It was stolen from a New Orleans grave — the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It's an object desired by collectors — and by those with wickedness in their hearts.
One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty's antiques shop, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she's inherited much more than she realised.
Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn't a job — it's a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.
Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced and that love can be temporary. Yet their connection is primal. Mesmerising. They also know that their story won't end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
In New Orleans Danni Cafferty inherits an antiques shop from her father. Before he died he was very adamant that she not sell the store. She thinks he was selling antiques, but he was doing much more. One day a woman comes into the shop, desperately wanting Danni to take a marble statue/bust that she's convinced killed her husband. Danni thinks she's crazy. But later the woman is found dead. Danni meets Michael Quinn, a former cop and now a private investigator. He believes the bust is evil. Everyone who gets it dies. Eventually Michael and Danni try to track the bust down and they meet an odd assortment of characters along the way...
Heather Graham really does a spectacular job describing New Orleans. I really felt like I was there. I enjoyed the paranormal elements in the story. Danni and Michael were attracted to each other, but this was more a suspense/mystery story than a romantic one. I thought they made a good team. I also liked Michael's dog Wolf, who was very large and protective, but sweet.
An entertaining mystery with an exciting conclusion set in lively New Orleans. This is the first book in Heather Graham's "Cafferty and Quinn" series. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Danni Cafferty's father Angus has died and left her his antiques shop on Royal Street. In that shop he has left a special book that he tells her she needs to read.
Enter Michael Quinn, a former cop who earlier in life died on the operating table and has come back slightly enhanced. He needs Danni's help to track down a statue bust that is causing people to kill or commit suicide.
Danni's father never shared with her what his "real" job was. Basically he hunted down objects and artifacts that he then cleansed and keep safe in his shop. So pretty much like the TV show Warehouse 13.
Danni and Michael don't start off on the greatest of foots, but soon an attraction builds and Danni finds herself learning more about what her father did, and taking his place.
This is another one that takes place in New Orleans, and I really like how this author adds in history, and detailed descriptions of places. It's full of twists and turns and interesting characters. I didn't find the romance to be as forced in this one, but I didn't like the way it was left at the end of the book. I'm a HEA lover, and this was more of a HFN, but since there are two more books in the series I am hoping for more of a declaration of "yes we are a couple" in the other books. Really though, the romance aspect of these books take a backseat to the mystery angle.
I'm a long-time fan of Heather Graham, and while this isn't my #1 favorite of hers, LET THE DEAD SLEEP is an intriguing, fun read. Heather delivers the eerie paranormal twists that she is known for, while creating a plot that is creepy and populated by quirky characters.
In this paranormal thriller, Heather takes a somewhat ordinary object and turns it into an element of terror. She never fails to deliver a great read. So if you're looking for pure entertainment, check this one out.
PS: I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif, international bestselling author of
Let The Dead Sleep by Heather Graham has been in my TBR pile for way too long and I'm so glad I read it!
Heather writes a very intriguing, chilling story in Let The Dead Sleep and I couldn't get enough of it! I loved the great mix of mystery, suspense, paranormal, and the touch of romance that enhances the overall plot. I liked how Danni is not a clear picture at the start of the book, and as more is revealed, Danni is just as shocked as I was. I felt that Heather wove what Danni is and what she could do in well with the suspenseful plot, giving away just enough at just the right times. I had a clearer picture of Quinn in my mind from the start, but even then there were secrets about him that arose through Let The Dead Sleep. I liked how Danni and Quinn grew on each other...it certainly wasn't an immediate attraction or even friendship! I liked how they were together as their relationship grew and as the danger crept closer.
I really liked how Heather wrote the paranormal into Let The Dead Sleep. There was enough to make my hair stand on end, just as it wasn't so far fetched that I couldn't help thinking what if?!! I loved, loved the New Orleans setting, and Heather describes it exactly how I picture it in my head. I felt like I was there. I also liked how Heather brought in different believes and how people accepted them.
In a fight of good versus evil and for some the unbelievable, Let The Dead Sleep was fast paced, and well written. Heather kept me turning the pages very intrigued. I'd recommend Let The Dead Sleep to any paranormal suspense reader who likes some romance blended in.
