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Witch Hunt #2
The Last Grave
Samantha Ryan—homicide detective by choice, witch hunter by necessity—has left Salem for San Francisco, hoping a move will help her forget the horrors of her past. But she’s about to discover that witches tempted by the dark side are everywhere....
Samantha is doing whatever she can to forget her terrible childhood in a coven destroyed by its members’ greed and lust for power. Now she’s a San Francisco detective struggling to fight her own desire to turn to magic. But as she discovers, escaping who you are isn’t easy.
Her latest case seems straightforward enough—the murder of a local historian named Winona Lightfoot. But strange clues take Samantha to the Santa Cruz Mountains, a place teeming with witches and black magic. As she works to uncover the connection between Winona and this coven, an earthquake rocks the Bay Area. That’s when Samantha has a Something is coming. Something evil.
To survive—and save everyone around her—she will have to tackle her greatest fear, and hope she isn’t the next one put into a deep, dark grave....
Samantha is doing whatever she can to forget her terrible childhood in a coven destroyed by its members’ greed and lust for power. Now she’s a San Francisco detective struggling to fight her own desire to turn to magic. But as she discovers, escaping who you are isn’t easy.
Her latest case seems straightforward enough—the murder of a local historian named Winona Lightfoot. But strange clues take Samantha to the Santa Cruz Mountains, a place teeming with witches and black magic. As she works to uncover the connection between Winona and this coven, an earthquake rocks the Bay Area. That’s when Samantha has a Something is coming. Something evil.
To survive—and save everyone around her—she will have to tackle her greatest fear, and hope she isn’t the next one put into a deep, dark grave....
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
9 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Viguié
91 books1,041 followersDebbie Viguié is the New York Times Bestselling author of more than three dozen novels including the Wicked series co-authored with Nancy Holder. In addition to her epic dark fantasy work Debbie also writes thrillers including The Psalm 23 Mysteries, the Kiss trilogy, and the Witch Hunt trilogy. Debbie also plays a recurring character on the audio drama, Doctor Geek’s Laboratory. When Debbie isn’t busy writing or acting she enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, visiting theme parks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 21, 2013
Samantha is trying to start a new life in San Francisco after her life in Boston and Salem collapsed after taking down the Dark Witch Coven there. Now is her chance to restart without magic, with a new room-mate, Jill, and a new police partner, Ed.
Until a murder has the hallmarks of magic all over it – starting with a truly impossible and incomprehensible cause of death. Samantha is again faced with an impossible choice – ignore her power and let more people die (and there may be even more at stake this time than in Boston) or again delve into her magical past and risk losing everything, again. Perhaps even herself.
Worse, her self-control is frayed. She’s using magic without meaning to and it’s getting worse, to an extent that’s beginning to make her dangerous to those around her.
One of the things I like about this book is how many characters are painted really quite deeply with relatively little information on them. We don’t see much about Samantha’s partner, Lance, but in the short moments we see of him, in the things we learn of him, I get a full picture of the character. Jill, her room mate, doesn’t go into a lot of detail about who she is and what she does, but, again we have a pretty strong picture of her
And this is really clear with Samantha with a picture of her that’s developing in my head that adds to her own narrative. From her own POV we can see the insecurity, the worry, the desperate attempt to leave magic behind, the fear of what it could do to her, how dark and dangerous it could make her. But we also see her willingness to do what must be done not only in the big scenes where she does use magic despite her fears – but in smaller scenes as well, like when she uses Jill as bait and lies to her about the danger. I like this sense that there is a ruthlessness to her, even a darkness that she refuses to acknowledge or connects entirely to her magic.
The case itself was confusing in all the best ways. Things were happening, things were escalating, but we’re not quite sure what, how they’re connected or why – which was all made even more tangled by the time shifts moving the plot line around. They mystery remained mysterious and there were a lot of twists back and forth, a lot of questions to answer and a lot of things going on to keep us engaged and involved. It wasn’t a book I stayed up all night to read, unable to put it down – but nor was I ever tempted to abandon it and nor was reading it ever a chore – I enjoyed it from start to finish.
In the end, I like a lot of the development and the story but in some ways this book feels like a tangent. She got away from her friends, but her calling Ed re-established that link and, of course, she still kept in touch with Anthony. She held her tenuous ties to Salem and, ultimately, ended up going back there. I can’t shake a small feeling that the book was a distraction, that the plot, the meta being established, is all in Salem so why did we zip over to San Francisco only to return again? Especially since the way this book ended invalidated so many of the personal relationships she forged in San Francisco. It felt almost like the book finished with a great big reset button. Despite that, I am glad that the events touched on in the first book haven’t been brushed into the irrelevant past and are still going to loom large in the coming story – and that we have meta plot that was begun in the very first book.
I really do like the imagery involved with Samantha’s repressed memories, the different years she’s buried, the things she had to deal with then and it adds to her ongoing representation of trauma. Her past isn’t just something that troubles her or upsets her – she is still haunted by it, by the memories, the flashbacks and the nightmares. They can be heavy at times but it’s a powerful depiction and a relief from so much of the genre where traumatic pasts and horrific childhoods are used for relatively empty characterisation without.
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Until a murder has the hallmarks of magic all over it – starting with a truly impossible and incomprehensible cause of death. Samantha is again faced with an impossible choice – ignore her power and let more people die (and there may be even more at stake this time than in Boston) or again delve into her magical past and risk losing everything, again. Perhaps even herself.
Worse, her self-control is frayed. She’s using magic without meaning to and it’s getting worse, to an extent that’s beginning to make her dangerous to those around her.
One of the things I like about this book is how many characters are painted really quite deeply with relatively little information on them. We don’t see much about Samantha’s partner, Lance, but in the short moments we see of him, in the things we learn of him, I get a full picture of the character. Jill, her room mate, doesn’t go into a lot of detail about who she is and what she does, but, again we have a pretty strong picture of her
And this is really clear with Samantha with a picture of her that’s developing in my head that adds to her own narrative. From her own POV we can see the insecurity, the worry, the desperate attempt to leave magic behind, the fear of what it could do to her, how dark and dangerous it could make her. But we also see her willingness to do what must be done not only in the big scenes where she does use magic despite her fears – but in smaller scenes as well, like when she uses Jill as bait and lies to her about the danger. I like this sense that there is a ruthlessness to her, even a darkness that she refuses to acknowledge or connects entirely to her magic.
The case itself was confusing in all the best ways. Things were happening, things were escalating, but we’re not quite sure what, how they’re connected or why – which was all made even more tangled by the time shifts moving the plot line around. They mystery remained mysterious and there were a lot of twists back and forth, a lot of questions to answer and a lot of things going on to keep us engaged and involved. It wasn’t a book I stayed up all night to read, unable to put it down – but nor was I ever tempted to abandon it and nor was reading it ever a chore – I enjoyed it from start to finish.
In the end, I like a lot of the development and the story but in some ways this book feels like a tangent. She got away from her friends, but her calling Ed re-established that link and, of course, she still kept in touch with Anthony. She held her tenuous ties to Salem and, ultimately, ended up going back there. I can’t shake a small feeling that the book was a distraction, that the plot, the meta being established, is all in Salem so why did we zip over to San Francisco only to return again? Especially since the way this book ended invalidated so many of the personal relationships she forged in San Francisco. It felt almost like the book finished with a great big reset button. Despite that, I am glad that the events touched on in the first book haven’t been brushed into the irrelevant past and are still going to loom large in the coming story – and that we have meta plot that was begun in the very first book.
I really do like the imagery involved with Samantha’s repressed memories, the different years she’s buried, the things she had to deal with then and it adds to her ongoing representation of trauma. Her past isn’t just something that troubles her or upsets her – she is still haunted by it, by the memories, the flashbacks and the nightmares. They can be heavy at times but it’s a powerful depiction and a relief from so much of the genre where traumatic pasts and horrific childhoods are used for relatively empty characterisation without.
Read More
March 13, 2013
Samantha moved to San Francisco for a new start. She is a homicide detective with a new partner, Lance. They go out to investigate a murder, and find that the body has been petrified. Samantha realizes very that magic was involved. On top of that there are mysterious earth quakes going on.
The Last Grave is the second novel in Debbie Viguié’s Witch Hunt series. The first book took place in Salem, but because of the events there Samantha thought it best to change locations. It’s a thriller that doesn’t tread lightly when it comes to gore or action. That’s one of the most enjoyable things about the novel, but sometimes takes from the characters.
