears, nobody knows where she is...and nobody's willing to help look for her becasue she made it clear she was leaving. Oy vey, the stupidity from someone supposedly trained in investigation. I disliked Jessie so much that it didn't bother me Also, there's a subtle, under-the-radar romance between Emma and Nathan which is only suggested by their obvious past and the fact that Nathan sticks around after the events. It isn't much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2013
Always on the lookout for new mystery writers as I am fussy when it comes to the way they are written as when reading a mystery novel, they have to be A) fast-paced , B) exciting and C) non-confusing. So I decided to give Kay Hooper a go with her latest read Haven and I was impressed as I found the book to be to my liking. It was fun and a fast-paced read. I think what I loved most about it though is that the Special Crimes Unit headed up by Bishop is made up of a number of crime fighting justice heroes with one element in common - they all have "special abilities" from telepathy to medium to sensing the dead . In Haven , we meet one of the SPU members Jessie Rayburn , whom fifteen years ago disappeared from her hometown after witnessing something REALLY bad. Now fifteen years later, she has decided in order to move on with her life , she must return home and face the demons she has had locked up. Jessie can not only read thoughts but can also see ghosts and spirits , Jessie once she arrives home will come face to face with the news that a SK is hunting the woods of Baron Hollow and that her younger sister Emma also has pyschic abilities, she has the ability to dream of death -think Patricia Arquette's role on the Medium. Also being introduced in this novel is Nathan Navarro - he has the ability to sense the dead and where they are buried.
With the three of them combining their abilities can they both unlock the mysteries of Baron Hollow and save the town from a Serial Killer before it's too late and the Haven team has to say goodbye to one of their three members ?
I really enjoyed Haven by Kay Hooper and look forward to reading more of her tales in the Bishop/SCU series.
With the three of them combining their abilities can they both unlock the mysteries of Baron Hollow and save the town from a Serial Killer before it's too late and the Haven team has to say goodbye to one of their three members ?
I really enjoyed Haven by Kay Hooper and look forward to reading more of her tales in the Bishop/SCU series.
March 3, 2014
I am glad I waited a few days to rate this, because I tend to rate higher if I do it straight away. This would have gotten 2 stars a couple of days ago, but it really deserved a single star. I find the premise a little unbelievable, a psychic investigative "team" connected to the FBI. But I can get past that, it is fiction after all. And I guess the author has written other books in this "series". Something I found out because in one of the early chapters, there are actually FOOTNOTES saying where some fact/detail was called out in ANOTHER of her books. Seriously? This is a fiction book, don't take me out of your story to try to sell me another one of your books. Next, I found it totally useless that the boss-man sent in some undercover psychic agents in the form of the paranormal research team. It cluttered the town with way too many psychics, and they really served zero purpose in the book. The plot wouldn't have suffered a bit without them. Next, and spoiler alert here, but the main psychic character dies. We follow her all the way through, and then at the end it's just like, "oh, and she died by the way." The author left it vague, like you didn't know one way or the other, then it just had the killer pulling her body out of the chest freezer. That's it? I'm not saying I need to read all about her death, but it was so abrupt. Finally, and this is a small point about something I found to be stupid anyway, but at the very end, it had what I guess was like an "appendix" of the different psychics in the book, what their abilities were, a brief history of them. And it had people we barely met (the entire "paranormal research team"), but it left out the second main psychic (Navarro). Just forgot him. Terrible editing there.
Anyway. Quite disappointing.
Anyway. Quite disappointing.
June 15, 2013
Believe it or not I chose this book because I was in a rush and it was the nearest one on the shelf upon running out of the library. This book takes place in a back woods type of town in the south. One of the towns where everyone really does know your name. The book mixes the past along with the present of sisters that have suffered immensely in this small town. The Rayburn sisters haven't seen each other in years due to a crazy situation that happened to one of them when they were younger,I won't be the one to spoil that! The story goes through the whose its and what's its but also follows the thoughts of the killer. Which lets us know that the killer is someone from that small town. The author does a good job of directing the spotlight on every possible person while leading you to that one that you are thinking to yourself, "I know that's him!" In the end you have an awing twist that makes you sit back and be happy that you gave the book a chance. Haven is like a detective novel with a paranormal twist to it. I was happy that I got it.
I recommend this book to anyone who has read a few too many books that has made them cry too much and needs a change. Hope when you read it, you enjoy it.
Good Luck!
I recommend this book to anyone who has read a few too many books that has made them cry too much and needs a change. Hope when you read it, you enjoy it.
Good Luck!
June 17, 2014
One time I tried the DVD series, Haven. And didn't care for it. Too slow and too weird. Didn't seem at all believable and didn't finish it.
So I was really surprised that this read was not as poor or shallow as that product, IMHO. In fact, I see the very low ratings here for this book and wonder a bit. It's slow, yes. And it has redundant language (not lyrical prose at all), and YES- some of the protagonists seem naïve and a little dippy. BUT- I find that's not all that uncommon in the real workplace at all.
Did you ever hear the old adage "A shoemaker's children have no shoes." That happens. In real life, home/family need may come last for any specialty you sell in a business. Do I know it. Jessie is way off, but that's the very reason that doctors should not treat their own family, for instance.
This was not a bad plot and I think the Psychic FBI associated civilian service aspect is actually quite interesting. And it was a read that kept my interest. Didn't guess the bad guy either. I would think not having read her before made "sameness" of the group and their formula less redundant. I was not at all bored.