Ada yg suka baca romsus (romantic-suspense) ? Kalo iya, wajib baca buku ini. Ceritanya bagus khas heather graham yg menggabungkan misteri, pembunuhan dan hal2 supranatural yg terjadi di New Orleans. Bagi yg blm tau, NO terkenal dgn praktik voodoo nya. Bermula dr seorg wanita tua yg dtg ke toko barang antik milik dannielle (dani) yg diwariskan dr ayah dani yg br meninggal. Wanita tersebut kalut ttg patung antik yg dia blg membunuh suami nya dan minta dani mengambil ke rumah nya. Dani yg skeptis akhir nya berjanji kakau setelah setelah toko tutup fia akan dtg. Disitu juga dani ketemu sama seorg detektif swasta yg memang lagi mengejar patung itu. Awalnya dani gsk percaya dengan hal2 mistis. Tapi si wanita yg dtg ke toko ditemukan mati gantung diri. Akhir nya dani dan quinn si detektif swasta mantan polisi yg ganteng bgt (ahem
Sooo, we have an artist, a private investigator and deadly evil objects in New Orleans! In theory, thus book should be a 5 ⭐ for me, but i found the relationship between the characters and the dialogues to be a bit underwhelming! I loved the book though!!
Danielle is an artist, apparently she paints very accurate pieces of people or events to happen! Her father died and left her with a shop of oddities and weird things, like a little museum!! She seems to be smart and very compassionate! I like that she is logical and not your typical FMC!!
Michael Quinn is hot! Yeah, thats what is mentioned throughout the entire book!! He had a car accident and died then came back with some kind of superpowers! Grumpy, smart and super protective of the people he cares about! At first he thought Danni to be a spoiled brat that can't understand whats happening, but she proved him wrong and he found himself falling for her!
It all starts with a bust, a marble statue that urges people to commit crimes!! I loved the history behind it and the way they managed to stop it all! The only down part of this book is probably the writing, it was all good except for the dialogues! I think the next books will be better!
I couldn't tell you why this book took me so long to finish, but I am in a heavy reading slump. I really enjoyed this book even though it was a little bit predictable. While it is a little suspenseful I think that there could've been a little bit more involvement as far as the characters go, I'm interested to see where the rest of the story goes
New Orleans, voodoo, ancient evil, human sacrifice, and a new partnership against evil combine and make Heather Graham’s, Let the Dead Sleep a can’t put down tale of mystery and suspense.
Book 1 of The Cafferty and Quinn series begins with a prologue. Dani is saying her final goodbyes to her larger than life father, Angus Quinn. He is in a coma and Dani is finding it difficult to let go. She talks to him endlessly and I was as shocked as she was when Angus bolts upright and proclaims, “Lass, so late, too late! I should have spoken to you about this so many times, so long ago.”…
Dani is elated that her father has spoken and quickly yells for the doctor. The doctor, shakes his head sadly, and informs Dani that there is no way that her father has spoken to her since he had already passed when he had left her alone in the room to say her final goodbyes.
And so we begin, Let the Dead Sleep. It has been three months since Angus’s death. Dani has many things to learn about the life her father led and the secrets he tried to protect her from . She needs to come to terms with things quickly because a new evil has arrived in New Orleans and it is leaving a trial of dead in its wake.
I really enjoyed this book. It had the perfect combo of mystery, suspense, paranormal, and romance. Things move along at a steady and engaging pace. The characters are all great—except for the bad guys, of course. I’m looking forward to discovering what is up next for Cafferty and Quinn in book 2, Waking the Dead.
3.5 stars. Very much in the "spirit" of the author's other series . Krewe of Hunters and Harrison Investigations , except this series features an on-going couple.
Danni Cafferty inherited an antique shop from her father and found out that he was more than just an antique dealer and is now expected to carry on the "family" legacy.
Michael Quinn was an ex-football jock who came back from the dead on the operating table from a drug overdose, changed his life around, became a P.I. who occasionally enlisted Danni's father on "unusual" cases. Now, he's enlisted Danni's help to find a marble bust that seems to be causing a lot of deaths.
