Grave Devotion is a stand-alone paranormal murder mystery inspired by a true crime.
Not all love stories have happy endings…For Kale Goodwin it’s love at first sight when he sees Annie working at the county fair. Darkly beautiful, she’s unlike anyone he’s ever met. There’s an electricity to her-something dangerous and magnetic.
Their love is fast and passionate. Kale is quickly swept away.
But when Annie calls on him for help, the innocence of their new love is shattered. Kale is forced to question everything he thought he knew about the woman he fell in love with.
In the days that follow, Kale is plagued by violent nightmares and dark visitors who drift in the shadows.
Looking for your next impossible to put down read? Pick up Grave Devotion today.
J.R. Erickson writes novels that blend murder mysteries with haunted houses. Her Northern Michigan Asylum series are novels of paranormal suspense inspired by a real former asylum in Traverse City. Her current books, the Troubled Spirits series, are all inspired by real crimes, which she covers in her true crime podcast, Bitter Endings.
Jacki is a lifelong lover of all things spooky, and started penning scary stories in childhood. She grew up in Mason, Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology. These days, Jacki resides near Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, son, and three cats.
First, I have really liked her other books, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series. However, this book just wasn't for me.
The main character seemed to be naive for his age and acted like a younger adolescent in love. His girlfriend kept using Romeo and Juliet as some kind of description or goal of their relationship. That should have been a big red flag. We all know how that ended.
I struggled with his decisions, especially after he knew the details. Why did he think going back to the property was a good plan? Was he aware of forensics? He just seemed to lack basic common sense. I know the brain isn't fully developed until 25, and stress and intense emotions can increase poor decision making, but still...
I thought his family, friends, and supernatural elements were the best parts of the story. There was something missing in this book for me. I can't quite figure out what it is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was a whole lot and took me some time to finish. I think it ways I knew where things were headed and MC Kale was kind of the master of his own destiny yet he thought only with his d*ck and look what happened because of that. Honestly can't even say I feel bad for Kale. He fell right into Annie's (or whoever the hell she is) trap and kind of deserved everything he got. A little shocked things actually worked out for him in the end but it was clear things were going south as the lies mounted and certainly when she had him hide a body. Like dude I get young love and hormones but you legit knew this girl less than a week and are already hiding bodies for her smh?!? Other books in the series have been a lot better and more enjoyable, this was kinda like watching a train-wreck happen in slow motion!!
Look I’m not one to talk negative about people’s work. I’ve even liked this authors previous titles, but this one wasn’t for me. Slow burn and predictable all the way till the end. Plus stupid decisions I can’t relate to from the main character. But it’s a personal pet peeve of mine where paranormal or thrilling events happen in people’s dreams. Just not a fan of this one.
Since I read Joyland I've been looking for a book with a similar setting, and I found it in this book. The plot, although predictable, was great. A perfect Summer read. Can't wait to read more from this author.
Another excellent novel from J.R. Erickson! I've enjoyed every title in the Troubled Spirits series and I finished this book in one sitting. This feels like the darkest of the series so far, although that could simply be because it's the freshest in my mind.
The plot is extremely well thought out, with tiny details becoming very important later on, and the turns have mini turns of their own. Some of the plot points are set up in ways you see coming, just to surprise you with another layer or two to keep things exciting.
The main character, Kale, is sympathetic enough that you don't dislike him despite some of his more questionable decisions. I found myself getting exasperated but then he'd do something that redeemed him enough to keep me rooting for him. Most of the peripheral characters are well rounded and fleshed out enough to make you care about them too. Every question ends up being answered, each mystery solved, but in believable ways.
I can only think of a couple of small "cons". Within the first two pages you are introduced to a lot of characters at once, which is a little overwhelming. Despite this there was only two instances where I got confused about who was talking, which was easy enough to look back and work out so didn't take me out of the moment too much. The interesting names used for the siblings are a bit too odd for me, I can't remember a couple of them already. I frequently read Kale as Kade - actually the name of a character in another book I just read - and Astor as Austin etc. It would have been nice to have explored Sage a bit more!
So overall I really enjoyed this book, anyone who likes mysteries and crime will enjoy it as much as those who like paranormal stories. Would definitely recommend.