So I was really surprised that this read was not as poor or shallow as that product, IMHO. In fact, I see the very low ratings here for this book and wonder a bit. It's slow, yes. And it has redundant language (not lyrical prose at all), and YES- some of the protagonists seem naïve and a little dippy. BUT- I find that's not all that uncommon in the real workplace at all.
Did you ever hear the old adage "A shoemaker's children have no shoes." That happens. In real life, home/family need may come last for any specialty you sell in a business. Do I know it. Jessie is way off, but that's the very reason that doctors should not treat their own family, for instance.
This was not a bad plot and I think the Psychic FBI associated civilian service aspect is actually quite interesting. And it was a read that kept my interest. Didn't guess the bad guy either. I would think not having read her before made "sameness" of the group and their formula less redundant. I was not at all bored.
August 3, 2012
I enjoyed this book. It does say it is #13 in a series yet she has written it so you don't feel like you have to read other books to understand what is going on. Haven is a group of psychic investigators and Jessie goes home to Baron Hallow and to her younger sister Emma to figure out what she is forgetting about from 15 years ago that is blocking some of her abilities. There is also a serial killer in the small town that could be tied to what happened. Kay did a great job making you wonder who the serial killer is and what really happened 15 years ago up until the very end. I found this an enjoyable read. I will probably read more of her books.
August 7, 2016
It is well written, but not my kind of book. The author switched characters to tell the story through different views. If I were watching a television show, this would not be a problem, but being a book, in my opinion, it was all over the place too much.
October 30, 2020
Sad to say that it didn't really meet my expectations...
August 23, 2012
Haven: Kay Hooper
Can you dream in vivid color and actually experience someone running for his or her life and seeing him or her die? Nightmares, visions, colors within the darkness can plague your inner most thoughts like a mirage on an oasis as you hope to see the water in the hot desert as a young girl envisions a woman’s life hanging in the balance. But, was it real? Did she really see her running for her life? What does this all mean?
Emma Rayburn’s dreams are filled with death, dying and are so graphic she becomes enveloped in the events that she sees and literally experiences them. Hers are so real, so vivid that she often awakes in a cold sweat with an elevated heartbeat and a fear of doom knowing that someone is dead. Night terrors or reality? Catherine Tolbert was 21 years old. Is she dead or did Emma just imagine it? Emma witnessed the outcome and heard the screams. Was it a dream? Each time she witnesses these events she records them in a journal. Someone unknown to her has died. In the time span of about two years a violent hand has struck down a dozen girls and none reported. Did this really happen? Emma had an accident causing her to have these dreams. Riding on a guided horse trail on horseback something or someone spooked her horse and she was thrown. But, what most think would have been the end result did not occur. The only side effects of this fall are the dreams.
Jessie Rayburn is haunted by nightmares that she has been dealing and is staying with a group of psychics run by an organization called Haven. John and Maggie Garrett with the help of Special Agent Noah Bishop created this organization to train assist and help psychics, who have had difficult experiences, need more training or have to recoup from a job. John and Maggie created this privately owned organization to train operatives to do investigative work. The fact that they have specific psychic powers makes Haven unique. Maggie’s powers are geared to healing emotional and physical traumas (empathy). Jessie Rayburn is about to return to her hometown and leave the confines and safety of Haven to face her demons and her past. Special Agent Noah Bishop is the Unit Chief and the third member of this group working with Haven and as Special Crimes Unit of the FBI. They created the group. Noah has special psychic powers called precognition and he knew that Jessie was returning home. Baron Hollow is her home filled with ghost story tours, paranormal research and strange things happening. Emma and Jessie are about to reconnect after a long time. There is a voice we now meet that seems bothered by Jessie and knows why she is there and what she is hiding.
A voice is heard and the torment within the character real as Jessie sees a spirit before her. Only viewed by her this spirit appears transparent in body yet wearing outdated winter apparel. Jessie receives a disturbing message from this spirit and if she does not find out whom the killer is that has lived in Baron Hollow for years more will die and disappear. So, why haven’t the police looked into these murders? Why don’t they know about them? Reporting to Maggie as requested her findings and what happened she will no longer be operating alone in order to find out why she left or ran away from this place, her inner memories and what about the dreams? Nathan Navarro will descend on Baron Hollow, unknown to her, and hopefully uncover more of the mystery. Skilled in finding the remains of the deceased, drawn or pulled to them will he succeed where others might fail? Who is behind the other murders and threats related to Haven as Noah Bishop and Tony Harte, two special agents try and find out more about why Miranda’s task force if being targeted.
Let’s listen to the voice of the killer as this person watches Jessie, tries to find another prey within this small town of unsuspecting residents and tourists to fill his need to kill but why? Secrets that he harbors, lies that he wants to reveal, truths about so many he wants to tell and yet he bides his time. Just what will Jessie remember about one party that caused her to leave? What happens when Emma and Jessie attend church? Why did she want to attract the attention of everyone? Why stir the pot?
A vivid revelation gives her a clue to the killer’s appearance. The events so graphically described you feel as if you, the reader are experiencing each nightmare along with Jessie and each vision too. The author continues with the killer’s thoughts, tracking his new prey and his creating a whole persona or name for this as he states “worthy prey.”
The author explains many of the characteristics of different types of psychic abilities and how each of the investigators uses their powers to help solve a case. But, sometimes they call “wall up,” or block others from knowing what they see, hear and find. Jessie blocked her thoughts form others and when she finally decides to take on a killer the end result will leave many wondering just where she is and why she went alone. As the puzzle pieces seem to fit together Emma and Navarro learn more about her past, piecing more together as the town’s festival draws Jessie’s attention and the paranormal researchers sense danger but where. As Jessie makes her way to a cabin that is owned by her cousin Victor what she uncovers would change things radically and what she finds there will give up more than just chills. As Navarro reveals to Emma what he senses, seeing the spirit of a woman warning him to find the killer and protect Emma, Nellie’s blood stained note will this person win in the end or will they finally stop him?
