The Burying Point

Ray Hanley Crime Thrillers #2

by Derik Cavignano

"A FINELY CRAFTED SUPERNATURAL CRIME THRILLER... WITH RAZOR SHARP PROSE AND A BRISTLING ATMOSPHERE." -The BookLife Prize

A CAPTIVATING BLEND OF CRIME, HORROR, AND THE SUPERNATURAL

A missing girl whose bloodline traces back to the Salem Witch Trials is the perfect prize for a demonic cult operating on the fringes of Salem’s witchcraft underground.

Desperate to find his missing niece, a Boston police captain loans his best detective, Ray Hanley, to Salem PD to lead the investigation. But tensions flare when Ray is partnered with Elena Martinez, a rookie detective who resents his intrusion on her first big case.

As they navigate a treacherous landscape of occult rituals and black magic, the horrific discovery of additional victims deepens the mystery and hints at a more sinister plot… one involving a powerful enemy whose secrets include ancestral ties, malevolent forces, and the fulfillment of a dark prophecy.

A National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist for Horror

A BestThrillers Book Awards Finalist

As the days count down to Halloween, the race is on to stop an unspeakable evil from plunging Salem into eternal darkness.

From the award-winning author of The Art of Dying

Genres: Horror, Halloween, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Ebooks, Fiction

413 pages, ebook

First published February 29, 2024

About the author

Derik Cavignano is an award-winning author who writes character-driven stories in a variety of genres, including horror and dark crime thrillers. A native of Boston, Derik now resides in Florida with his wife, two children, and an angry cat who won't stop biting him.

Awards for his novels include the National Indie Excellence Awards, the Best Book Awards, the American Fiction Awards, the BestThrillers Book Awards, and the Silver Falchion Award (details below). Derik is an active member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and the Florida chapter of the HWA. Publishers Weekly calls him clever, but his wife begs to differ.

Derik has also written screenplays of his novels, THE ART OF DYING and COLONY OF THE LOST. A film based on Derik's novel, THE ART OF DYING, is currently in early-stage development.

A 40-minute audio drama based on the screenplay of THE ART OF DYING is available for free on various listening platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify (the 10/24/22 episode of Fever Dreams: A Pulp Collection).

Derik has also written articles appearing in CrimeReads and Mystery & Suspense Magazine.

Awards for THE BURYING POINT:

• 18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (Finalist: Horror)

• 2024 BestThrillers Book Awards (Finalist)

Awards for THE ART OF DYING:

• 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (Winner: Thrillers)

• 2019 Best Book Awards (Winner: Horror)

• 2019 American Fiction Awards (Winner: General Horror)

• 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (Finalist: Horror)

• 2019 American Fiction Awards (Finalist: Crime Thrillers)

Awards for COLONY OF THE LOST:

• 2016 Silver Falchion Award (Finalist: Best Horror)

Reviews

[BlaireReadsTheThings · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC for this title. I apologize for the delay.

Ray is trying his best to win back his wife, father his children and solve all the crimes. When a disappearance hits close to home, he is called in to help lead the case in Salem just prior to Halloween. When the occult jumps into the mix, Ray knows he's on borrowed time to close this case and save the girl.

Even though I DNFed this book at about 50%, I did not dislike it. The characters are great and the writing is good too. The case is interesting. I just don't care. Is that mean? The book is too long and pacing is definitely an issue. Many people may like the character development or the suspense. But for me, drawn-out thrillers kill the suspense and the characters don't have to be that deep. I need them to move move move and go go go. The faster the pace, the more suspense for me because I don't know when the junk is gonna hit the fan. But that count just be a me thing. I'm giving it 2⭐ and may come back to it at some point. But when I find myself thinking more about the books I want to read than the book I'm actually reading, I know it's time to move on.

[PinkPanthress · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗜 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆!

