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Bodies of Evidence #1
A Grave Calling
There had been no attempt to bury the dead girl, naked except for the white ribbon tied to her wrist
Twenty-five-year-old Julie Hall has a unique when she takes up a dowsing rod, she finds not water but bodies. To Julie, it's a curse, not a gift, and one she rarely uses—she prefers her quiet life in a trailer, with her grandfather and her dog for company. But when FBI agent Garrett Pierce shows up at her door seeking help with a case, she has no choice but to assist with their search.
Three girls are still missing. The killer is still out there. As bodies are discovered and more girls disappear, the case becomes almost more than Julie can bear. And when the killer turns his sights toward her, even her growing relationship with the protective Agent Garrett may not be enough to save her.
This book is approximately 74,000 words
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2017
63 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Roberts
30 books330 followersWendy Roberts is an armchair sleuth, fan of all things mysterious but a huge chicken at heart. Her mind is often in the secretive, cloak and dagger world of intrigue while her physical presence is usually at home or on the road in her camper van. Wendy resides in Vancouver, Canada where she happily writes about murder and is always at work on her next novel.
You can find Wendy on the web on the following sites:
Website: www.wendyroberts.com
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Website: www.wendyroberts.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorwendy
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
May 24, 2017
Julie Hall has a blessing ...or a curse. With the help of dowsing rods, she can locate dead bodies. When FBI Agent Garrett Pierce shows up and wants her help to locate three missing young women. She really doesn't want to .. but she agrees to help in his search.
As bodies are discovered and more girls disappear, it's almost more than Julie can mentally handle. Finding the bodies brings back bad memories of when she was a child. Her grandmother was physically abusive .... and she still has all the scores to remind her.
And then the killer turns his eyes toward Julie. Pierce becomes very protective and vows that nothing will happen to her ... but the killer has other ideas.
Interesting book with an engaging story premise. Julie is a terrific character ... she's had to come to terms with her childhood. Called a witch when caught using the dowsing rods had her grandmother doing horrific things to Julie to drive the devil out. She's outgoing with no problem saying what's on her mind. She doesn't play head games and she's fiercely loyal to the one or two friends that she has. Her one love has 4 paws ... a Rottweiler name Wookie.
Garrett Pierce has had his share of heartache. He lost his beloved wife and young son to a drunk driver a few years ago. He's a little gruff, a little arrogant but feels a strong attraction to Julie, even though he's 20+ years older.
There are several secondary characters that lend a note of credibility to the story. Her ex-boyfriend, Dennie. Her best friend, Katie, who has a fling with Julie's ex. Julie's grandfather, who never stopped his wife from beating Julie. Jonas, a young man who works at the same gas station as Julie, who has a small crush on her.
If you like a bit of spice, a bit of paranormal, then this book may be for you. Watch for the second book in this series ..... A GRAVE SEARCH.
Many thanks to the author / Carina Press / Netgalley for the advanced uncorrected digital proof. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
As bodies are discovered and more girls disappear, it's almost more than Julie can mentally handle. Finding the bodies brings back bad memories of when she was a child. Her grandmother was physically abusive .... and she still has all the scores to remind her.
And then the killer turns his eyes toward Julie. Pierce becomes very protective and vows that nothing will happen to her ... but the killer has other ideas.
Interesting book with an engaging story premise. Julie is a terrific character ... she's had to come to terms with her childhood. Called a witch when caught using the dowsing rods had her grandmother doing horrific things to Julie to drive the devil out. She's outgoing with no problem saying what's on her mind. She doesn't play head games and she's fiercely loyal to the one or two friends that she has. Her one love has 4 paws ... a Rottweiler name Wookie.
Garrett Pierce has had his share of heartache. He lost his beloved wife and young son to a drunk driver a few years ago. He's a little gruff, a little arrogant but feels a strong attraction to Julie, even though he's 20+ years older.
There are several secondary characters that lend a note of credibility to the story. Her ex-boyfriend, Dennie. Her best friend, Katie, who has a fling with Julie's ex. Julie's grandfather, who never stopped his wife from beating Julie. Jonas, a young man who works at the same gas station as Julie, who has a small crush on her.
If you like a bit of spice, a bit of paranormal, then this book may be for you. Watch for the second book in this series ..... A GRAVE SEARCH.
Many thanks to the author / Carina Press / Netgalley for the advanced uncorrected digital proof. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 15, 2019
Good, but nothing exceptional.
The problem was the heroine.
She has a gift for which her grandmother punished her cruelly and told her that she was trash, useless, Satan's spawn... So, she sees herself as not deserving anything: her bast friend is a colossal bitch, her man uses her for sex... She has such a low esteem of herself that it was painful to read.
When the hero, an FBI agent calls her to help finding bodies of girls who were kelled by a serial killer, she reclutantly agrees.
It all seems so ineteresting, but the pacing is so slow. We get to see each and every small thing she does during her day: watching TV without actually watching it, endlessly musing about her horrible childhood, taking care of her grandfather, taking care of her dog.. rinse and repeat... rinse and repeat... over and over...
She's also very angry with the world. She thinks she knows better than anybody. When placed in protective custody, she sneaks out and gets in trouble. When told to keep cover, she jumps out of the car to say hello to a colleague, when it was stressed to her that her life is in danger she doesn't believe it (because she's soooo worthless!), she sneaks into hero's computer and discovers the address of her mother and even if her life is in danger goes there! Stupid, stupid! ... and finally she gets kidnapped by said serial killer.
I'm not saying it was all bad, but it was a frustrating reading!
The romantic part was downplayed: she and Garrett end having sex, but I didn't feel the emotional connection between them. To me it seemed like a transfert, an attraction to somebody who showed you an attention you were badly needed.
But since this is the fist book in the series, I'll be reading the next one hoping things would chnage and she would grow more mature and intelligent!
The problem was the heroine.
She has a gift for which her grandmother punished her cruelly and told her that she was trash, useless, Satan's spawn... So, she sees herself as not deserving anything: her bast friend is a colossal bitch, her man uses her for sex... She has such a low esteem of herself that it was painful to read.
When the hero, an FBI agent calls her to help finding bodies of girls who were kelled by a serial killer, she reclutantly agrees.
It all seems so ineteresting, but the pacing is so slow. We get to see each and every small thing she does during her day: watching TV without actually watching it, endlessly musing about her horrible childhood, taking care of her grandfather, taking care of her dog.. rinse and repeat... rinse and repeat... over and over...
She's also very angry with the world. She thinks she knows better than anybody. When placed in protective custody, she sneaks out and gets in trouble. When told to keep cover, she jumps out of the car to say hello to a colleague, when it was stressed to her that her life is in danger she doesn't believe it (because she's soooo worthless!), she sneaks into hero's computer and discovers the address of her mother and even if her life is in danger goes there! Stupid, stupid! ... and finally she gets kidnapped by said serial killer.
I'm not saying it was all bad, but it was a frustrating reading!
The romantic part was downplayed: she and Garrett end having sex, but I didn't feel the emotional connection between them. To me it seemed like a transfert, an attraction to somebody who showed you an attention you were badly needed.
But since this is the fist book in the series, I'll be reading the next one hoping things would chnage and she would grow more mature and intelligent!
September 3, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed writing Julie's story! At the present time, I'm working on the sequel to A Grave Calling. The second book, A Grave Search, will be released in January.
If you've taken the time to read one of my stories I am eternally grateful for your support.
Wendy xo
If you've taken the time to read one of my stories I am eternally grateful for your support.
Wendy xo
August 25, 2017
3.5 stars
I read a couple of Wendy Roberts' books before around 8 years ago. Then I saw an upcoming title from her at Netgalley; it was book #2 of this Bodies of Evidence series and I was curious. So I decided to check out the first book.
The mystery was GOOD -- except for the ending. I will rant about that later. But yeah, I really liked the idea of the heroine being able to find bodies using dowsing methodology. It was a little magical for a mainstream mystery story but totally welcomed.
The atmosphere was a bit dark and depressing, probably because both Julie as the heroine, and Garrett as the hero, suffered from emotional and physical abuse (in Julie's case) and great loss (in Garrett's case). . The fact that there were twenty years age-gap between them made the relationship interesting though.
I thought Roberts were able to keep the pace and suspense nicely. I couldn't put this book down -- except for getting night sleep -- and I was quite surprised with the identity of the serial killer. THAT was a big twist!
HOWEVER, I felt quite disappointed with how Roberts wrapped up everything...
I would've rated it higher if not for those things I wrote behind spoiler tag. Having said that, I'll definitely check out the next book!
I read a couple of Wendy Roberts' books before around 8 years ago. Then I saw an upcoming title from her at Netgalley; it was book #2 of this Bodies of Evidence series and I was curious. So I decided to check out the first book.
The mystery was GOOD -- except for the ending. I will rant about that later. But yeah, I really liked the idea of the heroine being able to find bodies using dowsing methodology. It was a little magical for a mainstream mystery story but totally welcomed.