This is suspense with a paranormal twist set in New Orleans. The romance is understated and very mild. Good solid start to a new series.
Let the dead sleep : Cafferty and Quinn book 1 By Heather Graham
I first discovered this author on Audible and ever since that first book I have made a point of buying a book by her at least once every three months.
The narrator of this specific book was amazing. Her timing, enunciation and her range for voices made me feel as if I were at my fathers knee, listening to him reading a familiar book to me one more time.
The story. As always a combination of paranormal and romance and this time with a dog as big as a small horse. What more can you ask for?
I find it incredible how effortless this author manages to keep you, the listener believing in the unbelievable.
If romance, action, paranormal, thriller and a good read is your cup a tea, well then. Have a sip.
In Graham’s paranormal mystery novel, the bust of an evil man has been stolen from a New Orleans grave. It’s an object most art collectors would covet in their personal collection. Out of the blue, the current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop, a shop she inherited from her deceased father. But before Danni even has an opportunity to buy the bust, it disappears in the wake of the owner’s death.
Michael Quinn, former cop and now a private investigator, is determined to find and destroy the bust before its long history of destruction can lead to even more deaths. Drawn together, Michael and Danni go in search of the antiquity as it makes its way through New Orleans to places hidden deep in the bayou.
Once more, Heather Graham has created a gripping story that will hold its readers spellbound until the end.
This was one of the lamest excuses for a thriller I've ever read! As one reviewer put it, it reads like it was written by a teenage girl- one that knows little about the horror/thriller genre! The plot sounded promising- I judged a book by it's back cover when I picked this up. The main character was arrogant and unlikable, the story moved at a painfully sluggish pace, and much of the dialogue and actions of the characters were laughably hard to swallow. I am a die-hard follower of the horror/thriller genre, and had just read Nick Cutter's 'The Troop'- a five star read in my opinion: scared me silly, and this book fell abysmally short in all aspects! This 'bubblegum' thriller may be a great read for someone who doesn't normally like thrillers, but this book is off to the thrift store!
This was an uncorrected proof from Netgalley so I'm not sure if my dislike of the book is due to the formatting issues or the blah story. No, I'm pretty sure it was the blah story. I usually find Heather Graham's paranormals creepy and entertaining but I found this one ridiculous. The cast of nefarious characters was laughable and the main characters, Danni & Quinn, were just blah. I know Graham can do better.
HG can be a hit or miss for me on some of her books and series, but this one I really liked. I happened to catch the little short that HG wrote with F. Paul Wilson and liked the character so much I decided to check out the Quinn and Cafferty series. So glad I did. I am not prepared to call it a romance yet, but it is leaning that way. This book came off as spooky to me and I liked it.
C'est plus un 3.5 ... Un type qui lutte contre les forces du mal, blond au yeux clairs ... j'ai de suite visualisé mon héros. Il est aidé par une novice héritière d'un don particulier ... et d'un gros chien. L'intrigue se passe à la Nouvelle Orléans, c'est pleins de vaudou, de mystères, de légendes ... Bref, je lirai la suite avec plaisir!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all the characters :) it had a good plot and lots of twists and turns and I can't wait to read the next book in the series :)
This was a pretty good story. I liked the New Orleans setting. I figured out most of the story early on, but maybe that was because the characters didn’t know as much as I did? I’ll check out the next book in the series.
The book is about a statue stolen from the house and has satanic vibes and the per suit of which leads to chaos and death of innocent people. As far as author- Heather has done a great job of keeping the audience engaged.
Wow a lot of suspense and murders. I guessed some of the mystery but not all of it. I have a feeling that we will see more Cafferty and Quinn in the future. Their is some paranormal in this book. This is one dirty book, They get covered in mud and other junk a few times. Plus their is some love scenes too.
Danni's father just died and he tells her to not sell the shop and read the book with the light. Danni finds out that she did not know about a lot of things her father had been doing all his life. Now Danni was supposed to pick up where he had been and making a better world.
Michael a PI demanded that Danni step up for the job like her father would and to meet him at 5 and the address.
