Deadly Touch

Krewe of Hunters #31

by Heather Graham

SHE KNOWS WHERE TO FIND THE BODY

When Raina Hamish tries on a dress in a Miami boutique, she has a terrifyingly accurate vision of a murdered corpse in the murky shadows of the Everglades. She wants to help, but who would believe her when she can hardly believe herself?

Special Agent Axel Tiger has returned to Florida to help hunt a serial killer, but the investigation doesn't have much to go on. Raina's vision is their best chance to uncover more. Axel's experience with the FBI's elite paranormal team will nurture Raina's abilities, and she may be able to help save a life - but it puts her directly in the crosshairs of a killer who is closer than they would ever suspect.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Fiction, Crime

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2020

About the author

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.

Reviews

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a decade old serial killer on the loose, and when Raina Hamish tries on a dress in a Miami boutique, she sees the latest victim. It will be up to Special Agent Axel Tiger to stop this killer and help Raina deal with her newly found gift.

I loved the setting for Deadly Touch and our heroine Raina Hamish. Raina works with animals, particularly dogs from behavior problems to tricks.

Axel, a member of the Krewe, is investigating a body found in the Everglades. He was raised on and off the reservation in Miami Dade county. He used to take students through the glades, and Raina and her friends were teens when they took his tour.

The murder-mystery was clever and involved victims who don’t have an obvious connection. Axel also wondered if there was a connection to a missing person case that occurred before he joined the military.

Graham served the romance as a side dish to the investigation but allowed me to connect and quickly pulled me in with banter, stolen kisses, and danger.

I love the paranormal elements from what happened at the dress shop to the ghostly aid. We get to see some key Krewe members, but the focus was on Axel and Raina.

While this is the thirty-first Krewe of Hunters story, each works as a standalone containing one couple and a murder-case. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh...love my comfort author, just what I needed!❤

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a paranormal romance/mystery thriller in a long-running series called (for some unexplained reason) Krewe of Hunters. I've read several of them now, and they're an enjoyable (if formulaic) quick read. The ones I've read all involve attractive young women who develop psychic powers after a horrific event, who come under the protection of attractive young men who are members of the K of H and already have psychic powers, and they have romantic adventures while solving the mystery and chasing down the serial killing bad guys with occasional ghostly aid. It might seem a little unethical or at least questionable that the protectors always end up in bed with the threatened, but they're always just swept away so it's cool. In this one, the young lady is an animal trainer who gets a vision while trying on a dress, and the agent (who has the highly unlikely name of Axel Tiger) remembers her from a class trip she was on in the Everglades and he was one of the councilors (which sounds a little questionable, too...) but now they're all grown up so it must be cool. It's a nice fast-paced plot, the Florida setting is quite nicely described, and the characters are pleasant and likeable (especially the dog and alligators), so it's all cool. A fun time is had by all, except for those serial killing bad guys.

[Susie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing

Sadly, I can give this book only one star.
I have read many books written by Heather Graham and this book makes me wonder if she has hired a ghostwriter (pun intended;-)). The story was weak. The writing was juvenile. In fact, the only redeeming factors to this book were the lessons on Everglades history.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Touch is another great addition to the Krewe of Hunters series. It takes place in Miami, Florida. Heather Graham incorporates the history and legends of the area beautifully into the storyline.

Raina Hamish is an animal trainer. She has a vision while trying on a dress at a boutique. She goes to the police to tell them where a corpse can be found in the Everglades. It's there that she meets up with Special Agent Axel Tiger, whom she had previously met when she was a teenager. Axel is part of the Krewe of Hunters. Raina is extremely likable and her chemistry with Axel is wonderful. She is taken aback by the visions at first since this is something new to her. She’s willing to help so that the killer can be caught.

I received an DRC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[curtis bliven · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review

I pre ordered this book because I am a fan of heather Graham book. I was very disappointed with this one because the dialogue between the parties was stilted and very juvenile. The book dragged on and took forever to get on with the plot.

[William Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, the combination of the paranormal, murder, love. It just can't be beat for plot, characters and ghost.Just bought the rest of the series.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book once I was able to get into it. I was reading another book at the same time and the writing style, in my opinion, didn't compliment each other. Once I finished the first book I was reading, I was able to read Graham's book just fine. I found the growing love story between Raina and Axel enchanting. The plot was good and the description of Florida setting felt realistic. I look forward to Graham's next book in the Krewe Of Hunters series.