The atmosphere was a bit dark and depressing, probably because both Julie as the heroine, and Garrett as the hero, suffered from emotional and physical abuse (in Julie's case) and great loss (in Garrett's case). . The fact that there were twenty years age-gap between them made the relationship interesting though.
I thought Roberts were able to keep the pace and suspense nicely. I couldn't put this book down -- except for getting night sleep -- and I was quite surprised with the identity of the serial killer. THAT was a big twist!
HOWEVER, I felt quite disappointed with how Roberts wrapped up everything...
I would've rated it higher if not for those things I wrote behind spoiler tag. Having said that, I'll definitely check out the next book!
May 5, 2017
3.5 creepy, serial killer stars for A GRAVE CALLING.
Julie Hall has a seriously unique skill: she's able to find dead bodies with a divining rod. Weird, but it comes in handy when FBI agent Garrett Pierce has 3 dead girls and very few leads. Julie isn't thrilled with her skill, but she knows she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't do everything she could to help. But her assistance quickly comes with press notoriety, a terrible thing when it's clear that a serial killer will do anything to stop the FBI, and Julie, from the truth.
A GRAVE CALLING is book 1 in the Bodies of Evidence series by Ms. Roberts, and even though it took a little time to get into, I wound up really enjoying the story. Julie was an unlikely heroine, a woman who had nothing going for her except her Gramps and her dog, a woman with a horrific past that threatens to pull her under over and over again. Garrett is almost twice her age, widowed and focused on finding this killer before another young woman dies. They make an unlikely team, and an unlikely couple once they fall into bed together. I'm not sure that they really had much chemistry, more like two people taking comfort in one another during a terrible patch.
The best part was when the killer was revealed, I so didn't see it coming AT ALL. This was more of a cozy mystery with romantic elements, but it's a series that I wouldn't mind reading more of in the future.
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; indeterminate condom use (not mentioned but sex scenes were pretty glossed over); no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; violence/murder. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
Julie Hall has a seriously unique skill: she's able to find dead bodies with a divining rod. Weird, but it comes in handy when FBI agent Garrett Pierce has 3 dead girls and very few leads. Julie isn't thrilled with her skill, but she knows she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't do everything she could to help. But her assistance quickly comes with press notoriety, a terrible thing when it's clear that a serial killer will do anything to stop the FBI, and Julie, from the truth.
A GRAVE CALLING is book 1 in the Bodies of Evidence series by Ms. Roberts, and even though it took a little time to get into, I wound up really enjoying the story. Julie was an unlikely heroine, a woman who had nothing going for her except her Gramps and her dog, a woman with a horrific past that threatens to pull her under over and over again. Garrett is almost twice her age, widowed and focused on finding this killer before another young woman dies. They make an unlikely team, and an unlikely couple once they fall into bed together. I'm not sure that they really had much chemistry, more like two people taking comfort in one another during a terrible patch.
The best part was when the killer was revealed, I so didn't see it coming AT ALL. This was more of a cozy mystery with romantic elements, but it's a series that I wouldn't mind reading more of in the future.
Bottom Line: No OM/OW or sharing; indeterminate condom use (not mentioned but sex scenes were pretty glossed over); no BDSM/kink; no sexual assault; violence/murder. - See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
- See more at: http://www.theromancereviews.com/view...
June 10, 2019
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2017; Carina Press
(Review Not on Blog)
A Grave Calling is a new to me author, and even better is from BC, Canada (where I live). Wendy Roberts is now on my list of author's to read. I really enjoyed the paranormal elements in this romantic suspense novel. It is a bit predictable, but is well-written and has great characters. There is a spark of romance between the hero and heroine so I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. This series has great potential and I am excited to read the second book.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
2017; Carina Press
(Review Not on Blog)
A Grave Calling is a new to me author, and even better is from BC, Canada (where I live). Wendy Roberts is now on my list of author's to read. I really enjoyed the paranormal elements in this romantic suspense novel. It is a bit predictable, but is well-written and has great characters. There is a spark of romance between the hero and heroine so I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. This series has great potential and I am excited to read the second book.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
August 1, 2019
With an ARC of Wendy Roberts’s Bodies of Evidence #4 waiting in the wings, I went to the first because I cannot bear coming to a series midway. Besides, I like two of the series’ premises: a heroine with divining powers and a May-to-December romance (her twenty-five to his forty-five). From the get-go, Roberts’s heroine, Julie Hall, aka Delma Arsenault, is a mess, but a likeable one. She lives with her Rottweiler, Wookie, in an old trailer on her grandfather’s property . She works at the local gas station, plays with her dog, takes care of Gramps, and fights off the urge to drink. Julie is a woman with dark, difficult memories of abandonment (by her mother) and physical abuse by her grandmother. Despite this, she is neither lugubrious, or weepy. I liked her for that: she’s darkly funny, caring, even loving, but rough around the edges and her mouth makes a sailor blush. She also carries an unlikely ability: to locate the missing dead with the use of divining rods, or as they’re called in the novel, dowsing rods. Into Julie’s work-home-walk-dog life walks FBI Agent Garrett Pierce, on the trail of a serial killer. He wants Julie’s help to find the missing girls, to recover their bodies, to bring him closer to catching the killer.
You may read the rest on my blog:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
You may read the rest on my blog:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
July 29, 2017
You can find this review in English below.
No sé muy bien cómo definir esta historia.
Hay romance, pero...
Hay suspense, pero...
Y hay algo de chick-lit, creo...
La historia ha sufrido por culpa de la narración en primera persona. Normalmente es algo muy peligroso, si no está bien hecho puede hundir la historia, aquí no la ha hundido, pero creo que ha sido un lastre. Ha habido muchas repeticiones y la prosa no ha sido fluida. Ha ido a trompicones.
Por otro lado, la autora ha conseguido hacerme ver todo lo que estaba pasando como si yo fuese Julie, así que he podido justificar algunas de sus acciones, aunque no todas.
Las dos primeras veces en las que la protagonista decide incumplir las órdenes que le había dado el FBI pude justificarlas, no tenía apenas sensación de peligro, yo era tan inconsciente del mismo como la protagonista. La tercera vez me abrió los ojos y puso a Julie en el temido estante de las heroínas TSTL. No hay otra explicación. Es una de esas veces en las que estás gritando al personaje Noooooooo, no hagas eso, nooooo!!!! pero va y lo hace.
El suspense es muy, muy bueno. Con un par de giros que no se ven venir, increíblemente bien hecho y de esos que te atrapan y casi que tienes que cerrar los ojos porque no puedes con la tensión. Pero el final ha sido muy brusco. Ha sido un auténtico frenazo en seco. Me he quedado patidifusa y preguntándome ¿Ya está? Me gustaría haber sabido porqué el malo hizo todo lo que hizo y qué exactamente fue todo lo que hizo. No ha dado ni una sola explicación. Ni del cómo, ni del porqué, ni de cuantos. Por qué la cinta, por qué los ríos y puentes, por qué esa edad... La autora deja entrever algo, pero no lo dice claramente, todo queda a la imaginación del consumidor. Mi mente sigue rellenando los espacios en blanco y ahora mismo tengo una imagen del suspense que no sé si es la que la autora quería o una que me he sacado yo de la manga.
Y el romance ha estado bien pero le ha faltado algo. Algún tipo de conexión y/o química entre ellos. Hay una gran diferencia de edad entre los protagonistas pero no me ha preocupado. Creo que no estaba lo suficientemente involucrada en el romance para que me importase. La autora nos pinta a la pareja tan ansiosa de utilizar el sexo como escape que al final no me he creído el HEA. Que, para ser sincera, también ha sido algo tibio.
Me han gustado los protagonistas. Realistas y con fallos a puñados. Un soplo de aire fresco en este mundo de personajes superficiales y perfectos.
En fin, el potencial estaba ahí, pero le ha faltado hilar fino para conseguir que la historia fuese algo realmente especial.
***
I'm not sure how to define this story.
There is romance, but ...
There is suspense, but ...
And there's some chick-lit, or so I think ...
The story has suffered because of the first person POV. Normally, it is a tricky thing, because if it is not well done it can sink the story, it has not been the case here, but I think it has been an encumbrance. There have been some repetitions and the prose has not been fluid. It's been told by fits and starts.
On the other hand, the author has managed to make me see everything that was happening as if I were Julie, so I have been able to justify some of her actions, although not all of them.
The first two times the heroine decides to ignore the orders the FBI gave her I could justify them, she had no sense of danger, she was as unconscious of it as me. The third time it opened my eyes and put Julie on the dreaded shelf of the TSTL heroines. There is no other explanation. It's one of those times you're screaming at the character Noooooooo, do not do that, nooooo!!!! but she goes and does it.
