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The Holy Oak Haunting
Some ghosts want justice. Others want your head.
When psychic investigator Sully and his ex-cop brother Dez answer a call from an old friend, they expect a haunting—not a hunt. Dark premonitions have driven Raiya, a seasoned psychic, to the dense, unforgiving woods surrounding a remote resort.
Decades ago on Halloween night, Raiya was abandoned in these woods by school bullies. By morning, one was found beheaded. A second suffered a breakdown and vanished into history. A third moved on, ultimately building a resort over the ruins of that terrifying night.
Now something dark is reawakening. Locals whisper about Headless Henry, a ghostly legend blamed for a historic scattering of grisly decapitations.
As Sully and Dez dig into the decades-old mystery, they uncover buried a girl accused of murder but never convicted; a cover-up wrapped in silence; and a resort run by someone who knows more than she’s saying. The deeper they go, the more it becomes clear—this isn’t just a haunting.
It’s a feeding ground.
Sully and Dez must unravel the truth before Henry claims more victims. But in a place where the dead don’t rest, even the brothers might not make it out alive.
The Braddock & Gray Case Files take mystery and give it a ghostly twist. The series is a follow-up to the highly rated, seven-book Sullivan Gray Series.
When psychic investigator Sully and his ex-cop brother Dez answer a call from an old friend, they expect a haunting—not a hunt. Dark premonitions have driven Raiya, a seasoned psychic, to the dense, unforgiving woods surrounding a remote resort.
Decades ago on Halloween night, Raiya was abandoned in these woods by school bullies. By morning, one was found beheaded. A second suffered a breakdown and vanished into history. A third moved on, ultimately building a resort over the ruins of that terrifying night.
Now something dark is reawakening. Locals whisper about Headless Henry, a ghostly legend blamed for a historic scattering of grisly decapitations.
As Sully and Dez dig into the decades-old mystery, they uncover buried a girl accused of murder but never convicted; a cover-up wrapped in silence; and a resort run by someone who knows more than she’s saying. The deeper they go, the more it becomes clear—this isn’t just a haunting.
It’s a feeding ground.
Sully and Dez must unravel the truth before Henry claims more victims. But in a place where the dead don’t rest, even the brothers might not make it out alive.
The Braddock & Gray Case Files take mystery and give it a ghostly twist. The series is a follow-up to the highly rated, seven-book Sullivan Gray Series.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
34 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Bayne
34 books119 followersRaised on a farm on the Canadian Prairies, words quickly became my means of exploring the world around me and giving life to the one created in my imagination. Fascinated by ghost stories and crime fiction, I have been writing both for well over two decades, drawing on more than fifteen years in a career in a criminal justice setting. When not putting Scrivener through its paces, I enjoy reading, portrait drawing, travel and spending time with family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 31, 2025
I read this book as an ARC reader!
This one becomes very exciting and there is a lot of action in it. Sully is finding that booking a wedding venue a year in advance is Not long enough. Now he has limited choices, so travels out to see a venue and mets an old friend with a haunting problem. This is a page Turner and I read in one sitting, up until 1:30 am. So Good!!
This one becomes very exciting and there is a lot of action in it. Sully is finding that booking a wedding venue a year in advance is Not long enough. Now he has limited choices, so travels out to see a venue and mets an old friend with a haunting problem. This is a page Turner and I read in one sitting, up until 1:30 am. So Good!!
November 1, 2025
Raiya! YAY!!!!
So, here is the thing, the secondary characters in these books are brilliant, so when one of them comes back, it's like an old friend is visiting :D As soon as I began reading, I was... is it she? It must be; this can't be a coincidence. Raiya is a very uncommon name. And, of course, it wasn't *laughs*
And what a comeback it is! The story starts with a bang, and from there, there is no respite. Sully, obviously, can't even check a wedding venue without finding scary ghosts. And poor Dez! He was only there to fulfil his duty as best man. Life is not easy for the brothers, that's for sure :P
As always, the relationship between Sully and Dez is an integral part of the story, and I love how Dez appease Sully's doubts and fears ♥
Way to go, big brother!
