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Harrison Investigation #2
The Presence
The ultimate moneymaking plan...buy the ancient, run-down Scottish castle and turn it into a tourist destination. Toni Fraser and her friends will put on reenactments combining fact and fiction, local history, murder and an imaginary laird named Bruce MacNiall.
Just as someone arrives, claiming to actually be Laird MacNiall--a tall, dark, formidable Scot somehow familiar to Toni--the bodies of young women are found, dumped and forgotten in the nearby town.
But even stranger, how is it possible this laird exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance...yet sinister, lifelike dreams suggest he's connected to the recent deaths. Bruce claims he wants to help catch the murderer. But even if she wants to, can Toni trust him...when her visions seem to be coming from within the very eyes of the killer himself?
Just as someone arrives, claiming to actually be Laird MacNiall--a tall, dark, formidable Scot somehow familiar to Toni--the bodies of young women are found, dumped and forgotten in the nearby town.
But even stranger, how is it possible this laird exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance...yet sinister, lifelike dreams suggest he's connected to the recent deaths. Bruce claims he wants to help catch the murderer. But even if she wants to, can Toni trust him...when her visions seem to be coming from within the very eyes of the killer himself?
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2004
436 people are currently reading
2185 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,889 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
March 16, 2010
Couple things that bothered me about this book. The author mostly wrote the book telling the point of view from the two love interests in this. But a few times the author gave a quick glimpse into the private conversation between a married couple that was part of the group of friends,and the private thoughts of the Scottish cousin to the main character, the weird little old man who lives in a cottage on the property that the castle is on, and the constable. The quick glimpse into these people's thoughts, and conversations gives you as the reader a healthful amount of suspicion and doubt. What bothered me, was including the married couple in all this. In the conversation that they have, it is showing the wife's thoughts and feelings. All the husband says is that the main character that is their long time friend, is dangerous and that they need to do something about her. Then the wife's thoughts are that she is scared of her husband and what he is going to do especially with the tone he was using. The author never explains why that conversation took place. I am positive that the author did it just to lead suspicion and make it more difficult to figure out who the actual murderer is, but it bothered me. There was no real purpose for the conversation. Completely fabricated to throw you off. That really bothers me cause basically it was a lie. If the author wasn't so desperate to throw the reader off she wouldn't in her right mind EVER have included the conversation, because there was absolutely nothing in the book that would make any of the characters think that the main character is dangerous and needed to have something done about her.
February 20, 2019
Es un libro cortito. Me llamó la atención la reseña. Entretiene, es de los que yo llamo ligeros. Casi nada de descripciones, mucho diálogo, y como es de asesinatos, entre otras. cosas, y te pone varios sospechosos pues te tiene enganchada. Hay un castillo escocés, unos americanos que lo alquilan con fines turísticos representando una antigua leyenda del Lord, un guardés raro (me recordaba a Gollum, no se porque), unas chicas que desaparecen en ciudades de Escocia y las encuentran muertas en el bosque de dicho castillo, un Lord actual, irresistible, que no sabía nada del alquiler de su castillo e irrumpe en medio de la representación para regocijo de los turistas y bochorno de los americanos, que , dicho sea de paso son un grupo encantador. Tony, la que los lía a todos en esa empresa es médium, de pequeña tenía visiones de asesinatos reales terroríficos, ahora vuelve a tener visiones relativas a la antigua leyenda, pero tiene al Lord de carne y hueso para hacerla volver al mundo real de la mejor y única manera posible. (yamentiendessss). La escritora nos hace varios "retrospecter" de dicha historia en la que el Lord mata a su esposa por celos, o no..... y encima ambientada en la época de nuestro querido Jamie Fraser (por cierto, la prota se apellida Fraser, ooh!). Resumiendo, que me enrollo, el libro podía haber dado para meter más chicha pero no ha sido así, a pesar de que el planteamiento a mí, personalmente, me ha gustado y eso que no soy de leer paranormal.
April 23, 2018
I have enjoyed the Heather Graham books that I have read. They have a bit of mystery, a bit of the supernatural, a bit of suspense, and a bit of romance. I found in this one there were a lot of characters, and it was difficult to keep track of all of them (who was married to whom, etc) but I overall enjoyed the story and was pleasantly surprised at the end.
August 16, 2012
The weird, random italicizing throughout the book really irritated me.
April 3, 2017
Rated 3.5
The second book was so much better than the first - thank goodness!
I still prefer her Krewe of Hunters series better, but this one was still good.
The second book was so much better than the first - thank goodness!
I still prefer her Krewe of Hunters series better, but this one was still good.
March 6, 2017
I don't know if I'm reading the same copy or not, but the italics are still in random places in the copy that I read this time if it's different. But great story, and how it's lightly connected to the Harrison Investigation series! How Darcy and Matt Stone are in this book, awesome!
*First read June 3rd, 2011*
This was a pretty good book, the only things that I didn't like is that it pretty much gave the bad guy away in the first bit, and that there were sometimes whole pages of italics where they didn't need to be, but that could just be my edition. Yep :)
*First read June 3rd, 2011*
This was a pretty good book, the only things that I didn't like is that it pretty much gave the bad guy away in the first bit, and that there were sometimes whole pages of italics where they didn't need to be, but that could just be my edition. Yep :)
March 13, 2025
3.25 stars
Toni and her friends "buy" a castle in Scotland to share the history of the area with a story written by Toni. However, the true owner of the castle, Bruce, arrived and their plans seem to be in upheaval. Toni has a gift that she has repressed since childhood, but the castle and Bruce bring it to the surface.