The suspense is so, so good. With a couple of twists that I did not see coming, incredibly well done. The kind of suspense you almost have to close your eyes because you can´t bear the tension. But then, there was the end. To say it came to a sudden end would be the understatement of the century. It was a real jam on the brakes. I've been left dumbfounded and wondering about a lot of things. I wish I had known why the bad guy did everything he did and what exactly was everything he did. The author has not given a single explanation about it. Neither how, nor why, nor how many. Why the ribbons, why the rivers and bridges, why that age ... The author loosely suggest something, but did not say it clearly, everything is left to the reader´s imagination. My mind keeps filling the holes and I now have a clearer imagen of the suspense, but I´m not sure if this image is what the author was aiming for or something I just produce out of thin air.
And the romance has been good but has been missing something. Some kind of connection or/and chemistry. There is a big age difference between the MC´s but it didn´t bother me. Maybe I wasn´t sufficiently invested. The author paints the couple so eager to use sex as an escape that, in the end, I couldn´t buy their HEA. Which, to be honest, has also been somewhat lukewarm.
I liked the MC´s. Realistic and with a handful of flaws. It has been a breath of fresh air in this world of shallow and perfect characters.
Anyway, the potential was there, but it has lacked the tread carefully to become a great story.
No sé muy bien cómo definir esta historia.
Hay romance, pero...
Hay suspense, pero...
Y hay algo de chick-lit, creo...
La historia ha sufrido por culpa de la narración en primera persona. Normalmente es algo muy peligroso, si no está bien hecho puede hundir la historia, aquí no la ha hundido, pero creo que ha sido un lastre. Ha habido muchas repeticiones y la prosa no ha sido fluida. Ha ido a trompicones.
Por otro lado, la autora ha conseguido hacerme ver todo lo que estaba pasando como si yo fuese Julie, así que he podido justificar algunas de sus acciones, aunque no todas.
Las dos primeras veces en las que la protagonista decide incumplir las órdenes que le había dado el FBI pude justificarlas, no tenía apenas sensación de peligro, yo era tan inconsciente del mismo como la protagonista. La tercera vez me abrió los ojos y puso a Julie en el temido estante de las heroínas TSTL. No hay otra explicación. Es una de esas veces en las que estás gritando al personaje Noooooooo, no hagas eso, nooooo!!!! pero va y lo hace.
El suspense es muy, muy bueno. Con un par de giros que no se ven venir, increíblemente bien hecho y de esos que te atrapan y casi que tienes que cerrar los ojos porque no puedes con la tensión. Pero el final ha sido muy brusco. Ha sido un auténtico frenazo en seco. Me he quedado patidifusa y preguntándome ¿Ya está? Me gustaría haber sabido porqué el malo hizo todo lo que hizo y qué exactamente fue todo lo que hizo. No ha dado ni una sola explicación. Ni del cómo, ni del porqué, ni de cuantos. Por qué la cinta, por qué los ríos y puentes, por qué esa edad... La autora deja entrever algo, pero no lo dice claramente, todo queda a la imaginación del consumidor. Mi mente sigue rellenando los espacios en blanco y ahora mismo tengo una imagen del suspense que no sé si es la que la autora quería o una que me he sacado yo de la manga.
Y el romance ha estado bien pero le ha faltado algo. Algún tipo de conexión y/o química entre ellos. Hay una gran diferencia de edad entre los protagonistas pero no me ha preocupado. Creo que no estaba lo suficientemente involucrada en el romance para que me importase. La autora nos pinta a la pareja tan ansiosa de utilizar el sexo como escape que al final no me he creído el HEA. Que, para ser sincera, también ha sido algo tibio.
Me han gustado los protagonistas. Realistas y con fallos a puñados. Un soplo de aire fresco en este mundo de personajes superficiales y perfectos.
En fin, el potencial estaba ahí, pero le ha faltado hilar fino para conseguir que la historia fuese algo realmente especial.
***
I'm not sure how to define this story.
There is romance, but ...
There is suspense, but ...
And there's some chick-lit, or so I think ...
The story has suffered because of the first person POV. Normally, it is a tricky thing, because if it is not well done it can sink the story, it has not been the case here, but I think it has been an encumbrance. There have been some repetitions and the prose has not been fluid. It's been told by fits and starts.
On the other hand, the author has managed to make me see everything that was happening as if I were Julie, so I have been able to justify some of her actions, although not all of them.
The first two times the heroine decides to ignore the orders the FBI gave her I could justify them, she had no sense of danger, she was as unconscious of it as me. The third time it opened my eyes and put Julie on the dreaded shelf of the TSTL heroines. There is no other explanation. It's one of those times you're screaming at the character Noooooooo, do not do that, nooooo!!!! but she goes and does it.
The suspense is so, so good. With a couple of twists that I did not see coming, incredibly well done. The kind of suspense you almost have to close your eyes because you can´t bear the tension. But then, there was the end. To say it came to a sudden end would be the understatement of the century. It was a real jam on the brakes. I've been left dumbfounded and wondering about a lot of things. I wish I had known why the bad guy did everything he did and what exactly was everything he did. The author has not given a single explanation about it. Neither how, nor why, nor how many. Why the ribbons, why the rivers and bridges, why that age ... The author loosely suggest something, but did not say it clearly, everything is left to the reader´s imagination. My mind keeps filling the holes and I now have a clearer imagen of the suspense, but I´m not sure if this image is what the author was aiming for or something I just produce out of thin air.
And the romance has been good but has been missing something. Some kind of connection or/and chemistry. There is a big age difference between the MC´s but it didn´t bother me. Maybe I wasn´t sufficiently invested. The author paints the couple so eager to use sex as an escape that, in the end, I couldn´t buy their HEA. Which, to be honest, has also been somewhat lukewarm.
I liked the MC´s. Realistic and with a handful of flaws. It has been a breath of fresh air in this world of shallow and perfect characters.
Anyway, the potential was there, but it has lacked the tread carefully to become a great story.
January 22, 2018
I could not put this book down. I am a fan of Wendy Roberts Ghost Duster's Mysteries but this one is even better! Julie Hall is 25 working at a gas station in her small hometown, living in a trailer on her grandparents property and drying out from a long alcohol bender. She also has the unique ability to find dead bodies with dowsing rods. FBI agent, Garrett Pierce comes looking for her help to find the bodies of three teenage girls who have gone missing. Julie has no idea how upside down this will turn her life.
December 18, 2017
What attracted me to this book is actually the pink color. I mean really Pink on a suspense book called A Grave Calling . Anyway, I am happy that I read this book, it is good interesting book.
April 20, 2021
Interesting ideas and an interesting premise, but most everything else fell flat for me. What surprised me was actually how much I started disliking the main character, which is almost never a problem for me. I LOVE a messed up, flawed heroine. But I couldn't get on board with a lot of the things Julie did in this book.
The writing was good (other than a habit the author had of stretching random words like thi-i-is which drove me insane) but the plot moved quite slowly. Which would be fine, except the mystery all led up to...uh...whatever that was.
The romance felt rushed and too easy, given their situation. The ending didn't make much sense. Overall it wasn't terrible, but the things that annoyed me REALLY annoyed me.
The writing was good (other than a habit the author had of stretching random words like thi-i-is which drove me insane) but the plot moved quite slowly. Which would be fine, except the mystery all led up to...uh...whatever that was.
The romance felt rushed and too easy, given their situation. The ending didn't make much sense. Overall it wasn't terrible, but the things that annoyed me REALLY annoyed me.
June 2, 2017
A Grave Calling by Wendy Roberts
Bodies of Evidence #1
Having used a few divination tools with mixed results I was eager to read this book of a woman who dowses for the dead. Watching my husband’s cousin look for water and being told how he does it using the same tools Julie used in this book made it come even more alive for me. I do like things that are not always scientific and don’t come with easy explanations ;)
Julie Hall, born Delma Arsenault, is the once abused but very talented heroine of this book. She has survived her childhood and is doing her best as an adult when along comes FBI Agent Garrett Pierce asking her to do something she has been raised to believe is evil – get her divining rods out and dowse for the bodies left behind by a serial killer. It is tasking for her but with the support of rather silent and quite a bit older Garrett she has success on more than one trip into the field. Before the end of the book she finds herself in the crosshairs of the killer. Since she is not one to follow the rules the FBI finds it a challenge at times to keep her safe.
As the first book in the Bodies of Evidence series I found this interesting and intriguing. It drew me in and kept me turning the pages without taking a break. I liked both Julie and Garrett and felt they brought out the best in one another. I have a feeling that they will make a great team in future books of the series. I liked that the book ended with the case tied up in a bow but with a hint at the direction the series plans to take for book number two. I am looking forward to reading more of this series and other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Bodies of Evidence #1
Having used a few divination tools with mixed results I was eager to read this book of a woman who dowses for the dead. Watching my husband’s cousin look for water and being told how he does it using the same tools Julie used in this book made it come even more alive for me. I do like things that are not always scientific and don’t come with easy explanations ;)
Julie Hall, born Delma Arsenault, is the once abused but very talented heroine of this book. She has survived her childhood and is doing her best as an adult when along comes FBI Agent Garrett Pierce asking her to do something she has been raised to believe is evil – get her divining rods out and dowse for the bodies left behind by a serial killer. It is tasking for her but with the support of rather silent and quite a bit older Garrett she has success on more than one trip into the field. Before the end of the book she finds herself in the crosshairs of the killer. Since she is not one to follow the rules the FBI finds it a challenge at times to keep her safe.