It's less than two weeks until Halloween, Cassie Barnes goes missing in her hometown Salem (yes, that Salem) and Detective Ray Hanley from the Boston PD is sent over by his Boss Captain Barnes (her Uncle) to lend a helping hand in finding the girl. Arriving in Salem he teams up with the young Detective Elena Martinez to find Cassie even though time is running out.

Dark Forces are against them, and soon these two need every bit help they can get. Thank Goodness, State Trooper Ty Garrison and Frank Eastman are on their side.

They say, that the first 48 hours are important in finding someone alive, but when Ray arrives in Salem, those hours are already up. Can he still find Cassie… alive? And will Martinez stop being a pain in the a**?

¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦

There were so many characters in this Book, but you know what? -I liked that! It didn't feel crowded, every character had their right to be in the Story.
My favourite though? It was Trooper Garrison… that guy! 💙

I believe I have never read a Book in which such diverse Genres got married.
I mean Mystery with Crime? Great!
Horror with Supernatural? Superb!
But all 4 together mixed with a good amount of Historical Fiction? That's something entirely different. And best of all? It worked!

Well developed Characters, awesome story-line, not to mention the great world-building with interesting locations (many of which you can look up at Google Street View) and the dynamics between certain people + the pacing (which was somewhere between medium and fast)… it all made for a great read.

Another thing is while reading I realised, that this is the second Book in a Series but I can tell one thing. For this Book to make sense you don't need to read the first one. They seem to be stand alones, each one. Though to be honest, reading 'the Burying Point' has me wanting to read 'the Art in Dying' now.

One more thing! I am not sure if it was just me but the Author made me feel as if I was part of it all, such a captivating read. No miraculous Hail Mary's which would be against Law and all, no illogical turns of events. For a horror/crime/etc. book it was almost as plausible as fiction can get and I really liked that a lot!!

Oh, and I really² liked Ray's family and pets. I liked, that we got a bit of his downtime thrown into the chapters here and there to loosen up everything for a few seconds.

Only disappointment for me in the Book, even if it wasn't that much, was the last Chapter. It felt a tiny bit too short.



𝑰 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚.

My Review on Instagram, if you want to drop a Like there…

[Karen Mazzaferri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Cavignano book and I’m sure I will read another one. A seasoned detective, Hanley, is tasked to find the missing niece of a police captain. He is introduced to a rookie, Martinez that has good instincts, but a distrust for men. A girl turns up dead in an open grave with her heart removed, and another is kidnapped on her way to work. The two detectives begin their investigation and find the cases are related which involve supernatural elements, demonic possession, black masses and witchcraft. As the body count rises, they become more and more invested in finding the truth about “Temple of Six”. Taking place in Salem and assuming something bad is going to happen on Halloween if they don’t find the suspects soon, the detectives and their crew know that time is not on their side.
I enjoyed the writing and the characters, who all had distinct personalities. The detectives are lead down a rabbit hole that they don’t want to face as the outcome could mean their lives or those of innocent young adults.

[Michelle Godard-Richer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing occult thriller featuring Ray and Martinez, a fabulous duo of detectives who are distinctive and complement each other strengths well. I love paranormal and horror elements in my thrillers so this was right up my alley. The plotting was intricate, mysterious, engaging, and well-researched. I haven't read the first book of the series which is now on my TBR, but I had no trouble following this one as a standalone. I highly recommend this book for fans of creepy mysteries and thrillers.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derik Cavignano was masterful at setting the scene in The Burying Point. He says he wanted readers to feel like they were witnessing events through the eyes of the characters and he succeeds. You can practically breathe the crisp fall air, hear the crunch of the fallen leaves and feel the frustration of an intense investigation that has unexpected twists and roadblocks. The story was very engaging, kept me wondering if our heroes would ever be able to solve the case right up until the intense sprint at the end. I did feel that the wrap up at the end could have used more attention but it was still an amazing story and definitely a wild ride!

[Jen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of The Burying Point. This is a well written atmospheric story using Salem MA, as a backdrop for a sinister plot involving a demonic cult. It is an edge of your seat, page turner.