This has some romance and mystery. It was an easy read, but the romance seemed forced and unbelievable. The mystery was tied up with a little bow and a villain monologue. Also, you get the perspective of the past and discover what truly happened with the original Laird Bruce.
This is the second in aseries. Didn't feel like I needed to read the first, and I won't continue with this particular series.
Toni and her friends "buy" a castle in Scotland to share the history of the area with a story written by Toni. However, the true owner of the castle, Bruce, arrived and their plans seem to be in upheaval. Toni has a gift that she has repressed since childhood, but the castle and Bruce bring it to the surface.
This has some romance and mystery. It was an easy read, but the romance seemed forced and unbelievable. The mystery was tied up with a little bow and a villain monologue. Also, you get the perspective of the past and discover what truly happened with the original Laird Bruce.
This is the second in aseries. Didn't feel like I needed to read the first, and I won't continue with this particular series.
January 26, 2009
Interesting but not quite enough.
Toni and her friends from the states, married couple Gina and Ryan, and partners Kevin and David, have visited Scotland a few times and love the land. When the opportunity arose, finding a listing for a run-down castle up for rent with option to buy, the 5, along with Toni’s scottish cousin, Thayer, decided to pool their savings together, buy the castle, fix it up and run tourist tours, using local history, to reenact the scenes from the past - what Toni made up in her head.
Scary part of that: what Toni created from fiction is too close to the truth, for the owner of the castle, Laird Bruce MacNiall, last known descendent of the MacNiall’s, has returned to find his castle overrun by Americans. Now both sides are angry; Bruce for finding people in his castle with legal documents that seem legit, and the group, having been duped. Feared they will be kicked to the curb, Bruce allays their fears in allowing them to stay, at least for six months, working their tours to recoup as much of their losses as possible.
Meanwhile, someone is murdering prostitutes and dumping them in Tillingham forest, which borders MacNaill Castle. Bruce had stumbled upon the first body. Eban, the hired man who sees to the horses and care of the grounds, had stumbled upon the second. When Toni stumbles upon a third body, the first thought is the remains belong to Annie O’Hara, the third girl that has gone missing. However, the body is too well preserved; mummified by the clay and muck the body had been buried in. With DNA testing, the body is confirmed that of Annalise MacNiall, wife of the late Laird. While Annalise had simply disappeared in the history of the castle, rumors ran amok that it had been the Laird that had murdered his wife, believing she had betrayed him. But the tattered cloth found around her neck bears the markings of Grayson Davis, the traitor to the highland people.
With one mystery solved, there are still two more; fraud and murder. But who committed the crimes? And why?
** SPOILER ALERT ** DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU INTEND TO READ THE BOOK **
When Bruce first returns to the castle, the animosity between him and Toni is so thick you can feel it. Bruce believes that Toni’s not telling the truth, Toni can’t believe that Bruce is the Laird, the actual owner of the castle. What I wasn’t happy with was the way Toni “jumped” him after seeing the ghost of the original Laird, standing at the foot of her bed, his sword dripping blood. She wants to feel alive and whole, and that’s why she jumped him? And just about every time they fool around, it’s for that same reason. Near the end of the story, he believes she’s seeing things that aren’t real, just dreams, all her imagination, when she admits to what she’s seen. He can’t believe in it, and yet, a decade before, as a cop, he’d been able to track down a murdering husband and wife team and solve a case, somehow by getting into the killer’s mind. Not wanting to remember it, he doesn’t want to believe Toni, which pressed on my nerves. How they can confess they love each other at the end of the story made me angry, for they had nothing to base that love on, as far as I was concerned. Attraction, yes. Love, no. The only real time they spent together was in bed and every discussion turned into a fight, one not believing the other. And they fell in love in there somewhere? I certainly didn’t feel it.
I was surprised to find out that the killer murdering prostitutes was the same person who committed the fraud. I knew who the murderer was, but for the one who committed fraud, I was wrong. The why of it is the usual; jealousy, envy, the killer twisting his beliefs to fit his reasons for revenge.
I do believe, however, that there was too much going on in this story, too many different routes. The historical part of it, I loved. It was like a side benefit, and I loved how the author brought you into the past so that you could see what happened.
I was annoyed by one aspect, however. When Toni was nine, she was able to see things, murders, with details that no one knows but the police. After being badgered and interrogated, Toni had collapsed, shutting down her mind. When she awoke, she’d managed to supress the dreams, the visions, and although she’s having visions of the past Laird, seeing his ghost in the castle, in the forest, she’s having none of the current murders. And yet, it’s believed she’s a medium, specifically? She’d met Adam Harrison of Harrison Investigations when she was a child; he’d left his card and told her to call anytime she needed him. She did, only was unable to talk to him. Instead she gets Darcy, who, along with her husband Matt, make an appearance in Scotland, after being asked not to, and to me, I don’t know why they were even brought into the story. A talk with Adam would have sufficed. No matter what was discussed between Darcy and Toni, or what Darcy said to Bruce, it really didn’t have an impact on the story whatsoever, like a ‘filler’ that didn’t have to be added to the story - wasted space.