As the first book in the Bodies of Evidence series I found this interesting and intriguing. It drew me in and kept me turning the pages without taking a break. I liked both Julie and Garrett and felt they brought out the best in one another. I have a feeling that they will make a great team in future books of the series. I liked that the book ended with the case tied up in a bow but with a hint at the direction the series plans to take for book number two. I am looking forward to reading more of this series and other books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
May 31, 2017
A Grave Calling (Bodies of Evidence #1) by Wendy Roberts
5 stars
M/F Mystery/Thriller
Triggers: Child abuse, Serial Killer, Kidnapping, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a great story. I love mystery books and even though I was able to figure out who the killer was, I didn't think that it took away from the story at all.
This was a complex, well developed mystery story with a little romance thrown in.
Garrett is trying to figure out who is killing women around the area. He enlists the help of Julie, who has a gift of finding dead people using dousing rods. Despite the fact that she hates to use her ability, he convinces her.
What Julie is fighting is her memories. She was abused by her grandmother and those memories haunt her. She has fought hard to find a medium in her life - she has her dog, Wookie, her job and her grandfather. When Agent Pierce comes to her asking for her help, her life is thrown in to the media.
I really enjoyed how Roberts was able to weave the story, both past and present - it came together in a very well rounded way and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series.
5 stars
M/F Mystery/Thriller
Triggers: Child abuse, Serial Killer, Kidnapping, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a great story. I love mystery books and even though I was able to figure out who the killer was, I didn't think that it took away from the story at all.
This was a complex, well developed mystery story with a little romance thrown in.
Garrett is trying to figure out who is killing women around the area. He enlists the help of Julie, who has a gift of finding dead people using dousing rods. Despite the fact that she hates to use her ability, he convinces her.
What Julie is fighting is her memories. She was abused by her grandmother and those memories haunt her. She has fought hard to find a medium in her life - she has her dog, Wookie, her job and her grandfather. When Agent Pierce comes to her asking for her help, her life is thrown in to the media.
I really enjoyed how Roberts was able to weave the story, both past and present - it came together in a very well rounded way and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series.
June 22, 2017
This book has a strong mystery and plenty of twists and turns, but the real reason to read it is for the voice. Julie Hall has a strong, distinct, honest voice, and her first-person account of using her dowsing rods in an FBI investigation pulled me right in and kept me reading. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
November 15, 2018
Hmm, I liked this. I really liked the portrayal of Julie as someone who's just trying to get by. I was hoping for a little more relationship buildup.
Buuuut you get downgraded a star for being stupid at the end.
Buuuut you get downgraded a star for being stupid at the end.
June 10, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I love books with characters who have special abilities. The main characters are flawed but try to overcome. The storyline was very interesting. I did not see the ending coming.
September 10, 2017
The identity of the killer threw me in all directions. SOOOO unexpected!!!!
October 27, 2017
A terrific book of suspense and a bit of romance. Loved this book from a first time author for me. Definitely ready for another one.
December 13, 2017
Julie Hall is twenty-five, has a terrible secret, and a strange ability to find dead bodies using a pair of dowsing rods. What happens when it hits close to home, any place she can call her home?
I read A Grave Calling, the first book in the series, by chance. I was looking for something different from mainstream fantasy and found the series next on NetGalley. I don't like to start a mystery series midway so picked up the first book.
This review is for books 1 and 2 from the series Bodies of Evidence.
The first book introduces us to a responsible new adult (think that's the right term?) who works at a gas station to support herself and takes care of her grandfather besides helping people find the dead bodies of their loved ones with the help of a pair of dowsing rods that were traditionally used to locate water sources.
Julie Hall is not really the correct name. A personal trauma from her younger life caused her to call herself by her middle name and live like a recluse, mostly. A boyfriend who didn't sound warm enough, a girl-bestie who didn't sound like she ever had Julie's best interest in her heart, and a grandfather, who seemed awfully strong for his age and kind to her: these were the only ones forming her close circle. A co-worker was becoming a fast friend. Things were going fine until one day when a macho FBI agent with a purpose landed on her turf.
Agent Garett Pierce brought an emotionally taxing job and a boatload of trouble to Julie but gave her his full and unconditional support to help her through the tribulations of being discovered by the media to be a paranormally gifted person doing the jobs of a police.
Wendy Roberts has created the perfect atmosphere through setting and ambience. She has described the bleak yet beautiful forest and waterbodies with such clarity that I could easily visualize Julie frozen with fear over the bridge, the rough or muddy terrain she had to tread as directed by the dowsing rods, her trailer she called home, the grandfather's property.
The character of Julie Hall feels very real with her fear, her trauma, her introvert nature combined with an inborn drive to help others, protect her dog, her grandfather, friends who kick her to the curbs when she is down. She makes the reader want to wish everything stops at once but also go on turning the pages because curiosity and the thrill of hunting a serial killer is the driving force of a mystery/crime fiction-lover. The book doesn't leave us hanging, at the same time, the writer doesn't hold our hand and take through the nuances of everything. The mystery follows the usual crime-thriller-serial-killer-trope but doesn't fail to satisfy the curious mind. The suspense remains intact for an admirable while, keeping the reader on the hook, reeling in and out for a fun while.
The budding romance turning into a longing passion between Julie and her new love interest is understandable and time-appropriate. Julie's internal struggles of getting over her older though not a long-lived relationship, her troubles with the current job, her feelings for a much older man, make the story alive and keep it like that throughout.
The consequences of the first book roll into the second one, A Grave Search. Julie has a new home, she handling her life relatively well, and independently (that she always did, what I like about her), and continues with the body-finding business. Her inheritance has bought her a property in a small town where she makes new friends, stays away from triggers of old memories, and has unhealthy dinner alone on a regular basis (unless her boyfriend feeds her). She is going steady with the FBI agent and life is more or less good. Until someone shifts their attention to her.
An old school friend's body turns up when she is working for a client and things go awry pretty soon.
The setting is bleak and beautiful like before, hilly terrain, water bodies, human bodies, a giant goofy dog completely adorable, possessive but very loving boyfriend, clients more suspicious than their cases, A Grave Search is almost as good as the first book, A Grave Calling. The twists and turns leave a lot of clues for an avid reader of mysteries to figure out the culprit without a lot of head-banging but keep the tension right up to the last page. I liked the new friend character, a little goofy but absolutely adorable.
As you can see, I enjoyed both books from the series. But there are always a few things each different reader might take in a different way. For example, I found the sex scenes a little 'there because it must be.' The age difference didn't matter to me and I appreciate the author not making a middle-aged guy fawn over a young girl like a high-school boy. Even the over-protectiveness feels justified when you are under the radar of a serial killer or a potentially lethal stalker. Sometimes, the main character circles around a thought a bit too long for my taste. But the subtle wit in the author's writing style keeps things interesting. The antagonists are not very scary as they are always found out at last and the focus of the books are always, almost always, on Julie. A sense of foreboding usual for this genre doesn't linger long. However, the imagery of setting and Julie's harrowing past makes up for it.
I will recommend the series Bodies of Evidence to those who like a dark mystery with a romantic touch, an interesting heroine with a past, and some paranormal spice, but aren't looking for hardcore crime detection.
I read A Grave Calling, the first book in the series, by chance. I was looking for something different from mainstream fantasy and found the series next on NetGalley. I don't like to start a mystery series midway so picked up the first book.
This review is for books 1 and 2 from the series Bodies of Evidence.
The first book introduces us to a responsible new adult (think that's the right term?) who works at a gas station to support herself and takes care of her grandfather besides helping people find the dead bodies of their loved ones with the help of a pair of dowsing rods that were traditionally used to locate water sources.
Julie Hall is not really the correct name. A personal trauma from her younger life caused her to call herself by her middle name and live like a recluse, mostly. A boyfriend who didn't sound warm enough, a girl-bestie who didn't sound like she ever had Julie's best interest in her heart, and a grandfather, who seemed awfully strong for his age and kind to her: these were the only ones forming her close circle. A co-worker was becoming a fast friend. Things were going fine until one day when a macho FBI agent with a purpose landed on her turf.
Agent Garett Pierce brought an emotionally taxing job and a boatload of trouble to Julie but gave her his full and unconditional support to help her through the tribulations of being discovered by the media to be a paranormally gifted person doing the jobs of a police.
Wendy Roberts has created the perfect atmosphere through setting and ambience. She has described the bleak yet beautiful forest and waterbodies with such clarity that I could easily visualize Julie frozen with fear over the bridge, the rough or muddy terrain she had to tread as directed by the dowsing rods, her trailer she called home, the grandfather's property.