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another installment of Krewe of Hunters. This one has a woman trying on a dress in a thrift shop and "seeing" someone who previously wore the dress dead in the Everglades. Raina tries to convince the police she was not involved, but because of the level of detail she relates to them, they don't believe her. Enter Axel Tiger, a member of the FBI's Krewe, who also happens to know her from years ago during a school outing she was part of.
The author kept the reader wondering throughout the book who was really involved in this and possibly other murders.
Again this series is a bit farfetched but I enjoy reading one every now and then.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really like this series! It's nice that you don't have to read them in order to understand what is happening.

It was interesting learning about the history of the Everglades, but the book at times felt like it had a small political stance that seemed awkward at times since these books are fluff.

The MC Raina was not my favorite since she was a little wussy in the beginning, but toughened up a bit later in the book.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these "Krewe of Hunters" books. This one had a lot of fascinating history of Florida's Everglades, along with information regarding the very real problem they have with pythons and other non indigenous snakes that are rapidly destroying the fragile ecosystem there. My only critical comment is that it seems my favored author went a little crazy with the exclamation points!!! Other than that little peccadillo, another great Krewe story. Loved Titan, the dog. ;)

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series ever since I read the first book in it way back more years than I care to, or can, remember. Each book carries a theme of the supernatural and also a really good mystery. Sometimes they tend to be predictable...while at other times a wee bit sappy in the romance department...but foremost they are all well written with an exciting murder mystery along with a with ghost story. I love history...and I have found that these books weave history beautifully into the storyline. This addition...#31..touches on all these points.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, loved another slightly different ability/way of communication. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and their stories, too!

[Emilee Ashline · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book. I love how this book was a blend of paranormal, mystery, and romance. I have read a couple of her books and those were good as well. I am definitely a fan of Heather Graham!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novel. It was so mysterious, and fast paced. Raina Hamish tries on a dress and turns to look in the mirror, but instead of seeing her reflection, she sees a horrific sight of a dead woman on an embankment in the glades with blood, and gore. She reports it to the police, but with all she reports the police see her as the suspect. Then someone out of her preteen years shows up. Axel Tiger, who was a story teller / teacher on an Everglades exposition. He asks her to tell him everything once again, and as a special agent , in what is known as The Krewe of Hunters Unit, he gets her released. The unit is made up of agents that all have special talents, as well as being law enforcement. The connection to each victim, as well as motive eludes them. Raina has a very large, and perceptive dog, who is upfront in the story. Plus the group of teens have remained close friends all these years. The story has that killer lurking in the dark factor, and with their combined talents, plus his friends in law enforcement they all begin to look harder at the people who may not be as friendly as she always thought. The only problem with that is a set of bones is found that date back to a young woman who disappeared the very weekend of their pre- teen night with adults in the glade. It has great paranormal aspects, plus it keeps you glued to the pages because the author only connects the dots, with a thrilling ending. A sweet romance is also in the story, but it does not take anything from the serial killer murder mystery. Check this one out. 5 stars.

[Sam Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The first chapter started slow, as most first chapters tend to do, but from the second chapter onwards, I couldn’t put the book down. In fact, I was actually sad when I finished this novel as I suddenly had available time, thus went to my local bookstore and bought another Heather Graham book.

[nikkyireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3 ⭐️
The writting seemed a little YA at times, which I don't mind - it just didn't fit here. Slow at parts but once the plot picked up I enjoyed it. The ghost aspect was fun and added a little supernatural to the story. Overall ok read.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Review to come

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raina Hamish, an animal trainer, really didn't expect trying on a dress would lead to a vision of a dead body. In the Everglades. Luckily FBI SA Axel Tiger from the crack paranormal team hears about it and not only believes her, he springs to action to use her info to find the villain he's been stalking. That's the short answer to what happens. The longer answer is that Raina and Axel knew one another as teens and, of course, there's a little chemistry here. It's a paranormal romance/thriller that never gets too woohoo because Graham knows what her readers really want are good characters- and that's what this is. I've only read a few of these books and each one is fine as a standalone. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This was a fun way to pass a hot pandemic day inside.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Romantic Suspense, Ghost, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Thriller
Miniseries
Krewe of Hunters (Book #31)

[holly friesz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two words - don’t bother! The writing was terrible. The plot was interesting enough but the writing made it difficult to get in to the story.

[Linda. Lemelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and a dress, the wonder and beauty of the Everglades' the feeling and memories of a murder from just trying a cute dress what happens ..if you like mysteries then this is like all Heather Graham books a must read

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading Heather Graham stories. Sometimes I have to be in the mood to be scared, this one however was a nice medium thrill - not too scary to keep me up at night. I love the Krewe books and am looking forward to more.

[Tara Hearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters and what could have been a great story if it had been told better. I usually love her books but there was something just off about this one.