I liked the story, but no more than that. I felt disconnected from this one; too much going on, not enough context. If you haven’t read Heather Graham before, don’t start with this one.
Toni and her friends from the states, married couple Gina and Ryan, and partners Kevin and David, have visited Scotland a few times and love the land. When the opportunity arose, finding a listing for a run-down castle up for rent with option to buy, the 5, along with Toni’s scottish cousin, Thayer, decided to pool their savings together, buy the castle, fix it up and run tourist tours, using local history, to reenact the scenes from the past - what Toni made up in her head.
Scary part of that: what Toni created from fiction is too close to the truth, for the owner of the castle, Laird Bruce MacNiall, last known descendent of the MacNiall’s, has returned to find his castle overrun by Americans. Now both sides are angry; Bruce for finding people in his castle with legal documents that seem legit, and the group, having been duped. Feared they will be kicked to the curb, Bruce allays their fears in allowing them to stay, at least for six months, working their tours to recoup as much of their losses as possible.
Meanwhile, someone is murdering prostitutes and dumping them in Tillingham forest, which borders MacNaill Castle. Bruce had stumbled upon the first body. Eban, the hired man who sees to the horses and care of the grounds, had stumbled upon the second. When Toni stumbles upon a third body, the first thought is the remains belong to Annie O’Hara, the third girl that has gone missing. However, the body is too well preserved; mummified by the clay and muck the body had been buried in. With DNA testing, the body is confirmed that of Annalise MacNiall, wife of the late Laird. While Annalise had simply disappeared in the history of the castle, rumors ran amok that it had been the Laird that had murdered his wife, believing she had betrayed him. But the tattered cloth found around her neck bears the markings of Grayson Davis, the traitor to the highland people.
With one mystery solved, there are still two more; fraud and murder. But who committed the crimes? And why?
** SPOILER ALERT ** DO NOT CONTINUE READING IF YOU INTEND TO READ THE BOOK **
When Bruce first returns to the castle, the animosity between him and Toni is so thick you can feel it. Bruce believes that Toni’s not telling the truth, Toni can’t believe that Bruce is the Laird, the actual owner of the castle. What I wasn’t happy with was the way Toni “jumped” him after seeing the ghost of the original Laird, standing at the foot of her bed, his sword dripping blood. She wants to feel alive and whole, and that’s why she jumped him? And just about every time they fool around, it’s for that same reason. Near the end of the story, he believes she’s seeing things that aren’t real, just dreams, all her imagination, when she admits to what she’s seen. He can’t believe in it, and yet, a decade before, as a cop, he’d been able to track down a murdering husband and wife team and solve a case, somehow by getting into the killer’s mind. Not wanting to remember it, he doesn’t want to believe Toni, which pressed on my nerves. How they can confess they love each other at the end of the story made me angry, for they had nothing to base that love on, as far as I was concerned. Attraction, yes. Love, no. The only real time they spent together was in bed and every discussion turned into a fight, one not believing the other. And they fell in love in there somewhere? I certainly didn’t feel it.
I was surprised to find out that the killer murdering prostitutes was the same person who committed the fraud. I knew who the murderer was, but for the one who committed fraud, I was wrong. The why of it is the usual; jealousy, envy, the killer twisting his beliefs to fit his reasons for revenge.
I do believe, however, that there was too much going on in this story, too many different routes. The historical part of it, I loved. It was like a side benefit, and I loved how the author brought you into the past so that you could see what happened.
I was annoyed by one aspect, however. When Toni was nine, she was able to see things, murders, with details that no one knows but the police. After being badgered and interrogated, Toni had collapsed, shutting down her mind. When she awoke, she’d managed to supress the dreams, the visions, and although she’s having visions of the past Laird, seeing his ghost in the castle, in the forest, she’s having none of the current murders. And yet, it’s believed she’s a medium, specifically? She’d met Adam Harrison of Harrison Investigations when she was a child; he’d left his card and told her to call anytime she needed him. She did, only was unable to talk to him. Instead she gets Darcy, who, along with her husband Matt, make an appearance in Scotland, after being asked not to, and to me, I don’t know why they were even brought into the story. A talk with Adam would have sufficed. No matter what was discussed between Darcy and Toni, or what Darcy said to Bruce, it really didn’t have an impact on the story whatsoever, like a ‘filler’ that didn’t have to be added to the story - wasted space.
I liked the story, but no more than that. I felt disconnected from this one; too much going on, not enough context. If you haven’t read Heather Graham before, don’t start with this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2020
I've not been able to focus on reading during the Covid19 lockdown and the book kept me entertained with paranormal-time travel and a handsome Scottish Laird. My book club suggested we read a Harlequin of our choice for our next meeting and discuss what is meant by formula writing, romance with chauvinism/feminism, etc. Should be a fun conversation!
May 3, 2020
You can always count on Heather Graham for an enjoyable escape from reality! She combines mystery, romance, and the supernatural in a good story with characters that are fun to read about. This particular book is set in a castle in Scotland......one with a long history of violence and tragedy, of course. Very entertaining!
April 9, 2019
After starting this book and reading a bit I realized I had read this one before. As always Heather Graham writes a page turner well worth your time.