The character of Julie Hall feels very real with her fear, her trauma, her introvert nature combined with an inborn drive to help others, protect her dog, her grandfather, friends who kick her to the curbs when she is down. She makes the reader want to wish everything stops at once but also go on turning the pages because curiosity and the thrill of hunting a serial killer is the driving force of a mystery/crime fiction-lover. The book doesn't leave us hanging, at the same time, the writer doesn't hold our hand and take through the nuances of everything. The mystery follows the usual crime-thriller-serial-killer-trope but doesn't fail to satisfy the curious mind. The suspense remains intact for an admirable while, keeping the reader on the hook, reeling in and out for a fun while.
The budding romance turning into a longing passion between Julie and her new love interest is understandable and time-appropriate. Julie's internal struggles of getting over her older though not a long-lived relationship, her troubles with the current job, her feelings for a much older man, make the story alive and keep it like that throughout.
The consequences of the first book roll into the second one, A Grave Search. Julie has a new home, she handling her life relatively well, and independently (that she always did, what I like about her), and continues with the body-finding business. Her inheritance has bought her a property in a small town where she makes new friends, stays away from triggers of old memories, and has unhealthy dinner alone on a regular basis (unless her boyfriend feeds her). She is going steady with the FBI agent and life is more or less good. Until someone shifts their attention to her.
An old school friend's body turns up when she is working for a client and things go awry pretty soon.
The setting is bleak and beautiful like before, hilly terrain, water bodies, human bodies, a giant goofy dog completely adorable, possessive but very loving boyfriend, clients more suspicious than their cases, A Grave Search is almost as good as the first book, A Grave Calling. The twists and turns leave a lot of clues for an avid reader of mysteries to figure out the culprit without a lot of head-banging but keep the tension right up to the last page. I liked the new friend character, a little goofy but absolutely adorable.
As you can see, I enjoyed both books from the series. But there are always a few things each different reader might take in a different way. For example, I found the sex scenes a little 'there because it must be.' The age difference didn't matter to me and I appreciate the author not making a middle-aged guy fawn over a young girl like a high-school boy. Even the over-protectiveness feels justified when you are under the radar of a serial killer or a potentially lethal stalker. Sometimes, the main character circles around a thought a bit too long for my taste. But the subtle wit in the author's writing style keeps things interesting. The antagonists are not very scary as they are always found out at last and the focus of the books are always, almost always, on Julie. A sense of foreboding usual for this genre doesn't linger long. However, the imagery of setting and Julie's harrowing past makes up for it.
I will recommend the series Bodies of Evidence to those who like a dark mystery with a romantic touch, an interesting heroine with a past, and some paranormal spice, but aren't looking for hardcore crime detection.
July 15, 2017
Online Romancelandia has more than once observed the proliferation of painfully good, sweet heroines who could not possibly offend even the most delicate of sensibilities. If you are in the camp that has bemoaned this development, Julie Hall of A Grave Calling will definitely stand out for you. I can honestly say that I’ve not encountered anyone like her. In a genre where many protagonists tend to be middle class (or billionaires), Julie is a recovering alcoholic with PTSD who works at a gas station and lives in a trailer. She’s also clever, funny and a lot stronger than she thinks she is.
We learn early on that Julie has an unusual gift that has brought her more then a few difficulties. She is a dowser. However, instead of finding water sources as most with her talents do, her dowsing rods lead her straight to bodies, a gift which makes Julie a person of interest to FBI agent Garrett Pierce. Pierce is haunted by the disappearances of three young women, and he wants to stop a serial killer before any more are taken. So haunted, in fact, that he recruits Julie to help.
What ensues is a mystery both chilling and very engaging. I liked the deeply flawed heroine, and as the work she does for Pierce triggers old memories and forces her to face demons of her past, I found myself rooting for her even if I did question her judgment on occasion. When someone close to Julie betrays her by letting her secret out to the press, she has to go into hiding in order to survive – and that’s when the plot really heats up. The killer starts to get closer and closer to Julie and the suspense builds at an ever-increasing pace as Julie and Garrett crisscross the rural Washington landscape in pursuit.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
We learn early on that Julie has an unusual gift that has brought her more then a few difficulties. She is a dowser. However, instead of finding water sources as most with her talents do, her dowsing rods lead her straight to bodies, a gift which makes Julie a person of interest to FBI agent Garrett Pierce. Pierce is haunted by the disappearances of three young women, and he wants to stop a serial killer before any more are taken. So haunted, in fact, that he recruits Julie to help.
What ensues is a mystery both chilling and very engaging. I liked the deeply flawed heroine, and as the work she does for Pierce triggers old memories and forces her to face demons of her past, I found myself rooting for her even if I did question her judgment on occasion. When someone close to Julie betrays her by letting her secret out to the press, she has to go into hiding in order to survive – and that’s when the plot really heats up. The killer starts to get closer and closer to Julie and the suspense builds at an ever-increasing pace as Julie and Garrett crisscross the rural Washington landscape in pursuit.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
May 30, 2017
A Grave Calling is a promising start to a new series by Wendy Roberts. Julie Hall has a unique talent that the FBI thinks might help them find missing girls. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pulled into the story from page one. Interesting characters that you"ll want to know more about with a new spin on paranormal. The mystery kept me guessing and I was totally surprised by the ending. I'm looking forward to more in this series.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
November 14, 2017
I was extremely interested in this book because of the heroine's unique ability to find bodies using dowsing rods. I love a little paranormal/ghost/telepathic mixed in with my mystery. Throw in some romance and I'm all in.
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
I started out liking the heroine but, by the end, was frustrated with her. Julie is a former alcoholic dealing with PTSD after suffering pretty horrific abuse by her grandmother. She works at a gas station and takes care of her grandfather. Initially, I like the heroine. I felt her struggles were genuine and I appreciated the relationship she'd formed with her dog and her grandfather. However, like other aspects of this book, things started to unravel. First, Julie leaves FBI protective custody twice, despite the fact that the first time ended badly. The second time went - as expected - worse. Second, the reader discovers that the grandfather Julie cares for and dotes over was a willing participant in her abuse. He didn't actually whip her or lock her in a shed during freezing temperatures but he was living in the home, was aware of it, and did nothing to stop it. As a family law attorney and someone who has worked with abuse victims, I felt this wasn't something I could easily overlook. It tainted their relationship and made me feel like Julie didn't have a whole lot of clarity about her life.
Additionally, Julie is dating someone else when the book starts. She finds her boyfriend screwing her best friend and goes on a bender. She drinks for several days, runs out of alcohol and, desperate for more, steals her grandfather's car and drives to the liquor store. She drinks an entire bottle of wine and is on her way through the second when she is pulled over and arrested for drunk driving. I was NOT okay with this. The bender was one thing, drunk driving was another. By the time this happened in the book, I was convinced Julie needed some serious psychological help.
Which brings me to the romance. When one of the characters is so messed up you are concerned for their well-being, I cannot be convinced of a HEA or happy for now ending. Couple that with the fact that the FBI agent and hero, Garrett, has his own trunk of trouble. He's a widower whose wife and child died in a car accident. And...wait for it...they were hit by a drunk driver. So what does Garrett do when Julie is arrested for a DUI? He bails her out and wipes her record clean. Oh, he momentarily admonishes her about how she could have killed herself or someone else, but then the dude sleeps with her a couple of days later. Ummm...no. I just cannot imagine this is a normal and natural reaction. Not to mention Julie WAS WITH SOMEONE ELSE JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE! And when that guy turned out to be a loser, she broke her sobriety and went on a days long bender. Like, Garrett, dude, what are you thinking? None of this seems healthy or normal.
I know several other reviewers had an issue with the age difference between the two characters, but that never bothered me. Except, I felt like Garrett being a 40 something year old shouldn't had his life together enough to know not to touch Julie, who was a wreck, with a ten foot pole. Out of everything in this book, the age difference between them was the least concerning aspect.
That brings me to the mystery. The entire reason, at this point, I am reading this book. By halfway, I knew who the killer was. 3/4 I was convinced but I held out hoping against hope, I was wrong and there was going to be a huge twist at the end.
No. There wasn't.
Big spoiler here: The killer is Julie's grandfather. He has been killing for ages. Like at least since Julie was a little girl. Her grandfather and grandmother owned a huge area of property for a long time. When Julie was little, she discovered a little boy's body in a well on the property. In flashbacks, we learned her grandmother beat her and verbally abused her afterwards.
Okay, now Gramps has moved on to kidnapping women, keeping them in fishing shacks for some unknown reason (he doesn't sexually assault them and they are forced to drink water laced with drugs that make them sleep). He then kills them, ties a ribbon around their wrist and dumps them in water. NONE of the reasons for this are explained. Why water? No idea. Ribbon? Your guess is as good as mine. What about keeping them in the shack? Who knows...because I certainly don't. His actions make zero sense to me.
Then, and this is where I really just threw up my hands, when he is revealed as the killer, Gramps apologizes to Julie. He says he never wanted to hurt her. In fact, her grandmother - the one that physically, mentally and verbally abused her - discovered he was a killer and threatened to expose him if he didn't allow her to keep beating up on Julie. So...he just let her.