Hearing his voice loud and clear we learn that each body becomes a plant in his garden or Roses or death you might say. Justifying in his own mind for the killings and wanting to eliminate all loose ends leaving no one there to remember what happened 15 years ago when Jessie left town and Emma’s traumatic past. Nellie decides to investigate and learn more about Jessie from a reporter’s viewpoint; the town becomes involved when Jessie goes missing. Victor comes clean but is it too late.
Storms that affect the powers and mental acuity of both Navarro and Emma whose powers seem to falter when the weather is harsh. A town filled with secrets, lies, betrayals and deceit and many who would rather leave the past buried in the same garden with the bodies. One man who is bent of making the past and Jessie disappear forever. One spirit who will not rest until the killer is found and stopped. Rayburn House: Just what really lies behind the closed doors? What secrets are tormenting Emma that she has blocked them out forever? Why does Jessie feel responsible? What is the final fate of Baron Hollow? Why do paranormal researchers and ghost hunters flock there?
Author Kay Hooper keeps the reader glued to the printed page and hoping to join in the investigation as she brilliantly allows the reader to experience the dreams, the nightmares, the killer’s thoughts and the hunt for one man who has decided to create not a haven for people to live in but a nightmare for those living. What finally happens and who survives? What is Bishop’s role in this and what does Navarro learn about Jessie, Emma and will they be in time to save her? Unless you have your own psychic powers the only way to find out the answers to these questions is to read Haven. Let’s see what the author has in store next for our team of psychics. The author includes a glossary of psychic terms and abilities at the end plus other abilities that are unnamed too. She also includes a list of the characters and their bios for those who have not read her series before to learn more about these outstanding and interesting characters. Can you see someone dying in your dreams? Can your nightmares come true? Read Haven and then decide!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
Can you dream in vivid color and actually experience someone running for his or her life and seeing him or her die? Nightmares, visions, colors within the darkness can plague your inner most thoughts like a mirage on an oasis as you hope to see the water in the hot desert as a young girl envisions a woman’s life hanging in the balance. But, was it real? Did she really see her running for her life? What does this all mean?
Emma Rayburn’s dreams are filled with death, dying and are so graphic she becomes enveloped in the events that she sees and literally experiences them. Hers are so real, so vivid that she often awakes in a cold sweat with an elevated heartbeat and a fear of doom knowing that someone is dead. Night terrors or reality? Catherine Tolbert was 21 years old. Is she dead or did Emma just imagine it? Emma witnessed the outcome and heard the screams. Was it a dream? Each time she witnesses these events she records them in a journal. Someone unknown to her has died. In the time span of about two years a violent hand has struck down a dozen girls and none reported. Did this really happen? Emma had an accident causing her to have these dreams. Riding on a guided horse trail on horseback something or someone spooked her horse and she was thrown. But, what most think would have been the end result did not occur. The only side effects of this fall are the dreams.
Jessie Rayburn is haunted by nightmares that she has been dealing and is staying with a group of psychics run by an organization called Haven. John and Maggie Garrett with the help of Special Agent Noah Bishop created this organization to train assist and help psychics, who have had difficult experiences, need more training or have to recoup from a job. John and Maggie created this privately owned organization to train operatives to do investigative work. The fact that they have specific psychic powers makes Haven unique. Maggie’s powers are geared to healing emotional and physical traumas (empathy). Jessie Rayburn is about to return to her hometown and leave the confines and safety of Haven to face her demons and her past. Special Agent Noah Bishop is the Unit Chief and the third member of this group working with Haven and as Special Crimes Unit of the FBI. They created the group. Noah has special psychic powers called precognition and he knew that Jessie was returning home. Baron Hollow is her home filled with ghost story tours, paranormal research and strange things happening. Emma and Jessie are about to reconnect after a long time. There is a voice we now meet that seems bothered by Jessie and knows why she is there and what she is hiding.
A voice is heard and the torment within the character real as Jessie sees a spirit before her. Only viewed by her this spirit appears transparent in body yet wearing outdated winter apparel. Jessie receives a disturbing message from this spirit and if she does not find out whom the killer is that has lived in Baron Hollow for years more will die and disappear. So, why haven’t the police looked into these murders? Why don’t they know about them? Reporting to Maggie as requested her findings and what happened she will no longer be operating alone in order to find out why she left or ran away from this place, her inner memories and what about the dreams? Nathan Navarro will descend on Baron Hollow, unknown to her, and hopefully uncover more of the mystery. Skilled in finding the remains of the deceased, drawn or pulled to them will he succeed where others might fail? Who is behind the other murders and threats related to Haven as Noah Bishop and Tony Harte, two special agents try and find out more about why Miranda’s task force if being targeted.
Let’s listen to the voice of the killer as this person watches Jessie, tries to find another prey within this small town of unsuspecting residents and tourists to fill his need to kill but why? Secrets that he harbors, lies that he wants to reveal, truths about so many he wants to tell and yet he bides his time. Just what will Jessie remember about one party that caused her to leave? What happens when Emma and Jessie attend church? Why did she want to attract the attention of everyone? Why stir the pot?