November 26, 2015
3.5. I really enjoyed this book! I would have given it 4 stars, but the ending was what brought it down for me. I really liked the characters and setting though. The ending was a little rushed and I just though the killer's motive was kind of weak.
May 14, 2022
3 1/2 stars
Who scammed the Americans? Who is killing the ladies of ill-repute? A touch of ghost story, romance, and mystery. Evenly paced with fun characters. The italics are random and a little confusing. Still, it is a very enjoyable read.
Who scammed the Americans? Who is killing the ladies of ill-repute? A touch of ghost story, romance, and mystery. Evenly paced with fun characters. The italics are random and a little confusing. Still, it is a very enjoyable read.
December 28, 2012
A nice murder mystery from Heather Graham. This one was just witchy enough to catch my attention - some good, scary moments.
February 3, 2014
Loved the story. Now I want to go back to Scotland!
May 27, 2018
Stars: 3 / 5
Recommendation: A neat blend of history and paranormal folded with romance and murder is what we see with this plot.
The Presence is a paranormal novel by Heather Graham published in September of 2004. The central plot revolves around Antoinette "Toni" Fraser - a theater director and history re-enactment specialist - and Laird Bruce MacNiall - the current Laird of the ancient rundown castle in Scotland.
Toni Fraser and her band of friends rent a dilapidated castle in a remote village called Tillingham in Scotland, refurbish it to give historical tours as well as do reenactments of history blended with some fiction. Little did Toni realize that everything she had written for their play was the truth that happened in past. Most importantly the current Laird Bruce MacNiall was very much alive contrary to what she was told and now ready to put a halt on their efforts.
But Laird MacNiall was not just facing these trespassers aka guests in his castle but a string of bodies that are being dumped in the forests nearby his castle. Who is murdering these young women? For what purpose? Was anyone from Toni's group involved in the scam that she and her friends were lured into? And above all who is the presence in the castle that haunts Toni?
Long before her Krewe of Hunters series (My review of the books I have read in that series so far are here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), she had her Harrison Investigation Series headed by Adam Harrison. She credits him for starting the FBI special division called the Krewe of Hunters. While I was reading those books I was curious to read about Adam Harrison and books that came under his series. Finally this book gives a glimpse into Harrison Investigation Series, and technically becoming the second book in the series.
The book is written in a past and current mode. Heather Graham had frequent interludes bringing the reader to centuries old historical events while continuing with the current drama unfolding at the castle.
Obviously Heather Graham brings in her paranormal theme to this plot along with historical flair. The grand entrance she had Laird MacNiall made is nothing less than dramatic. And of course the instant love that Toni feels for Bruce comes with a bang that is hard for the reader to miss it.
Although the plot is strong with excellent placement of characters, there is a lot of repeating para phrasing; more of repeat conversations to keep explaining the same again and again as a new character enters the scene. Perhaps that is what happens when there are many people involved. It was getting tiring to read that repeat stuff but all in all the plot is strong and keeps the reader interested.
A neat blend of history and paranormal folded with romance and murder is what we see with this plot. Like always Heather Graham makes it chiller without making it gorier and at the same time makes it softly erotic with the undertones of sexual tension between the two lead characters.
On a side note, I see the paper insert at the end for a reader tow buy two bestselling novels and get a free gift along. Very nostalgic.
Another intriguing plot that would lead to a plethora of books in this series and entertaining the reader every step of the way.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Toni Fraser's friends who band with her in making the dilapidated castle into an entertainment area are: Married couple Ryan Browne and Gina Browne, Gay couple David Fulton and Kevin Hart, and her cousin Thayer Fraser.
b. It is shown that Adam Harrison owns Harrison Investigations.
c. Laird Bruce MacNiall's friend and one-time partner is Detective Inspector Robert Chamberlain.
d. We get introduced to two of the investigators working for Adam Harrison - Darcy Stone and her husband Matt Stone. Having not read the other books in the series, I am dying to see which book tells their story in that series.
Recommendation: A neat blend of history and paranormal folded with romance and murder is what we see with this plot.
The Presence is a paranormal novel by Heather Graham published in September of 2004. The central plot revolves around Antoinette "Toni" Fraser - a theater director and history re-enactment specialist - and Laird Bruce MacNiall - the current Laird of the ancient rundown castle in Scotland.
Toni Fraser and her band of friends rent a dilapidated castle in a remote village called Tillingham in Scotland, refurbish it to give historical tours as well as do reenactments of history blended with some fiction. Little did Toni realize that everything she had written for their play was the truth that happened in past. Most importantly the current Laird Bruce MacNiall was very much alive contrary to what she was told and now ready to put a halt on their efforts.
But Laird MacNiall was not just facing these trespassers aka guests in his castle but a string of bodies that are being dumped in the forests nearby his castle. Who is murdering these young women? For what purpose? Was anyone from Toni's group involved in the scam that she and her friends were lured into? And above all who is the presence in the castle that haunts Toni?
Long before her Krewe of Hunters series (My review of the books I have read in that series so far are here: https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...), she had her Harrison Investigation Series headed by Adam Harrison. She credits him for starting the FBI special division called the Krewe of Hunters. While I was reading those books I was curious to read about Adam Harrison and books that came under his series. Finally this book gives a glimpse into Harrison Investigation Series, and technically becoming the second book in the series.