But I also truly enjoyed the mystery part of the story, how nobody truly knows what happened that Halloween in 1979, except for the beheading, of course.
And that ghost! Sully has faced some very powerful, very frightening ghosts, but this one is definitely formidable and capable of taking him on. Thankfully, he's not alone fighting him, and that is, in the end, what will make all the difference.
But believe me, all the scenes in the woods? They are all, at best, creepy, at their worst, horrifyingly dreadful.
And yes, I have to say this: I LOVE RAIYA! I love the part she plays in keeping all safe and defeating the monster. She's strong, she's smart, she's wise, she's powerful. She's exactly the ally that Sully needed. As Louise says:
Can you say I deeply enjoyed this story? Maybe I've been too subtle? Just in case that's the case: if you like scary stories, go and read this one. You won't regret it :D
So, here is the thing, the secondary characters in these books are brilliant, so when one of them comes back, it's like an old friend is visiting :D As soon as I began reading, I was... is it she? It must be; this can't be a coincidence. Raiya is a very uncommon name. And, of course, it wasn't *laughs*
And what a comeback it is! The story starts with a bang, and from there, there is no respite. Sully, obviously, can't even check a wedding venue without finding scary ghosts. And poor Dez! He was only there to fulfil his duty as best man. Life is not easy for the brothers, that's for sure :P
As always, the relationship between Sully and Dez is an integral part of the story, and I love how Dez appease Sully's doubts and fears ♥
“If you’re with me, you’re stuck with my psychic thing all the same. It’s a two-for-one deal. No one knows that better than you do.”
"Sure do. Which makes me totally the right person to say this to you: anyone would be happy getting stuck with your psychic thing if it means having you in their life.”
Way to go, big brother!
But I also truly enjoyed the mystery part of the story, how nobody truly knows what happened that Halloween in 1979, except for the beheading, of course.
And that ghost! Sully has faced some very powerful, very frightening ghosts, but this one is definitely formidable and capable of taking him on. Thankfully, he's not alone fighting him, and that is, in the end, what will make all the difference.
But believe me, all the scenes in the woods? They are all, at best, creepy, at their worst, horrifyingly dreadful.
And yes, I have to say this: I LOVE RAIYA! I love the part she plays in keeping all safe and defeating the monster. She's strong, she's smart, she's wise, she's powerful. She's exactly the ally that Sully needed. As Louise says:
“I was wrong, you know. It’s not the witch thing that makes you special. It’s you. Just you.♥
Can you say I deeply enjoyed this story? Maybe I've been too subtle? Just in case that's the case: if you like scary stories, go and read this one. You won't regret it :D
November 14, 2025
Nineteen books later and it is still as exciting and a wonderful story to read as the start of the series, if anything it improves.
So Sully is getting married and has to find a venue, this one looks fairly promising, it's not too far from where they live, very pretty, but there is a ghost and it's very violent as Sully's ghosts often are.
As he struggles with Dez to deal with it, with the possessions and the fallouts, this venue isn't going to make it on the list, even if he does clear it out.
Raiya is involved, from an earlier book, she has helped them out a few times and this is her childhood home, involving a ghost who was there for the kids who hazed her and ultimately one of them died at the hands of the ghost. She gets her resolution, but it is as ever, always not a sure run thing.
It's a brilliant story, love this series. Each story is fresh and yet carries on!
So Sully is getting married and has to find a venue, this one looks fairly promising, it's not too far from where they live, very pretty, but there is a ghost and it's very violent as Sully's ghosts often are.
As he struggles with Dez to deal with it, with the possessions and the fallouts, this venue isn't going to make it on the list, even if he does clear it out.
Raiya is involved, from an earlier book, she has helped them out a few times and this is her childhood home, involving a ghost who was there for the kids who hazed her and ultimately one of them died at the hands of the ghost. She gets her resolution, but it is as ever, always not a sure run thing.
It's a brilliant story, love this series. Each story is fresh and yet carries on!