Another great book by J.R. Erickson! Based on a true story, this was a fast paced and engaging story. it's been a long time since I have sat down and read a book cover to cover in one setting, but I did with this one.
Kale is a young college student, still living at home with his hippie parents and 5 siblings. When he and his friends go to the county fair, he is immediately drawn to a young woman working the carnival there. Soon, he finds himself unable to stay away from her and he turns his life upside down in order to be with her.
But, things start to happen that make him question what he really knows about Annie. First of all, his young sister, Sage, says that "drifters" are following Annie. It seems that Sage, who is a former cancer patient, is able to see spirits that she calls drifters. Why would spirits be around Annie? Any time that Kale starts to ask questions about Annie's past, the truth seems to get more distorted.
The characters were well-written and the author has done a great job in depicting what a person will do for (what they think is) true love. I thought I had the story figured out, but there was an unexpected twist at the end that really caught me off guard. There are plenty of supernatural elements mixed in with the suspense/thriller aspect of the book, so I find it hard to decide on a genre for the book. Let's just say that it was an enjoyable read and that I will continue to look for more books by this author.
I love the troubled spirit books. Our main characters are Kale, a 20 year old boy who lives at home with his parents. He attends college and works cutting lawns part-time with his friends. When the group went to the fair one night, Kale was attracted to a carnie named Annie. It seemed like there was an immediate attraction which was mutual. Annie consumes his life. He starts missing classes and stopped seeing his friends and doing his share of the lawn cutting job. As these two carry on, Kale starts to see things – horrifying things that no one else sees. Annie starts wanting him to stay overnight with her. Things start to seem ‘off’. He finds ID that looks like her but it in a different name. She apparently has a stalker and is hiding from him. His damsel in distress sucks him right into joining the carnival for the rest of the summer so they can be together. Things take a downward turn from there. There is the added element of suspense with Annie having “drifters” connected to her. Apparently Kale’s younger sister can see/sense spirits that are connected to people. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.
I've really enjoyed all of the 'A Troubled Spirits' books and have read them all so far. Being on Kindle Unlimited has meant they are free reads too although for those who don't subscribe I'd say they are worth paying for. I know I would if that changed.
However, Grave Devotion was probably my least favourite of them. Not because the story wasn't good, or well written. It was and I loved the setting of a carnival and the mystery behind this one. What drove me completely insane was Kale. I won't give spoilers and I never do, so can't say my reasons. But I was literally reading the book thinking, 'FFS KALE!!!' I get the saying, 'Love is blind' and I think many of us have had that kind of love and feelings Kale has for Annie. But jeez. It was hard to give him a break to be honest. As he reminded everyone he was 20 (Well he does turn 21 in this book) and an adult. So think like one man!
So that's why for me this was a 3.5 star read. Yes I enjoyed it, but Kale and Annie... well I didn't enjoy those two. This is a kindle unlimited read, so free to read if you subscribe to the service.
Grave Devotion, A Troubled Spirits Novel by J. R. Erickson, is a chilling tale of human depravity, and a skewed sense of bitter revenge. Like all of her Troubled Spirits books, this one is based on a true story, and the author has set it in a small to mid-sized town in Michigan. This particular novel happens to feature my hometown of Muskegon in Southwest, Michigan, giving it a whole different vibe for me. The storyline is fast-paced and very well written, filled with love, devotion, adventure, obsession, murder, danger, intrigue, subterfuge, angst and ruse. There are many facets to the basic plot that will have you turning in so many directions your head will spin. The characters are well developed and engaging. Kale is a great MMP. It is easy to identify with him as his life goes from mundane, to euphoric, to spiralling out of control. Will he crash and burn, get murdered or manage to survive with some degree of sanity in tact? Overall, Grave Devotion is another great win for the fantastic Troubled Spirits collection!