Ummmm, no. I'm thinking Gramps would have killed Grandma a heck of a long time ago and saved them both the trouble. I mean the dude's a serial killer who has no issue taking out women and children alike. Why in heavens name would he allow Julie's grandmother to blackmail him? Even for his own survival, he would have killed her. Obviously.
So essentially, none of the elements of this book worked for me. Okay, maybe the dowsing. That was cool. But the rest? I wasn't a fan.
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
I started out liking the heroine but, by the end, was frustrated with her. Julie is a former alcoholic dealing with PTSD after suffering pretty horrific abuse by her grandmother. She works at a gas station and takes care of her grandfather. Initially, I like the heroine. I felt her struggles were genuine and I appreciated the relationship she'd formed with her dog and her grandfather. However, like other aspects of this book, things started to unravel. First, Julie leaves FBI protective custody twice, despite the fact that the first time ended badly. The second time went - as expected - worse. Second, the reader discovers that the grandfather Julie cares for and dotes over was a willing participant in her abuse. He didn't actually whip her or lock her in a shed during freezing temperatures but he was living in the home, was aware of it, and did nothing to stop it. As a family law attorney and someone who has worked with abuse victims, I felt this wasn't something I could easily overlook. It tainted their relationship and made me feel like Julie didn't have a whole lot of clarity about her life.
Additionally, Julie is dating someone else when the book starts. She finds her boyfriend screwing her best friend and goes on a bender. She drinks for several days, runs out of alcohol and, desperate for more, steals her grandfather's car and drives to the liquor store. She drinks an entire bottle of wine and is on her way through the second when she is pulled over and arrested for drunk driving. I was NOT okay with this. The bender was one thing, drunk driving was another. By the time this happened in the book, I was convinced Julie needed some serious psychological help.
Which brings me to the romance. When one of the characters is so messed up you are concerned for their well-being, I cannot be convinced of a HEA or happy for now ending. Couple that with the fact that the FBI agent and hero, Garrett, has his own trunk of trouble. He's a widower whose wife and child died in a car accident. And...wait for it...they were hit by a drunk driver. So what does Garrett do when Julie is arrested for a DUI? He bails her out and wipes her record clean. Oh, he momentarily admonishes her about how she could have killed herself or someone else, but then the dude sleeps with her a couple of days later. Ummm...no. I just cannot imagine this is a normal and natural reaction. Not to mention Julie WAS WITH SOMEONE ELSE JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE! And when that guy turned out to be a loser, she broke her sobriety and went on a days long bender. Like, Garrett, dude, what are you thinking? None of this seems healthy or normal.
I know several other reviewers had an issue with the age difference between the two characters, but that never bothered me. Except, I felt like Garrett being a 40 something year old shouldn't had his life together enough to know not to touch Julie, who was a wreck, with a ten foot pole. Out of everything in this book, the age difference between them was the least concerning aspect.
That brings me to the mystery. The entire reason, at this point, I am reading this book. By halfway, I knew who the killer was. 3/4 I was convinced but I held out hoping against hope, I was wrong and there was going to be a huge twist at the end.
No. There wasn't.
Big spoiler here: The killer is Julie's grandfather. He has been killing for ages. Like at least since Julie was a little girl. Her grandfather and grandmother owned a huge area of property for a long time. When Julie was little, she discovered a little boy's body in a well on the property. In flashbacks, we learned her grandmother beat her and verbally abused her afterwards.
Okay, now Gramps has moved on to kidnapping women, keeping them in fishing shacks for some unknown reason (he doesn't sexually assault them and they are forced to drink water laced with drugs that make them sleep). He then kills them, ties a ribbon around their wrist and dumps them in water. NONE of the reasons for this are explained. Why water? No idea. Ribbon? Your guess is as good as mine. What about keeping them in the shack? Who knows...because I certainly don't. His actions make zero sense to me.
Then, and this is where I really just threw up my hands, when he is revealed as the killer, Gramps apologizes to Julie. He says he never wanted to hurt her. In fact, her grandmother - the one that physically, mentally and verbally abused her - discovered he was a killer and threatened to expose him if he didn't allow her to keep beating up on Julie. So...he just let her.
Ummmm, no. I'm thinking Gramps would have killed Grandma a heck of a long time ago and saved them both the trouble. I mean the dude's a serial killer who has no issue taking out women and children alike. Why in heavens name would he allow Julie's grandmother to blackmail him? Even for his own survival, he would have killed her. Obviously.
So essentially, none of the elements of this book worked for me. Okay, maybe the dowsing. That was cool. But the rest? I wasn't a fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2017
This review was originally published on NetGalley.
A brilliant novel! Thrilling, a bit creepy and very intriguing novel: a promising start for a new series!
Julie Hall has had a tough life: abused by her grandmother in her childhood and cursed with the ability to find dead bodies with her dousing rods, she just wants to blend in and have a normal life with her grandfather and her dog Wookie. At the same time, a serial killer is on the loose, leaving the bodies of young women behind with very little evidence. When an FBI agent called Garrett Pierce comes knocking asking for her help, Julie has to use the ability that she was raised to believe to be evil in order to prevent other killings. As the killer gets wind of Julie, Garrett vows to protect her… but will it be enough?
Grave Calling is highly engaging and addictive. The story-line is very well-developed and constructed, full of twists and turns and a perfect ending with a very unlikely killer. I really enjoyed how the author jumped from the past to the present, it was done beautifully and it was very easy to follow the story without losing myself or the details.
Julie is a great main character and a very unlikely heroine all things considered. The abuse she suffered in her childhood is heart-breaking and the fact that she still struggles with it gives her depth as a character, it makes her more real. Her past has a direct influence in the story, not only because it shapes her, but also because it emphases her struggles to deal with the killings and the bodies she finds. It was a bit agonising to read to be honest. Even so, she has no problems in speaking her mind and definitely not afraid to take on a serial killer. Garrett is a great male protagonist and he has his share of suffering and of bad memories which makes the partnership with Julie a great one, they understand and comfort each other. I really enjoyed reading about their developing relationship and their chemistry. Despite the age difference, they are great together. The secondary characters complement the story very nicely, especially Julie’s friend Katie.
This was my first read of Wendy Roberts and I highly recommend Grave Calling for the fans of cosy mysteries with a bit of spice and a lot of twists and surprises. A great thrilling read!
A brilliant novel! Thrilling, a bit creepy and very intriguing novel: a promising start for a new series!
Julie Hall has had a tough life: abused by her grandmother in her childhood and cursed with the ability to find dead bodies with her dousing rods, she just wants to blend in and have a normal life with her grandfather and her dog Wookie. At the same time, a serial killer is on the loose, leaving the bodies of young women behind with very little evidence. When an FBI agent called Garrett Pierce comes knocking asking for her help, Julie has to use the ability that she was raised to believe to be evil in order to prevent other killings. As the killer gets wind of Julie, Garrett vows to protect her… but will it be enough?
Grave Calling is highly engaging and addictive. The story-line is very well-developed and constructed, full of twists and turns and a perfect ending with a very unlikely killer. I really enjoyed how the author jumped from the past to the present, it was done beautifully and it was very easy to follow the story without losing myself or the details.
Julie is a great main character and a very unlikely heroine all things considered. The abuse she suffered in her childhood is heart-breaking and the fact that she still struggles with it gives her depth as a character, it makes her more real. Her past has a direct influence in the story, not only because it shapes her, but also because it emphases her struggles to deal with the killings and the bodies she finds. It was a bit agonising to read to be honest. Even so, she has no problems in speaking her mind and definitely not afraid to take on a serial killer. Garrett is a great male protagonist and he has his share of suffering and of bad memories which makes the partnership with Julie a great one, they understand and comfort each other. I really enjoyed reading about their developing relationship and their chemistry. Despite the age difference, they are great together. The secondary characters complement the story very nicely, especially Julie’s friend Katie.
This was my first read of Wendy Roberts and I highly recommend Grave Calling for the fans of cosy mysteries with a bit of spice and a lot of twists and surprises. A great thrilling read!
June 2, 2017
http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab...
A Grave Calling was a great 5 star read.
Julie Hall has a gift that she isn’t really excited about, people call her a “Water Witch”. She lives near her grandfather with her dog, Wookie. When an FBI agent shows up on her doorstep asking for help in finding some missing girls she agrees to help him.
She rides to the scene with agent Garrett in hopes that she will find something. Her dousing rods were never wrong and when she fails at one site she is surprised when the rods start vibrating while driving past a creek. The discovery was heartbreaking.
We also get to meet Katie, Julie’s friend from high school. While out with Katie, Julie gets a feeling someone is watching her. When agent Garrett shows up again, Katie is not thrilled but agrees to help him again. Finding the bodies is very hard on Julie, she is having nightmares that are bringing back not so good memories of her past. It was heartbreaking.