November 7, 2025
Even when Sully and Dez are not working a case, trouble seems to find them. The boys are checking out venues for Sully and Sarah's wedding at a charming hotel in the country. They are confronted by an old man who seems to have a secret. I like that they teamed up with Sully's mentor, Raiya, who has a history with the town. Between them, they must hunt down a ghost with a penchant for taking heads. Another great story from this amazing series. I would highly recommend the series. I received an advance copy of this book via the author and this is my honest review.
November 2, 2025
Another fantastic Braddock & Gray Case File. I love the consistency of the main characters (who now feel like friends.) The characters written for this book evoked feelings of betrayal and fear and kindness and forgiveness. So many ups and downs until “the bad guy(s)” were caught. Now I’m back to anticipating the next book’s release.
November 9, 2025
Holy… this book is CRAZY intense! The ghost Sully has to go up against is dreadful. Not just in the afterlife, but in his life as well. The missing heads of his victims are what made this haunting so intense. I know he can’t, but if I was Sully I would retire. Done. This was a seriously scary story! I LOVED IT!
October 27, 2025
This is a bone chilling read. Non-stop action with terrifying thrills. Sully is on a mission to find a wedding venue but instead finds a headless killing ghost. Can they stop him before it kills again? How many people are beheaded and will their heads ever be found?
November 5, 2025
Wow!!!
This book was so good! Sully is looking for a venue for his wedding. He & Dez go to visit a place only to discover an evil entity that’s kills people! Fast paced and full of creepiness. I was unable to put it down! The entire series is excellent!
This book was so good! Sully is looking for a venue for his wedding. He & Dez go to visit a place only to discover an evil entity that’s kills people! Fast paced and full of creepiness. I was unable to put it down! The entire series is excellent!
November 18, 2025
Wonderful
Another wonderful Braddock and Gray book. Silly and Dez are looking for a venue for Sullys wedding when they come across a case that looks like town folklore. Headless Henry. I hope there will be more books.
Another wonderful Braddock and Gray book. Silly and Dez are looking for a venue for Sullys wedding when they come across a case that looks like town folklore. Headless Henry. I hope there will be more books.
November 21, 2025
Paranormal mystery
The Braddock and Gray Case Files are great reads. I've enjoyed them all. In this one Sully has to face off with a powerful and vengeful spirit. Not only is Dez there to help but so is an old friend.
The Braddock and Gray Case Files are great reads. I've enjoyed them all. In this one Sully has to face off with a powerful and vengeful spirit. Not only is Dez there to help but so is an old friend.
December 25, 2025
Wildest story yet
I love all of the Braddock and Gray books, but this was one wild story. I'm always impressed with what you have Dez & Sully get into as they try to help someone.
Book #19 is really great.
I love all of the Braddock and Gray books, but this was one wild story. I'm always impressed with what you have Dez & Sully get into as they try to help someone.
Book #19 is really great.
November 2, 2025
Excellent, as usual.
There is not a single book on this series that I have not enjoyed completely. The only disappointment is that now I have to wait for another one to come out.
There is not a single book on this series that I have not enjoyed completely. The only disappointment is that now I have to wait for another one to come out.
November 2, 2025
I love these stories but I read them so fast and then wish for more!
November 3, 2025
Rave for this series.
This has been an indescribable adventure for me, immersing in Sully and Dez's world. I always look forward to the next one. Thanks for sharing.
This has been an indescribable adventure for me, immersing in Sully and Dez's world. I always look forward to the next one. Thanks for sharing.
November 8, 2025
Amazing gripping book
This story has you hooked from the first page to the last page. Love the Braddock Gray case files series.
This story has you hooked from the first page to the last page. Love the Braddock Gray case files series.
November 11, 2025
Awsome as always
Im never disappointed in your stories. I really like Dez And Sully.
And the entire crew. You keep writing and I'll keep reading.
Im never disappointed in your stories. I really like Dez And Sully.
And the entire crew. You keep writing and I'll keep reading.
December 21, 2025
Great book
As always, another Great storyline.
Keeping you on the edge of your seats.
Hope there is another one in the future.
Thank you
As always, another Great storyline.
Keeping you on the edge of your seats.
Hope there is another one in the future.
Thank you
November 24, 2025
I love all her books!!! I read them slowly so they don’t end cause I could stay up all night to finish them!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews