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Krewe of Hunters #32.5

The Dead Heat of Summer

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From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham comes a new story in her Krewe of Hunters series…

Casey Nicholson has always been a little bit sensitive, and she puts it to use in her shop in Jackson Square, where she reads tarot cards and tea leaves. She’s not a medium, but she can read people well.

When the ghost of Lena Marceau comes to her in the cemetery, shedding tears and begging for help, Casey’s at first terrified and then determined. Lena knows she was the victim of a malicious murder. Assumes her husband was, as well, and now fears that her daughter and sister are also in danger. And all over what she believes is someone’s quest to control Marceau Industries, the company left to Lena’s late husband.

Casey isn’t sure how she can help Lena. She isn’t an investigator or with any arm of law enforcement. But when she receives a visit from a tall, dark and very handsome stranger—ironically an FBI agent—she realizes that she’s being drawn into a deadly game where she must discover the truth or possibly die trying.

Special Agent Ryder McKinley of the Krewe of Hunters has his own strange connection to the case. Hoping to solve the mystery of his cousin’s death, he arrives at Casey’s shop during his hunt for answers and finds something wholly unexpected. He fears that Casey’s involvement puts her in danger, yet she’s already knee-deep in deadly waters. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to do but follow the leads and hope they don’t also fall prey to the vicious and very human evil hunting his family.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2020

373 people are currently reading
899 people want to read

About the author

Heather Graham

583 books6,902 followers
Also 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.

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5 stars
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208 (32%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,060 reviews2,868 followers
September 21, 2020
Not my favorite of hers. First, I was disappointed this wasn't a Halloween themed novella. They usually are, and I look forward to them every year. Second, this author usually injects a lot of local history and stories into her books, and that was sadly lacking in this one.
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,587 reviews785 followers
February 26, 2021
When a young widowed mother commits suicide, Ryder McKinley there was foul-play involved. The victim was his cousin, and he knows she’d never leave her young daughter behind.

Ryder is a Special Agent with the FBI’d Krewe of Hunters. He hasn’t seen Lena Marceau ghost, but that hasn’t stopped him from searching for answers while ensuring her child and Aunt are safe. Ryder has a list of suspects, now he just needs proof.

Casey Nicholson owns a small shop where she reads Tarot cards. Her background and gift for knowing what people need to hear help her pay the rent each month. She doesn’t speak to the dead, so when one speaks to her at the local cemetery, she faints. When the young ghost pleads with her to warn her sister of danger, she does so, which sets Ryder on her path.

The tale that unfolds was entertaining. There were plenty of red herrings and twists. I solved the case much too quickly and felt some threads lacked firm support. Despite that, I enjoyed the setting, and it offered the light suspenseful escape I was looking for.

I liked both Ryder and Casey, and while their first meet wasn’t pleasant, Graham warmed things up when Casey found herself in danger. The romance is secondary to the mystery and as is common with romantic suspense it was of the instalove variety.

Paul Boehmer is a fine narrator. I think he made Ryder and Casey seem older than the author intended, but he gave each a unique voice and his tone and pacing offered a pleasant listen. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
6,726 reviews5 followers
September 20, 2024
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🎎🎵😎🎧

This kindle novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account

The father dead then the mother both appear to be suicide but where they? He travels to New Orleans to get answers. They fall in love 😍 and uncover the truth.

I would recommend this novella and author to readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventures mystery novels 🏠👒😎. 2024

I have listened to a number of books and series by Heather Graham and enjoyed all. Happy reading and have fun 😜.
Profile Image for Jypsy .
1,524 reviews72 followers
September 13, 2020
Thank you Social Butterfly for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Dead Heat of Summer
Krewe of Hunters #32.5
By: Heather Graham


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

My favorite setting for the Krewe of Hunters is New Orleans. The Dead Heat of Summer returns to this ideal creepy eerie atmosphere that is perfect for any ghost story. Casey and Ryder have that instalove thing, not my favorite, but it is what it is. Beyond this aspect, their chemistry is excellent as they work to solve this mystery. It's an unusual situation with a ghostly presence that is not hostile. As a novella, this story is a fast read packed with twists and turns enough to make a well balanced and written story. The Dead Heat of Summer is perfect for the upcoming fall season. Check it out!
Profile Image for Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
995 reviews185 followers
September 11, 2020
Uneven execution mars this Krewe of Hunters tale

The Dead Heat of Summer is fairly short, and to be honest, I don’t feel it lives up to the others in the series. Neither the situation nor the mystery were particularly believable, and I had basically figured it out whodunnit before I reached the midpoint. I don’t regret reading it, but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone new to the series.