Katie has a shocking discovery that brings her world crashing down on her and when there is concern that the killer may be coming for Katie, the detective is determined to protect her. Will they find the killer before it’s too late?
I guess betrayal comes from friends and not enemies.
This was a thrilling read, there is so much going on. I really liked the secondary characters, they all added a great element to the story. There are some secrets and huge twists revealed. This is my first read from Wendy Roberts and I really enjoyed it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you Wendy Roberts for a great thrilling read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
A Grave Calling was a great 5 star read.
Julie Hall has a gift that she isn’t really excited about, people call her a “Water Witch”. She lives near her grandfather with her dog, Wookie. When an FBI agent shows up on her doorstep asking for help in finding some missing girls she agrees to help him.
She rides to the scene with agent Garrett in hopes that she will find something. Her dousing rods were never wrong and when she fails at one site she is surprised when the rods start vibrating while driving past a creek. The discovery was heartbreaking.
We also get to meet Katie, Julie’s friend from high school. While out with Katie, Julie gets a feeling someone is watching her. When agent Garrett shows up again, Katie is not thrilled but agrees to help him again. Finding the bodies is very hard on Julie, she is having nightmares that are bringing back not so good memories of her past. It was heartbreaking.
Katie has a shocking discovery that brings her world crashing down on her and when there is concern that the killer may be coming for Katie, the detective is determined to protect her. Will they find the killer before it’s too late?
I guess betrayal comes from friends and not enemies.
This was a thrilling read, there is so much going on. I really liked the secondary characters, they all added a great element to the story. There are some secrets and huge twists revealed. This is my first read from Wendy Roberts and I really enjoyed it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you Wendy Roberts for a great thrilling read.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
June 6, 2019
A Grave Calling begins when an FBI agent shows up asking for Julie's help. She has a gift that's very unusual, and he needs her to use to find someone. However, when things start getting complicated, and let ife gets difficult for Julie she isn't sure what to do next. And when it feels like she doesn't have many people there for her anymore things get worse. She must figure out who she can depend on before it is too late.
This was the first book in the series and it starts out pretty good. I enjoyed Julie and how she acted and handled everything that happened to her. The only things I didn't understand were some of the odd comments made about her and the agent. And I also didn't understand the issues with the bridges, and that didn't seem to be explained very well. But, other than that I thought this was good. It had a great story filled with tons of twists and turns that had you freaking out and hanging on the edge of your seat. I look forward to more now.
This was the first book in the series and it starts out pretty good. I enjoyed Julie and how she acted and handled everything that happened to her. The only things I didn't understand were some of the odd comments made about her and the agent. And I also didn't understand the issues with the bridges, and that didn't seem to be explained very well. But, other than that I thought this was good. It had a great story filled with tons of twists and turns that had you freaking out and hanging on the edge of your seat. I look forward to more now.
June 1, 2017
Wendy Roberts is able to take two very unlikely people and bring them together to comfort one another while trying to solve the mystery.
The best part of this story was I had no Idea who the killer was until the person was revealed. The mystery has elements of romance but it wasn't believable enough to keep me needing to read the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book for my honest thoughts.
The best part of this story was I had no Idea who the killer was until the person was revealed. The mystery has elements of romance but it wasn't believable enough to keep me needing to read the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book for my honest thoughts.
July 1, 2017
Ok, I didn't know you Wendy Roberts, but you got me. This was good!
When I read the blurb I couldn't help but think of the Harper Connelly series, by Charlaine Harris. I loved that series and she just quit writing it. I hate when authors do that, no ending, no explanation, nothing. Just stopped. It is similar is a way, both main characters are gifted/cursed with the ability of finding dead bodies, but that's it. The abilities are quite different and the vibe of this is more thriller than urban fantasy.
Julie is a very interesting character, there's a lot of depth to her, a complex horrible past, she's constantly fighting demons and, although she'd argue otherwise, she's tough. At certain points she's a bit too stupid to live, specially .
I also liked Garrett, he's a good character but even if he weren't I would have liked him if only because he's not a asshole with his pain, you know? People like to write characters that lash out all the time as though having a painful past justifies everything and it was good to see a character who's decent through his pain.
I admit I thought I had it all figured out, I even thought at some point "why do they make these things so predictable?", maybe because I was so sure of my assumption that I was blindsided by the turn of events, the evidence was all there, sure, but it didn't even occur to me! So yeay! Thriller mystery accomplished.
I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
When I read the blurb I couldn't help but think of the Harper Connelly series, by Charlaine Harris. I loved that series and she just quit writing it. I hate when authors do that, no ending, no explanation, nothing. Just stopped. It is similar is a way, both main characters are gifted/cursed with the ability of finding dead bodies, but that's it. The abilities are quite different and the vibe of this is more thriller than urban fantasy.
Julie is a very interesting character, there's a lot of depth to her, a complex horrible past, she's constantly fighting demons and, although she'd argue otherwise, she's tough. At certain points she's a bit too stupid to live, specially .
I also liked Garrett, he's a good character but even if he weren't I would have liked him if only because he's not a asshole with his pain, you know? People like to write characters that lash out all the time as though having a painful past justifies everything and it was good to see a character who's decent through his pain.
I admit I thought I had it all figured out, I even thought at some point "why do they make these things so predictable?", maybe because I was so sure of my assumption that I was blindsided by the turn of events, the evidence was all there, sure, but it didn't even occur to me! So yeay! Thriller mystery accomplished.
I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
May 21, 2017
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
I enjoy Wendy Roberts and though I have wished that her standalone books had continued as series, I am glad to see that Julie Hall and Bodies of Evidence will.
Twenty five year old Julie Hall refers to herself as a corpse magnet ever since, as a young twelve year old child with dowsing rods, she found a body instead of water. Having changed her name from Delma Arsenault to Julie Hall, she now leads a quiet life as a gas station attendant. That is until FBI Agent Garrett Pierce appears in her life and knows about her past, a past that can now help him find three missing girls.
She does not like taking money for her talent since that feels like a bad karma thing to do, but will take enough to help pay for a birthday present for her beloved grandfather. She had been dropped at her grandparents’ farm when she was six and hoped that her mother would come back for her. When that did not happen, the unimaginable abuse from a brutal grandmother ensued. She had always wondered why her grandfather never intervened, but that was a long time ago. Her grandmother was now gone and her grandfather and dog are all that she has left.
Then she begins to find the bodies and her life will never be the same.
This is creating yet another downward spiral for her, the alcoholism is bad enough, and the quicksand – her name for PTSD, is unrelenting. Yet, she does not want to give up on the missing girls. As one by one, she finds them along with white ribbons, she is in deeper then she wishes. So deep that the truth of “betrayal comes from friends and not enemies” hits her so hard that this is a spiral that she may never recover from.
I enjoy Wendy Roberts and though I have wished that her standalone books had continued as series, I am glad to see that Julie Hall and Bodies of Evidence will.
Twenty five year old Julie Hall refers to herself as a corpse magnet ever since, as a young twelve year old child with dowsing rods, she found a body instead of water. Having changed her name from Delma Arsenault to Julie Hall, she now leads a quiet life as a gas station attendant. That is until FBI Agent Garrett Pierce appears in her life and knows about her past, a past that can now help him find three missing girls.
She does not like taking money for her talent since that feels like a bad karma thing to do, but will take enough to help pay for a birthday present for her beloved grandfather. She had been dropped at her grandparents’ farm when she was six and hoped that her mother would come back for her. When that did not happen, the unimaginable abuse from a brutal grandmother ensued. She had always wondered why her grandfather never intervened, but that was a long time ago. Her grandmother was now gone and her grandfather and dog are all that she has left.
Then she begins to find the bodies and her life will never be the same.
This is creating yet another downward spiral for her, the alcoholism is bad enough, and the quicksand – her name for PTSD, is unrelenting. Yet, she does not want to give up on the missing girls. As one by one, she finds them along with white ribbons, she is in deeper then she wishes. So deep that the truth of “betrayal comes from friends and not enemies” hits her so hard that this is a spiral that she may never recover from.
May 29, 2017
I am a big fan of Ms. Roberts’ Ghost Dusters series, and I was very excited when I came across this new series. Eagerly, I jumped on the chance to read A Grave Calling via Netgalley. At first, I have to admit I was a little taken aback. This book was a little darker than the other series I had read. Of course, all of this was my expectations going into the book; it was a new series and I shouldn’t have expected it to be just like the other one. After adjusting my outlook with this series, I settled in to read. I was startled to realize just how good this book was. Julie was an extremely flawed character with a dark past she’s been trying to outrun with alcohol. Her friend, boyfriend, and grandpa are the center of her world, but they aren’t exactly what she needs (can’t say too much!). As side characters, I really liked the way they all played a part in furthering the plot. I do have to admit I didn’t see any chemistry between her and her love interest (hmm, didn’t I just say she had a boyfriend?!?) and felt more like they were helping each other survive a cruel world. Not a bad thing, in my humble opinion. This book was well-written, extremely engrossing (I actually didn’t go to bed until I finished it), and had a great plot. I didn’t see a couple of things coming and I was stunned. This is a great start to a series I can’t wait to read more of! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.
