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Krewe of Hunters #14
The Betrayed
www.eHeatherGraham.com
Sleepy Hollow isn't so sleepy anymore…
One night, New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney receives a visitor in a dream - an old friend named Richard Highsmith. The very next day he's sent to Sleepy Hollow because Richard's gone missing there.
Maureen-Mo-Deauville now lives in the historic town and works with her dog, Rollo, to search for missing people. She's actually the one to find Richard…or more precisely his head, stuck on a statue of the legendary Headless Horseman.
Mo and Aiden, a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI's unit of paranormal investigators, explore both past and present events to figure out who betrayed Richard, who killed him and now wants to kill them, too. As they work together, they discover that they share an unusual trait - the ability to communicate with the dead. They also share an attraction that's as intense as it is unexpected…if they live long enough to enjoy it!
363 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2014
446 people are currently reading
2254 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
584 books6,931 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
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.
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.
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December 21, 2024
The Betrayed by Heather Graham
Krewe of Hunters series #14. Paranormal Romantic suspense, thriller. Can be read as a stand-alone.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horse is known far and wide. The town itself survives on the tourist trade and plays up the story for fun. But when a real head is found on a statue of the horseman, the local Krewe of Hunters is called in to investigate, along with FBI Agent Aiden Mahoney. Aiden knew the dead man. With the help of Maureen Deauville and her search dog Rollo, a body is found. But it’s not the missing man and there are now two dead.
The Krewe of Hunters is made up of professionals with unusual abilities, in this case, communicating with ghosts. Together, Maureen and Aiden must track the killer before there is another victim.
Aiden doesn’t trust that he sees and hears ghosts. And yet, he is able to easily figure out that Maureen is using that ability to steer her dog in the right direction.
Good mystery and detail in the investigation and historical setting. The romance felt more focused on healing his denial than attraction, but it did give them a commonality.
Great play for a headless thriller.
3.5
Krewe of Hunters series #14. Paranormal Romantic suspense, thriller. Can be read as a stand-alone.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horse is known far and wide. The town itself survives on the tourist trade and plays up the story for fun. But when a real head is found on a statue of the horseman, the local Krewe of Hunters is called in to investigate, along with FBI Agent Aiden Mahoney. Aiden knew the dead man. With the help of Maureen Deauville and her search dog Rollo, a body is found. But it’s not the missing man and there are now two dead.
The Krewe of Hunters is made up of professionals with unusual abilities, in this case, communicating with ghosts. Together, Maureen and Aiden must track the killer before there is another victim.
Aiden doesn’t trust that he sees and hears ghosts. And yet, he is able to easily figure out that Maureen is using that ability to steer her dog in the right direction.
Good mystery and detail in the investigation and historical setting. The romance felt more focused on healing his denial than attraction, but it did give them a commonality.
Great play for a headless thriller.
3.5
October 1, 2014
The mystery aspect was solid, and Graham weaved in ghostly aspirations to assist us. Aiden struggles accepting his abilities, and we see growth in him as his friendship with Maureen “Mo” grows. The romance was very low-key, but you felt the attraction. My only complaint would be I wanted more of a buildup, and a little heat exchanged throughout the plot. Most of the romantic elements took place at the end of the novel. Since, the murders were so captivating it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. I enjoyed the way Graham weaved in local history and famous characters in the tale. Her description of the rural area, characters and ghosts kept me entertained. The setting in Betrayed made the tale perfect for Fall and had me longing for cocoa by the fire.
Copy received from publisher. Full review can be found at Caffeinated.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Copy received from publisher. Full review can be found at Caffeinated.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
September 2, 2014
A special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE BETRAYED, by Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters #14) a compelling supernatural mystery thriller, which takes place in the towns of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, New York, the site of Washington Irving’s LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW.
New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney dreams (a voice) of an old friend Richard and the next day he reads in The Times, “Highsmith Missing”. Aiden has been working as an FBI field agent at the NY office for the past ten years and the next day he's sent to Sleepy Hollow because Richard's gone missing there, and he desperately wants to find his old friend alive, but he knows he is going to find him dead.
Five seasoned Krewe members have been sent to help with the setup. Aiden likes them all but they have a reputation for being called in on the weird cases. And he likes to avoid weird. The Krewe come from different vocations, all adding something to their special talent—basically, the ability at times to see the dead.
Maureen (Mo) Deauville, has a freelance career as expert on politics who had admired Highsmith. He was that rare politician willing to stand a fight alone. He had not adhered to any political party, he was an independent and people loved him; however, someone hated him—was the murder random?
Mo lives in the historic town and works with her dog, Rollo, to search for missing people. She's actually the one to find Richard…or more precisely his head, stuck on a statue of the legendary Headless Horseman. She loves living in the country versus the city right on the river where she could see Sunnyside, the home where Washington Irving had lived for many years and where he died.
Whereas most people come to the location because of Washington Irving and his short story, they are intrigued and love history; however, someone was turning this into an obscene joke.The team works together as part of the FBI’s paranormal investigators, while exploring both past and present events to figure out who betrayed Richard, who killed him and now wants to kill them, too.
As they work together, to find the killer, (seems to be not only familiar with Sleepy Hollow, but immersed in it), they discover that they share an unusual trait—the ability to communicate with the dead. They also share more than a trait, (a strong sexual attraction, yummy), as they race to capture the killer so they can have some time for themselves.
Just in time for Halloween to create a spooky atmosphere with the graveyards, costumes, haunted mausoleum, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, history, haunted house, ghost stories, plus more!
I have not read the other books in the series, which would have been nice; however, THE BETRAYED can be read as a standalone. It was fun exploring the differences in Aiden and Maureen, as they both view their gifts in a different way and were a fun pair!
Love that Graham resides in South Florida, as do I West Palm Beach and Florida Keys, where we have a playground at our fingertips year round. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author as sounds like three more upcoming this summer in the series: CONSPIRACY (DC setting), CONVICTION (yeah, Miami), and CONFESSION (Boulder, CO)!
Fans of Jayne Ann Krentz, Lisa Jackson, Carla Neggers, Kay Hooper, Allison Brennan, and Karen Harper will enjoy this mysterious, and captivating series.
THE BETRAYED, by Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters #14) a compelling supernatural mystery thriller, which takes place in the towns of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, New York, the site of Washington Irving’s LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW.
New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney dreams (a voice) of an old friend Richard and the next day he reads in The Times, “Highsmith Missing”. Aiden has been working as an FBI field agent at the NY office for the past ten years and the next day he's sent to Sleepy Hollow because Richard's gone missing there, and he desperately wants to find his old friend alive, but he knows he is going to find him dead.
Five seasoned Krewe members have been sent to help with the setup. Aiden likes them all but they have a reputation for being called in on the weird cases. And he likes to avoid weird. The Krewe come from different vocations, all adding something to their special talent—basically, the ability at times to see the dead.
Maureen (Mo) Deauville, has a freelance career as expert on politics who had admired Highsmith. He was that rare politician willing to stand a fight alone. He had not adhered to any political party, he was an independent and people loved him; however, someone hated him—was the murder random?
Mo lives in the historic town and works with her dog, Rollo, to search for missing people. She's actually the one to find Richard…or more precisely his head, stuck on a statue of the legendary Headless Horseman. She loves living in the country versus the city right on the river where she could see Sunnyside, the home where Washington Irving had lived for many years and where he died.
Whereas most people come to the location because of Washington Irving and his short story, they are intrigued and love history; however, someone was turning this into an obscene joke.The team works together as part of the FBI’s paranormal investigators, while exploring both past and present events to figure out who betrayed Richard, who killed him and now wants to kill them, too.
As they work together, to find the killer, (seems to be not only familiar with Sleepy Hollow, but immersed in it), they discover that they share an unusual trait—the ability to communicate with the dead. They also share more than a trait, (a strong sexual attraction, yummy), as they race to capture the killer so they can have some time for themselves.
Just in time for Halloween to create a spooky atmosphere with the graveyards, costumes, haunted mausoleum, Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, history, haunted house, ghost stories, plus more!
