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Bone Island Trilogy #3
Ghost Moon
Reclusive collector Cutter Merlin is seldom seen in Key West—lately, not at all. Officer Liam Beckett visits Merlin's curious house and discovers the gentleman in his study. In his death a volume of occult lore and a reliquary. His eyes are wide with fright, his mouth a horrified rictus where spiders now dwell.
Kelsey Donovan returns to the old house to catalog her estranged grandfather's collection of artifacts and antiquities, vowing to see his treasures divested properly. But she cannot ignore the sense that she's being watched, the reports of malevolent black figures, the pervasive smell of death.
Is the Merlin house haunted, even cursed? Liam knows well that some ghost stories are true and he swears to protect Kelsey. But there are forces at work for whom one more life is a pittance to pay for their deepest desire….
Kelsey Donovan returns to the old house to catalog her estranged grandfather's collection of artifacts and antiquities, vowing to see his treasures divested properly. But she cannot ignore the sense that she's being watched, the reports of malevolent black figures, the pervasive smell of death.
Is the Merlin house haunted, even cursed? Liam knows well that some ghost stories are true and he swears to protect Kelsey. But there are forces at work for whom one more life is a pittance to pay for their deepest desire….
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 31, 2010
319 people are currently reading
2349 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,908 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
March 14, 2024
Evil lives in the old Victorian mansion on a spit of land just outside of Key West. Even Bartholomeu the ghost is aware that something evil is present there. I have really enjoyed this series and this last book in the trilogy wraps it up with a real surprise for an ending. I never saw the baddie and I really like that.
Kelsey Donovan left Key West when she was 15 years old, shortly after the death of her mother. Now her grandfather, Cutter Merlin, has died and she has returned to administer his estate which includes countless collectable items from his world travels. She fully intends to return to her life in Hollywood, but Key West and memories have a way of sucking her in. The old Victorian mansion has always been home, but there is a new vibe there now and it isn't a welcoming one.
Liam Beckett lost a piece of his heart when young Kelsey left without saying goodbye. When her grandfather dies of a heart attack with a look of horror on his face, he and Barthlomew, the privateer ghost, both feel that something in the house is not right. He has his fears for Kelsey's return, even while feeling like a piece of his heart has finally come home.
Kelsey Donovan left Key West when she was 15 years old, shortly after the death of her mother. Now her grandfather, Cutter Merlin, has died and she has returned to administer his estate which includes countless collectable items from his world travels. She fully intends to return to her life in Hollywood, but Key West and memories have a way of sucking her in. The old Victorian mansion has always been home, but there is a new vibe there now and it isn't a welcoming one.
Liam Beckett lost a piece of his heart when young Kelsey left without saying goodbye. When her grandfather dies of a heart attack with a look of horror on his face, he and Barthlomew, the privateer ghost, both feel that something in the house is not right. He has his fears for Kelsey's return, even while feeling like a piece of his heart has finally come home.
October 20, 2011
This last book of the trilogy was really great - I finished it within a week. A real page turner - kept me captivated right to the end. Giving this book 5 stars.
October 31, 2020
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
December 24, 2010
Wow. I bought this book at the airport, and my first impression prompted me to look up the author information to figure out how this person ever got published. Author of "more than a hundred novels"? Yikes. To be honest, I never finished the book. I found it unreadable. There may be an interesting story in there somewhere, judging by the praise other reviews here have heaped on the thing, but I couldn't find it. All I found was a painfully juvenile writing style, lacking in sophistication and any attempt at literary finesse, for example: "Once the reservation was made, she found herself thinking about her father. He'd been a good man. He'd loved her mother so much, and her, too. And he'd even loved Cutter Merlin, she thought." The book reads like it was authored by an eighth grader. The insert advertising romance novels in the center of the book would have been a clue, if I had noticed it before I bought it. I guess if Heather Graham can get published, there is hope for the rest of us.
October 12, 2010
I liked this one a little more than the 2nd. I still figured out a lot of it half way through. I thought the ending was too rushed. I can't figure out why Bartholomew only got a half of a page at the end. He was my favorite part of all 3 books.
June 5, 2015
A little bit on this book and as the series as a whole: Yeah, I'm really not seeing the need to make this into a trilogy at all. It's essentially the same book written three times to milk it for all it's worth, which isn't a lot. The first book was alright. Kinda fun, kind of dragging, David and Katie fall in love and build on a rather unexciting relationship while there're murder mysteries to be solved. Oh, and there's a ghost sidekick. Book 2, change David and Katie's names to Sean and Vanessa, then to Liam and Kelsey for the third, and that's about it. Feels like a bunch of carbon copies. The three couples and their relationships really aren't terribly distinguishable from one another.