[Bekki's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW, this quick passed dark thrill is so detailed and descriptive. What starts out as a detective working through a simple missing person's case quickly becomes so much MORE! What do the killing of cattle, a dead body in the cemetary, and the chief's missing niece all have in common? Read the book to find out. You'll be glad you do.

[Morgan Himegarner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC for an honest review.
My rating:
4 Stars
My Opinions:
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting, Salem two weeks before Halloween. There were a lot of characters but it never felt confusing or crowded. I love the magic and supernatural elements of this book. The book is a part of the series but also reads like a stand alone book. After reading this one, I am interested in reading the first book, The Art of Dying. I also enjoyed the point of view and how Cavignano builds the characters. The book almost set you up to believe that happened, but has several twists and kept you on your toes.

[Rhi’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burying Point by Derik Cavigniano is a gripping blend of horror, thriller and supernatural.

Two weeks before Halloween in the town of Salem, Cassie Barnes goes missing. Detective Ray Hanley is summoned to help solve the case, teaming up with Elena Martinez in a race against the clock to find the missing girl before the odds of her being found alive are too small to hope for a good outcome.

They say that the first 48 hours are critical to finding a missing person. But when Detective Hanley arrives in the town of Salem, those hours are already up. Can he find the missing girl and solve the case?

Whilst trying to solve the case, dark forces work against our two main detectives.
—————————————————————

This novel was a perfect mixture of crime and horror with just the perfect amount of supernatural elements.

The characters were well written, whether it be they drove you up the wall or not.

The atmosphere and tension had you on edge with the first chapter having you hooked from the beginning.

You can tell the author either knew a lot about about Wicca or did a lot of research for this book as it shows in the depth of detail the topic is explored in the book.

I feel the only reason it was rated a four star is I did find it rather slow at times.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a crime fiction with supernatural elements. The book began with describing the crime. Then as the detectives delved deeper into the investigation, much more was to the case. Satanic information began to show up within the community. When the chief of police’s daughter disappears, the clock begins ticking. The detectives have to figure out what is going on in this small community before more death occurs.
I found this book fascinating. Reasonably rational detectives found their beliefs challenged as they uncovered clues that led to a supernatural presence existing in the community. I was shocked at who was involved and how the detectives had to suspend their own beliefs to solve the crimes.

[Douglas Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who has read Cavignano knows the careful way he balances horror with mystery/police procedurals. Think Se7en, and you'll get the idea. With Cavignano, we have the literary equivalent. With The Burying Point, the author brings us another case for Ray Hanley to solve, and this time, Cavignano adds an irresistible occult angle. This is a novel for readers who wish season 1 and 4 of True Detective leaned more into the supernatural, and Cavignano manages this without sacrificing the mystery elements. In the process, he builds up to a wild grand guignol conclusion that will leave you gasping. It's time to read Cavignano if you're not already!

[Samantha Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible- you will laugh, you will be grossed out, there's adrenaline dump events. This is like watching a movie, you WILL keep turning pages. It's super easy to follow, I'm trying really hard to not binge read this, I want it to last. There's 400 pages that will leave you questioning what happens next and making assumptions. This book has factual information in it and I love that Derik didn't have any real occult names, demon names, etc and that the police aspect is pretty spot on! Derik did alot of research on this book and this is one of my new favorites.

[Erin Sterett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of The Burying Point in exchange for an honest review. This book was everything I had hoped it would be. The author does an amazing job drawing you in and making you feel like you’re right in the thick of it. I love a good police story, then you add in some witch craft, murder, and toss in some supernatural horror and it’s sure to be a solid read. I couldn’t put this one down. Definitely looking forward to reading more!

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Salem.
Witches.
Cults.
Murder.
End of the world?

This has it ALL. This book has a bit of everything and I enjoyed every moment of it! There's horror, mystery and supernatural. The character building was done well and it kept me on my toes. Needless to say I'm already invested in future books involving our main man.

Thanks for the wild ride Derik!