I have not read the other books in the series, which would have been nice; however, THE BETRAYED can be read as a standalone. It was fun exploring the differences in Aiden and Maureen, as they both view their gifts in a different way and were a fun pair!
Love that Graham resides in South Florida, as do I West Palm Beach and Florida Keys, where we have a playground at our fingertips year round. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author as sounds like three more upcoming this summer in the series: CONSPIRACY (DC setting), CONVICTION (yeah, Miami), and CONFESSION (Boulder, CO)!
Fans of Jayne Ann Krentz, Lisa Jackson, Carla Neggers, Kay Hooper, Allison Brennan, and Karen Harper will enjoy this mysterious, and captivating series.
October 2, 2014
I hate that I didn't like this book. I always look forward to the Krewe Series, & preorder. They are always at least four star books to me. I just couldn't get into this one. The hero was so flat. He is part of the Krewe group and was once able to talk to the dead but after a bad experience, he decides to ignore that side of himself. Well then why the heck did he join that group?!?! That's what they are all about!!! He was stand offish with the h until about 60% of the book. He was kind of a butt really. The H & h hardly spend anytime time together in the first half of the book. At about 60% they finally share a short kiss. At around 71% he's telling her he's falling in love with her. Smh...That would have been fine if they had actually spent more time together in the first half of the book. He spent just as much time with Debbie, the stripper. He also spent more time thinking about how beautiful her face was, how sexy her body was, & how kind Debbie was then he did Mo, the heroine. For me that is a huge no, no. Even though he wasn't doing it in a "I want to get with her way".
I just didn't care for him. He was flat, expressionless, passionless. The one sex scene was very short. They never talked about his past. No bonding moments that make you feel like they are building a stronger conection.This is just not what I like in my H & h.
I liked Mo, but just felt like she really wasn't a big part of the story. Just one of many, & didn't stand out as a heroine.
There was no action. No dangerous feelings, no build up.
The reason for the killings was silly to me, & what was done to the bodies was for shock factor for the book only. It was explained why they were murdered, but no reasoning as to why they were displayed the way they were.
I liked the cemetery details that were in the book, but found the details for the rest of the town forgettable. I didn't get that hunted feeling I usually get from The Krewe Series books.
I would definitely read the next in the series because they are my favorite by this author, and are usually a sure thing.
I just didn't care for him. He was flat, expressionless, passionless. The one sex scene was very short. They never talked about his past. No bonding moments that make you feel like they are building a stronger conection.This is just not what I like in my H & h.
I liked Mo, but just felt like she really wasn't a big part of the story. Just one of many, & didn't stand out as a heroine.
There was no action. No dangerous feelings, no build up.
The reason for the killings was silly to me, & what was done to the bodies was for shock factor for the book only. It was explained why they were murdered, but no reasoning as to why they were displayed the way they were.
I liked the cemetery details that were in the book, but found the details for the rest of the town forgettable. I didn't get that hunted feeling I usually get from The Krewe Series books.
I would definitely read the next in the series because they are my favorite by this author, and are usually a sure thing.
July 5, 2016
This book had good mystery elements to it, as well as paranormal ghost aspects. Mo, and her dog Rollo. have a way of finding lost, missing, injured, and sometimes the dead. October is in high swing in Sleepy Hollow, when an important political figure goes missing. His head is found on a headless decoration. Aiden is new to the FBI Paranormal Investigating team, and not comfortable with his ability to see the dead. Mo also has the same ability. The only clue they have is a matchbox cover that has Llizzies Grave written on it. The book has more murders, and more twists, and their is an element of romance between the two main characters. It wasn't very pronounced until the end of the book though. It did have the Washington Irving story, and ghosts for atmosphere, and grizzly murders to keep the book flowing. I liked Mo, and her dog. Aiden also seemed more approachable as the story unfolded. The story just seemed a bit stiff to me. I have liked others in this series more. I will read others by this author, since I have been pleased by her other works. I think the very slow romance in this ,left it a bit drab.
August 28, 2019
Absolutely loved this. In true Heather Graham fashion it was action packed, thrilling and full of suspense. I was not disappointed and enjoyed every minute of this roller coaster ride. The paranormal aspect was an added layer both beautiful and thrilling.
May 27, 2020
KREWE OF HUNTERS 13
In tiny Sleepy Hollow, New York, the main attractions are the Headless Horseman and his author, Washington Irving. When a psychopathic killer determines to mock the Headless Horseman legend in brutal and gruesome ways, it's up to the FBI Krewe of Hunters to search out and stop the killer. A new member, a childhood friend of one of the first victims, has been personally summoned by that victim's spirit [though he doesn't believe it].
As usual, author Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters in the history and the literary history of the area, and brings plenty of tense Suspense while the Krewe and civilian counterparts hunt an unexpected, twisted villain.
In tiny Sleepy Hollow, New York, the main attractions are the Headless Horseman and his author, Washington Irving. When a psychopathic killer determines to mock the Headless Horseman legend in brutal and gruesome ways, it's up to the FBI Krewe of Hunters to search out and stop the killer. A new member, a childhood friend of one of the first victims, has been personally summoned by that victim's spirit [though he doesn't believe it].
As usual, author Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters in the history and the literary history of the area, and brings plenty of tense Suspense while the Krewe and civilian counterparts hunt an unexpected, twisted villain.
June 29, 2025
Was not aware this series existed and picked this up at an estate sale. The story is set in Sleepy Hollow. The main character is a greeting card creator that sees and talks to dead people and volunteers the services of her Wolfhound so find lost people and bodies. A series of beheadings
challenge her skills and that of the FBI and local law enforcement.
challenge her skills and that of the FBI and local law enforcement.
April 8, 2021
This book did not grab me like the others. I don't know if I'm in a reading slump or if I'm COVID fatigued or if I need a vacation or what. This book was rated very high and I should have loved it - but it did not do it for me.
March 12, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. It was an easy, enjoyable read with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
March 17, 2022
Another excellent read with a convoluted plot involving betrayal, love, and greed. Set in Sleepy Hollow New York, the Headless Horseman looms large.
November 19, 2024
This book is a book that is worth the reading. I was honestly a little surprise of who the killer was because she seems so nice but she wasn't. This book is hard to put down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2014
I requested this title from NetGalley while I was still reading the last book in the Krewe of Hunters series because Sleepy Hollow is a neat little place and I really enjoyed THE HEXED. If this book was anything like that one then I’d probably enjoy it too. It’s a fair enough assumption, I think.
Except THE BETRAYED didn’t really live up to the last book’s standards, in my opinion. While Graham’s pretty much mastered setting and Sleepy Hollow and the surrounding area were their own characters within the story, they were so vivid, I felt the interactions of the protagonists was gawky and awkward and the dialogue just subpar. The over use of the exclamation point was extremely distracting and a lot of the time unnecessary. The actions in THE BETRAYED were far more about moving from Point A to Point B without developing a whole lot of ambiance or really allowing the characters to grow at all.
Mo was a stagnant character throughout the story and while she served a major purpose in finding bodies and people as the plot unfolded she was rather wooden. Not unlikeable but she didn’t offer up anything that I would like either so let’s just say I’m ambivalent about her. Not the greatest place to be. As for Aiden he seemed to be a copy of Rocky from THE HEXED, right down to needing to see Mo to the door, protecting her, the sex, making breakfast in her house, pretty much everything except the pertinent backstory. Although Aiden did have his connections to the area, just like Rocky did so there was that. The relationship between Mo and Aiden developed in much the same way as Rocky’s and Devin’s did so there was little excitement there for me. To add to that Aiden was a dick to Mo in the beginning for no good reason except to keep his distance from her for emo reasons. That didn’t make much sense.