I know this probably isn't the best complaint to make about a romance series, but making sure that every single penis finds his vagina with nobody (but the unimportant minor characters) to be *gasp* left alone in the end is a concept that I never enjoy. Gotta make sure all the loose ends hook up! Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if each of the three groups of protagonists weren't so familiar with one another. They're all a tight-knit group, and every couple is nearly Best Friends Forever! with every other couple, since I guess they can't be close friends with anyone unconventional (i.e. no one not in a relationship).
The mysteries at hand are unique enough for someone to probably enjoy all three books, though in every single case, the person "whodunnit" is someone nobody is going to give a rat's ass about, if they even remember them at all come time for the Big Reveal. How about trying to be a little more daring in that matter? Make it someone the readers really wouldn't expect, not because the character is too insignificant to begin with, but actually too significant so as to make everyone go "No way would the author ever actually have the guts to make this person the culprit."
Back on the topic of carbon copies, hello, that whole seeing ghost thing? Was really not utilized very much. Bartholomew sticks to the current protagonist like glue. Eventually her (or his) romantic interest sees him too, until everyone in the three main couples can all sense him. Despite that, Bartholomew's whole purpose in the stories pretty much wanes after the first book. I don't know, you'd like, think that after being involved in a murder mystery the first time around, something the vast majority of people will never have to deal with, the protagonists would wisen up and actually find ways to make use of a goddamn freaking GHOST, using their past experiences, when they find themselves involved in yet MORE MURDER MYSTERIES.
Then again, the whole lot really doesn't come across as particularly intelligent, so what can you expect? Particularly the third time around: An old guy and his daughter die with the exact same horrified expression on their face? A dead guy is found on the property? Someone gets attacked on that same property not long after that? "No no, It's fine! We'll continue to stay in this house! We'll just make sure everything is locked, or have one extra person around, but we sure as hell aren't gonna leave!" Hi, you guys are kind of dumb. Kelsey continually feels like she's being watched, doesn't feel safe in her own house without locking her bedroom door (newsflash: that's probably when you should be listening to every single person telling you to FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO STAY), people notice that things always seem off in the house after they come and go, people have broken in....why don't you make Ghost Dude stake out the house for a while? He's a ghost, he's not going to get tired or cold or anything if he sits outside for a few days, watching for suspicious characters coming and going in the house. Geez. Bartholomew might as well just be another human, since he really doesn't DO much in the books that would make the whole "being a ghost" thing very beneficial.
Finally, and on the ghost note, there are a few other ghosts around, but again they largely played significant roles in the first book. The second book also had a kind of interesting take on it, what with there being an evil ghost to manipulate easily influenced people, but that quickly gets taken care of in a paragraph by a voodoo priest or someone, and then the whole ghost aspect just gets shoved off to the side for the final in the trilogy. Bartholomew gets very little development, and now that he's done playing ghost-cupid for the three couples, gets sent off to the Great Beyond or whatever in a couple paragraphs at the very end of the last book, as if the author herself pretty much ran out of steam with the whole ghost angle of the book and didn't know or care about doing anything else with it.
Oh, one more thing, this on the quality of the overall writing: Graham seriously needs a thesaurus or something. Overuse of one can make a piece nearly unreadable, but under-utilizing one is also pretty bad when you end up reusing the same word within just a few sentences of each other. She isn't nearly as bad at this in the third book, but it's pretty apparent in the first two. One word that sticks out in my mind is "flatly". In the first book, when David and Katie are still rather antagonistic toward each other, if felt like David would say something "flatly". Then maybe a paragraph later, Katie would respond "flatly". It also gets used quite a few more times throughout the book. It's the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but there were other instances of this in the trilogy.
Another problem is "he said" "she said". Not a case of rumor-mongering or anything, oftentimes when the characters are conversing with one another, the exchange will tend flow in the following manner:
"Blah blah blah blah blah," David said.
"Blah-de-blahdy-blah blah blah," Vanessa said.
"BLAH?!" Katie, Clarinda, and the ghost down the street all said at once.
This isn't another "more active thesaurus-use please" comment. Obviously
"Blah blah blah blah blah," David quipped.