[Marie Aitchison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was intriguing right from the start! The writing is good, with no frills and plenty of wit. This story includes mystery, murder, possession and a dark cult. 🫣

I loved that it took place in Salem Massachusetts! Famous for the witch trials, this was a great location for a spooky modern day detective story. To add to the fun atmosphere, the events of the book all lead up to Halloween night.

I hadn't realized this was the second book in a series and now I want to go back and read the previous one! It works fine as a stand alone read, but it was clear as I went that I was missing some background info from past stories that would help with character development. I also wish it had been a little shorter because the story is long one and could have been edited down a bit. Still a fun read, nonetheless.

If you're a fan of crime/mystery/horror then don't sleep on this! So glad I found a new-to-me author to enjoy.

[Derith Rolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

This just got better and better. I love a bit of weird and this was definitely a bit weird . It had it all , real bad guys, demon possession . The Omen meets Hellraiser.

[Stephanie E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Hanley thought he met his match when he was faced with The Artist, a sadistic and demented serial killer. But Hanley wasn’t prepared when he met The Temple of the Six.

When I overhead Derik Cavignano recite his pitch to prospective readers during our writing events, I had to pick up this next book in the Ray Hanley series. Even though I’m not a fan of police fiction, I loved The Art of Dying. Cavignano proved that he knows how to put you on the edge of your seat, so I had to see which next crimes would push Hanley to his limits.

Here, Hanley was confronted with a Satanic cult. I’ll have more thoughts on that later in the review, but Cavignano blended the supernatural with police procedurals to where I (almost) believed an apocalyptic Satanic mass could happen in the Salem tunnels (but at this point, a demonic uprising would be the least crazy thing to happen in this unpredictable world).

When I bought this book, Cavignano told me I would love Detective Martinez. He knows me too well—Martinez was by far my favorite character. She was a total badass but also came from a traumatic past, and you empathized with her throughout the entire book.

While reading, I wondered if I would like this one better than The Art of Dying. I think I love them both equally. They’re both very different but Cavignano still exhibits the same writing style. Hanley’s snarky personality and quick wits were entertaining in both books, and there was enough brutality and gore between the novels to satisfy this extreme horror fan.

Plus, both books had crazy twists. While I was able to predict the end of the Art of Dying, I was so close with The Burying Point (I got a few characters mixed up). If I can’t predict a twist, then you know that ending was good!

I won’t give away the ending, but I will mention part of the twist in my critique. So please don’t read the next part if you haven’t finished the book yet.

******

The Burying Point only really had one flaw: there were many cliches. Specifically, the tattooed, heavy metal people were all affiliated with the cult, as well as the hot girls with dark hair. But the young, blonde virgin was the holy one. Maybe I’m biased because I’m a dark-haired, tattooed, heavy metal chick, but I was expecting (or hoping) the blonde virgins to be the Satanists.

I should mention that Cavignano was very respectful toward Wiccans, and I do give him kudos for that.

At first, I was also going to add that Hanley seemed more heroic in this story, not flawed like the last. But in respect to Hanley, he messed up big time during the last book, and I believe Cavignano took this one to redeem his character. I can’t criticize that.

Otherwise, I highly recommend The Burying Point and see it as an excellent continuation of the Ray Hanley series. Maybe next time, Hanley can take down a corrupt politician. But that might be more nightmare-inducing than demons.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cavignano’s second Ray Hanley thriller is a brilliant and unmissable dance with the devil. Salem witch lore has rarely been as terrifying as it is in The Burying Point.

As The Burying Point opens, Boston Police Ray Hanley arrives at the scene of what seems like an almost-perfect crime. The body of a young woman has been buried in a freshly dug grave just hours before she would have been covered by its intended occupant forever. Moments after emerging from the grave to retrieve the decomposing body (Cavignano’s ability to evoke dread and claustrophobia in scenes like this is second to none), Ray is summoned back to the precinct for a more pressing matter.