I’ve noticed that Graham, from the two books I’ve read, has a bad habit of introducing a condom into a sex scene, neither of the characters actually having one, the female saying she’s on birth control, it makes things all better, and the sex commences. I overlooked it in THE HEXED but now that it’s cropped up again in THE BETRAYED I can’t ignore it. Please. If you insist on bringing a condom and various other methods of birth control into a fictional sex scene don’t stop at it just preventing pregnancy (the condom). These two people were strangers. You have them fumbling for a condom that doesn’t actually exist and I guess in this world birth control not only stops babies but stops STDs too. Yeah, no. Stop it. Either remove the reference altogether, have them stop sex because they have no idea where each other has been (for the sake of realism, since we’re talking condoms), or have one be available. Don’t, well, half-cock it.
I found myself very distracted while reading this one and I didn’t feel as invested in the story as I did the last. Aside from the setting, the stark formulaic similarities between characters and plots of the two books it was kind of hard to get invested in the same rehashed story under the guise of an entirely new book. To be honest it makes me a little weary to dive into the rest of this series if these last two books are any indication of the repetition I’m going to encounter. I’d like more of the Krewe as a whole, their beginnings and how the constant characters were put together. This being book number fourteen I doubt I’m going to get any of that going forward. Still, I’m going to go back. Graham loves her settings and she does an incredible amount of research to make them come alive. I lived in Connecticut for 29 years and I never once went to Sleepy Hollow (or Salem, for that matter) and she’s gotten me to put those places on my list for when I make it back there. Because I have to. Because I’m missing that quintessential New England feel and what better places to get it?
I still want to read this series. I do. But I won’t lie. My buzz has been killed a little at the copy THE BETRAYED was of THE HEXED in terms of plot and characters. The fact that I’m picking up a formula off of two books doesn’t bode well but I won’t give up yet. I like what I read here enough to keep at it.
2 1/2
Except THE BETRAYED didn’t really live up to the last book’s standards, in my opinion. While Graham’s pretty much mastered setting and Sleepy Hollow and the surrounding area were their own characters within the story, they were so vivid, I felt the interactions of the protagonists was gawky and awkward and the dialogue just subpar. The over use of the exclamation point was extremely distracting and a lot of the time unnecessary. The actions in THE BETRAYED were far more about moving from Point A to Point B without developing a whole lot of ambiance or really allowing the characters to grow at all.
Mo was a stagnant character throughout the story and while she served a major purpose in finding bodies and people as the plot unfolded she was rather wooden. Not unlikeable but she didn’t offer up anything that I would like either so let’s just say I’m ambivalent about her. Not the greatest place to be. As for Aiden he seemed to be a copy of Rocky from THE HEXED, right down to needing to see Mo to the door, protecting her, the sex, making breakfast in her house, pretty much everything except the pertinent backstory. Although Aiden did have his connections to the area, just like Rocky did so there was that. The relationship between Mo and Aiden developed in much the same way as Rocky’s and Devin’s did so there was little excitement there for me. To add to that Aiden was a dick to Mo in the beginning for no good reason except to keep his distance from her for emo reasons. That didn’t make much sense.
I’ve noticed that Graham, from the two books I’ve read, has a bad habit of introducing a condom into a sex scene, neither of the characters actually having one, the female saying she’s on birth control, it makes things all better, and the sex commences. I overlooked it in THE HEXED but now that it’s cropped up again in THE BETRAYED I can’t ignore it. Please. If you insist on bringing a condom and various other methods of birth control into a fictional sex scene don’t stop at it just preventing pregnancy (the condom). These two people were strangers. You have them fumbling for a condom that doesn’t actually exist and I guess in this world birth control not only stops babies but stops STDs too. Yeah, no. Stop it. Either remove the reference altogether, have them stop sex because they have no idea where each other has been (for the sake of realism, since we’re talking condoms), or have one be available. Don’t, well, half-cock it.
I found myself very distracted while reading this one and I didn’t feel as invested in the story as I did the last. Aside from the setting, the stark formulaic similarities between characters and plots of the two books it was kind of hard to get invested in the same rehashed story under the guise of an entirely new book. To be honest it makes me a little weary to dive into the rest of this series if these last two books are any indication of the repetition I’m going to encounter. I’d like more of the Krewe as a whole, their beginnings and how the constant characters were put together. This being book number fourteen I doubt I’m going to get any of that going forward. Still, I’m going to go back. Graham loves her settings and she does an incredible amount of research to make them come alive. I lived in Connecticut for 29 years and I never once went to Sleepy Hollow (or Salem, for that matter) and she’s gotten me to put those places on my list for when I make it back there. Because I have to. Because I’m missing that quintessential New England feel and what better places to get it?
I still want to read this series. I do. But I won’t lie. My buzz has been killed a little at the copy THE BETRAYED was of THE HEXED in terms of plot and characters. The fact that I’m picking up a formula off of two books doesn’t bode well but I won’t give up yet. I like what I read here enough to keep at it.
2 1/2
December 27, 2024
This is my second full length novel by Heather Graham as well as my second in her Krewe Hunters series (the 14th book in the actual series), and I have to say I liked it even more than The Hexed, which I read in August. And what a perfect way to open October, I might add, given the setting of Sleepy Hollow.
FBI agent Aiden Mahoney is new to the Krewe Hunter team and is not sure why he was selected for such an elite unit, one that is known for dealing with "weird" cases--or more simply put, the paranormal. Although he doesn't deny that some people can talk to ghosts, he is sure he isn't one of them. One night, in a dream, however, he hears the voice of an old friend who Aiden is fairly certain is newly dead.
Sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the disappearance of his friend who is also a popular rising politician, Aiden arrives too find his friend has, in fact, been murdered, his head severed from his body. Maureen "Mo" Deauville and her dog, Rollo, discovered the head. Mo and Rollo often help the police find missing people and have an extraordinary track record. Mo has her own special gift, but lets Rollo take the credit. Aiden and Mo, along with the other Krewe members and the local police, join forces to solve the murder, hopefully before the murderer strikes again.
Aiden is dedicated to his job and persistent in the hunt to find his friend's killer. He is also in denial of his ability to communicate with the dead. He soon discovers, however, he is going to have to tap into the part of him he's kept buried if he is to solve the crime. His friend's death is tied to history, he's sure, and the ghosts are the only ones who can help him connect all the pieces together.
I took to Mo instantly (and Rollo too!). She had long ago moved out of the city, tired of always being called upon to find the dead, wanting instead to find the living. Search and rescue isn't her main job, however. It's something she does as a volunteer. She earns her living making greeting cards and is quite good at it. Mo, like Aiden, can communicate with the dead. Only, she's been using her ability all her life. Her role in the investigation is key given its tie to the area's history.
I love history and so was quite excited to read a little more about the Hudson Valley, Sleepy Hollow included. I did feel at first that some of the history, told through dialogue among friends, seemed too obvious and forced, but as the story went on, the author was better able to insert historical tidbits here and there in a more natural way. Washington Irving isn't exactly a new name to me, nor the legends of Sleepy Hollow. There were other aspects of the areas history I did not know, however, and I enjoyed learning about them, especially by way of meeting the ghosts.
Through the area history and descriptions of the valley and its various landmarks, Heather Graham was able to create an atmospheric setting for the novel. I felt like I was right there alongside the characters and in the midst of a sadistic killer. With Halloween fast approaching, it seemed a perfect setting for murder--headless horseman displays everywhere, the cemeteries full of tourists and actors playing their parts.
Heather Graham's cozy paranormal mysteries wouldn't be what they are without a little romance as well, and Aiden and Mo are quite suited for each other. They took a while to warm up to each other, more because they were fighting their feelings rather than a lack of attraction, but I did appreciate how natural their relationship progressed (even if still fast--it is a novel, remember, and everything happens quickly in novels like this).
The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed seeing how the pieces all fell into place. The motive isn't something that is immediately known and clues to what it might be are dropped right in the middle of the novel in a rather obvious way. Still, it didn't stop me from trying to guess who the murderer could be right from the start.
The Betrayed is an entertaining novel, and one that has me wanting to continue with the series. Now to go back and start from the beginning . . .
Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Review also posted on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty.