I liked Casey and Ryder. However, there were some issues of character and plot that should have been caught in editing. In one case, the author seems to have realized as she was writing that the narrative needed to provide more information — more reasons for Casey’s involvement and the risks to her safety, more information about Lena — gave their backstory more of a relationship, and then never went back to adjust the early scenes to show a friendship between them, rather than a vague and distant shopkeeper-to-customer acquaintance. Another instance involves Ryder’s initial, adversarial reaction to Casey’s involvement, which reads more like a plot device than something that flows from who he is. Lena, the ghost, feels inconsistent in her reactions, and there are one or two other odd details or awkward choices here and there. (See the spoiler for an example.)



All in all, I think The Dead Heat of Summer could have benefited from a more well-though-out plot line and better editing, as well as more pages to develop character relationships and build up the suspense.



Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,314 reviews41 followers
August 8, 2023
This was a little different than what I have been reading. First, it was longer, more novella length than the short stories I have been reading with holiday themes. I like that we finally have gotten to meet another member of the Krewe and learn some of his backstory. Jackson and Angela are more background characters here as they take on the role of support instead of being in the lead. I like the pace it moves at and the fact that I both listened and read allowed me to submerge myself deeper into the narrative.

Casey Nicholson has always been a little sensitive, and she puts it to use in her shop in Jackson Square, where she reads tarot cards and tea leaves. When the ghost of Lena Marceau comes to her in the cemetery, shedding tears and begging for help, Casey is terrified at first and then determined. Lena knows she was the victim of a murder and believes her husband was also leaving her daughter and sister vulnerable. Special Agent Ryder McKinley of the Krewe of Hunters has his own strange connection to the case. Hoping to solve the mystery of his cousins' death he arrives at Casey's shop during his hunt for answers and finds a wholly unexpected.

This is more of a mystery than some of the other short novels. You have murders with the unexpected prospect of a romance. Definitely one of my new favorites.
1,243 reviews8 followers
September 10, 2020
Always entertaining

The Krewe stories always entertain. If you're in the mood for a ghost story mystery with a bit more than a hint of romance then Casey and Ryder's story should be right up your alley. The New Orleans setting lends itself to ghostly goings on with plenty of cemetery scenes to make it stick.
Profile Image for M.
1,576 reviews
September 8, 2020
This light but entertaining Krewe novella has a more complex mystery storyline than most

I enjoyed this ghostly mystery, because it was a bit more intricate than most Krewe novellas. There were more red herrings; a locked-room-type of mystery; unexpected & mysterious deaths; and unique blackmailing methods. This novella also has more paranormal events and ghosts than usual. I was at twos & threes about so many good guys/gals—including a two-yr old—having some degree of paranormal sensitivity. In this story, that talent/gift is almost boringly commonplace.

If you read enough Heather Graham Krewe mysteries, you’ll know the romance formulae. Love always prevails—this time more overt insta-love than usual—but IMHO, getting that over with gives more time to the mystery denouement.

4 stars. “Caddy corner” is an all too common error. Catty, kitty or cater are correct. Missing commas ruin the flow of a sentence, resulting in need to re-read. Example: “But I believed Ryder and I was so happy when he found work with people like him.” Otherwise, an excellent pandemic read for me.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,851 reviews
September 16, 2020
Casey Nicholson isn't a medium, she's just very good st reading people. So, when a ghost appears to her in the cemetery, she's shocked and scared at first but soon comes to the realization that it really happened and becomes determined to help since she knows the person. Lena Marceau shows herself to Casey because she desperately wants to keep her daughter and sister safe and knows that the person or people who killed her and her husband won't stop. FBI Special Agent Ryder McKinley goes to see Casey because he initially believes she's faking for some benefit but soon learns that Lena has really shown herself to Casey. They then work together to bring down the killers.

I love the Krewe of Hunters series and this novella is no exception. I was pulled into the story from the start and kept engaged until the end, reading it in one sitting. While there are some repeat characters, this novella can be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend both book and series.
Profile Image for Karel .
201 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2020
Heather Graham Produces Another Great Story!!