Danni had a customer come and demand that she come to her house and buy a bust that was cursed. She said it killed her husband. That she had to come. Before her customer came to the shop Danni had painted her portait before ever seeing her. When Danni got to the house she found Michael their searching the house for her.
Her car was parked in driveway, her housekeeper said she was imside but could not find her. They all searched till they found her in the attic she had hung herself. The bust was missing having a thief steal it at same time she killed herself.
Whoever had the bust was soon killed. Even if you were just looking for it you might not survive. The body count kept rising as they trailed the bust. People were willing to pay a lot money for it. They thought they could get power owning it.
The characters were a wide range of people, some good and some bad. The settings were creepy for some of them. I don't think I would break into a cemetary at night and go into a crypt too. And a New Orleans one too.
Plot line was good. I could not get that interested in it like others of Heather's novels.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley. Publisher: Harlequin MIRA (March 26, 2013) 336 pages ASIN: B00ALTVI6K
It was stolen from a New Orleans grave – the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It’s an object desired by collectors – and by those with wickedness in their hearts.
One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty’s antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead…and Danni discovers that she’s inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She’d dismissed it as a curiosity…until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death.
Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn’t a job – it’s a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations.
Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won’t end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again
I've read a few books by Graham and I've always found them entertaining. Usually mysteries with a hint of paranormal elements and a little romantic suspense added in. This book was no exception, it was a fast paced ride from the beginning of the book to the last page.
One of the main characters is Danni Cafferty and she runs an antique shop that she inherited from her father. She is also an up and coming artist that finds herself in her shop painting the face of a woman she's never met before. That same day the woman walks in begging Danni to come look at an antique bust she has in her house that she is positive killed her husband. Danni is shocked that this woman thinks she could be of any help and eventually agrees to come to her house to look at the object. When she arrives at the house to find the woman dead Danni begins to look closer and examine what exactly she inherited from her father besides the store.
Michael Quinn is another of the main characters, he's a PI that used to work with Danni's father Angus on different cases. He has also heard about the bust and wanted Danni to help him locate it before other people died.
So Quinn and Danni are both drawn together to try to discover the location of the bust while also trying to keep themselves and everyone around them alive in the process.
The mystery surrounding the bust was really interesting to me, and although I guessed who some of the people involved were it took me awhile to piece together the endgame. I also loved that the story took place in New Orleans, it seemed the perfect setting for a sleuth like mystery - and for some reason as I was reading I kept getting flashes of Scooby Doo and the gang. It just seemed like a mystery they would be interested in solving!!
There were a couple of things I had an issue with. One being the beginning of the book which kept leading me to believe that I was missing something. I'm not sure if this was a part of a series (I don't think it is) but I felt as though I were starting in the middle of the story and didn't know all the players. I guess it was just the way the author decided to give out information. Also, the mystery surrounding Quinn was a little drawn out for my tastes. Especially since his backstory ended up not being that interesting. Yet we were teased with it for quite a bit. It was definitely a little bit of a let-down.
But all in all, I still enjoyed the story and had fun with it. I got the impression from the last few pages that there might be another story on the horizon.. and if there is, I'll definitely pick it up and read it.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this free copy to read and review.
Nobody writes New Orleans like Heather Graham. Let the Dead Sleep is further proof of this. Her descriptions of the city are so vivid and realistic that you can hear the jazz music, smell the Gumbo cooking and get a fantastic feel for the famous city without ever leaving your couch.
That being said, this boo0k had a very interesting plot, some well thought out protagonists and a lot of mystery, but I felt there was still some lag in this story. I'm not sure what it was exactly. While I enjoyed reading this and for the most part it held my interest, it just seemed that it wasn't reaching the potential I had expected for it. At about half way through the novel the characters were so numerous that I felt it took away from the romance blossoming between the two main characters.
I did like the story about the bust and the way the author approached the subject of voodoo in New Orleans. I thought the initial moments between father and daughter at the beginning of the story set a nice tone for the plot to develop around and showed that the main character was compassionate and came from a solid background.