FBI agent Aiden Mahoney is new to the Krewe Hunter team and is not sure why he was selected for such an elite unit, one that is known for dealing with "weird" cases--or more simply put, the paranormal. Although he doesn't deny that some people can talk to ghosts, he is sure he isn't one of them. One night, in a dream, however, he hears the voice of an old friend who Aiden is fairly certain is newly dead.
Sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the disappearance of his friend who is also a popular rising politician, Aiden arrives too find his friend has, in fact, been murdered, his head severed from his body. Maureen "Mo" Deauville and her dog, Rollo, discovered the head. Mo and Rollo often help the police find missing people and have an extraordinary track record. Mo has her own special gift, but lets Rollo take the credit. Aiden and Mo, along with the other Krewe members and the local police, join forces to solve the murder, hopefully before the murderer strikes again.
Aiden is dedicated to his job and persistent in the hunt to find his friend's killer. He is also in denial of his ability to communicate with the dead. He soon discovers, however, he is going to have to tap into the part of him he's kept buried if he is to solve the crime. His friend's death is tied to history, he's sure, and the ghosts are the only ones who can help him connect all the pieces together.
I took to Mo instantly (and Rollo too!). She had long ago moved out of the city, tired of always being called upon to find the dead, wanting instead to find the living. Search and rescue isn't her main job, however. It's something she does as a volunteer. She earns her living making greeting cards and is quite good at it. Mo, like Aiden, can communicate with the dead. Only, she's been using her ability all her life. Her role in the investigation is key given its tie to the area's history.
I love history and so was quite excited to read a little more about the Hudson Valley, Sleepy Hollow included. I did feel at first that some of the history, told through dialogue among friends, seemed too obvious and forced, but as the story went on, the author was better able to insert historical tidbits here and there in a more natural way. Washington Irving isn't exactly a new name to me, nor the legends of Sleepy Hollow. There were other aspects of the areas history I did not know, however, and I enjoyed learning about them, especially by way of meeting the ghosts.
Through the area history and descriptions of the valley and its various landmarks, Heather Graham was able to create an atmospheric setting for the novel. I felt like I was right there alongside the characters and in the midst of a sadistic killer. With Halloween fast approaching, it seemed a perfect setting for murder--headless horseman displays everywhere, the cemeteries full of tourists and actors playing their parts.
Heather Graham's cozy paranormal mysteries wouldn't be what they are without a little romance as well, and Aiden and Mo are quite suited for each other. They took a while to warm up to each other, more because they were fighting their feelings rather than a lack of attraction, but I did appreciate how natural their relationship progressed (even if still fast--it is a novel, remember, and everything happens quickly in novels like this).
The mystery was intriguing, and I enjoyed seeing how the pieces all fell into place. The motive isn't something that is immediately known and clues to what it might be are dropped right in the middle of the novel in a rather obvious way. Still, it didn't stop me from trying to guess who the murderer could be right from the start.
The Betrayed is an entertaining novel, and one that has me wanting to continue with the series. Now to go back and start from the beginning . . .
Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review. Review also posted on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty.
December 9, 2014
**I was provided a complimentary copy of The Betrayed in exchange for my honest review.**
I will start by stating that this is the first novel I have read by Heather Graham. I have no experience with any others in the series, or any of her other work, so this is a first for me, all ways around.
It was instantly apparent that Graham’s had mastered her setting and the characters within the her story, as they were all so vivid and clear, but still, I felt that the interactions of the protagonists was gawky and awkward with sub par dialogue that left me feeling unbalanced.
Additionally, this may seem like a small factor to some, but to me it drives me nuts - the over use of the exclamation point!!! It was extremely distracting and absolutely unnecessary. The point was driven by their actions and words; I didn't feel it was necessary to push it further out to the reader!!!
The actions in The Betrayed seemed more about moving from point-A to point-B, with little development or ambiance, thus I felt the character's growth was stymied.
I felt that Mo remained stagnant throughout the story. While she did serve a major purpose, in finding bodies and people, she was rather boring and unaffected, to me. Not exactly unlikeable, but she just didn't offer anything redeeming, drawing me to her. So, there was no like or dislike on my part - just blah; not the best feeling to have about a main character.
As for Aiden he was such a, ah hum, dick to Mo that I was thrown off instantly. Protect, to an almost alpha instinct level, but be a jerk. Nope. I didn't get this relationship at all. It seemed to me that there might have been some back story that I was missing, due to my lack of reading the previous novels, so there's a good chance I was missing something...or not.
On that note, one thing that really bothered me was that a condom scene. My personal feeling is that if you are going to work a condom (safe sex) into the scene, make it about safe sex, not just pregnancy. It really bothered me that they were searching for the nonexistent condom, until she says that she is on birth control. Then, game on?! WTH? Did Ms. Graham forget that the purpose of a condom is to prevent STD's, not simply pregnancy?
I understand, and don't like, the pressure that authors are receiving from their publishers about "safe sex" scenes. It stymies the author, changes the direction of their original story and, in my opinion, this scene is the result. I get that safe sex is mondo important - we all do. But, do we need to have the reminder of it in our fiction now, because of pressure from publishers? I say, no! If I want to write a fantasy about a woman being aggressively taken by an alpha male, dominating every aspect of her body and emotions, why should I have to add a condom scene to appease PR? I shouldn't. We all know safe sex is critical - heck, my thirteen year-old daughter can tell me that - I don't need it pushed into a story, that is was clearly not intended for.
Sorry to take so much time one this one point, but I want publishers to listen. Safe sex is pushed by parents, teachers, the community, heck, even other kids. If an author WANTS to have a condom scene in their story, great! All the more to them. If they don't? Leave it. There's a reason. We all know it's fiction...
On to the next... It's clear to me that the author does a huge amount of research on her settings, as I have never been to Sleepy Hollow, but I could picture exactly what she was describing. It's either that, or she's just that convincing! LOL!!
In the end, I enjoyed my first experience reading work by Heather Graham. Would I read another? Sure. Without a doubt. Am I intrigued enough to start at the beginning and work my way forward? Maybe if she wasn't fourteen books into the series already - while I enjoyed The Betrayed, it wasn't epic, which it would have to be to date-back fourteen books. =)
I will start by stating that this is the first novel I have read by Heather Graham. I have no experience with any others in the series, or any of her other work, so this is a first for me, all ways around.
It was instantly apparent that Graham’s had mastered her setting and the characters within the her story, as they were all so vivid and clear, but still, I felt that the interactions of the protagonists was gawky and awkward with sub par dialogue that left me feeling unbalanced.
Additionally, this may seem like a small factor to some, but to me it drives me nuts - the over use of the exclamation point!!! It was extremely distracting and absolutely unnecessary. The point was driven by their actions and words; I didn't feel it was necessary to push it further out to the reader!!!
The actions in The Betrayed seemed more about moving from point-A to point-B, with little development or ambiance, thus I felt the character's growth was stymied.
I felt that Mo remained stagnant throughout the story. While she did serve a major purpose, in finding bodies and people, she was rather boring and unaffected, to me. Not exactly unlikeable, but she just didn't offer anything redeeming, drawing me to her. So, there was no like or dislike on my part - just blah; not the best feeling to have about a main character.
As for Aiden he was such a, ah hum, dick to Mo that I was thrown off instantly. Protect, to an almost alpha instinct level, but be a jerk. Nope. I didn't get this relationship at all. It seemed to me that there might have been some back story that I was missing, due to my lack of reading the previous novels, so there's a good chance I was missing something...or not.
On that note, one thing that really bothered me was that a condom scene. My personal feeling is that if you are going to work a condom (safe sex) into the scene, make it about safe sex, not just pregnancy. It really bothered me that they were searching for the nonexistent condom, until she says that she is on birth control. Then, game on?! WTH? Did Ms. Graham forget that the purpose of a condom is to prevent STD's, not simply pregnancy?