When Samantha, who is a super powerful witch, finds out that witchcraft is involved, she freaks out. This means she will have to use her powers while keeping it on the down low from her partner. At first this seems hard, but when the earth quakes happen, things around her start to change in unforeseeable ways. Her investigation takes her to a coven in San Cruz. The novel becomes less about who the killer is, and more about putting a stop to what the witches are doing.
Despite the fact that Samantha is super powerful, she hates herself for it. She was a broken character in the last book. Her awful past explained why she seemed so broken. This doesn’t change in The Last Grave. She is too upset with herself for my liking. While this was believable in the last installment I find it bogging down the story in this novel. It might be because her love interest is hanging out on the other side of the country, and Samantha keeps her roommate at an emotional distance. It could also be that anytime Samantha is close to death, she just heals herself. Her point of view keeps emotional distance, but this doesn’t rub well when readers want to feel for her.
The magic system is far too easy. Samantha constantly pulls power from the earth and around her. With a wave of her hand she can perform most anything. When you can turn invisible, make magic animals, and pull memories out of people’s heads life isn’t all that bad. She is worried she will grow addicted to it, and that’s where my issue comes in. At some point she has to see what is evident to readers when it comes to her magic. I won’t say more, it might spoil things.
I don’t think, in the long run this novel sticks out. While the end is neat, and it leaves on a small cliff hanger, it didn’t give me the investment I needed. It wasn’t a fast read, and I didn’t get the page turning thriller feeling. On the other hand it’s a dark thriller. It has a lot of fantastic description, and action. If I had felt more for the characters, I think it would have made it a much more exciting read.
- Beth
The Last Grave is the second novel in Debbie Viguié’s Witch Hunt series. The first book took place in Salem, but because of the events there Samantha thought it best to change locations. It’s a thriller that doesn’t tread lightly when it comes to gore or action. That’s one of the most enjoyable things about the novel, but sometimes takes from the characters.
When Samantha, who is a super powerful witch, finds out that witchcraft is involved, she freaks out. This means she will have to use her powers while keeping it on the down low from her partner. At first this seems hard, but when the earth quakes happen, things around her start to change in unforeseeable ways. Her investigation takes her to a coven in San Cruz. The novel becomes less about who the killer is, and more about putting a stop to what the witches are doing.
Despite the fact that Samantha is super powerful, she hates herself for it. She was a broken character in the last book. Her awful past explained why she seemed so broken. This doesn’t change in The Last Grave. She is too upset with herself for my liking. While this was believable in the last installment I find it bogging down the story in this novel. It might be because her love interest is hanging out on the other side of the country, and Samantha keeps her roommate at an emotional distance. It could also be that anytime Samantha is close to death, she just heals herself. Her point of view keeps emotional distance, but this doesn’t rub well when readers want to feel for her.
The magic system is far too easy. Samantha constantly pulls power from the earth and around her. With a wave of her hand she can perform most anything. When you can turn invisible, make magic animals, and pull memories out of people’s heads life isn’t all that bad. She is worried she will grow addicted to it, and that’s where my issue comes in. At some point she has to see what is evident to readers when it comes to her magic. I won’t say more, it might spoil things.
I don’t think, in the long run this novel sticks out. While the end is neat, and it leaves on a small cliff hanger, it didn’t give me the investment I needed. It wasn’t a fast read, and I didn’t get the page turning thriller feeling. On the other hand it’s a dark thriller. It has a lot of fantastic description, and action. If I had felt more for the characters, I think it would have made it a much more exciting read.
- Beth
April 6, 2013
Find the full review on my blog, Chick Lit Café! http://bit.ly/ZkLuWz
This book is so incredible; I don’t even know where to begin! I guess I could start with Samantha. Despite the whole superhuman thing, I think a lot of readers can relate with her struggle to overcome her past. Anyone who has suffered from an abusive upbringing will emphasize with Samantha’s self-doubt and trust issues. I really fell in love with this character because she desperately wants to be a good person, but ghosts from the past kept dragging her back down the rabbit hole.
In addition to an incredibly endearing main character, the author knows how to weave together a tightly-plotted mystery.
I felt like I was right there with Samantha as she stumbled upon bizarre clues – like a petrified dead body in the middle of a museum – and came up with more questions than answers. The momentum kept building – leaving me with no other option but to tear through the pages until I knew San Francisco was safe from a ginormous earthquake. I’ll stop right here before I give anything away. But I will say that she’s dealing with one helluva evil witch who’s willing to wipe out an entire city to get what she wants.
While I’m at it, I should mention the setting. Like Juliet Blackwell, this author uses the San Francisco backdrop to her advantage. I especially loved her descriptions of the spooky circle of trees amid the backdrop of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Oh and the nighttime rendezvous scene at the Santa Cruz boardwalk totally evoked images of Lost Boys. What is it about carnival rides after dark? There’s something really unsettling about being all alone in an amusement park with the dead eyes of carousel horses staring back at you.
This book is so incredible; I don’t even know where to begin! I guess I could start with Samantha. Despite the whole superhuman thing, I think a lot of readers can relate with her struggle to overcome her past. Anyone who has suffered from an abusive upbringing will emphasize with Samantha’s self-doubt and trust issues. I really fell in love with this character because she desperately wants to be a good person, but ghosts from the past kept dragging her back down the rabbit hole.
In addition to an incredibly endearing main character, the author knows how to weave together a tightly-plotted mystery.
I felt like I was right there with Samantha as she stumbled upon bizarre clues – like a petrified dead body in the middle of a museum – and came up with more questions than answers. The momentum kept building – leaving me with no other option but to tear through the pages until I knew San Francisco was safe from a ginormous earthquake. I’ll stop right here before I give anything away. But I will say that she’s dealing with one helluva evil witch who’s willing to wipe out an entire city to get what she wants.
While I’m at it, I should mention the setting. Like Juliet Blackwell, this author uses the San Francisco backdrop to her advantage. I especially loved her descriptions of the spooky circle of trees amid the backdrop of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Oh and the nighttime rendezvous scene at the Santa Cruz boardwalk totally evoked images of Lost Boys. What is it about carnival rides after dark? There’s something really unsettling about being all alone in an amusement park with the dead eyes of carousel horses staring back at you.
March 6, 2013
*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
Reviewed by Book Monster's Reviewer - Michelle M.
When I was asked to read this book I was a little wary, I usually prefer to read books in order and I haven't tried anything of Debbie's before but once I read the synopsis and realized it sounded like my kind of book I hesitantly agreed and when I sat down to dive in ALL my expectations where exceeded. In fact this series has now been promoted to auto-buy and I'm going to hunt down a copy of book 1 so I can read it in order and enjoy it all over again!
Samantha Ryan has been running from her past for most of her life, a tragedy as a child has left her skittish and unable to trust herself. Her memory has huge holes in it and she's afraid to fill them in in case she doesn't like what she finds. Samantha's choice to become a Police Detective shows her strength of character, she's unwilling to play the part of victim, instead she has chosen to be a voice for those who can no longer speak. Her sense of self has taken a beating, after her past and present collided and she has ran to the other side of the country to start afresh. Unfortunately the past isn't ready to let her go and it starts to creep into the new life she is making.
I don't want to spoil what happens for anyone but let me just say that this leg of Samantha's journey brought many surprises for me and her. If you like your urban fantasy on the darker side or you love a book with witches and magic and the unexpected then I can't recommend this one enough! I put this book down turned to my husband and said "Holy sh*t that was a good book".
5 Stars
Reviewed by Book Monster's Reviewer - Michelle M.
When I was asked to read this book I was a little wary, I usually prefer to read books in order and I haven't tried anything of Debbie's before but once I read the synopsis and realized it sounded like my kind of book I hesitantly agreed and when I sat down to dive in ALL my expectations where exceeded. In fact this series has now been promoted to auto-buy and I'm going to hunt down a copy of book 1 so I can read it in order and enjoy it all over again!
Samantha Ryan has been running from her past for most of her life, a tragedy as a child has left her skittish and unable to trust herself. Her memory has huge holes in it and she's afraid to fill them in in case she doesn't like what she finds. Samantha's choice to become a Police Detective shows her strength of character, she's unwilling to play the part of victim, instead she has chosen to be a voice for those who can no longer speak. Her sense of self has taken a beating, after her past and present collided and she has ran to the other side of the country to start afresh. Unfortunately the past isn't ready to let her go and it starts to creep into the new life she is making.