The book is written in a past and current mode. Heather Graham had frequent interludes bringing the reader to centuries old historical events while continuing with the current drama unfolding at the castle.
Obviously Heather Graham brings in her paranormal theme to this plot along with historical flair. The grand entrance she had Laird MacNiall made is nothing less than dramatic. And of course the instant love that Toni feels for Bruce comes with a bang that is hard for the reader to miss it.
Although the plot is strong with excellent placement of characters, there is a lot of repeating para phrasing; more of repeat conversations to keep explaining the same again and again as a new character enters the scene. Perhaps that is what happens when there are many people involved. It was getting tiring to read that repeat stuff but all in all the plot is strong and keeps the reader interested.
A neat blend of history and paranormal folded with romance and murder is what we see with this plot. Like always Heather Graham makes it chiller without making it gorier and at the same time makes it softly erotic with the undertones of sexual tension between the two lead characters.
On a side note, I see the paper insert at the end for a reader tow buy two bestselling novels and get a free gift along. Very nostalgic.
Another intriguing plot that would lead to a plethora of books in this series and entertaining the reader every step of the way.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Plot Reveals:
a. Toni Fraser's friends who band with her in making the dilapidated castle into an entertainment area are: Married couple Ryan Browne and Gina Browne, Gay couple David Fulton and Kevin Hart, and her cousin Thayer Fraser.
b. It is shown that Adam Harrison owns Harrison Investigations.
c. Laird Bruce MacNiall's friend and one-time partner is Detective Inspector Robert Chamberlain.
d. We get introduced to two of the investigators working for Adam Harrison - Darcy Stone and her husband Matt Stone. Having not read the other books in the series, I am dying to see which book tells their story in that series.
July 5, 2024
I have to say that as much as the main male in the first book irritated me, I was worried about the character of Bruce MacNiall. And while he may have started off kind of rocky, it wasn't long before I ended up loving him. In fact, I liked him a lot better than the female MC, Toni, who I felt made a lot of stupid decisions and was downright bitchy at times.
Toni, her cousin and some friends from the US have rented a Scottish Castle and are doing historical reenactments for tourists. They believe they have a legitimate contract until the owner, laird Bruce MacNiall, shows up and orders them to leave. Over the past year of so they have also been two dead women found on the woods of the property and McNiall fears allowing the Americans to stay may put them at risk. Toni and her friends convince laird MacNiall to allow them to stay while they figure out the contract scam. To further complicate things, Toni keeps having visions of a historical laird MacNiall who allegedly killed his wife, standing at the bottom of her bed with a sword dripping blood.
Now that I'm writing this review, it does seem like there was a lot going on in this book. However, Graham pulls it together quite well and it was an enjoyable read. I will say the author works extra hard to steer the reader toward the wrong perpetrator making it obvious it certainly can't be him. However, the mystery element of the book wrapped up nicely and it was fun to see the tension between Toni and Bruce turn into something else. Also, I will add I feel that Adam Harrison, the founder of the Krewe of Hunters, did take a long time to appear in this book and I was starting to wonder if he would show at all.
This book was definitely better than the first and I am looking forward to the third one. Don't know when we will get to it as we have quite a few series reads going right now but the good thing about them is when we decide we want to move forward, all of the Harrison Investigation series is complete.
Toni, her cousin and some friends from the US have rented a Scottish Castle and are doing historical reenactments for tourists. They believe they have a legitimate contract until the owner, laird Bruce MacNiall, shows up and orders them to leave. Over the past year of so they have also been two dead women found on the woods of the property and McNiall fears allowing the Americans to stay may put them at risk. Toni and her friends convince laird MacNiall to allow them to stay while they figure out the contract scam. To further complicate things, Toni keeps having visions of a historical laird MacNiall who allegedly killed his wife, standing at the bottom of her bed with a sword dripping blood.
Now that I'm writing this review, it does seem like there was a lot going on in this book. However, Graham pulls it together quite well and it was an enjoyable read. I will say the author works extra hard to steer the reader toward the wrong perpetrator making it obvious it certainly can't be him. However, the mystery element of the book wrapped up nicely and it was fun to see the tension between Toni and Bruce turn into something else. Also, I will add I feel that Adam Harrison, the founder of the Krewe of Hunters, did take a long time to appear in this book and I was starting to wonder if he would show at all.
This book was definitely better than the first and I am looking forward to the third one. Don't know when we will get to it as we have quite a few series reads going right now but the good thing about them is when we decide we want to move forward, all of the Harrison Investigation series is complete.
January 20, 2025
Toni MacNally and her friends think they've hit on the ultimate money making plan. Buy an ancient run-down Scottish castle. Turn it into a tourist destination. Sweep visitors into a reenactment that combines fact and fiction, complete with local history, murder and an imaginary laird named Bruce MacNiall.
But when the castle's actual owner - a tall, dark and formidable Scot who shares the fictional laird's name - comes charging in, Toni is shocked. How is it possible he even exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance. . .yet every particle of his being is eerily familiar.
Soon the group is drawn into a real-life murder mystery; young women are being killed, and their bodies dumped nearby. And Toni is having sinister lifelike dreams in which she sees through the eyes of the killer - dreams that suggest a connection to Laird MacNiall. Bruce claims he wants to help catch the murderer. But can Toni trust him. . .Especially when his ghostly double wanders the forest in the black of night?