As always Heather's book is well written and hard to put down. This Krewe of Hunters Novella is fast paced and filled with intrigue as well as the paranormal! Casey owns a shop with a couple of close friends in the French Quarter in New Orleans which caters to clientele who are interested in having their tea leaves or tarot cards read. They also sell other items. While no one is a true medium, Casey, who has a degree in psychology, is very good at reading people. She becomes involved in the mysterious death of a client who became a friend and is shocked when she sees her friend's spirit. The enters Ryder, who is a member of the Krewe of Hunters and has seen spirits since he was a child. Casey and Ryder find themselves working to solve the mystery and seem to be coming quite close to each other. Read this exciting story to find out what happens!!
Profile Image for Marie  Brown (Marie's Tempting Reads).
2,767 reviews56 followers
September 8, 2020
My first Heather Graham book and I LOVED IT THROUGH AND THROUGH! Exciting, captivating, thrilling with a little bit of spook and a whole lot of chemistry, The Dead heat Of Summer was spectacular fun and now more than ever, I am looking forward to reading previous and forth coming books from this talented author!

The Dead Heat of Summer is one of those amazing novellas that is perfect for the upcoming falls season. Especially as we get closer to my favorite holiday, Halloween. This was such an easy to follow story that was as exciting and fun as it was mysterious and adventurous. The characters are awesome and full of personality while the plot is mysterious and mesmerizing. I loved it!

The Dead heat Of Summer gets a THRILLING FIVE MESMERIZING STARS!
Profile Image for Meghan.
3,374 reviews7 followers
September 9, 2020
More Krewe goodness

A novella that introduces new characters, but brings us back to New Orleans and Jackson. The deaths and ghosts were sad but incredibly poignant demonstrating the love a parent has or people have for their family. Similar to other Krewe books the attraction is almost instantaneous, though they all acknowledge it in this story. The idea of moving and starting over was somewhat better explained in this novella compared to others, but still somewhat abrupt as it just was a sentence near the end. The crime came down to greed and the history of the graveyard was intriguing.

I enjoy this series and this story was a good addition. I do wish it had some more details, but for a novella it covered all the main questions!
Profile Image for Michelle.
932 reviews15 followers
September 7, 2020
This is my first Heather Graham book. Even though it is a short novella, I really enjoyed it. We had mystery and suspense along with a little chemistry. It starts off right away with mystery. With what? Why? And it’s not possible. So much to figure out. That’s what Ryder is thinking, anyway. Then Casey is brought into the mix. And she’s not sure she even believes what is happening, at first anyway. But when Ryder and Casey meet its an instant attraction. While these two work on solving this mystery they become closer. This is a quick read that gets the blood pumping and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. A definite must read.
Profile Image for Sapphyria  .
2,259 reviews59 followers
August 15, 2021
The Dead Heat of Summer was a suspenseful and action-packed story. The length of the novella was short enough to be read in a short time span, yet long enough to provide character development and allow a newbie to get a taste of the series. I enjoyed the author's writing style and world-building. I was able to visualize everything scene like I was there. I must confess - I've never read anything by Heather Graham until The Dead Heat of Summer. After reading the novel, I keep asking myself how it is I have never read anything by her. I'll be adding this author to my TBR now.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.
Profile Image for Lynne.
312 reviews4 followers
September 26, 2020
Another excellent novella!

I love these short stories that Heather Graham is so gifted at telling. Casey owns a shop with 2 of her college friends. One day, her world is turned upside down when a former (deceased) customer comes back into her life. Lena was murdered although it looked like a suicide. Enter Ryder, who is an FBI agent with the Krew of Hunters who knows that Lena’s death wasn’t her own choice. Casey and Ryder become very close while trying to bring justice for Lena.
Even if you’re not familiar with the Krew, you’ll enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Jalissa Mooney.
857 reviews4 followers
February 19, 2025
Lena is the cousin to FBI Agent Ryder and when she dies he knows that it's not a suicide despite the evidence. However, he cannot prove it until Casey sees Lena's ghost in the cemetery and she confirms that she was murdered. With Casey's help, Ryder might catch the people responsible for Lena's death before they attempt to kill Lena's sister and infant daughter.
Casey is new to seeing ghosts so it's difficult for her to accept but wanting to help bring a killer to justice motivates her to accept the impossible. Someone is responsible for Lena and her husband's death leaving their young daughter as the sole heir to a fortune and a company. Rdyer and Casey work hard together to find the real killer and stop them from striking again.
1,363 reviews13 followers
October 3, 2020
Never a disappointing ghostly mystery w/ this author!

Heather Graham is phenomenal! Her ghostly/romance
mysteries are to die for!😁 I loved the story line in
this one and the characters were fantastic. I try to
never start reading them before bedtime because
then I don't get any sleep. Too hard to put down!
These ghostly mysteries are extremely addictive!
I never miss a one! Getting ready to read the newest
one!!!
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,854 reviews20 followers
April 11, 2021
Good

A short and sweet novella addition to the Krewe of Hunters series.
If you’re a fan of the Krewe of Hunters, then this novella is an enjoyable short standalone. If you’ve never read any of them, I’d recommend going back to the beginning and starting there, because it’s a good idea to know the background before reading the novellas!

Recommended for fans of paranormal romance, and Krewe of Hunters fans.
Profile Image for Ashley Carr, LSoR.
4,992 reviews62 followers
September 9, 2020
This is a new to me author and I thought her story was brilliant!! It was intriguing, suspenseful, captivating and mysterious all wrapped up in a pretty bow. Casey and Ryder had this instant chemistry while working to solve the mystery. This story is the perfect ghost story since Halloween is coming in a month.
Profile Image for Lynnette.
972 reviews
September 10, 2020
The Dead Heat of Summer

A wonderful short story from the I read of Hunters series! We met Ryder in this book. He is with the I read of Hunters. His cousin, Lena, dies and everyone believes it is suicide. Ryder doesn't believes it and sets out to find the truth, in the process he meets Casey. She is the key to solve this mystery!
Profile Image for Paraphrodite.
2,670 reviews51 followers
September 12, 2020
3 stars.

We're back in New Orleans and we've another newbie heroine who started seeing ghosts. She did initially freak out but then seem to accept it pretty quickly when our FBI Special Agent told her about the Krewe. I think the villains in this one were quite easy to deduce, though.

Got to say, if all ghosts are so friendly and helpful, I wouldn't mind having one or two around. :)
Profile Image for Cat.
117 reviews
January 19, 2021
Another fantastic Krewe of Hunters tale.
I adore this series, all the interwoven character stories and development have me hanging out for the next instalment.

Once again an unputdownable entry that had me reading it through in one sitting!

Highly recommended, and I'd also recommend going back and reading all the other books in the series - Both Krewe of Hunters and the 1001 Dark Nights.
Profile Image for Tamye Whitener.
852 reviews27 followers
June 30, 2024
Intense, quick listen!

Relatable characters engage your heart and mind in an intriguing story of murder, betrayal, and deception. Filled with twists, turns, and a ghostie or two. This fast-paced story keeps your attention from beginning to end.

I recommend this story to anyone who likes a good paranormal suspense thriller.

282 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2024
Special agent Ryder McKinley heads back to New Orleans to solve a family member's murder, only there is no proof of a murder until the ghost of the victim shows herself to a lady named Casey Nicholson. From there the twist and turn begin and Ryder checks out Nicholson and finds her to be true to her world about seeing the ghost. From there she helps the Krew solve the crime.
Profile Image for Rebecca Delio.
1,116 reviews5 followers
September 9, 2020
Excellent Story

I have just read an amazing story, I loved the story, the characters, but it hurt when the mom and dad left, I wish it could have been different. Heather Graham is an amazing Author........
721 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2020
The dead speaks

Five stars this was a wonderful story about life and death how truth is right around the corner and amazing it comes out outstanding story and page turner! From to beginning to end and keep you wondering if they find the truth
207 reviews1 follower
September 17, 2020
Excellent!

Heather is at the top of her game! This is a short but very satisfying! The people, the ghosts, the twisty murder mystery! Whenever she has a sale, I jump at it because her work is awesome!
Profile Image for Candy.
940 reviews24 followers
September 24, 2020
The Krewe is back in NOLA. This time Jared arrives to find answers to his cousin’s death and meets Casey, who has been visited by her ghost. Jackson is the only other member who arrives to help. Good story. I only wish it was a full-fledged novel.
258 reviews
September 27, 2020
Very enjoyable!

Another great little Krewe of Hunters Novella by Heather Graham. I love these so much. The characters are always exciting. The plot is well thought out and doesn't leave you guessing. Satisfying conclusion.
Profile Image for Sharon.
285 reviews4 followers
October 4, 2020
Another great Crew of Hunters ghostly mystery.

Casey thinks she's lost her mind when a ghost gets her for help. But everything proves all too real when a lurker seems to want her dead and even a helpless baby is in danger.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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