I don't want to spoil what happens for anyone but let me just say that this leg of Samantha's journey brought many surprises for me and her. If you like your urban fantasy on the darker side or you love a book with witches and magic and the unexpected then I can't recommend this one enough! I put this book down turned to my husband and said "Holy sh*t that was a good book".
5 Stars
March 4, 2013
When I was asked to read this book I was a little wary, I usually prefer to read books in order and I haven't tried anything of Debbie's before but once I read the synopsis and realised it sounded like my kind of book I hesitantly agreed and when I sat down to dive in ALL my expectations where exceeded. In fact this series has now been promoted to autobuy and I'm going to hunt down a copy of book 1 so I can read it in order and enjoy it all over again!
Samantha Ryan has been running from her past for most of her life, a tragedy as a child has left her skittish and unable to trust herself. Her memory has huge holes in it and she's afraid to fill them in incase she doesn't like what she finds. Samantha's choice to become a Police Detective shows her strength of character, she's unwilling to play the part of victim, instead she has chosen to be a voice for those who can no longer speak. Her sense of self has taken a beating, after her past and present collided and she has ran to the other side of the country to start afresh. Unfortunately the past isn't ready to let her go and it starts to creep into the new life she is making.
I don't want to spoil what happens for anyone but let me just say that this leg of Samantha's journey brought many surprises for me and her. If you like your urban fantasy on the darker side or you love a book with witches and magic and the unexpected then I can't recommend this one enough! I put this book down turned to my husband and said "Holy sh*t that was a good book".
Samantha Ryan has been running from her past for most of her life, a tragedy as a child has left her skittish and unable to trust herself. Her memory has huge holes in it and she's afraid to fill them in incase she doesn't like what she finds. Samantha's choice to become a Police Detective shows her strength of character, she's unwilling to play the part of victim, instead she has chosen to be a voice for those who can no longer speak. Her sense of self has taken a beating, after her past and present collided and she has ran to the other side of the country to start afresh. Unfortunately the past isn't ready to let her go and it starts to creep into the new life she is making.
I don't want to spoil what happens for anyone but let me just say that this leg of Samantha's journey brought many surprises for me and her. If you like your urban fantasy on the darker side or you love a book with witches and magic and the unexpected then I can't recommend this one enough! I put this book down turned to my husband and said "Holy sh*t that was a good book".
May 17, 2017
It was overall a good read. A bit cliche at times, but the pace and premise were worth the time.
August 9, 2017
A clever story that keeps you reading late into the night. The book is packed with fascinating twists and turns. The end holds a surprise you who see comimg
October 11, 2018
Loved the first book in the series, this one...not so much.
It feels like this was written to fill space between the first and second in the series.
It feels like this was written to fill space between the first and second in the series.
September 28, 2021
Action packed and full of suspense and mystery! Watch out for that twist at the end.
March 8, 2013
Review originally posted on my blog: A Book Obsession..
Samantha Ryan had long ago denied her witch nature as the magic too easily turns to the dark side. Yet when an evil coven tried to take over Salem, she was forced into using magic once again. She prevailed, but now has to live with the fallout as her former colleagues at the Boston PD cannot accept her for who she is. So, she's traveled to San Francisco to get a fresh start and once again escape her past. But leaving magic behind just isn't in the cards for Samantha as a dark coven starts wreaking havoc as earthquakes plague the area. Samantha knows it's only a matter of time before the destruction causes a death toll unlike they've ever seen before. So she'll once again have to embrace the darker side of herself if she's to have any hope of stopping the evil she can sense on the horizon.
I really love Samantha's character. She's just so damaged, terribly powerful, and rather confused, yet she also has an iron will plus a determination to keep from slipping back into a path of evil. In THE LAST GRAVE she's still struggling with herself and the seductiveness of magic. Yet, I think she's started taking steps in the right direction as she's trying to accept that magic is part of her life, it just doesn't have to be an evil part. As long as she can resist letting it consume her, she can use her powers for good, which in the long run will be healthier than trying to cut herself off completely. She's already tried that once, and as soon as magical danger hit, she was almost defenseless. So, embracing the magic is definitely the best path for her. That's not to say that path will be an easy one, as several times in THE LAST GRAVE, her will was thoroughly tested, and she did falter. But what makes her truly admirable is that with each setback she picks herself up and gets right back on the path towards completely denying evil. That's a true test of strength in my opinion; the ability to overcome failures, and Samantha more than proves her worth.
I'm not usually one to read horror novels as I do not like to be scared. At all. In fact I'm a big baby about it. So I have to admit that I was a little bit hesitant to read THE LAST GRAVE as the first book definitely brought the creepy and I wasn't sure if my nerves could handle it a second time. However once I started reading THE LAST GRAVE it became obvious that I wasn't going to be quite as scared out of my wits. That's not to say that the story was any less compelling or gripping, I just wasn't quite so terrified this time around. Perhaps that is because I've seen Samantha survive the first coven or it could be because she's starting to use more magic, and therefore more powerful, so I wasn't quite so scared for her. But whatever the reason, I have to say that I was glad for this reprieve in the scariness as it allowed me to really enjoy the plot without my nerves being an utter wreck.
Intermixed in with the main plot was "The Last Grave" sideline, which honestly took up as much of my attention as the main evil Samantha was facing. I just had this sense that "The Last Grave" part was going to play a larger part in the grand scheme of things, so I was rather preoccupied with finding out what it meant. Despite all of my ruminations, when it was finally revealed, I was caught completely off guard. It definitely will be a game changer and because of that, I am simply desperate to get my hands on the next installment. I still really cant wrap my head around what this means for Samantha, but I have a feeling the creepy factor will be ratcheted up yet another notch. Which of course, worries my inner scared little girl, but it also makes me eagerly anticipate the ride. But getting back to book at hand, I'm very impressed with this latest installment. An incredibly thrilling ride full of suspense and danger, THE LAST GRAVE is not to be missed!
Samantha Ryan had long ago denied her witch nature as the magic too easily turns to the dark side. Yet when an evil coven tried to take over Salem, she was forced into using magic once again. She prevailed, but now has to live with the fallout as her former colleagues at the Boston PD cannot accept her for who she is. So, she's traveled to San Francisco to get a fresh start and once again escape her past. But leaving magic behind just isn't in the cards for Samantha as a dark coven starts wreaking havoc as earthquakes plague the area. Samantha knows it's only a matter of time before the destruction causes a death toll unlike they've ever seen before. So she'll once again have to embrace the darker side of herself if she's to have any hope of stopping the evil she can sense on the horizon.
I really love Samantha's character. She's just so damaged, terribly powerful, and rather confused, yet she also has an iron will plus a determination to keep from slipping back into a path of evil. In THE LAST GRAVE she's still struggling with herself and the seductiveness of magic. Yet, I think she's started taking steps in the right direction as she's trying to accept that magic is part of her life, it just doesn't have to be an evil part. As long as she can resist letting it consume her, she can use her powers for good, which in the long run will be healthier than trying to cut herself off completely. She's already tried that once, and as soon as magical danger hit, she was almost defenseless. So, embracing the magic is definitely the best path for her. That's not to say that path will be an easy one, as several times in THE LAST GRAVE, her will was thoroughly tested, and she did falter. But what makes her truly admirable is that with each setback she picks herself up and gets right back on the path towards completely denying evil. That's a true test of strength in my opinion; the ability to overcome failures, and Samantha more than proves her worth.
I'm not usually one to read horror novels as I do not like to be scared. At all. In fact I'm a big baby about it. So I have to admit that I was a little bit hesitant to read THE LAST GRAVE as the first book definitely brought the creepy and I wasn't sure if my nerves could handle it a second time. However once I started reading THE LAST GRAVE it became obvious that I wasn't going to be quite as scared out of my wits. That's not to say that the story was any less compelling or gripping, I just wasn't quite so terrified this time around. Perhaps that is because I've seen Samantha survive the first coven or it could be because she's starting to use more magic, and therefore more powerful, so I wasn't quite so scared for her. But whatever the reason, I have to say that I was glad for this reprieve in the scariness as it allowed me to really enjoy the plot without my nerves being an utter wreck.
Intermixed in with the main plot was "The Last Grave" sideline, which honestly took up as much of my attention as the main evil Samantha was facing. I just had this sense that "The Last Grave" part was going to play a larger part in the grand scheme of things, so I was rather preoccupied with finding out what it meant. Despite all of my ruminations, when it was finally revealed, I was caught completely off guard. It definitely will be a game changer and because of that, I am simply desperate to get my hands on the next installment. I still really cant wrap my head around what this means for Samantha, but I have a feeling the creepy factor will be ratcheted up yet another notch. Which of course, worries my inner scared little girl, but it also makes me eagerly anticipate the ride. But getting back to book at hand, I'm very impressed with this latest installment. An incredibly thrilling ride full of suspense and danger, THE LAST GRAVE is not to be missed!