"Blah-de-blahdy-blah blah blah," Vanessa murmured.
"BLAH?!" Katie, Clarinda, and the ghost down the street all shrieked at once.
isn't an actual improvement of quality in any way. No, my issue here is: Sentence structure! Vary it, woman!
Perhaps it's not as noticeable when reading the printed word, but I listened to the series as audiobooks, and let me tell you, it is DEFINITELY very noticeable when you hear the narrator saying "said" "said" "said" "said" over and over again, one right after another. I listen to lots of audiobooks, and crappy story or not being another matter, in none of the other books I've heard has the repetition of "said" during conversations been as jarring as it is in the Ghost Island Trilogy. This leads me to believe that many other published authors are not making these same mistakes; it's one that Graham should be trying to fix. I mean, geez. Look at her bibliography on Wikipedia: she's written over what, one hundred books? Seriously, these were her first that I've read, but if they're indicative of her story-writing as a whole, then I really think instead of trying to churn out four to five books every single year, maybe she ought to try cutting down on quantity and actually focus on improving the quality of her writing. Then again, if she's written over a hundred books, it means her fans will keep coming for more, quality be damned. If that were me, hell, I probably wouldn't try to do much improvement myself.
All in all, it's nowhere near being a trilogy that'll amaze and be cherished and remembered as FAVORITE SERIES EVER, or even just be remembered, period, even only a couple months after reading it, but it's not rage-inducingly bad or, even with the carbon copy romances and failure to do much with the paranormal aspect of it, too boring to read.
Side note: I read over a review that said the series felt too much like an advertisement for how great Key West was, but I'm not sure I agree, seeing how many psycho killers apparently all congregate there. So much for the "only two murders a year!" statistic that gets thrown out in the book.
I know this probably isn't the best complaint to make about a romance series, but making sure that every single penis finds his vagina with nobody (but the unimportant minor characters) to be *gasp* left alone in the end is a concept that I never enjoy. Gotta make sure all the loose ends hook up! Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if each of the three groups of protagonists weren't so familiar with one another. They're all a tight-knit group, and every couple is nearly Best Friends Forever! with every other couple, since I guess they can't be close friends with anyone unconventional (i.e. no one not in a relationship).
The mysteries at hand are unique enough for someone to probably enjoy all three books, though in every single case, the person "whodunnit" is someone nobody is going to give a rat's ass about, if they even remember them at all come time for the Big Reveal. How about trying to be a little more daring in that matter? Make it someone the readers really wouldn't expect, not because the character is too insignificant to begin with, but actually too significant so as to make everyone go "No way would the author ever actually have the guts to make this person the culprit."
Back on the topic of carbon copies, hello, that whole seeing ghost thing? Was really not utilized very much. Bartholomew sticks to the current protagonist like glue. Eventually her (or his) romantic interest sees him too, until everyone in the three main couples can all sense him. Despite that, Bartholomew's whole purpose in the stories pretty much wanes after the first book. I don't know, you'd like, think that after being involved in a murder mystery the first time around, something the vast majority of people will never have to deal with, the protagonists would wisen up and actually find ways to make use of a goddamn freaking GHOST, using their past experiences, when they find themselves involved in yet MORE MURDER MYSTERIES.
Then again, the whole lot really doesn't come across as particularly intelligent, so what can you expect? Particularly the third time around: An old guy and his daughter die with the exact same horrified expression on their face? A dead guy is found on the property? Someone gets attacked on that same property not long after that? "No no, It's fine! We'll continue to stay in this house! We'll just make sure everything is locked, or have one extra person around, but we sure as hell aren't gonna leave!" Hi, you guys are kind of dumb. Kelsey continually feels like she's being watched, doesn't feel safe in her own house without locking her bedroom door (newsflash: that's probably when you should be listening to every single person telling you to FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO STAY), people notice that things always seem off in the house after they come and go, people have broken in....why don't you make Ghost Dude stake out the house for a while? He's a ghost, he's not going to get tired or cold or anything if he sits outside for a few days, watching for suspicious characters coming and going in the house. Geez. Bartholomew might as well just be another human, since he really doesn't DO much in the books that would make the whole "being a ghost" thing very beneficial.