I thought I would kick off this years Halloween reads with this book. Was it scary enough, NO. It had a crime, a romance, plenty of silly sex. In fact you could say it was like an episode of Scooby Doo. A mix of characters in a haunted castle racing against time to find out who’s done ‘it’ with a ghost thrown into the mix. I have read some of the authors other books before and I have to say they were a lot better than this one.
But when the castle's actual owner - a tall, dark and formidable Scot who shares the fictional laird's name - comes charging in, Toni is shocked. How is it possible he even exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance. . .yet every particle of his being is eerily familiar.
Soon the group is drawn into a real-life murder mystery; young women are being killed, and their bodies dumped nearby. And Toni is having sinister lifelike dreams in which she sees through the eyes of the killer - dreams that suggest a connection to Laird MacNiall. Bruce claims he wants to help catch the murderer. But can Toni trust him. . .Especially when his ghostly double wanders the forest in the black of night?
I thought I would kick off this years Halloween reads with this book. Was it scary enough, NO. It had a crime, a romance, plenty of silly sex. In fact you could say it was like an episode of Scooby Doo. A mix of characters in a haunted castle racing against time to find out who’s done ‘it’ with a ghost thrown into the mix. I have read some of the authors other books before and I have to say they were a lot better than this one.
May 18, 2023
En raison du résumé qui n'était pas très clair pour moi, je ne savais pas trop à quoi m'attendre. Je pensais lire du Young Adult, ce qui n'était absolument pas le cas. J'ai plutôt été surprise en bien.
Le roman commence avec une petite Toni qui est terrorisée par ce don qui ne provient de nulle part, qu'elle subit. Dans le chapitre suivant, nous la retrouvons des années plus tard, adulte et "débarrassée" de son don. Avec ses amis, elle a déménagée en Écosse, dans le château des Highlands supposé abandonné, où ils ont monté une petite attraction touristique qui rencontre son petit succès, jusqu'à ce que Bruce McNiall, débarque, prétendant être l'actuel héritier du château.
Pour couronner le tour, alors que des femmes sont portées disparues, le don de Toni revient.
Il faut dire que je l'ai dévore en 5 jours, il se lit facilement. Dès le début, nous sommes pris dans l'intrigue. J'ai beaucoup les personnages, même si au début, j'ai été un peu perdue tant ils étaient nombreux. La plume d'Heather est captivante, addictive. L'intrigue était très bien ficelé, les révélations tombaient au moment propices pour nous obligés à poursuivre la lecture.
J'ai vraiment passé un bon moment dans cet univers qui n'est pas dans mes habitudes de lectures.
Le roman commence avec une petite Toni qui est terrorisée par ce don qui ne provient de nulle part, qu'elle subit. Dans le chapitre suivant, nous la retrouvons des années plus tard, adulte et "débarrassée" de son don. Avec ses amis, elle a déménagée en Écosse, dans le château des Highlands supposé abandonné, où ils ont monté une petite attraction touristique qui rencontre son petit succès, jusqu'à ce que Bruce McNiall, débarque, prétendant être l'actuel héritier du château.
Pour couronner le tour, alors que des femmes sont portées disparues, le don de Toni revient.
Il faut dire que je l'ai dévore en 5 jours, il se lit facilement. Dès le début, nous sommes pris dans l'intrigue. J'ai beaucoup les personnages, même si au début, j'ai été un peu perdue tant ils étaient nombreux. La plume d'Heather est captivante, addictive. L'intrigue était très bien ficelé, les révélations tombaient au moment propices pour nous obligés à poursuivre la lecture.
J'ai vraiment passé un bon moment dans cet univers qui n'est pas dans mes habitudes de lectures.
August 16, 2024
I was intrigued by the prologue, disliked the first chapter and hated the first interlude. At that point I put this book on the shelf and forgot about it for almost 2 years. I just pulled it out again to participate in a Heather Graham group read and I'm glad I did. Despite some of my problems with the writing, I really liked this story. There was a ghost, graveyards, and a crypt beneath a castle surrounded by a creepy forest. The author tried to throw suspicion on several characters that caused me to question what I knew.
Some of my problems with the book: the italics. At first I tried to figure out the purpose of the italics, then I gave up on that and just accepted them for the distraction they were. Then the author brought in characters from the prior book but they had no role other than to have a conversation. There was a happy ending but it left a lot to be desired for me. Thayer was all of a sudden happy despite loosing his lady love. When did that happen?
I will read more Heather Graham. It takes me forever to get into these books but when I do, I really like them. Even though I seem to have problems with the beginning and the end, the story itself really draws me in and that is why I read after all.
Some of my problems with the book: the italics. At first I tried to figure out the purpose of the italics, then I gave up on that and just accepted them for the distraction they were. Then the author brought in characters from the prior book but they had no role other than to have a conversation. There was a happy ending but it left a lot to be desired for me. Thayer was all of a sudden happy despite loosing his lady love. When did that happen?
I will read more Heather Graham. It takes me forever to get into these books but when I do, I really like them. Even though I seem to have problems with the beginning and the end, the story itself really draws me in and that is why I read after all.