March 19, 2013
This book was given by the publisher for an honest review. The review will contain spoilers from The 13th Sacrifice!!
Samantha did what she had to do; she took down an entire coven of dark witches. She saved many people, but almost destroyed herself in the process. Now her secret is out in the force in Boston and no cop, not even her old partner wants to work with her. The solution? A transfer from Boston to San Francisco, a new start, where nobody knows who she is, what she is, or what she’s done.
Samantha moves in with an old friend from school, Jill, gets a new partner, Lance and tries to move on with her life. Unfortunately, her nightmares won’t leave her alone, neither will Anthony, who keeps calling Samantha from time to time. They left things unfinished between them, a kinda “Boy waits for Girl” stasis. Samantha isn’t sure they can move past the big white elephant in the room; Anthony’s mother was killed by Samantha’s old coven. Although even she has to admit the chemistry between the two of them is sky high.
Lance and Samantha are called out to the California Academy of Science in the Natural History Museum. It was called in as a disturbance, but in reality it’s a murder. When they arrive at the crime scene, both detectives are taken aback. The woman murdered, a Winona Lightfoot is not only dead. She’s been petrified. (Think something like, Harry Potter petrified – although this isn’t something you can reverse). The coroner is just as baffled – she’s never encountered anything like it before.
Samantha and Lance have to inform Robin (Winona’s daughter), that her mother is dead. Arriving at the Lightfoot’s home, Samantha can sense Robin has powers. A great deal of power. Before she can begin to question Robin, the girl breaks down. When Robin finally calms down, she tells about the threatening letters her mother received. When Robin shows Winona’s office to Lance and Samantha, it’s clear it’s just been upended in search of something and a window is open. When Samantha goes out searching for the intruder, she is attacked in the woods...by trees.
From here the mysteries starts to pile up. Soon Samantha finds herself deep into witch-trouble once again, severely outclassed and in dire need to remember her past once again, to survive.
There are so many wonderful things in this book I have no idea where to begin! The feel of the book is more mystery than terrifying – making it a bit different than The 13th Sacrifice, sometimes even better. (At least I didn’t have to hide under a blanket this time!) The fight scenes are just as amazing in The Last Grave, they leave me breathless and pretty much glueed me to the book. I could not put it down.
Samantha is still struggling with her choice of not using magic, a battle she is slowly losing due to events happening in this book. She doesn’t have much choice, either she uses magic – or people die. The coven in this book is different than the one in Salem. They’re changing things around them, and more than one time Samantha is not sure what happened, other than an earthquake happened. Things she thought had happened suddenly changed and Samantha is afraid she is losing her mind. Reality has become fluid, and Samantha seems to be the only one who remembers the previous realities.
The end of the book scared me though, with its preview of the author's new book. Something happened and Samantha is forced to face every door in her mind, every memory, the outcome is… well… I know Laurie is concerned too, we can't wait to read book three.
As I said earlier, this book isn’tquite AS scary as The 13th Sacrifice which in my mind was up there with early Steven King, but it has its scary moments and is very good. The book leaves us hanging a little and I want to know what happens in the next book; Circle of Blood, which releases in 2014! (oh, the wait will kill me!!)
Samantha did what she had to do; she took down an entire coven of dark witches. She saved many people, but almost destroyed herself in the process. Now her secret is out in the force in Boston and no cop, not even her old partner wants to work with her. The solution? A transfer from Boston to San Francisco, a new start, where nobody knows who she is, what she is, or what she’s done.
Samantha moves in with an old friend from school, Jill, gets a new partner, Lance and tries to move on with her life. Unfortunately, her nightmares won’t leave her alone, neither will Anthony, who keeps calling Samantha from time to time. They left things unfinished between them, a kinda “Boy waits for Girl” stasis. Samantha isn’t sure they can move past the big white elephant in the room; Anthony’s mother was killed by Samantha’s old coven. Although even she has to admit the chemistry between the two of them is sky high.
Lance and Samantha are called out to the California Academy of Science in the Natural History Museum. It was called in as a disturbance, but in reality it’s a murder. When they arrive at the crime scene, both detectives are taken aback. The woman murdered, a Winona Lightfoot is not only dead. She’s been petrified. (Think something like, Harry Potter petrified – although this isn’t something you can reverse). The coroner is just as baffled – she’s never encountered anything like it before.
Samantha and Lance have to inform Robin (Winona’s daughter), that her mother is dead. Arriving at the Lightfoot’s home, Samantha can sense Robin has powers. A great deal of power. Before she can begin to question Robin, the girl breaks down. When Robin finally calms down, she tells about the threatening letters her mother received. When Robin shows Winona’s office to Lance and Samantha, it’s clear it’s just been upended in search of something and a window is open. When Samantha goes out searching for the intruder, she is attacked in the woods...by trees.
From here the mysteries starts to pile up. Soon Samantha finds herself deep into witch-trouble once again, severely outclassed and in dire need to remember her past once again, to survive.
There are so many wonderful things in this book I have no idea where to begin! The feel of the book is more mystery than terrifying – making it a bit different than The 13th Sacrifice, sometimes even better. (At least I didn’t have to hide under a blanket this time!) The fight scenes are just as amazing in The Last Grave, they leave me breathless and pretty much glueed me to the book. I could not put it down.
Samantha is still struggling with her choice of not using magic, a battle she is slowly losing due to events happening in this book. She doesn’t have much choice, either she uses magic – or people die. The coven in this book is different than the one in Salem. They’re changing things around them, and more than one time Samantha is not sure what happened, other than an earthquake happened. Things she thought had happened suddenly changed and Samantha is afraid she is losing her mind. Reality has become fluid, and Samantha seems to be the only one who remembers the previous realities.
The end of the book scared me though, with its preview of the author's new book. Something happened and Samantha is forced to face every door in her mind, every memory, the outcome is… well… I know Laurie is concerned too, we can't wait to read book three.
As I said earlier, this book isn’tquite AS scary as The 13th Sacrifice which in my mind was up there with early Steven King, but it has its scary moments and is very good. The book leaves us hanging a little and I want to know what happens in the next book; Circle of Blood, which releases in 2014! (oh, the wait will kill me!!)
May 8, 2015
Samantha Ryan left Salem for San Francisco, hoping to forget the horrors of her past. Her past includes a very dark magic side of herself from a mother who raised her in a destructive and black magic coven...and the last novel in which she takes out the last of the coven to save many lives.
So Samantha runs to San Francisco and takes a job as police detective. But after the magic she indulged in to take down the coven in Salem, she is struggling to fight her own desire to turn to magic to handle everything in her life.
She is teamed with a partner that nobody else will work with and is handed a murder case of a local historian named Winona Lightfoot. Samantha quickly realizes all leads in the case point to the Santa Cruz Mountains and witches practicing black magic. As Samantha is working the case clue by clue, earthquakes keep rocking the area. After each earthquake, reality is shifted, such as the hair color of her roommate and friend. Samantha has to dodge showdowns with witches and piece together what is actually happening before the black magic causes a devastating earthquake. But she might have to dredge up the bad-ass witch she had been raised to be in order to fight this coven, and there maybe no return if she takes that step.
Samantha Ryan is the troubled heroine with a dark past and near addiction to magic. I wanted to like her, and mostly I did with the exception of her digging into her own psyche and unlocking her past selves in her self treatment sessions. This proves to be dangerous and takes the character someplace I completely didn't like at the end. Presenting her as turning to a cross around her neck like a talisman and other Christian trappings made her even more conflicted. Her difficult partner, Lance is difficult to get a handle on. He doesn't seem as unsociable and difficult as he was first made out to be. Actually he is often covering for Samantha off investigating on her own. Lance is a character that seemed a bit undeveloped, part of that might be that he goes through a radical change after one of the earthquakes so the reader starts over getting to know him, which is a drawback in the story I felt. Anthony, the love interest left behind in Salem, has tremendous potential but is left to a few phone scenes. The room-mate seems to just be minor character moved around as needed.
The rugged Santa Cruz mountains are a great location for this power hungry coven to work its diabolical magic - bwahaha. It manages to sound beautiful and scary at the same time.
The plot was pretty clear cut with the intriguing idea of the magic triggered earthquakes causing shifts in the planes of alternate dimensions. At times those shifts could be confusing, but it added a needed umph to the storyline. The pacing was difficult. At times the story had hold of me and was racing right along, then there were times when it fell a little flat. I think the characters were lacking and those parts in the book were when the characters would have carried the story forward and it started to flounder a bit.
There is a pretty dramatic climax and confrontation, but it is the wrap up that lost me. The wrap-up is the setup for the next book and the last minute development with Samantha lost my interest. As I mentioned, the ending is taking a clear direction with Samantha that looses any likable aspect of the character for me.
This book has some interesting paranormal aspects and an interesting plot that falters occasionally from under-realized characters and a finish that alienates the reader from the main character.
Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
So Samantha runs to San Francisco and takes a job as police detective. But after the magic she indulged in to take down the coven in Salem, she is struggling to fight her own desire to turn to magic to handle everything in her life.
She is teamed with a partner that nobody else will work with and is handed a murder case of a local historian named Winona Lightfoot. Samantha quickly realizes all leads in the case point to the Santa Cruz Mountains and witches practicing black magic. As Samantha is working the case clue by clue, earthquakes keep rocking the area. After each earthquake, reality is shifted, such as the hair color of her roommate and friend. Samantha has to dodge showdowns with witches and piece together what is actually happening before the black magic causes a devastating earthquake. But she might have to dredge up the bad-ass witch she had been raised to be in order to fight this coven, and there maybe no return if she takes that step.
Samantha Ryan is the troubled heroine with a dark past and near addiction to magic. I wanted to like her, and mostly I did with the exception of her digging into her own psyche and unlocking her past selves in her self treatment sessions. This proves to be dangerous and takes the character someplace I completely didn't like at the end. Presenting her as turning to a cross around her neck like a talisman and other Christian trappings made her even more conflicted. Her difficult partner, Lance is difficult to get a handle on. He doesn't seem as unsociable and difficult as he was first made out to be. Actually he is often covering for Samantha off investigating on her own. Lance is a character that seemed a bit undeveloped, part of that might be that he goes through a radical change after one of the earthquakes so the reader starts over getting to know him, which is a drawback in the story I felt. Anthony, the love interest left behind in Salem, has tremendous potential but is left to a few phone scenes. The room-mate seems to just be minor character moved around as needed.
The rugged Santa Cruz mountains are a great location for this power hungry coven to work its diabolical magic - bwahaha. It manages to sound beautiful and scary at the same time.
The plot was pretty clear cut with the intriguing idea of the magic triggered earthquakes causing shifts in the planes of alternate dimensions. At times those shifts could be confusing, but it added a needed umph to the storyline. The pacing was difficult. At times the story had hold of me and was racing right along, then there were times when it fell a little flat. I think the characters were lacking and those parts in the book were when the characters would have carried the story forward and it started to flounder a bit.
There is a pretty dramatic climax and confrontation, but it is the wrap up that lost me. The wrap-up is the setup for the next book and the last minute development with Samantha lost my interest. As I mentioned, the ending is taking a clear direction with Samantha that looses any likable aspect of the character for me.
This book has some interesting paranormal aspects and an interesting plot that falters occasionally from under-realized characters and a finish that alienates the reader from the main character.
Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
March 4, 2013
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:
*ARC received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
I unexpectedly received the first book of this series (The Thirteenth Sacrifice) from the Publisher back before it was released in 2012. After reading (and loving!) it, I immediately reached out to Penguin to see if I could possibly do a promotional Event for book 2 as soon as the release date was announced. In true 'happy dance' fashion, I was told that a copy was already on its way...
As soon as the book arrived in the mail I settled in. Later that night, I wrote this on GoodReads: "O.M.G! 5 Skulls is not enough for this intensely insane thrill ride! Book #1 was amazing, but this installment was so gripping I couldn't put it down & stayed up most of the night reading. I cannot wait for Circle of Blood!"
The Last Grave starts a short time in the future following the Events of The Thirteenth Sacrifice, wherein Samantha has moved to California to start fresh following the catastrophic battle between herself and her old coven back in her old hometown that basically left her the last witch standing. She's once again attempting to leave her old life behind and live the life she has earned as a homicide detective, instead of the life she was born into as a dark witch. Unfortunately, the new murder that she and her partner are investigating has an undeniable magickal signature, and Samantha quickly learns that her attempt at a 'normal' life just isn't going to happen. At least not yet.
There is just SO much that happens in this book, and so many twists and turns that this review is incredibly difficult to write; especially given that I don't write spoilery reviews...
I can tell you this much: I lost count at how many times I changed my mind regarding what I thought was going on, & every time I had another "huh?" moment, Debbie would introduce one more action-packed sequence and have me shaking my head with wonder. There were twists, turns and surprises around every corner, & it was jam packed with action. Book #1 was quite dark, but The Last Grave was even darker (something I THOROUGHLY enjoy in my books), and the storyline was incredibly unique and undoubtedly mysterious & intriguing.
I personally loved the book and would recommend it to anyone!! If you've read some of the other pre-release reviews out there are are confused at the discrepancy in ratings, here are my 2 cents - While I'm sure Debbie intended The Last Grave to be a stand-alone novel, it would be much better enjoyed and understood by readers who have read Book #1. In addition, this isn't a quick and lighthearted read. It's dark, it's deep, and I would highly suggest that if you'd like to take the plunge (and I would recommend that you do), that you do it when you have time to utterly devote to a book without outside distractions or too much on your mind. The storyline weaved throughout The Last Grave requires a decent amount of thought to follow along with and navigate all of the twists, and in my opinion, would be much better received as an uninterrupted read.
With all of that said, LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Last Grave 5 Skulls and is incredibly excited for book #3.
*ARC received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
I unexpectedly received the first book of this series (The Thirteenth Sacrifice) from the Publisher back before it was released in 2012. After reading (and loving!) it, I immediately reached out to Penguin to see if I could possibly do a promotional Event for book 2 as soon as the release date was announced. In true 'happy dance' fashion, I was told that a copy was already on its way...
As soon as the book arrived in the mail I settled in. Later that night, I wrote this on GoodReads: "O.M.G! 5 Skulls is not enough for this intensely insane thrill ride! Book #1 was amazing, but this installment was so gripping I couldn't put it down & stayed up most of the night reading. I cannot wait for Circle of Blood!"
The Last Grave starts a short time in the future following the Events of The Thirteenth Sacrifice, wherein Samantha has moved to California to start fresh following the catastrophic battle between herself and her old coven back in her old hometown that basically left her the last witch standing. She's once again attempting to leave her old life behind and live the life she has earned as a homicide detective, instead of the life she was born into as a dark witch. Unfortunately, the new murder that she and her partner are investigating has an undeniable magickal signature, and Samantha quickly learns that her attempt at a 'normal' life just isn't going to happen. At least not yet.
There is just SO much that happens in this book, and so many twists and turns that this review is incredibly difficult to write; especially given that I don't write spoilery reviews...
I can tell you this much: I lost count at how many times I changed my mind regarding what I thought was going on, & every time I had another "huh?" moment, Debbie would introduce one more action-packed sequence and have me shaking my head with wonder. There were twists, turns and surprises around every corner, & it was jam packed with action. Book #1 was quite dark, but The Last Grave was even darker (something I THOROUGHLY enjoy in my books), and the storyline was incredibly unique and undoubtedly mysterious & intriguing.
I personally loved the book and would recommend it to anyone!! If you've read some of the other pre-release reviews out there are are confused at the discrepancy in ratings, here are my 2 cents - While I'm sure Debbie intended The Last Grave to be a stand-alone novel, it would be much better enjoyed and understood by readers who have read Book #1. In addition, this isn't a quick and lighthearted read. It's dark, it's deep, and I would highly suggest that if you'd like to take the plunge (and I would recommend that you do), that you do it when you have time to utterly devote to a book without outside distractions or too much on your mind. The storyline weaved throughout The Last Grave requires a decent amount of thought to follow along with and navigate all of the twists, and in my opinion, would be much better received as an uninterrupted read.
With all of that said, LITERAL ADDICTION gives The Last Grave 5 Skulls and is incredibly excited for book #3.