May 29, 2017
I received this eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Wendy Roberts was one of my first paranormal mystery writers, her series Ghostdusters Mysteries was an instant favorite, so I was excited to try out her newest series beginning with A Grave Calling. And much like her previous series, we once again find a heroine who has a unique ability. But this time, instead of talking to ghosts, Julie finds dead bodies with her dowsing rods.
Julie was quite the unique character. I’ve read many different kinds of books over the years, but I can’t remember ever reading about a character who seems so broken. Julie has had a rough life, but she makes do. She lives in her own little trailer on her grandfather’s property and has a lovable pooch and a steady boyfriend. Things are going good, until the day Agent Garrett Pierce knocks on her door asking for her help in finding a missing body. He’s heard that Julie has special abilities with her dowsing rods and would like her to assist with an ongoing case involving missing girls turning up dead and then not being able to find the bodies right away.
One missing girl turns into two, then three, and then we begin to realize how dangerous this situation is! The added element of danger really added some spice to this one. It’s not your typical cozy mystery, which I always found odd calling a murder mystery cozy! Whether it involves a hardcore detective or just your average Jane, ignoring her superpower of course, murder never seems like a “cozy” kind of mystery. Lol.
I enjoyed the added balance we got with Julie’s normal life and the mystery case, she becomes deeply entangled into the case as Garrett is constantly bringing her back in to find yet another body. Julie tries to cling to her life, but soon all those things are taken away from her the more she’s involved with her case. She loses her job, she’s betrayed by the remaining people she loves and soon she even must leave behind her grandfather and dog for a while to be in protective custody.
You would think with all that going on there wouldn’t be time for romance, but there is! Even with the description I almost didn’t expect Julie and Garrett to start a relationship after some time. Largely due to the age difference. Yeah, I know, it’s weird to be weirded out by that. But let me explain, the vast majority of books I’ve read usually have the “relationship” characters at or around the same age. If there’s an age difference I really don’t think it’s ever topped 10 years. Garrett and Julie are 20 years apart at least. And I don’t know it just felt weird, my brain was thinking that when Garrett was a legal adult of 21, Julie was just being born! And add to the fact that Julie never knew who her father was, my brain went down that road and thought he could be your dad!! Spoiler, he’s not. But yeah, while I did like the relationship in some aspect I was still always reminded—by the characters themselves—that there was a huge age difference between them and yeah, it weirded me out just a bit. But now that I’ve read a 20 year age difference romance maybe I will be able to get used to it for future reads. (And on a side note, yeah I get that the vampires are some centuries years older than the other human, that’s a whole other issue up for debate at another time!)
The ending is what totally blew me away! I was convinced I had this mystery down pat! I knew who did it! I didn’t know why exactly, but that usually comes along after the bad guy is caught! And let me tell you, things get really, really intense in these last few chapters (as I can’t give page numbers or even an accurate guess as to how much “towards the end”). But I was wrong you guys!! So wrong! Did not see this bad guy reveal coming at all!! I both love and hate when that happens. Because while shocking, I felt like this came out of left field. And the reasoning? (Note here, things will start to be worded oddly as I avoid identifying the serial killer’s sex.) Why did the killer do all the things that were done? We don’t know. A serial killer is a serial killer.
I didn’t like that. There was methodology to the things that were done. The killer left little “parting gifts” with the bodies. Why? Why only young teenage girls? They weren’t being molested or anything like that, so that’s not a factor. It just didn’t make sense to me. And later on, looking at other past victims who are in no way, shape, or form teenage girls just made me all the more confused! I feel like that if there’s going to be a methodological serial killer, there has to be a reason for why the killing is being done in the way it’s done, the victims that are chosen…why why why?! You can see how this is driving me a little nuts, right? I don’t like that we didn’t get any of those answers when all was said and done. It almost defeats the purpose if we don’t know what was driving the serial killer in their killing ways, what’s the point of the mystery at the end of the day?
And let me tell you, writing in such vague terms and sentences was hard! I had to go back and re-read this last part and revise what I had written! LOL!
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read. It was very mysterious and creepy in some ways as we watch the killer set Julie in their sights. It was freaky!! My heart was racing through several moments towards the end. But then the reveal? And its aftermath? Kind of disappointing without any explanation whatsoever. If you enjoy a good mystery with an added touch of paranormal in way of psychic powers, then I would still highly recommend this one. Just don’t expect answers in regard to the serial killer’s motives.
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
A Grave Calling releases June 5, 2017
Wendy Roberts was one of my first paranormal mystery writers, her series Ghostdusters Mysteries was an instant favorite, so I was excited to try out her newest series beginning with A Grave Calling. And much like her previous series, we once again find a heroine who has a unique ability. But this time, instead of talking to ghosts, Julie finds dead bodies with her dowsing rods.
Julie was quite the unique character. I’ve read many different kinds of books over the years, but I can’t remember ever reading about a character who seems so broken. Julie has had a rough life, but she makes do. She lives in her own little trailer on her grandfather’s property and has a lovable pooch and a steady boyfriend. Things are going good, until the day Agent Garrett Pierce knocks on her door asking for her help in finding a missing body. He’s heard that Julie has special abilities with her dowsing rods and would like her to assist with an ongoing case involving missing girls turning up dead and then not being able to find the bodies right away.
One missing girl turns into two, then three, and then we begin to realize how dangerous this situation is! The added element of danger really added some spice to this one. It’s not your typical cozy mystery, which I always found odd calling a murder mystery cozy! Whether it involves a hardcore detective or just your average Jane, ignoring her superpower of course, murder never seems like a “cozy” kind of mystery. Lol.
I enjoyed the added balance we got with Julie’s normal life and the mystery case, she becomes deeply entangled into the case as Garrett is constantly bringing her back in to find yet another body. Julie tries to cling to her life, but soon all those things are taken away from her the more she’s involved with her case. She loses her job, she’s betrayed by the remaining people she loves and soon she even must leave behind her grandfather and dog for a while to be in protective custody.
You would think with all that going on there wouldn’t be time for romance, but there is! Even with the description I almost didn’t expect Julie and Garrett to start a relationship after some time. Largely due to the age difference. Yeah, I know, it’s weird to be weirded out by that. But let me explain, the vast majority of books I’ve read usually have the “relationship” characters at or around the same age. If there’s an age difference I really don’t think it’s ever topped 10 years. Garrett and Julie are 20 years apart at least. And I don’t know it just felt weird, my brain was thinking that when Garrett was a legal adult of 21, Julie was just being born! And add to the fact that Julie never knew who her father was, my brain went down that road and thought he could be your dad!! Spoiler, he’s not. But yeah, while I did like the relationship in some aspect I was still always reminded—by the characters themselves—that there was a huge age difference between them and yeah, it weirded me out just a bit. But now that I’ve read a 20 year age difference romance maybe I will be able to get used to it for future reads. (And on a side note, yeah I get that the vampires are some centuries years older than the other human, that’s a whole other issue up for debate at another time!)
The ending is what totally blew me away! I was convinced I had this mystery down pat! I knew who did it! I didn’t know why exactly, but that usually comes along after the bad guy is caught! And let me tell you, things get really, really intense in these last few chapters (as I can’t give page numbers or even an accurate guess as to how much “towards the end”). But I was wrong you guys!! So wrong! Did not see this bad guy reveal coming at all!! I both love and hate when that happens. Because while shocking, I felt like this came out of left field. And the reasoning? (Note here, things will start to be worded oddly as I avoid identifying the serial killer’s sex.) Why did the killer do all the things that were done? We don’t know. A serial killer is a serial killer.
I didn’t like that. There was methodology to the things that were done. The killer left little “parting gifts” with the bodies. Why? Why only young teenage girls? They weren’t being molested or anything like that, so that’s not a factor. It just didn’t make sense to me. And later on, looking at other past victims who are in no way, shape, or form teenage girls just made me all the more confused! I feel like that if there’s going to be a methodological serial killer, there has to be a reason for why the killing is being done in the way it’s done, the victims that are chosen…why why why?! You can see how this is driving me a little nuts, right? I don’t like that we didn’t get any of those answers when all was said and done. It almost defeats the purpose if we don’t know what was driving the serial killer in their killing ways, what’s the point of the mystery at the end of the day?
And let me tell you, writing in such vague terms and sentences was hard! I had to go back and re-read this last part and revise what I had written! LOL!
Overall, this wasn’t a bad read. It was very mysterious and creepy in some ways as we watch the killer set Julie in their sights. It was freaky!! My heart was racing through several moments towards the end. But then the reveal? And its aftermath? Kind of disappointing without any explanation whatsoever. If you enjoy a good mystery with an added touch of paranormal in way of psychic powers, then I would still highly recommend this one. Just don’t expect answers in regard to the serial killer’s motives.
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
A Grave Calling releases June 5, 2017
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