I understand, and don't like, the pressure that authors are receiving from their publishers about "safe sex" scenes. It stymies the author, changes the direction of their original story and, in my opinion, this scene is the result. I get that safe sex is mondo important - we all do. But, do we need to have the reminder of it in our fiction now, because of pressure from publishers? I say, no! If I want to write a fantasy about a woman being aggressively taken by an alpha male, dominating every aspect of her body and emotions, why should I have to add a condom scene to appease PR? I shouldn't. We all know safe sex is critical - heck, my thirteen year-old daughter can tell me that - I don't need it pushed into a story, that is was clearly not intended for.
Sorry to take so much time one this one point, but I want publishers to listen. Safe sex is pushed by parents, teachers, the community, heck, even other kids. If an author WANTS to have a condom scene in their story, great! All the more to them. If they don't? Leave it. There's a reason. We all know it's fiction...
On to the next... It's clear to me that the author does a huge amount of research on her settings, as I have never been to Sleepy Hollow, but I could picture exactly what she was describing. It's either that, or she's just that convincing! LOL!!
In the end, I enjoyed my first experience reading work by Heather Graham. Would I read another? Sure. Without a doubt. Am I intrigued enough to start at the beginning and work my way forward? Maybe if she wasn't fourteen books into the series already - while I enjoyed The Betrayed, it wasn't epic, which it would have to be to date-back fourteen books. =)
December 2, 2018
Stars: 3.5 / 5
Recommendation: Yes, pick it up for a mystery involving paranormal elements, historical flair and the romantic side of the plot.
The Betrayed is the fourteenth book in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham and published in September of 2014. The plot is centered around Aiden Mahoney - the new recruit to the Krewe of Hunters - and Maureen "Mo" Deauville - search and rescuer who searches for people with help of her dog, Rollo. The plot is set in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown cities in New York.
This forms the third and final book in the second trilogy within the series. The first book being The Cursed (Review here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) and the second being The Hexed (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
The first trilogy is a set of three books with"The Night is...." in their title: the ninth book The Night is Watching (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... the tenth book The Night is Alive (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... the eleventh book The Night is Forever (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
Krewe are a secret FBI unit with each member of the unit honing a particular psychic talent of their own, making them the paranormal investigating team. This unit was created to deal with murders having supernatural undertones and paranormal activities. Headed by paranormal investigator Adam Harrison, this elite unit is called on to solve cases linked to historical mystery involving legendary crime and serial killings, war events and hauntings. The Krewe are divided into three distinct groups. The first group is led by Jackson Crow, who is also the Assistant Director of the Krewe, and called as the original Krewe of Hunters; the second group is led by Texas Ranger Logan Raintree and called as the Texas Krewe; the third group is Yankee Krewe, based in NYC and is yet to be determined who will lead it.
New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney is the newest recruit into the Krewe of Hunters. His first case assigned to him was a missing persons case - Richard Highsmith, a noted politician goes missing. However, by the time he reaches the town of Sleepy Hollow, he comes across instead the body of Richard Highsmith which was found by Maureen "Mo" Deauville, a search and rescuer who works with her dog, Rollo - a sight hound, to find missing persons.
Now, he has to work to find out who wanted to kill Richard and who is trying to create the legends that were told as tales of Halloween into obscene jokes. And Mo stays smack in his path whichever way he took. And so also in the crosshairs of the killer. Yet they have an attraction to each other that they cannot deny which they could perhaps venture on, if they live to see the end of the killer.
As always there is historical and paranormal references from past are given to the reader, more specifically an architectural and historical tour of a town filled with halloween themed artifacts, events and places.
As much as Mo embraced her gift and used it as a weapon when needed in her search and rescue, while Aiden ran away from it as far as he can even though he was working with a team who had similar abilities. Two contrasting souls thrown together between murder and mayhem, find love even if it was not wanted by both of them. Heather performed her magic to bring them together in the end, but as a reader I wanted to just scream and pull them together whenever they were fighting their attraction.
In the previous book The Hexed (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Heather Graham hints of a Yankee Krewe being formed the way the numbers were increasing. Lo and behold, we have a new Krewe of Hunters, Yankee Krewe, based in NYC. Although who heads it is yet to be determined.
This also clears my confusion of a third Krewe that I thought was created in The Night is Alive plot when Malachi Gordon was recruited and offered to head a team. Either Heather forgot that or she simply decided to have Malachi Gordon be part of Team Two, Texas Krewe, and leave it at that. Either way there were only two Krewe units until this book. It only took four books for me to realize that. Duh!
As always Heather has other Krewe members join the case and aid the lead Krewe investigator. This time around we have Jane Everett and her boyfriend Sloan Trent (from Team Two: Texas Krewe; their story was told in the ninth book, The Night is Watching (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Logan Raintree (head of Team Two: Texas Krewe; his story is told in the fifth book, The Unseen (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) and Will Chan (from Team One: Krewe of Hunters; his story is told in the seventh book, The Unspoken (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
I see a pattern to Heather Graham's stories in the Adam Harrison and Krewe of Hunters series, apart from the presence of ghosts and spirits. Usually the stories revolve around historical inferences, somehow connecting the past to the present either by way of characters or incidents and they involve hidden tunnels be it in cemetery or old houses or mortuaries. I wonder if Heather will add a third twist to the plot.
Though the theme might be similar in her books, one this is for sure, it rarely is easy to guess who the actual killer or killers are. Only a couple of books I could figure that out but most part the killers just sprung up on the reader in the last chapter.
On a side note, in the copy of the book that I have, there are hard card inserts that gives reader an opportunity to either join a book club and win books, or buy a book and get a few free. Why am I surprised because off-late such inserts are no longer seen. Some of the latest books don’t have these card inserts but I have been seeing them on and off even in this internet-purchasing era. Very comforting to see something from the pre-internet era.
A very good mingle of murder and mystery; past and present; Halloween myths and legends; and above all romance and love. Although I am surprised at the number of grammatical and sometimes character errors I see in the books as the series progresses. Clearly who ever edits for Heather Graham isn't doing a good job.
Another successful thriller in the series of books under Krewe of Hunters by Heather Graham that is an easy ready and still enjoyable. A tale that captures one easily till the end.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Jane Everett and Sloan Trent were part of Team Two: Texas Krewe. But in this book, Heather mentions that they were going to be permanent members of the Yankee Krewe. Have to read the rest of the books to know if that is where she sends them.
2. Sub Plots:
a. In eleventh book, The Night Is Forever (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Dustin Blake was part of an FBI team consisting of Grant Shelby, Cindy Greenstreet and Jerry Gunter. I am wondering why Heather Graham had mentioned their complete names as well as a brief intro, albeit as part of the conversation. Will they resurface in future plots is something we have to wait and see.
b. Dustin Blake has a sister Rayna Blake who is a Nashville sensation - a country music singer. I wonder if Heather Graham will use her as a lead character in a future book.
c. Katie O'Hara and David Beckett are two characters in The Cursed plot. And a history into their background paused me to think they might be characters from another of Heather Graham book. I was pretty sure they weren't from Krewe of Hunters or Harrison Investigation series. A little dig on google pointed me to Ghost Shadow, the first book in Bone Island Series by Heather Graham published in 2010. Having not yet read that series, I am curious if Hannah O'Brien or Liam Beckett, David's brother, appear in that book as well.
3. Grammatical / Historical / Location / Character Errors:
a. On Pg.145, Line 17 and 18, I believe the characters should be transposed in this scene - Aiden is actually talking to the manager while Sloan is taking statement from the officers.
b. On Pg. 151, Line 5, it should be "…shook her head,…"
c. On Pg. 210, Line 3, it should be "…that sickly sweet…"
d. On Pg. 258, Line 6, it should be "…toiletries Debbie…."
e. On Pg. 266, Line 9 from bottom, it should be "….Gina said…"
f. Everywhere in the plot the text written behind the photograph, or on the match box or on a notepad at the victim's room, it was "Lizzie grave". But on Pg. 275, Aidan mentions that he saw "Lizzie's grave" written behind the photograph. And again on Pg. 349, Heather had it mentioned as "Lizzie's grave". Clearly an error in representation of the text perhaps.