A vivid revelation gives her a clue to the killer’s appearance. The events so graphically described you feel as if you, the reader are experiencing each nightmare along with Jessie and each vision too. The author continues with the killer’s thoughts, tracking his new prey and his creating a whole persona or name for this as he states “worthy prey.”
The author explains many of the characteristics of different types of psychic abilities and how each of the investigators uses their powers to help solve a case. But, sometimes they call “wall up,” or block others from knowing what they see, hear and find. Jessie blocked her thoughts form others and when she finally decides to take on a killer the end result will leave many wondering just where she is and why she went alone. As the puzzle pieces seem to fit together Emma and Navarro learn more about her past, piecing more together as the town’s festival draws Jessie’s attention and the paranormal researchers sense danger but where. As Jessie makes her way to a cabin that is owned by her cousin Victor what she uncovers would change things radically and what she finds there will give up more than just chills. As Navarro reveals to Emma what he senses, seeing the spirit of a woman warning him to find the killer and protect Emma, Nellie’s blood stained note will this person win in the end or will they finally stop him?
Hearing his voice loud and clear we learn that each body becomes a plant in his garden or Roses or death you might say. Justifying in his own mind for the killings and wanting to eliminate all loose ends leaving no one there to remember what happened 15 years ago when Jessie left town and Emma’s traumatic past. Nellie decides to investigate and learn more about Jessie from a reporter’s viewpoint; the town becomes involved when Jessie goes missing. Victor comes clean but is it too late.
Storms that affect the powers and mental acuity of both Navarro and Emma whose powers seem to falter when the weather is harsh. A town filled with secrets, lies, betrayals and deceit and many who would rather leave the past buried in the same garden with the bodies. One man who is bent of making the past and Jessie disappear forever. One spirit who will not rest until the killer is found and stopped. Rayburn House: Just what really lies behind the closed doors? What secrets are tormenting Emma that she has blocked them out forever? Why does Jessie feel responsible? What is the final fate of Baron Hollow? Why do paranormal researchers and ghost hunters flock there?
Author Kay Hooper keeps the reader glued to the printed page and hoping to join in the investigation as she brilliantly allows the reader to experience the dreams, the nightmares, the killer’s thoughts and the hunt for one man who has decided to create not a haven for people to live in but a nightmare for those living. What finally happens and who survives? What is Bishop’s role in this and what does Navarro learn about Jessie, Emma and will they be in time to save her? Unless you have your own psychic powers the only way to find out the answers to these questions is to read Haven. Let’s see what the author has in store next for our team of psychics. The author includes a glossary of psychic terms and abilities at the end plus other abilities that are unnamed too. She also includes a list of the characters and their bios for those who have not read her series before to learn more about these outstanding and interesting characters. Can you see someone dying in your dreams? Can your nightmares come true? Read Haven and then decide!
Fran Lewis: reviewer
July 25, 2014
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
I'm not sure I was as enamored with this Bishop/SCU book as all the ones previous, but as a bias, I still found enjoyment. Still... kind of disappointed by what I got out of this one.
Story Blurb via Goodreads:
My Notes:
I honestly couldn’t think of anything to write about with any of the three Haven books, and so I figure I’ll just have to make do with some scattered thoughts.
-- The beginning of Haven was creepy and intriguing enough:
-- I had even found the relationship dynamic between the two sisters, Emma and Jessie to have some potential for complex storytelling, maybe with some drama and development and angst...
Two sisters who look identical, but are differentiated by the descriptors of “Day” and “Night” or “Dark” and “Light”--which is a bit fantasy-esque and cliche in that “we are unique” type of way, but interesting nonetheless. Two sisters with dark secrets living in a small town with equally sinister secrets typically equals a fairly attention-hooking story device for a crime thriller.
-- But as the story progressed, I noticed that distinct dragging of the narration as our characters choose to sit and give monologues and play exposition fairy for the overall series, the series’ concept of paranormal investigation, and just random backstory from previous books. I mean, sure, that’s a good way to make sure your readers don’t get lost, but if a reader has gotten this far into the series by now, there’s no need to be repetitive about the happenings of the Bishop/SCU world.
Multiple characters kept rehashing the same discussions and the same speculative ideas over and over again. It didn’t seem that there was much in the sense of investigations going on; and what little investigations I DID see were either in the background, or were through Jessie, who kept illogically and stupidly putting herself in a situation that she KNEW was dangerous. A lot of the trouble she got herself into could have been avoided if she’d just talked to her sister and tried to get some help with her personal investigations.
Even the ghosts were telling her to talk to her sister and figure out all the secrets and mysteries with Emma! And if it’s anything we’ve learned from a Bishop/SCU book, it’s that the ghosts NEVER tell the psychics anything that isn’t vague or cryptic or requires lots of discussion to figure out. So when a ghost tells you something directly such as, “You need to talk to your sister about what’s going on,” maybe it’s a good idea to heed that directive.
Just sayin’.
-- And then, on top of that, we continue to hammer home all that “the Universe” B.S. Sometimes, those types of answers work, but other times, they just feel like a cop out. And these Bishop/SCU stories start to present vague deus ex machinas when we use “the Universe” as the answer to all the problems.
Why don’t ghosts just tell our investigators who killed them? Because that’s not how “the Universe” works. Why are our precog psychic investigators so mysterious about what they see and how they interpret things? Because “the Universe” dictates it that way.
”Things have to happen the way they happen.” Or something like that--but if I have to keep seeing this phrase repeated over and over again, I might start to wonder why we even have a story to tell if everything is just pre-ordained and cannot be changed.