Finally, and on the ghost note, there are a few other ghosts around, but again they largely played significant roles in the first book. The second book also had a kind of interesting take on it, what with there being an evil ghost to manipulate easily influenced people, but that quickly gets taken care of in a paragraph by a voodoo priest or someone, and then the whole ghost aspect just gets shoved off to the side for the final in the trilogy. Bartholomew gets very little development, and now that he's done playing ghost-cupid for the three couples, gets sent off to the Great Beyond or whatever in a couple paragraphs at the very end of the last book, as if the author herself pretty much ran out of steam with the whole ghost angle of the book and didn't know or care about doing anything else with it.
Oh, one more thing, this on the quality of the overall writing: Graham seriously needs a thesaurus or something. Overuse of one can make a piece nearly unreadable, but under-utilizing one is also pretty bad when you end up reusing the same word within just a few sentences of each other. She isn't nearly as bad at this in the third book, but it's pretty apparent in the first two. One word that sticks out in my mind is "flatly". In the first book, when David and Katie are still rather antagonistic toward each other, if felt like David would say something "flatly". Then maybe a paragraph later, Katie would respond "flatly". It also gets used quite a few more times throughout the book. It's the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but there were other instances of this in the trilogy.
Another problem is "he said" "she said". Not a case of rumor-mongering or anything, oftentimes when the characters are conversing with one another, the exchange will tend flow in the following manner:
"Blah blah blah blah blah," David said.
"Blah-de-blahdy-blah blah blah," Vanessa said.
"BLAH?!" Katie, Clarinda, and the ghost down the street all said at once.
This isn't another "more active thesaurus-use please" comment. Obviously
"Blah blah blah blah blah," David quipped.
"Blah-de-blahdy-blah blah blah," Vanessa murmured.
"BLAH?!" Katie, Clarinda, and the ghost down the street all shrieked at once.
isn't an actual improvement of quality in any way. No, my issue here is: Sentence structure! Vary it, woman!
Perhaps it's not as noticeable when reading the printed word, but I listened to the series as audiobooks, and let me tell you, it is DEFINITELY very noticeable when you hear the narrator saying "said" "said" "said" "said" over and over again, one right after another. I listen to lots of audiobooks, and crappy story or not being another matter, in none of the other books I've heard has the repetition of "said" during conversations been as jarring as it is in the Ghost Island Trilogy. This leads me to believe that many other published authors are not making these same mistakes; it's one that Graham should be trying to fix. I mean, geez. Look at her bibliography on Wikipedia: she's written over what, one hundred books? Seriously, these were her first that I've read, but if they're indicative of her story-writing as a whole, then I really think instead of trying to churn out four to five books every single year, maybe she ought to try cutting down on quantity and actually focus on improving the quality of her writing. Then again, if she's written over a hundred books, it means her fans will keep coming for more, quality be damned. If that were me, hell, I probably wouldn't try to do much improvement myself.
All in all, it's nowhere near being a trilogy that'll amaze and be cherished and remembered as FAVORITE SERIES EVER, or even just be remembered, period, even only a couple months after reading it, but it's not rage-inducingly bad or, even with the carbon copy romances and failure to do much with the paranormal aspect of it, too boring to read.
Side note: I read over a review that said the series felt too much like an advertisement for how great Key West was, but I'm not sure I agree, seeing how many psycho killers apparently all congregate there. So much for the "only two murders a year!" statistic that gets thrown out in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2011
This one wasn't quite as creepy as the first two in the series. Things took a more serious tone here, delving into Satanic rituals and whatnot. Although this one wasn't as creepy, I think I liked the romance between Liam and Kelsey best of the three. It was just too sweet, and made my sappy heart happy. Great series, especially for audio!
December 29, 2023
Reclusive collector Cutter Merlin is seldom seen in Key West—lately, not at all. Officer Liam Beckett visits Merlin’s curious house and discovers the gentleman in his study. In his death grip: a volume of occult lore and a reliquary. His eyes are wide with fright, his mouth a horrified rictus where spiders now dwell. With Liam Beckett in charge of the investigation it's no surprise that the rest of the group from Ghost Night & Ghost Shadow are on hand.
Another fun paranormal romance from Heather Graham.
Another fun paranormal romance from Heather Graham.
October 1, 2023
The Final Book of the Bone Island Trilogy - Always enjoy meeting with the gang in Key West and O’Hara’s Bar. I enjoy the storyline and the locale of these books. Great read, goes fast and very enjoyable locale.
September 1, 2021
A gripping and exciting story. Loved it.