April 21, 2013
I'm really not sure what I ultimately think about this entry. I loved the first one for not falling into any specific genre, but then that's sort of what made Last Grave somewhat difficult to read. I might have to use spoilers, so if you want to know whether or not to get this, then here's my opinion:
I recommend it, but with some reservations. If you haven't read the first book then I would say you should start there. I suppose you can read this without having done so, but you'd be at a distinct disadvantage since this book refers heavily to several events that redefine Samantha's character. They rehash them somewhat, but you'll still be left with a handicap. Other than that, I'd recommend it if you liked the first one. If you didn't, then this will be a library read if you're still curious enough to pick up this one. I also recommend that if you want a book that will stay within the typical bounds of UF or are looking for a PNR read, you will want to approach this with caution. Viguie isn't afraid to take chances here. Sometimes this pays off exceedingly well, as the ending to this was pretty addicting. Other times it doesn't work as well and takes a while to slog through.
Now for what kind of bugged me. I liked that this didn't fall into the UF so cleanly and I liked that Viguie isn't making Samantha up to be some lily-white paragon of virtue. Samantha tries, but ultimately falls well short of being the typical character that messes up but is supposed to be so predominantly good that we're expected to unhesitantly root for. There are just some things here that felt a little too disarming, such as the constant reality shifts. While that's sort of the purpose of this and it's there for a reason, but after a while I got sort of irritated with everything shifting and having to get used to a different reality. The differences are minor and not really things we have to worry about as a reader, but after a while they're more tiring than exciting. It took me a while to get through this due to school, but I'll admit that I didn't like this as much as the first entry.
Overall though, I'm still aboard the Samantha Castor train and I'll definitely pick up the next book when it releases next year. I don't know that this will be the best supernatural book I'll read this year, but it's definitely a palate cleanser and something that people tired of the same-old-same-old will probably want to check out.
I recommend it, but with some reservations. If you haven't read the first book then I would say you should start there. I suppose you can read this without having done so, but you'd be at a distinct disadvantage since this book refers heavily to several events that redefine Samantha's character. They rehash them somewhat, but you'll still be left with a handicap. Other than that, I'd recommend it if you liked the first one. If you didn't, then this will be a library read if you're still curious enough to pick up this one. I also recommend that if you want a book that will stay within the typical bounds of UF or are looking for a PNR read, you will want to approach this with caution. Viguie isn't afraid to take chances here. Sometimes this pays off exceedingly well, as the ending to this was pretty addicting. Other times it doesn't work as well and takes a while to slog through.
Now for what kind of bugged me. I liked that this didn't fall into the UF so cleanly and I liked that Viguie isn't making Samantha up to be some lily-white paragon of virtue. Samantha tries, but ultimately falls well short of being the typical character that messes up but is supposed to be so predominantly good that we're expected to unhesitantly root for. There are just some things here that felt a little too disarming, such as the constant reality shifts. While that's sort of the purpose of this and it's there for a reason, but after a while I got sort of irritated with everything shifting and having to get used to a different reality. The differences are minor and not really things we have to worry about as a reader, but after a while they're more tiring than exciting. It took me a while to get through this due to school, but I'll admit that I didn't like this as much as the first entry.
Overall though, I'm still aboard the Samantha Castor train and I'll definitely pick up the next book when it releases next year. I don't know that this will be the best supernatural book I'll read this year, but it's definitely a palate cleanser and something that people tired of the same-old-same-old will probably want to check out.
June 23, 2014
I actually got a copy of this book before reading The Thirteenth Sacrifice and I debated with myself about whether to jump into this series on the second book. The OCD in me forced me to start at the beginning and I am so glad I did. You could read this book first, but you would miss out on so much that has shaped the main character. The events of The Thirteenth Sacrifice chewed her up and spit her out. In many ways, this story is a reaction to what happened. It has its own central mystery, but the Samantha we see here is one fashioned by her latest hardships.
It’s been three months since Samantha moved to San Francisco in the hopes of starting her life over without magic. It’s been difficult. Ever since she had to reclaim her witch powers, it’s been harder than ever to stop herself from using them. She has a roommate, a crummy new partner, and –before you know it– a new murder case with ties to witchcraft. Like before, Samantha is hesitant to get involved. But she knows she has a responsibility to stop the witches. She really is the only one who can.
I have to say, I liked the first book a little more than I liked this one. Don’t get me wrong… I enjoyed it. But it was definitely a transition book. We’re seeing Samantha struggle with what she has had to do and what she continues to have to do in order to keep the world safe. We’re watching her learn herself and she uncovers her repressed memories. And we’re learning that the worst may be yet to come.
I was cool with the character development. Samantha is a complex person, and she is even more interesting because she is getting to know herself at the same time we are getting to know her. The tone here is just as dark and creepy as the last book. But there were times I got confused. As the mystery is solved, it was revealed that confusion was intentional, but it took me out of the story. It was also harder to watch Samantha struggle with everything alone. In the last book, she had connections –to Ed and Anthony. I felt their absence here, not just in the impact on Samantha, but in the lack of meaningful interactions she had with others.
I’ll tell you what, though. The ending has me very excited for the next book. It’s a great set-up. I’m glad I have A Circle of Blood standing by.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by Signet
It’s been three months since Samantha moved to San Francisco in the hopes of starting her life over without magic. It’s been difficult. Ever since she had to reclaim her witch powers, it’s been harder than ever to stop herself from using them. She has a roommate, a crummy new partner, and –before you know it– a new murder case with ties to witchcraft. Like before, Samantha is hesitant to get involved. But she knows she has a responsibility to stop the witches. She really is the only one who can.
I have to say, I liked the first book a little more than I liked this one. Don’t get me wrong… I enjoyed it. But it was definitely a transition book. We’re seeing Samantha struggle with what she has had to do and what she continues to have to do in order to keep the world safe. We’re watching her learn herself and she uncovers her repressed memories. And we’re learning that the worst may be yet to come.
I was cool with the character development. Samantha is a complex person, and she is even more interesting because she is getting to know herself at the same time we are getting to know her. The tone here is just as dark and creepy as the last book. But there were times I got confused. As the mystery is solved, it was revealed that confusion was intentional, but it took me out of the story. It was also harder to watch Samantha struggle with everything alone. In the last book, she had connections –to Ed and Anthony. I felt their absence here, not just in the impact on Samantha, but in the lack of meaningful interactions she had with others.
I’ll tell you what, though. The ending has me very excited for the next book. It’s a great set-up. I’m glad I have A Circle of Blood standing by.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC Provided by Signet
February 28, 2013
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
After a devastating standoff, with her former coven that ended with her being the only witch left standing, Samantha has moved to San Francisco for a new start. She is a homicide detective in a new city with a new partner, Lance, and is staying with an old school friend, Jill.
Samantha is welcoming a calm new start to her new life, but she quickly learns that won’t be what she gets when Lance and her start investigating a murder that has witch magic all over it. She’s been trying to quit using magic and deny her witch heritage, but this case may force her to use the very powers she wants to hide.
I really wanted to like this book, honest! I just …. didn’t. I found the characters to be a bit bland and I just couldn’t get invested in any of them, and therefore I really didn’t care one way or another what happened to them. The only one that I sort of liked was Anthony and he was hardly in the book at all.
I also found that I just couldn’t stay focused on this storyline. My mind was often wandering while I was reading the book and was overall pretty bored. It’s not like the whole ‘I don’t want to use my powers, but circumstances are forcing me to’ plot line hasn’t been done again and again. And, this book just failed to pull it off for me.
I will say when the timequakes started happening and Samantha was trying to decide if somebody was messing with her or if she was losing her mind, it reminded me a lot of the movie Shutter Island. That thread in the storyline was probably the story’s saving grace.
The ending was the final straw in making me dislike this book so much. I was thinking that *finally* something was happening and it was going to get good and then it just stopped. Not the storyline, but the book just ended unexpectedly. There was no conclusion to the book, not until you read the next installment that is.
Overall I had high expectations for this novel, but ultimately it fell severely short and I’m not so sure that I’m even going to bother with the remainder of the series.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
After a devastating standoff, with her former coven that ended with her being the only witch left standing, Samantha has moved to San Francisco for a new start. She is a homicide detective in a new city with a new partner, Lance, and is staying with an old school friend, Jill.
Samantha is welcoming a calm new start to her new life, but she quickly learns that won’t be what she gets when Lance and her start investigating a murder that has witch magic all over it. She’s been trying to quit using magic and deny her witch heritage, but this case may force her to use the very powers she wants to hide.
I really wanted to like this book, honest! I just …. didn’t. I found the characters to be a bit bland and I just couldn’t get invested in any of them, and therefore I really didn’t care one way or another what happened to them. The only one that I sort of liked was Anthony and he was hardly in the book at all.