Even the reason behind why certain people do evil and become psychotic ax murderers or satisfy themselves with evil serial killings... it’s all attributed to a “Universal Evil.” As if there’s a separate higher entity out there forcing that person to be a monster. And while that might not be the intention of that “Universal Evil,” it doesn’t keep me from wondering if it’s a way for these serial killers and murderers to shirk responsibility--akin to that age old “the Devil made me do it.”
-- I suspect that the only reason anyone “figured out” anything was entirely due to the deus ex machina “Universe” finally laying out the answers when the time was right.
So much for investigating murder mysteries...
What I DID like:
-- Hollis Templeton’s presence always seems to make me happier for some reason. Obviously she has become my favorite Bishop/SCU character as one of few SCU agents who actually has a personality, a lot of dry sarcasm to cast around, and a will to go against “the Universe” and what it wants.
-- I was a little harsh about the whole “Universal Evil” thing. For this book, I mean. Because there had been talk of a “Universal Evil” in this book, but to be honest, Haven actually presents a common murderer who was some maniac jackass with a murderous nature and a sick and twisted mind. It didn’t seem that said murderer was really all too heavily influenced by an outside “Universal Evil” forcing said murderer to do all that killing and torturing.
The concluding ending of Haven worked out a little bit better; less deus ex machina… despite using some deus ex machina routes to get there.
-- The book is fast-paced and full of constant progression, even in spite of all the scenes involving extensive discussions that wouldn’t quit. So, in the end, it balances out the negatives.
I'm not sure I was as enamored with this Bishop/SCU book as all the ones previous, but as a bias, I still found enjoyment. Still... kind of disappointed by what I got out of this one.
Story Blurb via Goodreads:
Another nightmare, in the woods this time. Different: She was running. Trying to escape.
But the same ending. Always the same ending. Another dead girl...
Emma Rayburn was born and raised in Baron Hollow, North Carolina, and it was a quiet life. Then came the accident... and the nightmares—each filled with unshakable visions of darkness, blind panic, and desperate women chased toward inevitable death. With no reports of local women missing or found dead, Emma has written it off to troubled imaginings—night after dreaded night. Until her sister arrives.
Jessie Rayburn, psychic investigator for a firm called Haven, has been estranged from Emma for years. Unresolved issues from Jessie’s past have not only kept them apart but have been clouding Jessie’s unique abilities. A return to her hometown to face a dark and violent incident from years gone by is her chance to regain them. But reconciliation with the past comes with a price. Few people in Baron Hollow are welcoming Jessie back. No one dares to breathe a word. And in this conspiracy of silence, Emma’s nightmares are becoming more vivid than ever.
Even with the help of Noah Bishop, head of the FBI Special Crimes Unit and co-founder of Haven, Jessie and Emma soon find themselves outnumbered by the secrets buried in Baron Hollow—and outrunning an evil that has been festering for years, one that’s targeting Jessie and Emma one last time.
My Notes:
I honestly couldn’t think of anything to write about with any of the three Haven books, and so I figure I’ll just have to make do with some scattered thoughts.
-- The beginning of Haven was creepy and intriguing enough:
”In the first few minutes of Catherine Talbert’s escape, she did her very best to be as quiet as possible. She thought he was gone, but she wasn’t at all certain of that, and in her terror she just wanted to run.
But she crept instead, out into the darkness, not daring to take the time even to look for something to cover her naked body.” (p.1)
-- I had even found the relationship dynamic between the two sisters, Emma and Jessie to have some potential for complex storytelling, maybe with some drama and development and angst...
Two sisters who look identical, but are differentiated by the descriptors of “Day” and “Night” or “Dark” and “Light”--which is a bit fantasy-esque and cliche in that “we are unique” type of way, but interesting nonetheless. Two sisters with dark secrets living in a small town with equally sinister secrets typically equals a fairly attention-hooking story device for a crime thriller.
-- But as the story progressed, I noticed that distinct dragging of the narration as our characters choose to sit and give monologues and play exposition fairy for the overall series, the series’ concept of paranormal investigation, and just random backstory from previous books. I mean, sure, that’s a good way to make sure your readers don’t get lost, but if a reader has gotten this far into the series by now, there’s no need to be repetitive about the happenings of the Bishop/SCU world.
Multiple characters kept rehashing the same discussions and the same speculative ideas over and over again. It didn’t seem that there was much in the sense of investigations going on; and what little investigations I DID see were either in the background, or were through Jessie, who kept illogically and stupidly putting herself in a situation that she KNEW was dangerous. A lot of the trouble she got herself into could have been avoided if she’d just talked to her sister and tried to get some help with her personal investigations.
Even the ghosts were telling her to talk to her sister and figure out all the secrets and mysteries with Emma! And if it’s anything we’ve learned from a Bishop/SCU book, it’s that the ghosts NEVER tell the psychics anything that isn’t vague or cryptic or requires lots of discussion to figure out. So when a ghost tells you something directly such as, “You need to talk to your sister about what’s going on,” maybe it’s a good idea to heed that directive.
Just sayin’.
-- And then, on top of that, we continue to hammer home all that “the Universe” B.S. Sometimes, those types of answers work, but other times, they just feel like a cop out. And these Bishop/SCU stories start to present vague deus ex machinas when we use “the Universe” as the answer to all the problems.
Why don’t ghosts just tell our investigators who killed them? Because that’s not how “the Universe” works. Why are our precog psychic investigators so mysterious about what they see and how they interpret things? Because “the Universe” dictates it that way.
”Things have to happen the way they happen.” Or something like that--but if I have to keep seeing this phrase repeated over and over again, I might start to wonder why we even have a story to tell if everything is just pre-ordained and cannot be changed.