July 24, 2020
The Presence by Heather Graham is different from her other books but still has the same elements that I love. The way it's written it a new take compared to the latest novels written by her. I was fascinated with the plot. The story took me to Scotland where there are old ruin down castles. One of them was in really bad shape and the occupant just came back to claim his castle. However, it turns out that a group of Americans bought and paid for his castle and rebuilt it from inside out...only it turns out they were scammed.
The rightful owner is an investigator and his digs into their predicament and kindly allows them to stay on at the castle considering the money they lost. The group hosts ghost tours at the castle. But there is a serial killer among them and bodies are being found. The group is suspicious of each other and one of them is being haunted by a ghost relative of the castle's owner.
Danger, mystery, humor, and a bit of romance all rolled into one incredible read. I enjoyed the cast of characters. Both the Scotts and Americans made for an entertaining journey.
The rightful owner is an investigator and his digs into their predicament and kindly allows them to stay on at the castle considering the money they lost. The group hosts ghost tours at the castle. But there is a serial killer among them and bodies are being found. The group is suspicious of each other and one of them is being haunted by a ghost relative of the castle's owner.
Danger, mystery, humor, and a bit of romance all rolled into one incredible read. I enjoyed the cast of characters. Both the Scotts and Americans made for an entertaining journey.
October 9, 2024
Sometimes a book is better than the sum of its part, and sometimes it isn't.
“The Presence” falls into the latter category.
It relies on complicated plotting to tell a romantic paranormal ghost story, throws in a serial killer, and generally goes out of its way to muddy the plot.
American Toni Fraser and her friends have leased an historic Scottish castle. They plan to renovate it and stage historic re-enactments with emphasis on the dramatic.
Toni makes up a suitable story and is surprised to find that it is historically accurate down to the last detail.
And then the owner of the castle arrives, and he's damn sure he hasn't agreed to lease it to anyone.
But, beguiled by Toni, he lets them stay.
She, meanwhile, is being haunted by a previous Laird who exactly resembles the current one.
And so it goes on, layering one story upon another again and again.
I suspect that even the author gave up the ghost (ahem!) because it suddenly jumps into turbo-speed at the end and wraps everything up in a hurry.
I found it difficult to make it to the end because it completely failed to grab my interest.
2.5 Stars, reduced to 2 Stars.
“The Presence” falls into the latter category.
It relies on complicated plotting to tell a romantic paranormal ghost story, throws in a serial killer, and generally goes out of its way to muddy the plot.
American Toni Fraser and her friends have leased an historic Scottish castle. They plan to renovate it and stage historic re-enactments with emphasis on the dramatic.
Toni makes up a suitable story and is surprised to find that it is historically accurate down to the last detail.
And then the owner of the castle arrives, and he's damn sure he hasn't agreed to lease it to anyone.
But, beguiled by Toni, he lets them stay.
She, meanwhile, is being haunted by a previous Laird who exactly resembles the current one.
And so it goes on, layering one story upon another again and again.
I suspect that even the author gave up the ghost (ahem!) because it suddenly jumps into turbo-speed at the end and wraps everything up in a hurry.
I found it difficult to make it to the end because it completely failed to grab my interest.
2.5 Stars, reduced to 2 Stars.
January 1, 2019
Disjointed melodrama. In an effort to keep the reader guessing and preserve the mystery the author left the characters vague and cartoonish. The female main character was appallingly weak and confused and after she jumped in bed with a stranger I lost respect and interest. The male main character got a bunch of random background stuff and ran around all angst filled when he wasn’t sleeping with the “crazy lady” he just met.
The setting was good.
The dialogue read like an old soap opera full of drama and cliche but no substance. The author emphasized the nationalities of the characters but threw in such inconsistent bits of accented speech it drove me nuts to try to read their “voices”.
The pacing of the story was all over the place as it jumped around in time and perspectives.
The ending didn’t make much more sense than any of the rest of the book.
Violence, sex, swearing.
My last frustration with this book was in the edition I downloaded to my i-pad having strange formatting and multiple compound words being divided oddly. May have just been a glitch but it didn’t help.
The setting was good.
The dialogue read like an old soap opera full of drama and cliche but no substance. The author emphasized the nationalities of the characters but threw in such inconsistent bits of accented speech it drove me nuts to try to read their “voices”.
The pacing of the story was all over the place as it jumped around in time and perspectives.
The ending didn’t make much more sense than any of the rest of the book.
Violence, sex, swearing.
My last frustration with this book was in the edition I downloaded to my i-pad having strange formatting and multiple compound words being divided oddly. May have just been a glitch but it didn’t help.
March 11, 2025
A group of six friends rents a castle in Scotland to give tours of Scottish history: there is the married couple Ryan and Gina, the gay couple Kevin and David, and Toni and her cousin Thayer. Toni makes up a grand story for them to perform. Only...then the laird of the castle comes home, they find out that they have been taken in, and the story Toni made up is eerily close to the truth. Laird Bruce MacNiall is infuriated to find interlopers in his castle, perplexed as to who could have put up the castle for rent since the Americans' paperwork seems to be in order, and hesitant but agrees to let them stay until everything is sorted out. Toni has a special connection to the history of the home and winds up finding a very old set of bones connected to the MacNiall ancestors. As she questions her sanity, the authorities and Bruce work with them to uncover who defrauded them and to solve the string of murders. A wildly surprising final showdown slams the past and the present together solving more than one mystery.