Recommendation: Yes, pick it up for a mystery involving paranormal elements, historical flair and the romantic side of the plot.
The Betrayed is the fourteenth book in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham and published in September of 2014. The plot is centered around Aiden Mahoney - the new recruit to the Krewe of Hunters - and Maureen "Mo" Deauville - search and rescuer who searches for people with help of her dog, Rollo. The plot is set in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown cities in New York.
This forms the third and final book in the second trilogy within the series. The first book being The Cursed (Review here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) and the second being The Hexed (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
The first trilogy is a set of three books with"The Night is...." in their title: the ninth book The Night is Watching (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... the tenth book The Night is Alive (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c... the eleventh book The Night is Forever (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
Krewe are a secret FBI unit with each member of the unit honing a particular psychic talent of their own, making them the paranormal investigating team. This unit was created to deal with murders having supernatural undertones and paranormal activities. Headed by paranormal investigator Adam Harrison, this elite unit is called on to solve cases linked to historical mystery involving legendary crime and serial killings, war events and hauntings. The Krewe are divided into three distinct groups. The first group is led by Jackson Crow, who is also the Assistant Director of the Krewe, and called as the original Krewe of Hunters; the second group is led by Texas Ranger Logan Raintree and called as the Texas Krewe; the third group is Yankee Krewe, based in NYC and is yet to be determined who will lead it.
New York FBI agent Aiden Mahoney is the newest recruit into the Krewe of Hunters. His first case assigned to him was a missing persons case - Richard Highsmith, a noted politician goes missing. However, by the time he reaches the town of Sleepy Hollow, he comes across instead the body of Richard Highsmith which was found by Maureen "Mo" Deauville, a search and rescuer who works with her dog, Rollo - a sight hound, to find missing persons.
Now, he has to work to find out who wanted to kill Richard and who is trying to create the legends that were told as tales of Halloween into obscene jokes. And Mo stays smack in his path whichever way he took. And so also in the crosshairs of the killer. Yet they have an attraction to each other that they cannot deny which they could perhaps venture on, if they live to see the end of the killer.
As always there is historical and paranormal references from past are given to the reader, more specifically an architectural and historical tour of a town filled with halloween themed artifacts, events and places.
As much as Mo embraced her gift and used it as a weapon when needed in her search and rescue, while Aiden ran away from it as far as he can even though he was working with a team who had similar abilities. Two contrasting souls thrown together between murder and mayhem, find love even if it was not wanted by both of them. Heather performed her magic to bring them together in the end, but as a reader I wanted to just scream and pull them together whenever they were fighting their attraction.
In the previous book The Hexed (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Heather Graham hints of a Yankee Krewe being formed the way the numbers were increasing. Lo and behold, we have a new Krewe of Hunters, Yankee Krewe, based in NYC. Although who heads it is yet to be determined.
This also clears my confusion of a third Krewe that I thought was created in The Night is Alive plot when Malachi Gordon was recruited and offered to head a team. Either Heather forgot that or she simply decided to have Malachi Gordon be part of Team Two, Texas Krewe, and leave it at that. Either way there were only two Krewe units until this book. It only took four books for me to realize that. Duh!
As always Heather has other Krewe members join the case and aid the lead Krewe investigator. This time around we have Jane Everett and her boyfriend Sloan Trent (from Team Two: Texas Krewe; their story was told in the ninth book, The Night is Watching (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Logan Raintree (head of Team Two: Texas Krewe; his story is told in the fifth book, The Unseen (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) and Will Chan (from Team One: Krewe of Hunters; his story is told in the seventh book, The Unspoken (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).
I see a pattern to Heather Graham's stories in the Adam Harrison and Krewe of Hunters series, apart from the presence of ghosts and spirits. Usually the stories revolve around historical inferences, somehow connecting the past to the present either by way of characters or incidents and they involve hidden tunnels be it in cemetery or old houses or mortuaries. I wonder if Heather will add a third twist to the plot.
Though the theme might be similar in her books, one this is for sure, it rarely is easy to guess who the actual killer or killers are. Only a couple of books I could figure that out but most part the killers just sprung up on the reader in the last chapter.
On a side note, in the copy of the book that I have, there are hard card inserts that gives reader an opportunity to either join a book club and win books, or buy a book and get a few free. Why am I surprised because off-late such inserts are no longer seen. Some of the latest books don’t have these card inserts but I have been seeing them on and off even in this internet-purchasing era. Very comforting to see something from the pre-internet era.
A very good mingle of murder and mystery; past and present; Halloween myths and legends; and above all romance and love. Although I am surprised at the number of grammatical and sometimes character errors I see in the books as the series progresses. Clearly who ever edits for Heather Graham isn't doing a good job.
Another successful thriller in the series of books under Krewe of Hunters by Heather Graham that is an easy ready and still enjoyable. A tale that captures one easily till the end.
Spoiler Alerts:
1. Plot Reveals:
a. Jane Everett and Sloan Trent were part of Team Two: Texas Krewe. But in this book, Heather mentions that they were going to be permanent members of the Yankee Krewe. Have to read the rest of the books to know if that is where she sends them.
2. Sub Plots:
a. In eleventh book, The Night Is Forever (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), Dustin Blake was part of an FBI team consisting of Grant Shelby, Cindy Greenstreet and Jerry Gunter. I am wondering why Heather Graham had mentioned their complete names as well as a brief intro, albeit as part of the conversation. Will they resurface in future plots is something we have to wait and see.
b. Dustin Blake has a sister Rayna Blake who is a Nashville sensation - a country music singer. I wonder if Heather Graham will use her as a lead character in a future book.
c. Katie O'Hara and David Beckett are two characters in The Cursed plot. And a history into their background paused me to think they might be characters from another of Heather Graham book. I was pretty sure they weren't from Krewe of Hunters or Harrison Investigation series. A little dig on google pointed me to Ghost Shadow, the first book in Bone Island Series by Heather Graham published in 2010. Having not yet read that series, I am curious if Hannah O'Brien or Liam Beckett, David's brother, appear in that book as well.
3. Grammatical / Historical / Location / Character Errors:
a. On Pg.145, Line 17 and 18, I believe the characters should be transposed in this scene - Aiden is actually talking to the manager while Sloan is taking statement from the officers.
b. On Pg. 151, Line 5, it should be "…shook her head,…"
c. On Pg. 210, Line 3, it should be "…that sickly sweet…"
d. On Pg. 258, Line 6, it should be "…toiletries Debbie…."
e. On Pg. 266, Line 9 from bottom, it should be "….Gina said…"
f. Everywhere in the plot the text written behind the photograph, or on the match box or on a notepad at the victim's room, it was "Lizzie grave". But on Pg. 275, Aidan mentions that he saw "Lizzie's grave" written behind the photograph. And again on Pg. 349, Heather had it mentioned as "Lizzie's grave". Clearly an error in representation of the text perhaps.
January 31, 2015
Another great Krewe of Hunters mystery by one of my favorite authors! Her books never disappoint for a good solid read, and this one was no exception!
"They got me, my old friend. They got me." These are the words FBI agent and recent addition to the Krewe of Hunters Aiden Mahoney wakes up to, followed shortly by a phone call sending him to investigate his old friend Richard Highsmith's death. Richard's decapitated head has been found in the town of Sleepy Hollow by Maureen Deauville and her search and rescue dog, Rollo, gruesomely placed on a restaurant's statue of the Headless Horseman, and when Rollo then finds the body of a headless female victim, they know they are looking at two murders but wonder what the connection between the two victims could have been. Richard was a respected politician, while the second victim was a stripper with a young son.
Aiden has tried to squelch his psychic abilities, but when he meets Maureen he knows that she relies on more than Rollo to find missing children and bodies, and he is reluctantly fascinated and somewhat open to her using her gift, although he steadfastly denies that he has one himself. Maureen lives with two Civil War era ghosts, and although they convince Richard's ghost to speak with her, he is unable to shed any light on who killed him, so it will be up to her and Aiden to track down any possible physical and metaphysical leads given them.