I also found that I just couldn’t stay focused on this storyline. My mind was often wandering while I was reading the book and was overall pretty bored. It’s not like the whole ‘I don’t want to use my powers, but circumstances are forcing me to’ plot line hasn’t been done again and again. And, this book just failed to pull it off for me.
I will say when the timequakes started happening and Samantha was trying to decide if somebody was messing with her or if she was losing her mind, it reminded me a lot of the movie Shutter Island. That thread in the storyline was probably the story’s saving grace.
The ending was the final straw in making me dislike this book so much. I was thinking that *finally* something was happening and it was going to get good and then it just stopped. Not the storyline, but the book just ended unexpectedly. There was no conclusion to the book, not until you read the next installment that is.
Overall I had high expectations for this novel, but ultimately it fell severely short and I’m not so sure that I’m even going to bother with the remainder of the series.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
March 10, 2013
Sometimes starting over is the best thing to do, especially if you were recently went undercover in a very dark coven of witches and wound up destroying them all. Leaving the bad blood and bad memories behind her, Samantha heads out to San Francisco and does her very best to blend in as a normal cop. No magic, no covens, just good, solid police work.
Of course, that doesn't last long as a case oozing with darkness slides onto her desk, and she's yet again drawn into the world she's trying to escape.
This story hits Samantha hard and brings up a lot of old, bad memories from childhood. We get several glimpses into the horror that was her past, when her very own family -- part of a dark coven of witches -- tried to raise a demon and sacrifice her to it. Yeah, they sound like real winners. No wonder Samantha's so determined to bury her past and avoid the darkness in her present and future.
But darkness pervades her life, seeping into every aspect of it and changing life as she knows it. During the investigation, time seems to rewrite itself with every piece of evidence she uncovers and every clue she follows.
A bit muddled at times, this story still presents a good mystery -- who murdered the historian and why? How is the dark coven involved and what did they want with the historian? What did the historian know? Who's the chick slinging lightning around like she's Storm from the X-Men?
Samantha's a tough character to connect with because she keeps herself so very closed off from the world. Not surprising, considering her upbringing, but it does make it difficult for the reader to get a handle on her. Throw in the shifting timelines and connecting with Samantha is as slippery as holding onto a freshly-caught trout (don't ask where that comparison came from...I have no idea). Because I couldn't really get a fix on the girl, I didn't enjoy this story quite as much as I'd hoped, though it was still an intriguing mystery heavily seasoned with witchcraft.
Filled with mystery and suspense, THE LAST GRAVE follows Samantha down a twisting path as she tries to figure out who murdered a local historian and why.
Of course, that doesn't last long as a case oozing with darkness slides onto her desk, and she's yet again drawn into the world she's trying to escape.
This story hits Samantha hard and brings up a lot of old, bad memories from childhood. We get several glimpses into the horror that was her past, when her very own family -- part of a dark coven of witches -- tried to raise a demon and sacrifice her to it. Yeah, they sound like real winners. No wonder Samantha's so determined to bury her past and avoid the darkness in her present and future.
But darkness pervades her life, seeping into every aspect of it and changing life as she knows it. During the investigation, time seems to rewrite itself with every piece of evidence she uncovers and every clue she follows.
A bit muddled at times, this story still presents a good mystery -- who murdered the historian and why? How is the dark coven involved and what did they want with the historian? What did the historian know? Who's the chick slinging lightning around like she's Storm from the X-Men?
Samantha's a tough character to connect with because she keeps herself so very closed off from the world. Not surprising, considering her upbringing, but it does make it difficult for the reader to get a handle on her. Throw in the shifting timelines and connecting with Samantha is as slippery as holding onto a freshly-caught trout (don't ask where that comparison came from...I have no idea). Because I couldn't really get a fix on the girl, I didn't enjoy this story quite as much as I'd hoped, though it was still an intriguing mystery heavily seasoned with witchcraft.
Filled with mystery and suspense, THE LAST GRAVE follows Samantha down a twisting path as she tries to figure out who murdered a local historian and why.
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March 19, 2013THE LAST GRAVE
By Debbie Viguié
If you’ve not yet discovered New York Times bestselling author Debbie Viguié, then you’re missing out. The first in her Witch Hunt series, “The Thirteenth Sacrifice,” was phenomenal.
Oftentimes, the second in a series suffers when faced with the high praise of the previous installment. However, this isn’t the case with “The Last Grave” under Viguié’s deft pen.
Homicide detective Samantha Ryan has relocated to San Francisco and has been working tirelessly to settle in and mentally recover from her last life-changing case when she soon realizes that distance can’t help you run from your past. A “former” witch, Samantha is trying to ignore her birthright and overlook the pull of her powers, but that’s not easy when magic surrounds her newest case.
A woman’s body is found petrified and that sets the stage for a very strange and enticing rollercoaster of a story. As Samantha and her partner begin to investigate, insignificant items start to shift, from the color of her roommate’s hair to the dating status of her rough-around-the-edges partner, and it’s going to take more than the skills developed during her department training to get to the bottom of this case. And what of the bizarre and dangerous string of earthquakes now rolling through the area? It’s soon crystal clear that dark magic is in the mix.
In a race to find out what is and isn’t real, save the life of a teenage girl with her own burgeoning powers, and stop a coven hell-bent on destruction, all while working with a target on her own back, Samantha is left to her own devices where her only ally has little experience. It’s a daunting list of tasks most would hide from, but Samantha—with her dark past—can foresee the devastation if the foolish coven leader succeeds.
For those who aren’t quite sure if they like the dark urban genre, I would highly recommend giving Viguié a try. A gripping storyline with a very likeable heroine, “The Last Grave” is an attention-grabbing, easy read.
Reviewed by Shannon Raab for Suspense Magazine
By Debbie Viguié
If you’ve not yet discovered New York Times bestselling author Debbie Viguié, then you’re missing out. The first in her Witch Hunt series, “The Thirteenth Sacrifice,” was phenomenal.
Oftentimes, the second in a series suffers when faced with the high praise of the previous installment. However, this isn’t the case with “The Last Grave” under Viguié’s deft pen.
Homicide detective Samantha Ryan has relocated to San Francisco and has been working tirelessly to settle in and mentally recover from her last life-changing case when she soon realizes that distance can’t help you run from your past. A “former” witch, Samantha is trying to ignore her birthright and overlook the pull of her powers, but that’s not easy when magic surrounds her newest case.
A woman’s body is found petrified and that sets the stage for a very strange and enticing rollercoaster of a story. As Samantha and her partner begin to investigate, insignificant items start to shift, from the color of her roommate’s hair to the dating status of her rough-around-the-edges partner, and it’s going to take more than the skills developed during her department training to get to the bottom of this case. And what of the bizarre and dangerous string of earthquakes now rolling through the area? It’s soon crystal clear that dark magic is in the mix.
In a race to find out what is and isn’t real, save the life of a teenage girl with her own burgeoning powers, and stop a coven hell-bent on destruction, all while working with a target on her own back, Samantha is left to her own devices where her only ally has little experience. It’s a daunting list of tasks most would hide from, but Samantha—with her dark past—can foresee the devastation if the foolish coven leader succeeds.
For those who aren’t quite sure if they like the dark urban genre, I would highly recommend giving Viguié a try. A gripping storyline with a very likeable heroine, “The Last Grave” is an attention-grabbing, easy read.
Reviewed by Shannon Raab for Suspense Magazine
April 14, 2014
In the second novel in the Witch Hunt series, Samantha Ryan has left Massachusetts to start over in San Francisco after decimating a coven of evil witches (for the second time). Instead of being able to escape the past, however, the past comes calling with a vengeance. Faced with yet another evil coven of witches and "timequakes," Samantha has no choice but to unlock the memories, and the magic, that she has tried so hard to forget and deny.
I liked this second novel less than the first one, and frankly, I liked Samantha less as a character in this novel. I get that she's not a paragon of virtue. She is human, after all, even if she is a witch. However, she just seems much more self-centered in this book, caring less about the actual case that she's supposed to be solving and much more about her own issues. In fact, it seems from the snippet from the next novel that she is completely abandoning the cop portion of her life, so I guess this book was a transitional one in that respect. Samantha goes to some really dark places in this novel, and I think by this point she's actually enjoying it far too much. On some levels it felt like there was an awful lot going on in this book, but when you actually think about it, nothing much really happened. There was an awful lot of inaction (unless you count the interaction the various-aged Samantha's have with each other inside her head), mixed in with an occasional, "Gee, we really should do something about catching this murderer." The end wasn't very satisfying for me, although it wasn't really an end but rather a cliffhanger, and we leave off with a seriously ticked off witch (which is a big problem for someone since she has such a hard time controlling her magic when she gets emotional).