Ray soon finds himself paired up with detective Elena Martinez to investigate the disappearance of Cassie Barnes, a troubled teenager from Salem who has gone missing after leaving for work at a local cafe. Could she have simply run away? Possibly, but Cassie’s ex-boyfriend, Alex, a much older public defender, is considered a suspect due to his recent breakup with her.

The investigation soon yields a host of provocative discoveries that point to something far more complex. The mother of one of Cassie’s friends – institutionalized after a mental breakdown – reveals that the girls may have been involved in the occult, including attending rituals at a local Wiccan store. The detectives also discover a series of tunnels beneath Salem, where they find an underground church used by a cult for black masses. Could they also be used for human trafficking or other criminal activities?

Cavignano’s long-awaited follow-up to The Art of Dying does not disappoint. In Ray, we have a truly haunted detective who somehow remains grounded despite suffering PTSD on a prior case. While he’s seen plenty of things that seem to be beyond human comprehension, he’s not yet jaded enough to be unflappable. That’s important given what Cavignano throws his way, including ghost hunters, rumors of organ harvesting, a Eucharist made from human flesh – and a planned Halloween ceremony that may involve human sacrifice.

In Martinez, Cavignano develops a vulnerable yet capable partner whose run-ins with co-workers and intriguing personal life adds depth to the series’ universe. Let’s hope Cavignano brings her back for another case.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read by Cavignano and it’s a strong read. The cast of characters is surprisingly likable (while still realistically flawed) and had great interactions and dialogue. Ray was great but I enjoyed Martinez and Garrison just as much. I expected Ray to fall into the cliched alcoholic, terrible family man cliche, but was pleased with his portrayal. Martinez has a heck of a character arc but it felt a bit rushed and leaned into a more cinematic vibe when she finally drops her guard for the “right” person. If this is the only book shes featured in, I get it, but if she is in future books it would have felt more fitting if things had progressed for her a bit slower.

I don’t think I’m really the right audience for this book. I’m a staunch atheist with some anti-theism mixed in there. While I still enjoy film and books about possessions and demons quite a bit, The Burying Point ended up toeing a pretty cliche line of good and evil. *Most* of the “evil” characters fit the gothic, tattooed stereotype which was a bit of a miss for me. Things get shaken up towards the end, but at times it felt like a novelization of War Pigs by Black Sabbath. I recognize there have probably been a minority of devil worshippers who fit into these parameters but for me all the Satanists I’ve ever known haven’t believed in any sort of god or devils.

I saw another review that mentioned DNF because of length/world building which I had zero issue with. I think this is the first book I’ve read set in Salem and Cavignano does a great job with the setting and it’s no secret I love my slow burn books that are heavy on plot construction and The Burying Point scratches that itch.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. As mentioned it’s a longer read and the plot takes a bit to get moving. The characters are great and there is some solid action. There are a few tw (CSA, incest and animal death) but nothing super graphic is described. There is some super gross scenes (Maroney’s bloody mouth 🤢) but still fits solidly in the horror genre. If you like cult-y Satanic worship books then I’d give this one a go. It’s a fairly cinematic read at times but I think those who like religious horror would enjoy The Burying Point. I’d definitely be open to checking out more from Cavignano moving forward but likely would stay away from any books with heavy Christian themes.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated that even though this was a series book it easily reads as a standalone. Sometimes I don’t have the time or honestly the mental energy to start yet another series. This gives enough of a background to tie in the previous story but it’s not overwhelming or makes you feel like you’re missing out. To be honest; after finishing this book I feel way more inclined to read the others.
This entire group of characters was exceptionally diverse and unique. It didn’t feel like your standard run-of-the-mill male cop protagonist, and rookie women partner which I really, really enjoyed. Their individual backstories felt very natural, and the progression of their partnership was also a good pace. Honestly, all of the interactions between all characters, major and minor felt very not forced at all and in fact very realistic.
I will say something that continuously caught my attention was how immersive it felt. No matter what the environment, it truly felt like I was in the midst the entire time. Which was good of course, but in this instance it absolutely upped creep factor significantly.
You can tell easily that the author took a lot of time into doing research about all the aspects, especially the occult and the history of Salem. A lot of the time I found myself wondering, “is this really all fiction or is there some facts in here?” Which I think is so awesome!! Being able to keep your reader guessing through the entire story requires some serious talent.
The plot twists though? Insane. I can’t even explain- and won’t because, spoilers. It’s pretty slow start, and honestly the middle too but I just take into account that it’s a pretty realistic timeframe. But trust me if you think you haven’t figured out; you don’t and that’s okay. I promise everything gets up gets tied up nicely, but it’s not without a few moments of panic, especially near the end.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🕵🏻‍♂️ love a fast paced mystery
🎃 are a big fan of Halloween
👀 want to feel like you’re in the story
🩸 enjoy true crime