I really enjoyed this because Ms. Graham goes into so much history of the area and, as I frequently am with her books, I was surprised at the dénouement. A very satisfying book to read in the evening by the fire!
"They got me, my old friend. They got me." These are the words FBI agent and recent addition to the Krewe of Hunters Aiden Mahoney wakes up to, followed shortly by a phone call sending him to investigate his old friend Richard Highsmith's death. Richard's decapitated head has been found in the town of Sleepy Hollow by Maureen Deauville and her search and rescue dog, Rollo, gruesomely placed on a restaurant's statue of the Headless Horseman, and when Rollo then finds the body of a headless female victim, they know they are looking at two murders but wonder what the connection between the two victims could have been. Richard was a respected politician, while the second victim was a stripper with a young son.
Aiden has tried to squelch his psychic abilities, but when he meets Maureen he knows that she relies on more than Rollo to find missing children and bodies, and he is reluctantly fascinated and somewhat open to her using her gift, although he steadfastly denies that he has one himself. Maureen lives with two Civil War era ghosts, and although they convince Richard's ghost to speak with her, he is unable to shed any light on who killed him, so it will be up to her and Aiden to track down any possible physical and metaphysical leads given them.
I really enjoyed this because Ms. Graham goes into so much history of the area and, as I frequently am with her books, I was surprised at the dénouement. A very satisfying book to read in the evening by the fire!
Read
October 17, 2014"Intelligent police work and a crafty killer ramp up the suspense level on this one, keeping readers rapt until the big reveal at the end. The addition of new branch offices in New York helps keep the story fresh and exciting, adding new locales to visit and more historical legends to explore; the elements of Washington Irving’s Sleepy Hollow lend a haunting quality to a string of modern murders. While this couple starts off at odds, their shared ability to see the dead gives them a commonality that develops into respect and trust, eventually leading to a steamy romance. Another excellent addition to the Krewe of Hunters with strong characters and plenty of heat!" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars)
Krewe Hunters, book 3
Krewe Hunters, book 3
July 31, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
Aiden and Mo make an interesting pair, but unfortunately it takes a long time for the two of them to connect. Aiden struggles with his abilities, and as thus he makes an intriguing character. The murder mysteries are good too, and as usual, Graham crafts an engaging paranormal mystery. Unfortunately I found it difficult to connect with Aiden and Mo – although interesting, they were also somewhat obnoxious and I doubt I’d like them if they were real people.
Aiden and Mo make an interesting pair, but unfortunately it takes a long time for the two of them to connect. Aiden struggles with his abilities, and as thus he makes an intriguing character. The murder mysteries are good too, and as usual, Graham crafts an engaging paranormal mystery. Unfortunately I found it difficult to connect with Aiden and Mo – although interesting, they were also somewhat obnoxious and I doubt I’d like them if they were real people.
June 16, 2015
The Krewe books are always a great read. This one however, fell a little flat to me.
I had trouble warming up to Aiden. A new twist on an agent who is not admitting to himself he can talk to the dead. I really liked Mo & Rollo though.
The mystery was pretty good. I loved the incorporation of the headless horseman and Sleepy Hollow setting.
Aiden is a new hire to Logan's krewe. It was nice having Logan, Sloan, Jane, and Will working as a team again.
I had trouble warming up to Aiden. A new twist on an agent who is not admitting to himself he can talk to the dead. I really liked Mo & Rollo though.
The mystery was pretty good. I loved the incorporation of the headless horseman and Sleepy Hollow setting.
Aiden is a new hire to Logan's krewe. It was nice having Logan, Sloan, Jane, and Will working as a team again.
August 10, 2020
Another excellent adventure in the Krewe series. This set in Sleepy Hollow, New York at Halloween. I loved the whole cast of characters involved especially the dog. I did not give the book 5 stars though because the dog is a Service Dog but it is never said what medical condition the dog is trained for. The dog being trained for search and rescue is not the same. Big issue for me as I train service dogs. The story has a good pacing, good character development, ad an excellent conclusion.
Want to read
July 23, 2014I didn't realize this was part of a series before I started it. I will hold it until I read the first books.
November 18, 2014
Enjoyable paranormal murder mystery! The story blurb caught my interest. The headless horseman! Story takes place in Sleepy Hollow. I couldn't figure out who did it until the end!
August 9, 2015
The author did a great job of putting you right into the book. The mystery kept me guessing and I did enjoy this book.
July 15, 2024
This was my first Krewe novel and overall I really enjoyed it.
Murders were taking place in Sleepy Hollow, murders that took gruesome advantage of the Headless Horseman myth. One of the people killed was a childhood friend of FBI Agent Aidan Mahoney. Aidan had the ability to see and talk to ghosts, though recently that ability had been waning. When he arrives in Sleepy Hollow he meets Maureen - Mo Deauville who lives in Sleepy Hollow with her wolfhound Rollo. They help to find missing people, and she was the first person to find the body of Aidan's friend. Mo can see and talk to ghosts as well, she talks to several who live in or near her home including Ichabod Crane. When other people start dying it becomes clear that the reasons for these murders might be more down to earth than ghosts and Headless Horseman.
Mo was such a fun character, and the conversations she had, throughout the book, with the various ghosts made the book really fun. The ghosts helped her, and in some ways were her friends. She was comfortable with her ability, and really enjoyed her ghostly friends. She was lively, brave and really caring. Aidan was tough, and loyal and a little wary of his ability, till Mo helped him come to terms with it. They made a formidable investigative pair.
The elements of this book related to Sleepy Hollow were really fun. The book was set during Halloween so we had all the festivals, and haunted houses and fun activities that took place in Sleepy Hollow were all on display and it was really fun to read. The descriptions of the natural setting were really lovely too.
The solution to the murders I never saw coming. It took me completely by surprise and that made the book all the more enjoyable. I look forward to more Krewe novels.
Murders were taking place in Sleepy Hollow, murders that took gruesome advantage of the Headless Horseman myth. One of the people killed was a childhood friend of FBI Agent Aidan Mahoney. Aidan had the ability to see and talk to ghosts, though recently that ability had been waning. When he arrives in Sleepy Hollow he meets Maureen - Mo Deauville who lives in Sleepy Hollow with her wolfhound Rollo. They help to find missing people, and she was the first person to find the body of Aidan's friend. Mo can see and talk to ghosts as well, she talks to several who live in or near her home including Ichabod Crane. When other people start dying it becomes clear that the reasons for these murders might be more down to earth than ghosts and Headless Horseman.
Mo was such a fun character, and the conversations she had, throughout the book, with the various ghosts made the book really fun. The ghosts helped her, and in some ways were her friends. She was comfortable with her ability, and really enjoyed her ghostly friends. She was lively, brave and really caring. Aidan was tough, and loyal and a little wary of his ability, till Mo helped him come to terms with it. They made a formidable investigative pair.
The elements of this book related to Sleepy Hollow were really fun. The book was set during Halloween so we had all the festivals, and haunted houses and fun activities that took place in Sleepy Hollow were all on display and it was really fun to read. The descriptions of the natural setting were really lovely too.
The solution to the murders I never saw coming. It took me completely by surprise and that made the book all the more enjoyable. I look forward to more Krewe novels.
December 29, 2025
4 Stars
‘Adam Harrison put together a group of people with special skills … These are their stories.’
The Betrayed is the fourteenth book in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham...
Okay, so if you’re into crime-solving with a supernatural twist, then Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series is like comfort food for your spooky-loving soul. Imagine a team of FBI agents who can see and communicate with ghosts - but instead of it being all doom and gloom, it’s got this cozy, slightly romantic vibe mixed in with the mystery.
Each book focuses on a different agent, so you get fresh characters and settings every time, but there’s still that familiar “Krewe family” feel. The cases range from creepy old mansions to haunted battlefields, and Ms. Graham is really good at weaving in bits of history without making it feel too ‘heavy’.