Even the reason behind why certain people do evil and become psychotic ax murderers or satisfy themselves with evil serial killings... it’s all attributed to a “Universal Evil.” As if there’s a separate higher entity out there forcing that person to be a monster. And while that might not be the intention of that “Universal Evil,” it doesn’t keep me from wondering if it’s a way for these serial killers and murderers to shirk responsibility--akin to that age old “the Devil made me do it.”
-- I suspect that the only reason anyone “figured out” anything was entirely due to the deus ex machina “Universe” finally laying out the answers when the time was right.
So much for investigating murder mysteries...
What I DID like:
-- Hollis Templeton’s presence always seems to make me happier for some reason. Obviously she has become my favorite Bishop/SCU character as one of few SCU agents who actually has a personality, a lot of dry sarcasm to cast around, and a will to go against “the Universe” and what it wants.
-- I was a little harsh about the whole “Universal Evil” thing. For this book, I mean. Because there had been talk of a “Universal Evil” in this book, but to be honest, Haven actually presents a common murderer who was some maniac jackass with a murderous nature and a sick and twisted mind. It didn’t seem that said murderer was really all too heavily influenced by an outside “Universal Evil” forcing said murderer to do all that killing and torturing.
The concluding ending of Haven worked out a little bit better; less deus ex machina… despite using some deus ex machina routes to get there.
-- The book is fast-paced and full of constant progression, even in spite of all the scenes involving extensive discussions that wouldn’t quit. So, in the end, it balances out the negatives.
November 30, 2022
I was going to give this book 4****but it rambled too much. I loved the author's idea of psychic investigations; learning how to deal with psychic abilities; how strange life is, but mostly what everyone should learn,, that monsters have very human faces😟🤓
December 27, 2018
A quick read I finished on a flight. Wasn’t anything I would recommend or read again. I’ll probably forget I read it next month
August 8, 2012
This is the story of two sisters, a serial killer, and how their lives intersect. Jessica Rayburn, now an agent for Haven, a private investigation firm whose agents psychic powers, ran away from home at 17. Fifteen years later she returns, trying to uncover something buried deep within herself, something that happened to her one night all those years ago. This past trauma affects her ablity to control her psychic power and to live her life. Her sister Emma stayed behind, and now runs an inn based out of the family home. Emma and Jessie haven't spoken in the 15 years Jessica has been gone. But Emma has horrible nightmares about women being killed, nightmares that seem real.
When Jessica arrives in town, the ghost of a woman tells her she must stop "him" from killing again. Both sisters, and the other agents sent in undercover, must figure out what happened in the past and what is happening in the present if they want to survive. But survival may be too much to ask.
Kay Hooper's series of novels loosely based around the FBI's special unit full of clairvoyents, mediums, and others with special psychic powers has always been one of my favorite series about people with special powers. Previously, the books were basically grouped into trilogies focusing on specific agents and the cases they investigated. Haven is slightly different in that it focuses on agents from Haven, the civilian investigation team co-founded by Bishop, the head of the FBI's unit.
That slight difference doesn't really change the basic plot and narration of the story, which follows the pattern established in the previous books--lots of foreshadowing, a rural/small town setting, multiple points of view, a truly sick killer who loves inflicting pain, psychic investigators struggling with their powers and their personal lives. That's not necessarily a bad thing--one of the reasons I read so many series is for that sense of familiarity. With Haven, while I enjoyed the story, I felt like I already knew the story. There was a slight surprise at the end when the investigator died--and it was handled in a very low-key way, almost as an afterthought. Maybe the sadnes of her passing was eased by the fact that her ghost appeared immediately and led the others to the killer. And by the end the agent's sister had basically taken her place in the story, and in fact had become the key character.
So I liked the book and think fans of the other novels will enjoy it as well, but there's not really anything new and different about the book.
When Jessica arrives in town, the ghost of a woman tells her she must stop "him" from killing again. Both sisters, and the other agents sent in undercover, must figure out what happened in the past and what is happening in the present if they want to survive. But survival may be too much to ask.
Kay Hooper's series of novels loosely based around the FBI's special unit full of clairvoyents, mediums, and others with special psychic powers has always been one of my favorite series about people with special powers. Previously, the books were basically grouped into trilogies focusing on specific agents and the cases they investigated. Haven is slightly different in that it focuses on agents from Haven, the civilian investigation team co-founded by Bishop, the head of the FBI's unit.
That slight difference doesn't really change the basic plot and narration of the story, which follows the pattern established in the previous books--lots of foreshadowing, a rural/small town setting, multiple points of view, a truly sick killer who loves inflicting pain, psychic investigators struggling with their powers and their personal lives. That's not necessarily a bad thing--one of the reasons I read so many series is for that sense of familiarity. With Haven, while I enjoyed the story, I felt like I already knew the story. There was a slight surprise at the end when the investigator died--and it was handled in a very low-key way, almost as an afterthought. Maybe the sadnes of her passing was eased by the fact that her ghost appeared immediately and led the others to the killer. And by the end the agent's sister had basically taken her place in the story, and in fact had become the key character.