[Nichelle Seely · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked up this novel, used, I wasn’t familiar with Heather Graham, or her series ‘Krewe of Hunters.’ I didn’t know Deadly Touch was number 31 in this series. I didn’t know the whole series was based around a group of investigators with paranormal gifts. If I’m honest? I bought it because I liked the cover, and I’m trying to read more mysteries. Because, after all, I write them.

I wanted to like it. I kept reading. There were interesting plot points, but…it started to drag. Characters had long conversations about nothing. And there were a LOT of characters. I kept mixing them up in my mind. Things happened that made me say, wait, what? And backtrack several pages, thinking my attention had wandered and I’d missed something. Nope. Just a plot jump. Okay, roll with it.

Admittedly, I’m picky with my paranormal tastes. I’m intrigued with the concept — because again, I’m a writer and the paranormal plays a role in my own work. But I basically feel like the paranormal, or the supernatural, should be something rare and special, because by definition it is outside of the ordinary. So I had issues with the huge amount of paranormal elements in the story: ghost pirates, ghost murder victims, past life regression, claircognizance (the ability to ‘just know’ things), and psychometry (the ability to sense things from an item someone else has used or touched). For me, all the paranormal elements in Deadly Touch seemed more like plot devices to further the story, rather than being story elements themselves.

Now I understand that the Krewe is a long-running series, so I get that it’s hard for a writer to re-introduce characters who many readers may already be familiar with. But for me, a new reader, characters seemed to drift on and off the stage with no real purpose except for being a special member of the special Krewe with a special ability. Several times I was left wondering ‘who is this person and why are they here?’ And I just didn’t buy that Raina, the main character with no prior experience of the supernatural, could suddenly start manifesting psychometry and seeing ghosts without having more of a reaction.

So overall, this story didn’t work for me. And that’s okay, not every story works for everyone. It needed one last read-through to tighten the prose, eliminate repetition, and smooth out the areas where cutting and pasting had been done. But I see that Graham publishes several books each year, so she might not have time to really polish each one. And she's got lots of fans so she's doing something right.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seemed like a typical Graham structured novel. But it was a slow start to build character developments, time, space, location. Too many friends involved that made it hard to remember which one was married to Len. Only Elly stands out best as she was the host during the fundraiser. The novel picked up right around/after the fundraiser and when the characters go information fishing at the coffee shop then the bar so to keep the pace going.

I had to look up some wording while reading to understand location/layout. For example: hardwood hammocks are trees in the Everglades, not a comfort swing lol And chickee is a hut made of wood and grass/palm roofing (think stereotypical Hawaiian huts). So I learned some new vocabulary! and education regarding the Everglades too!

The ending hit faster than I realized. The overdrive library version is 892 pages but really the novel ends in 842. The ending also felt rushed too, not a long build up to the climax. So poof, hey! it's... over?

3.5 out of 5 Stars

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deadly Touch by Heather Graham is the 31st novel in the most amazing paranormal romantic suspense series ever! The series known as The Krewe Hunters is an elite team of specially talented people. Each one is chosen for their special abilities. Every one of these team members have added an extra special something to each novel. Just like this one...a young woman is with her group friends when she tries on a dress. The moment she does, she is hit with the most unusual ability. She was able to tap into a dead woman's recounts of being murder. These insights are crucial for the current ongoing FBI case. It so happens that one of the Krewe members is in the same place at the right time. From the moment they meet, the agent will do everything to keep her safe. But they more they spend time together, they more they can't hide their attraction. However, they need to solve the case and catch the serial killer before it's too late. I loved the suspense. Heather Graham never disappoints. I am hooked from the first chapter. When I finished reading this book, I am excited and hoping there is another. I proudly have every book in this series on my bookshelf. One can read them out of order and follow along fine. I read them out of order and it was fine for me. Action-packed, filled with humor, and enough mystery to keep me lured, Deadly Touch is a must read for all. I loved it!

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Even though there are ghosts in these stories, this series has become somewhat of a comfort read to me. These new Special Agents of the Krewe are virtually interchangeable even though they do have different backgrounds but their abilities to see ghosts are very similar. Unlike the original Krewe members, they have become a bit unmemorable between instalments.

The settings is Miami and the Everglades and this time we have local authorities actively seeking Krewe assistance because they are all childhood friends who see ghosts. It's the heroine that's new to the concept but she's the one who "saw" the victim when she tried on a dress in a shop. I think it's the heroine's dog Titan that's my favourite character in this book.

The murders happened over a long number of years and the reason for the murders was a bit obscure but overall, this is another interesting enough story to while away some time.

[Michelle C Lidtke · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A little too repetitive.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

repetitive, everyone's dialog ends in an exclamation point