Are the plots sometimes a little predictable? Sure. But honestly, that’s part of the charm - you’re there for the atmosphere, the ghostly encounters, and the slow-burn romances as much as the whodunit. It’s the kind of series you can dip in and out of without feeling lost, although saying that, reading the books in consecutive order gives you a bigger picture as well as providing a nice sense of connection between the characters.
If you like your mysteries with a dash of paranormal, a sprinkle of romance, and a cast of likable, slightly quirky investigators - then the Krewe of Hunters is a fun, binge-worthy ride. Perfect for late-night reading with a cup of tea.
Happy Reading… 👻
‘Adam Harrison put together a group of people with special skills … These are their stories.’
The Betrayed is the fourteenth book in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham...
Okay, so if you’re into crime-solving with a supernatural twist, then Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series is like comfort food for your spooky-loving soul. Imagine a team of FBI agents who can see and communicate with ghosts - but instead of it being all doom and gloom, it’s got this cozy, slightly romantic vibe mixed in with the mystery.
Each book focuses on a different agent, so you get fresh characters and settings every time, but there’s still that familiar “Krewe family” feel. The cases range from creepy old mansions to haunted battlefields, and Ms. Graham is really good at weaving in bits of history without making it feel too ‘heavy’.
Are the plots sometimes a little predictable? Sure. But honestly, that’s part of the charm - you’re there for the atmosphere, the ghostly encounters, and the slow-burn romances as much as the whodunit. It’s the kind of series you can dip in and out of without feeling lost, although saying that, reading the books in consecutive order gives you a bigger picture as well as providing a nice sense of connection between the characters.
If you like your mysteries with a dash of paranormal, a sprinkle of romance, and a cast of likable, slightly quirky investigators - then the Krewe of Hunters is a fun, binge-worthy ride. Perfect for late-night reading with a cup of tea.
Happy Reading… 👻
September 13, 2020
Betrayed by Heather Graham is another brilliant story by this talented writer. The book drives fast to the gruesome murders. The Krewe of Hunters are sent in and the mystery of who and why behind the deadly headless bodies found around town begins. A town of sleepy hollow is no longer a quiet sleepy town. Someone is insistent on making it into a madhouse of fear, death, and mystery. When one victim is found, the killer already has the next one. So many suspects...and so little time.
This tale is intense. The Krewe of Hunters really have their hands full with this crime investigation. Finding the bodies of victims is hard enough but finding the heads the belong to them is even harder. I loved how spooky this novel was. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I can definitely picture a crazy killer doing this during Halloween. It was darker than most of the book in this series.
The romance was felt. It was just delayed a little due to the high demand in finding the victims while alive, if possible and catching the killer. Heather Graham is a queen of suspense. I love books that have tons of action-packed scenes, suspense, and romance in them. Plus, there are hints of humor inside the book. The dog that helps find the bodies and victims was adorable!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
This tale is intense. The Krewe of Hunters really have their hands full with this crime investigation. Finding the bodies of victims is hard enough but finding the heads the belong to them is even harder. I loved how spooky this novel was. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I can definitely picture a crazy killer doing this during Halloween. It was darker than most of the book in this series.
The romance was felt. It was just delayed a little due to the high demand in finding the victims while alive, if possible and catching the killer. Heather Graham is a queen of suspense. I love books that have tons of action-packed scenes, suspense, and romance in them. Plus, there are hints of humor inside the book. The dog that helps find the bodies and victims was adorable!
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
January 15, 2019
14 books and it's just not getting any better. They still don't make sense. Seriously, any FBI guy with loose lips like the ones in this book would be fired by now. Heck even the killers knew who they suspected and why they were suspected. And then there was no evidence, it was supposedly instinct and a confession. That there is great police work for you. Oh and now half the ghosts have a hard time and the other half don't. If your going to write about police procedures then maybe you should research them because what you see on TV isn't real police work. They don't reveal all they know to people that aren't even police themselves. They put people in prison not on a hunch but on real evidence. They had nothing.
And then they use the lame excuse that they weren't focused on Wendy instead of Highsmith. They would have still had nothing even if they did. Not based on absolutely anything in this book would it have ever pointed a finger at the real killers because if they focused on Wendy then the question would be why involve Highsmith? They had nothing until they had a confession, nothing!
I dont think I can take many more books that have no common sense at all. It's like watching a bad sitcom in my head. Or worse a soap opera.
And then they use the lame excuse that they weren't focused on Wendy instead of Highsmith. They would have still had nothing even if they did. Not based on absolutely anything in this book would it have ever pointed a finger at the real killers because if they focused on Wendy then the question would be why involve Highsmith? They had nothing until they had a confession, nothing!
I dont think I can take many more books that have no common sense at all. It's like watching a bad sitcom in my head. Or worse a soap opera.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
This book was okay, although it suffered from a lack of editorial and typecaster finesse. Many places had stutter-stop sentences with excess words which confused the mind.
In addition, I realized several chapters in that it was a Harlequin romance, although lighter on the boy-gets-girl angle than many in that genre.
This book dealt with an FBI agent who denied that he had any psychic abilities, a volunteer with the local police who was known to find people, and several strange deaths.
I will start out by saying that although it ended well, the guilty parties were exactly who I thought they would be.
My favorite characters were probably the ghosts! Several from different time periods inhabited the story, and all seemed to grow as they 'aged', picking up language and cultural changes. Candy especially was well done, although I am trying to put my mind around when the name was introduced.
The history was well researched, and the use of various terms for burials and memorials was mostly right on track, so as to be a non-issue for most people. Graham even made a point to educate the difference between a cemetery and a burial ground, which most readers might not know.
In addition, I realized several chapters in that it was a Harlequin romance, although lighter on the boy-gets-girl angle than many in that genre.
This book dealt with an FBI agent who denied that he had any psychic abilities, a volunteer with the local police who was known to find people, and several strange deaths.
I will start out by saying that although it ended well, the guilty parties were exactly who I thought they would be.
My favorite characters were probably the ghosts! Several from different time periods inhabited the story, and all seemed to grow as they 'aged', picking up language and cultural changes. Candy especially was well done, although I am trying to put my mind around when the name was introduced.
The history was well researched, and the use of various terms for burials and memorials was mostly right on track, so as to be a non-issue for most people. Graham even made a point to educate the difference between a cemetery and a burial ground, which most readers might not know.
October 27, 2025
I didn't guess who was behind the killings this time. It's good to get it wrong it when someone comes out left field that I wasn't expecting.
Mo is called in with her dog Rollo when a politician goes missing. She's done it plenty of times since she was a teen with Rollo's mom back then find the missing. Mostly now that she's living in Sleepy Hollow it's the living she finds but not this time.
Aidan was friends with Richard when they were kids and still kept up with him at times. He wakes from a dream where Richard came to him, but after an experience as a teen where his gift left him as a suspect in a murder Aidan has tried to shove it down to the point that he hasn't been able to see or hear in ages.
Mo helps bring that back out of him as the investigation continues. It was really sad that not only did Richard get murdered but two others and one leaving her son behind. There was not only a connection to Richard but all three victims into the past.
Really loved how this went. Rollo is a bloodhound but more on sight. Him and Mo both have the gift to see the dead. I was happy to finally get to this. Always enjoyed the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and this was a cool addition to the stories out there.
Mo is called in with her dog Rollo when a politician goes missing. She's done it plenty of times since she was a teen with Rollo's mom back then find the missing. Mostly now that she's living in Sleepy Hollow it's the living she finds but not this time.
Aidan was friends with Richard when they were kids and still kept up with him at times. He wakes from a dream where Richard came to him, but after an experience as a teen where his gift left him as a suspect in a murder Aidan has tried to shove it down to the point that he hasn't been able to see or hear in ages.
Mo helps bring that back out of him as the investigation continues. It was really sad that not only did Richard get murdered but two others and one leaving her son behind. There was not only a connection to Richard but all three victims into the past.
Really loved how this went. Rollo is a bloodhound but more on sight. Him and Mo both have the gift to see the dead. I was happy to finally get to this. Always enjoyed the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and this was a cool addition to the stories out there.
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