So I liked the book and think fans of the other novels will enjoy it as well, but there's not really anything new and different about the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2012
Jessie works for Haven a special crime unit. Where people with psychic abilities use there abilities to help catch monsters like serial killers. Jessie grew up in Baron Hollow, North Carolina, a quiet town. With her younger sister Emma. Something horrible happened to Jessie when she was seventeen and she ran away.Now she has come back to try to unblock those memories, she has been having dreams where bits and pieces of her memories are coming back to her. Emma has been having night terrors. Visions of women being tortured to death night after night. Emma hopes now that Jessie has come home maybe they can become closer. But Jessie is always off hiking , investigating, trying to remember what happened that night when she was seventeen. Unknown to her there is a serial killer living and working in Baron Hollow, he also has psychic abilities. Haven sends in someone under cover to help Jessie. But Nevarro and Emma have a past. Navarro's ability is to find the dead and murdered. When he finds the latest victim with out her head. He reports to Haven police. Will he be able to help Jessie and Emma catch a serial killer or will one or both of them pay the ultimate price death.I will say up until the end i thought the killer was someone else.A real page turner keeps you in suspence beginning to end .I look forward to reading more Kay Hooper books.
February 10, 2015
There aren't many surprises to be found in this paranormal mystery except for the fact that the two main characters - two sisters only two years apart in age - seem to have little connection or affection for each other. If there had been a decade between them I could have understood the disconnect better or if the older sister truly thought that distance, physical as well as emotional, between them was of vital importance and protected the younger sister in some way - that staying in touch or visiting would somehow place her life in jeopardy. But, to not be in contact with your only sibling/sister for fifteen years? Lots of families are not the huggy, lovey, touchy-feely, overtly affectionate type, but NO contact for FIFTEEN years - birthdays, holidays, etc.? Too bizarre and unrealistic . . . No life or feeling to the story - little tension or emotion, even in the supposed romance department. I also hate it when an author has otherwise intelligent characters act dangerously reckless or downright stupid.
I got this book because I was REALLY interested in reading Haunted, the third book in this Bishop/Special Crimes Unit trilogy. Now, I don't know if I want to wade through book #2, Hostage, if it's going to be as slow- moving and dull as this one was.
I got this book because I was REALLY interested in reading Haunted, the third book in this Bishop/Special Crimes Unit trilogy. Now, I don't know if I want to wade through book #2, Hostage, if it's going to be as slow- moving and dull as this one was.
November 13, 2011
The 'Bad' news first.
Was this really by Kay Hooper, whose 'Bishop' series books are some of my favorite? Yet giving 4 stars to this one is generous.
I was disappointed with the weak-willed, flawed, Jessie, who couldn't make a good choice even with her training and background. The story seemed predictable. It didn't make sense to me that Jessie didn't change her course of action.
The 'Good' news next.
The idea of 'Haven' is a new and unique story line and I easily became absorbed in the book. Bishop is such a mysterious character that I really wanted to read more about him.
The next thought that bad weather, or black clouds, follow the evil is definitely cool. Psychic connections can be a lifeline but they can also be dangerous. You don't have to be psychic to build protective walls or shields. Boundaries help everyone.
I really liked the idea that psychic energy is compared to a radio receiver, tuning in to different frequencies to see or hear or feel different abilities.
Life isn't fair and neither is death.
I definitely will read more books by Hooper, even though I felt this one could be much improved.
I'm no critic.
Was this really by Kay Hooper, whose 'Bishop' series books are some of my favorite? Yet giving 4 stars to this one is generous.
I was disappointed with the weak-willed, flawed, Jessie, who couldn't make a good choice even with her training and background. The story seemed predictable. It didn't make sense to me that Jessie didn't change her course of action.
The 'Good' news next.
The idea of 'Haven' is a new and unique story line and I easily became absorbed in the book. Bishop is such a mysterious character that I really wanted to read more about him.
The next thought that bad weather, or black clouds, follow the evil is definitely cool. Psychic connections can be a lifeline but they can also be dangerous. You don't have to be psychic to build protective walls or shields. Boundaries help everyone.
I really liked the idea that psychic energy is compared to a radio receiver, tuning in to different frequencies to see or hear or feel different abilities.
Life isn't fair and neither is death.
I definitely will read more books by Hooper, even though I felt this one could be much improved.
I'm no critic.
June 14, 2012
I love LOVE Kay Hooper and her Bishop/SCU books. I wish that she could give us one per month.
This novel finds Jessie Rayburn returning to her hometown, a bucolic small town. Jessie left her home fifteen years ago when she was seventeen after something happened to her, though she can't quite remember what it is. Her sister Emma, two years younger, stayed on and now runs their former home as a bed and breakfast.
Jessie works for Haven, the privately owned company that is associated with Bishop's FBI division. (For those of you who haven't read any of Kay Hooper's books, Noah Bishop and his group use their powers such as clairvoyance, empathy and medium to solve crimes.) She knows that she needs to return to her hometown and resolve her past before she can move on. Emma, meanwhile, has been having nightmares of women being brutally murdered. Thrown into the mix is Nathan Navarro, another Haven operative, whose specialty is locating dead people.
Hooper's books can be pretty grim and gory, but this one, while grim, isn't as gory as those before. I liked the characters and I was surprised at the ending.
Highly recommend.
This novel finds Jessie Rayburn returning to her hometown, a bucolic small town. Jessie left her home fifteen years ago when she was seventeen after something happened to her, though she can't quite remember what it is. Her sister Emma, two years younger, stayed on and now runs their former home as a bed and breakfast.
Jessie works for Haven, the privately owned company that is associated with Bishop's FBI division. (For those of you who haven't read any of Kay Hooper's books, Noah Bishop and his group use their powers such as clairvoyance, empathy and medium to solve crimes.) She knows that she needs to return to her hometown and resolve her past before she can move on. Emma, meanwhile, has been having nightmares of women being brutally murdered. Thrown into the mix is Nathan Navarro, another Haven operative, whose specialty is locating dead people.