I have to be honest here. Grave Devotion, for me, was a book I could not put down until finished. All the characters are so well developed, you feel you are part of the eclectic throw back hippy family. You are pulled into daily lives with an intensity that you still have after almost a week after reading. Many books, at least it seems to me, you can lay out the entire storyline by the end of first page. This author has the rare quality of keeping it just out of reach...which pulls you in completely. I won't spoil this great read by giving anything away, but this is a must read. Everything is brought back around towards the end of story, and even then...the twist at the end...WOW! Was totally not expecting that plot twist, but throughly tied it all up. You will not be disappointed. I have followed and read J.R. Erickson for awhile now. I honestly think this is her best yet...which surprises me..because all her books are fabulous. I want to thank her for this great read. Get this book, you won't be able to put it down.
This is another extremely excellent novel in the Troubled Spirits series by J.R. Erikson!!!! Like all the books in this series it was based on a true story. I finished this book in one sitting, I ended up carrying my tablet around with me just because I didn’t want to stop reading the book. It was fast paced and engaging and the whole time I was reading this book my mind was instantly playing out the story in my head with all the characters setting and everything. I don’t wanna put any spoilers or anything in my review but if you like a paranormal mystery, you should definitely check out this book. This is the second book I have read by J. R. Erikson and I definitely will be recommending her books to a lot of my friends who are into paranormal mysteries that are based on a true story. And if anybody is like me, if a book is based on a true story, I always end up wanting more information on the actual event that took place.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and this is my honest voluntary review.
Okay, so this might be one of my top favorite books from this series. It was so difficult for me to read through because of the hidden (and not-so-hidden) toxicity within the MC’s relationship. The way that it all played out was extremely realistic in my opinion being that the MC was a very family-oriented person seeking independence and chasing the highs of infatuation. I loved all of the family members and the openness they had with each other. Also, Sage was such a phenomenal character! Such an awesome way to bring in more of the supernatural.
When Kale began to investigate, I loved the balance between his skepticism and tuning into his intuition. I did NOT see the end coming, and thought it was perfectly delivered! I also appreciated the epilogue because it gave us tidbits of information to close the loop on questions that arose throughout the story. Ugh. So well done.
I loved this paranormal mystery. This author really knows how to spin an intriguing story with an excellent end!
The characters felt so real that I see-sawed between feeling sorry for Kale and wanting to just smack him around the head. Annie was a complicated character, one I had doubts about for most of the book.
Kale's family was busy but pretty great. Grounded and flawed and realistically human. I resonated with and liked the side story of the youngest daughter in the family Sage. Not only does she provide the paranormal insight and pulls the family together, we share a great love of Tim Burton movies!
The conclusion was spectacular, with some expected developments but some that had me going "what!?".
Once again J.R. Erickson delivers 100%. Looking forward to the next one!
- [ ] What a mind blowing novel. How incredible that a person with so much going for them could use their charisma to hurt others. The story was so gripping that I could not stop myself from reading. The things Kale experienced were so insane it is no wonder he did whatever for Annie. She literally had him under her spell. But she knew what she was doing as the reader finds out later in the book. The twist in this book has me blown away. Even with Sage noticing the ‘drifters’, I was still shocked when we find out Annie’s motives for her subterfuge. The only thing I would liked to have known is what happened to Kale? As always JRErickson delivers on a story with ghosts, murder and based on a real life case.
Inspired by a true story, Grave Devotion is an exciting book in the Troubled Spirits series. Whilst enjoying a night at the fair with his friends, Kale meets Annie, one of its employees. He can’t get her out of his mind and falls fast for her as she works her magic on him. Unfortunately, Annie is very passionate about her plans, and though they do involve Kale, they have nothing to do with love. This fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller will leave you reeling. The characters are well-defined, both good and bad. The twists and turns, and the storyline are all incredible in this paranormal murder mystery. J.R. Erickson has done it again. This book is a fantastic read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have loved J.R. Erickson's books from the start and this one is no different. It did start out a little slow for me, though it did not take long to pick up. I completed it in one snowy day, under a blanket, with very few breaks. It was twisty and spooky, and I love how it incorporates in the paranormal while adding twists, turns, and crime. The storyline was interesting - I am not a super fan of carnivals and this book doesn't help with that so that backdrop definitely added an additional creep factor for me. There were times where I felt sorry for the main character and times where I wanted to smack him for being dumb. All in all - this was a fantastic book and did not disappoint. I will continue reading her books as they come out!