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

A missing girl whose bloodline traces back to the Salem Witch Trials is the perfect prize for a demonic cult operating on the fringes of Salem’s witchcraft underground.

Desperate to find his missing niece, a Boston police captain loans his best detective, Ray Hanley, to Salem PD to lead the investigation. But tensions flare when Ray is partnered with Elena Martinez, a rookie detective who resents his intrusion on her first big case.

As they navigate a treacherous landscape of occult rituals and black magic, the horrific discovery of additional victims deepens the mystery and hints at a more sinister plot… one involving a powerful enemy whose secrets include ancestral ties, malevolent forces, and the fulfillment of a dark prophecy.

As the days count down to Halloween, the race is on to stop an unspeakable evil from plunging Salem into eternal darkness.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a fast paced mystery that occurs around Halloween. I love a good police procedural and this one really delivered for me. The writing was phenomenal and I oftentimes felt like I was seeing everything through the character’s own eyes. I also loved that it had supernatural elements included as I am a big fan of this genre. Even though it’s part of a series, I never felt lost. I will need to go back and read book one now though!

[Taylor Hathcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime thrillers are not usually my thing like at all. However, it was really hard to pass this one up when the summary was about a demonic cult, Salem witchcraft, and connections to the Salem witch trials. I found myself in like two minds with this one. I struggled sometimes, with the aspects that I knew I would, like the police procedural narrative stuff. I just struggle to stay invested in that part. However, I really loved once we started making the occult and magic connections. The book really took off for me at that point and I needed to know what was happening next. I think the way things were woven together was really well done. I find it fascinating the way the author managed to throw so many plot twists into this story so seamlessly.

The plot twists were actually phenomenal to be honest. It took me a bit by surprise each time a new reveal was made. The story really manages to balance out the crime procedural stuff with the occult and magic element dynamic. I have to say I would have enjoyed a bit more of the occult stuff but at the same time I can admit that it would have given a lot away too early... but I think it would have made the ending a little less strange in context. However, I really enjoyed this excursion into crime thrillers. I think it managed to balance out well with things I find interesting so that I could fully enjoy the story. I loved how elaborate things turned out to be in this one. It was an interesting story.

[John C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime or Horror
I've decided that it is a crime story. There is nothing in the nature of a horror story that is fundamental to the storyline so it is easy to ignore or accept. Nevertheless, the story has many plot lines, unexpected twists and varied characters, making it interesting and exciting to read. The locations are worth a positive mention including standard crime scenes, house of horror, coven meetings, tunnels, graveyards, crypts and churches - all set at Halloween. Despite fumbling around for most of the book, the heroes eventually, at p.357 (88%), identify the clue that has been staring them in the face and with only minutes to go!
The writing is good and well edited, the story moves along at a good pace. The two main lead characters are well conceived, Ray Hanley, the hard nosed, well-baked cop, but, surprisingly, with a happy family life, and Elena Martinez, but why make her lesbian or are we just ticking some boxes? Honourable mention to Ty Garrison, a great character and good back story, but, making him a victim just doesn't sit right. However, all comes right in the end, nicely wrapped up. Good guys win, yay!