Hooper's books can be pretty grim and gory, but this one, while grim, isn't as gory as those before. I liked the characters and I was surprised at the ending.
Highly recommend.
April 30, 2013
I really liked this book. I think it is one of my favorite books in this series. I can't wait for the next one in this trilogy to come out.
I liked both of the women, Jessie and Emma. I wish their relationship could have been a little closer, but this is after all a story of damaged people. I liked Navarro too. I wish they could have explained more of his relationship with Emma.
The serial killer in this one is a real sociopath. There are really not that many potential suspects, so it is pretty easy to guess who the killer is, or at least narrow it down to two choices. I also didn't like that Jessie continued to investigate on her own, even after she finds evidence of what a monster he really is.
A lot is made of Jessie recovering her lost memories of a traumatic night 15 years earlier. When we finally do learn what happened, it was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.
I read this book very fast, and wanted to see what would happen next. To me, that is a mark of a good book.
I liked both of the women, Jessie and Emma. I wish their relationship could have been a little closer, but this is after all a story of damaged people. I liked Navarro too. I wish they could have explained more of his relationship with Emma.
The serial killer in this one is a real sociopath. There are really not that many potential suspects, so it is pretty easy to guess who the killer is, or at least narrow it down to two choices. I also didn't like that Jessie continued to investigate on her own, even after she finds evidence of what a monster he really is.
A lot is made of Jessie recovering her lost memories of a traumatic night 15 years earlier. When we finally do learn what happened, it was a surprise to me. I did not see it coming.
I read this book very fast, and wanted to see what would happen next. To me, that is a mark of a good book.
April 13, 2013
AWESOME & ECELLENT!!! KAY HOOPER HAS DONE IT AGAIN WITH HAVEN!!! HAVEN IS ONE OF THE BISHOP/ SPECIAL CRIME UNIT SERIES THAT TAKES JESSIE RAYBURN, WHO IS A PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR WORKING FOR A FIRM CALLED "HAVEN", BACK TO HER HOME TOWN IN BARON HALLOW, NC.
JESSIE LEFT BARON HALLOW 15YRS AGO WHEN SHE WAS 17 WITH NO ATTEMPT TO RETURN, BUT SOMETHING HAS BROUGHT HER BACK TO FACE HER SISTER EMMA RAYBURN AND THEIR PAST! OF COURSE THEIR IS ANOTHER HAVEN OPT THEIR AND SOME OF BISHOP'S SPECIAL CRIME UNIT OPTS TOO!
IT'S SEEMS THAT THEIR IS A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE IN LITTLE OLD BARON HALLOW! THE QUESTION IS WILL JESSIE UNCOVER HER PAST IN TIME TO CATCH THE KILLER OR WILL THE KILLER CATCH HER FIRST?? WILL YOU JOIN JESSIE AND THE OTHERS IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO CATCH THE EVIL, SADISTIC KILLER, OR WILL YOU PASS THIS ONE UP? IT'S UP TO YOU!! I'VE ALREADY HELPED SOLVED THE CRIME AND ENJOYED IT!!!!! WILL YOU!!!
PLEASE READ IT AND FIND OUT!!! ENJOY!!
JESSIE LEFT BARON HALLOW 15YRS AGO WHEN SHE WAS 17 WITH NO ATTEMPT TO RETURN, BUT SOMETHING HAS BROUGHT HER BACK TO FACE HER SISTER EMMA RAYBURN AND THEIR PAST! OF COURSE THEIR IS ANOTHER HAVEN OPT THEIR AND SOME OF BISHOP'S SPECIAL CRIME UNIT OPTS TOO!
IT'S SEEMS THAT THEIR IS A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE IN LITTLE OLD BARON HALLOW! THE QUESTION IS WILL JESSIE UNCOVER HER PAST IN TIME TO CATCH THE KILLER OR WILL THE KILLER CATCH HER FIRST?? WILL YOU JOIN JESSIE AND THE OTHERS IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO CATCH THE EVIL, SADISTIC KILLER, OR WILL YOU PASS THIS ONE UP? IT'S UP TO YOU!! I'VE ALREADY HELPED SOLVED THE CRIME AND ENJOYED IT!!!!! WILL YOU!!!
PLEASE READ IT AND FIND OUT!!! ENJOY!!
January 3, 2013
Haven investigator Jessie Rayburn is returning home to Baron Hollow after being gone for 15 years. She needs to find out what happened 15 years ago that made her runaway.
When she is walking in town she saw a ghost and heard her say she needed to stop the murder before he kills again.
Emma Rayburn turned her house into a bed & breakfast. She fell two years ago off a horse and since than she has nightmares of women being killed. Thier is no missing women around her town she has talked to the sheriff about them.
Nathan Navrro works for Haven too but he has never met Jessie and his talent is finding dead bodies. If thier is a serial killer in that area he could find the bodies and get proof to get the help. Thier are a lot of missing people in the state.
Bishop is back in the background and keeping secrets. Even when asked right out if he has agents in the area.
When she is walking in town she saw a ghost and heard her say she needed to stop the murder before he kills again.
Emma Rayburn turned her house into a bed & breakfast. She fell two years ago off a horse and since than she has nightmares of women being killed. Thier is no missing women around her town she has talked to the sheriff about them.
Nathan Navrro works for Haven too but he has never met Jessie and his talent is finding dead bodies. If thier is a serial killer in that area he could find the bodies and get proof to get the help. Thier are a lot of missing people in the state.
Bishop is back in the background and keeping secrets. Even when asked right out if he has agents in the area.
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