I loved Wolf and thought he was a great addition to the overall story. The main thing I really enjoyed about this book was how the author developed Danni. She was tough when she needed to be, capable enough to stand on her own two feet and yet still sensitive to the needs and wants of others. I appreciated that although she came into the story rather closed-minded, she ended up much more accepting of things she hadn't previously understood.
As far as the mystery itself went, I thought the introduction of supernatural elements early in the story kept things shrouded and made for a more interesting ending. This is one of the things that keeps me coming back for more Heather Graham works. She knows how to pace her novels for maximum suspense and this book was no exception to that rule.
If you are a fan of this author, or even if you haven't read her books yet, you will want to read this book. The imagery is really very good.
This review is based on an ARC from the publisher.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
"It was stolen from a New Orleans grave - the centuries-old bust of an evil man, a demonic man. It's an object desired by collectors - and by those with wickedness in their hearts. One day, its current owner shows up at Danni Cafferty's antiques shop on Royal Street, the shop she inherited from her father. But before Danni can buy the statue, it disappears, the owner is found dead...and Danni discovers that she's inherited much more than she realized. In the store is a book filled with secret writing: instructions for defeating evil entities. She'd dismissed it as a curiosity...until the arrival of this statue, with its long history of evil and even longer trail of death. Michael Quinn, former cop and now private investigator, is a man with an unusual past. He believes that doing the right thing isn't a job - it's a way of life. And the right thing to do is find and destroy this object weighted with malevolent powers. He and Danni are drawn together in their search for the missing statue, following it through sultry New Orleans nights to hidden places in the French Quarter and secret ceremonies on abandoned plantations. Cafferty and Quinn already know that trust in others can be misplaced, that love can be temporary. And yet their connection is primal. Mesmerizing. They also know that their story won't end when this case is closed and the dead rest in peace once again." (From Amazon)
A good supernatural romance set against the backdrop of contemporary New Orleans. I loved the descriptions of the French Quarters and spooky graveyards. If you like romance and mystery this is a great book.
**I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review**
I really like Grahams Horror/paranormal books more than I do her romantic suspense ones. One of the things that I have always loved about her books is that some are based in Louisiana around the Bayou. This just sets the mood for a paranormal story! I loved LET THE DEAD SLEEP for the suspense it had and the paranormal twist. The whole voodoo element that the story had also made it more spookier which is right up my alley! I also enjoyed the characters. Danni & Quinn were 2 likeable people and I found them to be realistic. I was really rooting for them to get together. The story pretty much picks up with action right from the very beginning. It doesn’t take long for the reader to be captivated by what is going on.
Weird suicides and deaths are occurring to people after they each come across a historical bust. Did these people die because of the life they led of crime & sin or is something more sinister happening? Read this book and find out!
I only recently discovered HG with the Flynn Brothers trilogy (which I loved). Looking for other books to read I saw this one and was intrigued - the storyline and plot drew me in. I enjoyed the story, Quinn and Wolf were great. Cafferty - well she was annoying, obnoxious, and stupid. I “shelved” this as “Seriously Stupid Heroine” - honest to God, I don’t recall a mystery novel where the main character did nothing but tag along, complaining the entire time. She pretty much contributed nothing to the search but whine about not being treated like her father.
And how many times do we have to have the exact same conversations about the fact that Quinn and LaRue have a good relationship - seriously Cafferty brought it up at least three different times - why?!?!! And how many times does Quinn have to talk to Cafferty about dying and his previous bad boy ways. We got it. It’s been established. Move on.
Had this been the first HG novel I read, I would not read another. But the female characters in the Flynn novels are strong, Cafferty is an annoying idiot.
This was the first book I have read by Heather Graham and I was impressed. The evil in New Orleans does not always cover the good and this book is about good winning over evil. Danni Cafferty inherited her father's curio shop in the center of New Orleans but she was not aware of just what this meant but P.I. Michael Quinn was there to help her and explain. Danny's father had worked with Michael on several cases but he wasn't sure if Dannie understood her role in everything. Together, they worked to find a bust that was evil and a lot of bad Gus wanted for their own benefit. Fortunately the police chief was an ex-partner of Quinn's and he helped bring the bad guys down. Great story and great details about New Orleans.