I liked this second novel less than the first one, and frankly, I liked Samantha less as a character in this novel. I get that she's not a paragon of virtue. She is human, after all, even if she is a witch. However, she just seems much more self-centered in this book, caring less about the actual case that she's supposed to be solving and much more about her own issues. In fact, it seems from the snippet from the next novel that she is completely abandoning the cop portion of her life, so I guess this book was a transitional one in that respect. Samantha goes to some really dark places in this novel, and I think by this point she's actually enjoying it far too much. On some levels it felt like there was an awful lot going on in this book, but when you actually think about it, nothing much really happened. There was an awful lot of inaction (unless you count the interaction the various-aged Samantha's have with each other inside her head), mixed in with an occasional, "Gee, we really should do something about catching this murderer." The end wasn't very satisfying for me, although it wasn't really an end but rather a cliffhanger, and we leave off with a seriously ticked off witch (which is a big problem for someone since she has such a hard time controlling her magic when she gets emotional).
September 9, 2016
Boston PD detective Samantha Ryan has been transferred to California and is assigned to investigate an usual murder that reeks of magic. Having reluctantly re-connected with her powers, and finding herself in a less-than-mundane investigation, Samantha is finding it difficult not to make use of her magic.
Unfortunately, this sequel to The Thirteenth Sacrifice fell a bit flat for me. The story unfolds very, very slowly and goes without any real action for the longest time. The pace does pick up in the second half of the book, but it's not quite enough to make me want to give it a higher rating.
The book felt more like a lighter, magical "whodunnit" with a few decent action scenes, rather than the darker, occult thriller that was the first novel. Although I do enjoy lighter murder mysteries, it was somewhat of a let-down after the page-turner first installment.
One element that the author continues to explore, and which I quite enjoy, is the partitioning of Samantha's mind. Although this is not a new concept, I do like how the author is making use of it. We get to know more about Samantha, her childhood and her magic as she rediscovers herself, one door at a time.
That being said, I did read the first few pages of book three, "Circle of Blood", and my first impression is that it might be closer to the first novel. Looking forward to reading more of it...
Unfortunately, this sequel to The Thirteenth Sacrifice fell a bit flat for me. The story unfolds very, very slowly and goes without any real action for the longest time. The pace does pick up in the second half of the book, but it's not quite enough to make me want to give it a higher rating.
The book felt more like a lighter, magical "whodunnit" with a few decent action scenes, rather than the darker, occult thriller that was the first novel. Although I do enjoy lighter murder mysteries, it was somewhat of a let-down after the page-turner first installment.
One element that the author continues to explore, and which I quite enjoy, is the partitioning of Samantha's mind. Although this is not a new concept, I do like how the author is making use of it. We get to know more about Samantha, her childhood and her magic as she rediscovers herself, one door at a time.
That being said, I did read the first few pages of book three, "Circle of Blood", and my first impression is that it might be closer to the first novel. Looking forward to reading more of it...
April 16, 2013
This is the second installment of Ms Viguie's Witch Hunt series.
Samantha's struggle between staying true to her faith or the lure of using her magic is a dailey battle for her. This is an excellent thriller. From the first page until the last you will be drawn in and unable to put it down. I cannot wait for the next installment in this wonderful series. Circle of Blood will be out sometime in 2014.
Samantha Ryan, homicide detective, leaves Massachusetts for San Francisco for a new start. Samantha grew up in a coven of very powerful witches and Samantha is very powerful herself. When trhe coven tried to rise a demon, they were all killed expect for her. She was adopted and turned her back on witchcraft. After her secret was exposed in Massachusetts her boss thinks it is time for a change. She is now on the police force in San Francisco with a new parnter and a roommate. Samantha and her new parnter are called in to a crime scene. When they find the dead body she knows that the woman was killed by a witch. The more they investagate the stranger things become. Samantha has to find the witch and put a stop to her plans to rise a great evil without using her witchcraft as little as possible.
Samantha's struggle between staying true to her faith or the lure of using her magic is a dailey battle for her. This is an excellent thriller. From the first page until the last you will be drawn in and unable to put it down. I cannot wait for the next installment in this wonderful series. Circle of Blood will be out sometime in 2014.
Samantha Ryan, homicide detective, leaves Massachusetts for San Francisco for a new start. Samantha grew up in a coven of very powerful witches and Samantha is very powerful herself. When trhe coven tried to rise a demon, they were all killed expect for her. She was adopted and turned her back on witchcraft. After her secret was exposed in Massachusetts her boss thinks it is time for a change. She is now on the police force in San Francisco with a new parnter and a roommate. Samantha and her new parnter are called in to a crime scene. When they find the dead body she knows that the woman was killed by a witch. The more they investagate the stranger things become. Samantha has to find the witch and put a stop to her plans to rise a great evil without using her witchcraft as little as possible.
June 26, 2016
After the events in Salem, Samantha has packed up her old life and attempted to start over in San Francisco. She's doing her best to be a good Christian and lock away her magic once again, but her newest case has her breaking this vow when she's called to solve the murder of local historian Winona Lightfoot. Samantha discovers that witches are involved and her investigation soon uncovers evidence of a coven working in the Santa Cruz mountains--a place Anthony warned her about. Despite being haunted by her fragmented memories and inner voices telling her to use her magic, she begins to investigate the coven and soon discovers their plan. They intend to release a demon legends say was once buried in the mountains. Samantha rushes to keep this from happening, but will it be enough?
After enjoying book 1, I anxiously waited to read this. The Last Grave really surprised me. Samantha's questions about herself, her faith, the use of her magic and at times even her sanity, kept me reading late into the night. Can't wait to read the next one!
After enjoying book 1, I anxiously waited to read this. The Last Grave really surprised me. Samantha's questions about herself, her faith, the use of her magic and at times even her sanity, kept me reading late into the night. Can't wait to read the next one!
January 23, 2015
The Last Grave is the second book in the series. Samantha Ryan was raised in a very destructive Black Magic Coven by her Mother. She has moved from Salem to San Francisco hoping to forget the horrors of her past. She is now working as a homicide detective in San Francisco with a new partner. Samantha and her partner are called to a crime scene. When they find the women's dead body Samantha knows she was killed by a witch. The more they investigate the stranger things become/ Samantha who is a very powerful Witch herself has to stop the other Witch before she can put her plan to raise a great evil without using her own Witch craft to much.
August 14, 2014
This book was an awesome read. Samantha is not like any ordinary character I have encountered in a paranormal read. Samantha grew up all her life in a dark witch coven teaching her dark magic. When her whole coven is killed trying to raise a demon. She decides to not practice magic anymore and become a detective. When she moves to LA she encounters another witch coven and learns they are trying to turn lose another demon. The coven turns back time by causing earthquakes. Not giving away anything else it is a must read . However this is a series I recommend the 1st book then read this 1.
January 7, 2014
Samantha is back at it with the San Francisco Police department, but as we knew trouble would find her even on the other side of the USA. Little less Police work, little more magic and a lot more crazy. This story was very confusing but the face pace kept you hooked. Hold on cuz it all gets explained. The ending is a bit of a bummer and then we come full circle. If you liked the first one this one is more of the same!
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March 12, 2013This book was really hard to keep reading once I hit about the halfway point. It just wasn't holding my interest and i didn't feel connected to the main character at all. I don't know of this was the second book in a series but it definitely felt like there was a book before this one. The characters were bland and the mystery wasn't strong enough to hold my attention.
June 22, 2013
Interesting. the whole earthquake/time shift was original and well played out. All of her past selves are interesting...almost like multiple personalities but not quite. I enjoyed how the author interweaves magic into an otherwise "normal" setting. Intriguing enough to read the next book in the series but not the first one.
April 17, 2013
crap. I have to wait a year for the next book. I don't want to wait a year. I want it now. I love this series. it was so hard waiting for this book to come out after reading the first one. this author is amazing.
March 10, 2013
2/26/13-Finished ARC
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't connect with the characters and found myself pretty bored overall.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't connect with the characters and found myself pretty bored overall.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
April 5, 2013
Very disappointing. The plot was boring and confusing. Couldn't say if I liked the characters or not as they never stayed the same, their personalities and circumstances kept changing. Won't be reading any more by this author.
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