July 5, 2018
Toni Fraser and her friends think they've hit on the ultimate moneymaking plan. Buy an ancient run-down Scottish castle. Turn it into a tourist destination. Sweep visitors into a reenactment that combines fact and fiction, complete with local history, murder and an imaginary laird named Bruce MacNiall. But when the castle's actual owner--a tall, dark and formidable Scot who shares the fictional laird's name-comes charging in, Toni is shocked. Hw is it possible he even exists? Toni invented Bruce MacNiall for the performance..yet every particle of his being is eerily familiar. Soon the group is drawn into a real-life murder mystery:young women are being killed, their bodies dumped nearby. Toni is having dreams which she sees through the eyes of the killer-dreams that suggest a connection to Laird MacNiall. Bruce claims he wants to help but can Toni trust him-especially when his double wanders the forest in the black of night?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
Heather Graham does an excellent job of misleading the reader as to the identity of the killer in her books. If you've read enough of her books, you know that surely it isn't someone that seems overtly suspicious via details shared in the book, but someone seemingly inconsequential (or close to it) but still relatively close to the center of the book. Knowing all of this, I feel that I should've figured out the killer sooner. Maybe I would have if I had tried really hard and put all of the clues together, but I think I enjoy the surprise more. I enjoy that Graham is able to make me get suspicious of a character, even knowing it probably isn't that person, and then possibly a second character, until she gets me turned around enough that the true culprit is a surprise. Nothing is made obvious. She keeps you guessing until just before the killer is revealed. I think this is why I will forever love her books. That and the slight paranormal twist she puts on them. Just enough that you can't help but question if that couldn't actually be reality for someone out there while knowing the answer is probably not. Overall, another great book by Graham and I look forward to whatever my next read of hers may be!
April 22, 2021
3.5 stars
Really solidly enjoyable. I honestly had no idea who had actually done it until it was revealed at the end. I do enjoy a good paranormal mystery with a good chunk of romance and this suits all of that, the setting in a castle in Scotland certainly didn't hurt either.
I liked Bruce a very great deal. He was a wonderful hero, and honestly a shining beacon of patience through a lot of this book. Not to mention handsome. Toni was likeable but not as enjoyable to me as Bruce was, still their chemistry worked well enough for me and they fit together quite nicely for the purpose of the story.
I every much enjoy the bits of the paranormal and the ghost as well as the historical interludes were a very nice touch. Not overdone, or overlong but just enough to really add to things. I'd only read chunks of this series before and this wasn't one of the ones I'd read the first time. Glad to have read it now.
Really solidly enjoyable. I honestly had no idea who had actually done it until it was revealed at the end. I do enjoy a good paranormal mystery with a good chunk of romance and this suits all of that, the setting in a castle in Scotland certainly didn't hurt either.
I liked Bruce a very great deal. He was a wonderful hero, and honestly a shining beacon of patience through a lot of this book. Not to mention handsome. Toni was likeable but not as enjoyable to me as Bruce was, still their chemistry worked well enough for me and they fit together quite nicely for the purpose of the story.
I every much enjoy the bits of the paranormal and the ghost as well as the historical interludes were a very nice touch. Not overdone, or overlong but just enough to really add to things. I'd only read chunks of this series before and this wasn't one of the ones I'd read the first time. Glad to have read it now.
October 7, 2021
People give this series such bad ratings like babes, it’s supposed to be bad!! Stay playful! Enjoy the script we all know! It is simple: a current murder is somehow similar to a century-old murder, an impossibly sexy woman (who is clueless to her prowess) has ghost-seeing capabilities, and a grumpy man her age that hasn’t touched a woman since his high school sweetheart died at least ten years ago. Then Mr. Grumpy and Impossibly Sexy fall in love over solving the current and past murders, all the while arguing the validity of ghosts helping them solve the crimes. This happens every time. Ghosts, murder, sex. It’s what we are here for. It’s my favorite porno. Sure, there are formatting/spelling errors and the couple fall in love way too quickly, but it’s fun. Get over your snobbish standards and enjoy the coziness of knowing what you’re getting from every book in this series.
August 24, 2018
Very good book. There is actually 2 things going on at the same time and they do tie into each other at the end. Once I started it, I couldn't put it down. A lot of suspense and some mythology involved as to so called "Ghosts" roaming around. A group of 6 people pooled their money and bought an old run down Scottish Castle, and then developed a play that centered on a ficticious Scottish laird and his so called life . They are doing very well, and then in walks a Scottish laird by the name of the ficticious laird they had picked out of the air, so to speak. Had to laugh as this is so well written I could just see the looks on their faces when he arrives on his stallion! Story goes on from there and it really keeps you hopping. Highly recommend.
June 2, 2017
This was a very good book and it kept my attention to the end. A group of fiends pooled their money and leased a small castle in Scotland in order to do historic tours along with live drama. Unfortunately, after sinking all their funds into this project, they found out that they had been scammed. When Laird MacNiall returned home unexpectedly, he discovered that there were people not only living but doing tours of his castle. Toni Fraser had written the play herself but she found out that her story was very close to the truth about the owner and his ancestors. A great story about a very interesting ghost, who was the original Laird, and how he helped solve a murder mystery.
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