[Stormy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! The story is all about a detective trying to look for the Boston's police captain's niece which then turns out to be one heck of a bigger case than just a simple missing person. It tackles about the occult and mystery, you can never get bored with it. The characters are well written that you get fond of them throughout the book. You end up unknowingly rooting for the characters.

I was hooked from start to finish. OMG! I actually started reading without thinking too much about it, just to pass time after finishing a previous read. But after a couple of pages in I was not able to stop myself! It was amazingly written. The book started off strong and just kept going like that until the end.

I am especially fond of the mix between the suspense, the horror and the mystery. Giving tidbits of information about the occult was also a great mix (I'm saying this as a non-occult fun) making it more enjoyable to read. Definitely worth trying out! This would be my second 5 star read of the year. If this is a coming series, then I'll be looking forward to it!

[Hayley Surabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start this by saying that I normally do not enjoy reading books focused around crime and police work, but this story drew me in and kept me interested throughout the whole story! I thoroughly enjoyed how the author was very descriptive and made the reader feel as if they are seeing things through the eyes of the characters.

It is almost Halloween and there was a girl found dead buried in a grave, another gone missing, and another who has just gone completely mad. We get to go on a journey to find a missing girl and help uncover a cult all before Halloween comes and there are human sacrifices and demons released into our world. By the time you get to the end of the story and find out who all is involved in this cult you will be picking your jaw up off the ground!

Beware! The coming of the six!

[Bee]

Dnf @ 40 pages

From the start this authors writing didn't click with me. There was just way too much description of everything. The most insignificant detail seemed to get a full sentence of detail. I'm sure this is great for some readers, but considering I'm not one of those people that "sees" books in their head when they read I find it irksome.

I decided to continue on despite this because the story did sound fun... but then the author introduces like 5 women characters- all but one of which are abrasive, hostile and unlikeable. One is the FMC who is a cliche lady cop with something to prove in a field dominated by men who will undoubtedly be made soft by the male lead who might I add was added to her case because another man wanted to make sure the case got solved.... and I just can't with all of that.

[Samantha Hehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect tale of modern day Salem. The Salem witch trials live on in everyone's minds, even in the 21st century. After all, the main player's descendants are alive and well. And there are others who wish for century's long revenge.
What starts as the bizarre discovery of a dead woman lying in a freshly dug empty grave turns to another woman's missing person's case turns into a kidnapping. But it doesn't end there. More and more people go missing. The history of Salem arises from under the ground and everyone is suspect. Everyone from the Wiccans to the people giving tours at the Witch Museum, to the kids running the haunted house. And Halloween is just around the corner. A sacred day full of anticipation for some.

This book is every witch loving bookworm's juicy story.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me a book that takes place in Salem, that’s set around Halloween, with murders and mystery and I am one happy book reader!
This was another first author read and a book that is part of a series. I have not read anything previously by the author and this is another book that works as a standalone.
I enjoyed all of the characters we got to know, the team that worked together to solve the crimes, and the amazing storyline with history. The buildup of the story was wonderful. Mentioning several places in Salem had me feeling like I was there. There was good bit of occult in the book which I really enjoyed! Highly recommend!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about a detective who gets called to Salem to investigate the abduction of young girl about a week before Halloween. Having just investigated the death of a young girl found in an open grave, Ray finds clues that link the two cases together and with little time on their hands, he has to find the missing girl before it is too late. I thought the writing was excellent and really drew me into the story. I enjoyed the banter between the two detectives and how they worked on their issues in order to solve the case, and I definitely enjoyed the description of Salem and its history.

[Melanie Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did he do this?! I've never read a book with so many threads to follow. The characters were many, but I got a good sense of who the main characters were personally. The story was also told from different points of view but the author made it seamless!

In the end, all of those threads I mentioned were weaved together into a nice, cozy blanket. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5: there was one thing in the last chapter, one tiny thread that was a little loose. But, holy cats. I forgive the author because I loved this book!