I could not deal with Kale's level of denial. Red flags were flying everywhere.
The story was well-written and moved at a good pace, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as I have the other books in this series. 1. Kale--for the love. 🤦 2. Harm to animals--even though it wasn't too explicit and told secondhand, I didn't like the pet fish and dog being killed. 3. Not enough ghosties. Honestly, for a bit there, I thought Annie was a succubus. 4. And on that topic, too much sex. The previous books had no sex scenes. 5. And finally, my "murmured" count for this book: 45!! 😬 The most so far!
WOW! What a phenomenal book! To me Jacki has always been able to captivate you in her stories and this one is no different. Ok well it IS different as in so much more twisted. You can see where it’s going but why isn’t necessarily what you think. All the characters are great and I felt so sorry for Kale. He wanted the love of a beautiful woman and got so much more than he bargained for. Sage is such a sweet girl dealt with pain and something much more. Definitely a MUST read!!
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.
I'll admit this book had an interesting twist that through me for a loop and kept me interested. I think the characters in the book is why I have trust issues now lol.
Anyway, not to spoil anything but the story definitely gave me the chills because I could not put it down, plus since I already read the previous novels in the series, don't worry they are all standalone this one did not disappoint.
I don't want to give anything away like I said, but man sometimes Kale got on my nerves like. 😒 Anyway, still a great book aside from that.
Not my favorite of the series. A young man falls in love with a beautiful carnival worker. He abandons his family, education and friends. Soon he is drawn into an ugly world of suspicion and murder.
This book dragged, picking up only at the end. The protagonist acts more like fourteen than twenty one. Too many characters especially in his hippie dipped family. The murderer is obvious and it is not especially interesting watching it unfold. Much better books in this series.
As always, I finished too quickly because I couldn't put it down!! Now I'm sleep deprived AND depressed because that's what J. R. Erickson's books do to me!! I cannot put them down even though I tell myself just one more page, one more chapter....next thing I know it's the end of the book and I'm wanting more!!! This book is no different. Keep em coming!!
I've read several of J.R. Erickson's books in this series. I have to say, after reading the first one, I was hooked. As a writer she truly make you feel that you are part of the story....so much that you can't wait to read what's going to happen next. I highly recommend her books in this series and you will not be disappointed. I'm moving on to the next book and I can't wait to start it. Keep up the great writing J.R.
Kale is obsessed with Annie who works at the carnival. Annie is beautiful and seems to be equally besotted with Kale. He decides to join the carnival and plans to spend the rest of his life with Annie. However, Annie has other plans. A book which is suspenseful, unpredictable and haunting. The author aptly portrays the psyche of a murderous and clever sociopath.
This is a thrilling addition to this wonderful series. I love the plot and story line and found it completely gripping me. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. I couldn't put this one down and can't wait for the next one. Recommend reading highly.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and this is my honest voluntary review.
This was an interesting story. I knew who the main villain was early on, but I really appreciate the amped up presence of the ghosts this time around. They gave it much more of a spooky vibe. I wanted to like the main character, but it was difficult at times. Safe was my favorite. Poor Stevie… but the carnival setting was fun!
Clever, thrilling and imaginative story! Great multi-faceted, realistic characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Grave Devotion, like all of J.R. Erickson's books does not disappoint! I can't put her books down until the very end...and then it's on to the next one! I feel like I'm right there with the characters! Mystery combined with a supernatural twist is my favorite genre and I would absolutely love to see any or all of her books made into movies!!!
Really gripping and freaky read! Another outstanding book from the Troubled Spirits series. Kale is at the carnival when he meets Annie, a good-looking employee, and they start a whirlwind romance. He is so infatuated with her that he neglects his family, friends, and other responsibilities. Annie says she has a stalker and Kale quickly finds himself caught up in something very bad.
I was sitting on the edge of my seat, chewing my fingernails all through this book. Kale is the epitome of naive. His little sister, Sage, sees spirits that she calls “drifters,” and now Kale seems to be seeing them too, or is he imagining them? I hope the author receives high praise from everyone who reads this novel, because she sure deserves it. I highly recommend reading this story.