June 17, 2015
A good book to end the series. I thought this book was more suspenseful than the other two in the series. I figured out who did it, but not until almost the end. I also liked that Bartholomew got a proper send off. The only irritating thing was the way Liam and Kelsey' s relationship proceeded. You leave when you are a teen, don't talk to the person for 10 Years, and on the 2nd day back you are in love? Seemed rushed to me.
September 28, 2010
suspense plus a little bit spooky. A great read and a good trio of books.
December 22, 2017
I enjoyed this series. Loved Bartholomew!
May 27, 2020
Maljka - per RFS
.
Questa è la mia primissima considerazione dopo aver terminato questa trilogia: leggerò sicuramente tutti gli altri libri di quest’autrice! Ho amato follemente la sua scrittura fluida, le ambientazioni caratteristiche, i cenni storici all’inizio di ogni capitolo della serie e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi stessi.
A parer mio questo è il libro più inquietante dei tre. Preparatevi a vivere brividi di paura lungo la schiena e a sentire la pelle d’oca.
” C’è qualcosa che non va in quell’edificio, il male si annida tra quelle mura. Merlin stava combinando qualcosa, forse era un adoratore del demonio.. è proprio a causa di ciò che ha fatto, ora c’è qualcosa all’interno di quelle pareti, qualcosa che ha preso vita in quel luogo, un’entità malvagia.. una presenza che è… lasci che glielo dica… un’autentica forza del male”
Cutter Merlin è, o per meglio dire era, il proprietario di “casa Merlin”, una vecchia casa vittoriana alquanto stramba per gli isolani, ma pienissima di reperti storici, reliquie e strani libri sulla magia nera.
Merlin amava stare rinchiuso in quella casa, ma nessuno lo vede ormai da giorni. Liam, il poliziotto della famiglia Beckett, decide di fare un giro di ricognizione. Suona per salutare, ma non trova nessuno in casa, decide così di entrare dalla lavanderia e sente odore di morte. Viveva solo, ma Liam pensa subito che la sua morte non sia un caso e nemmeno naturale ma che sia legata a qualcosa di soprannaturale e non solo perché il vecchio stringe tra le mani un volume di esorcismi e uno scrigno misterioso. Qualcuno riferisce infatti di aver visto ombre inquietanti aggirarsi nel giardino.
Liam si sente in dovere di chiamare l’unica persona ancora in vita legata a questo strambo uomo: Kelsey, la nipote.
La ragazza era cresciuta con Liam e con gli altri componenti delle famiglie Beckett e O’Hara, conosciuti nei due capitoli precedenti della serie, ma erano anni che non tornava sull’ isola. Tempo prima, il padre, dopo la morte “accidentale” della madre a causa di una caduta dalle scale, aveva deciso di portarla in California, dove viveva da allora. Per tutti quella casa trasuda morte e sventura, ma non per Kelsey.
Inizierà così una corsa contro il tempo nella ricerca della vera reliquia che Merlin teneva tra le mani: un cofanetto che si pensa risalente all’epoca di Giovanna D’arco e contenente le sue ceneri. Ma quello che più interessa è il suo contenuto: un diamante del valore di svariate migliaia di dollari. Chi sarebbe disposto a uccidere per un valore simile?
Durante l’indagine incappiamo in altri omicidi, qualcuno cerca di entrare nella proprietà e le fa strane telefonate, ma chi è il responsabile di tutto ciò? Chi esegue sacrifici con delle capre sulla spiaggia?
Ad aiutarli troviamo Bartolomew, un corsaro del Diciannovesimo secolo e amico di Katie fin da quand’era piccola… peccato che sia un fantasma! Lui è il personaggio che ho amato più di tutti!! E’ il loro sorvegliante nelle situazioni di pericolo e colui che mi ha fatto fare grasse risate durante la lettura.
Ormai avrete capito che in ogni capitolo della serie c’è una storia di amore e sesso, e in questo caso nascerà tra Liam e Kelsey. Tutto inizia per caso, lui rimane per non lasciarla sola in quella casa maledetta e in un attimo ci ritroveremo davanti a del sesso sfrenato.
È evidente che nella villa agiscono pericolose forze oscure, e Liam, che sa per esperienza come a volte le storie di fantasmi siano vere, è deciso a proteggere il suo primo e unico amore a qualunque costo.
È una serie che ho amato fin dall’inizio ma quest’ultimo capitolo è quello che più mi resterà nel cuore.
.
Questa è la mia primissima considerazione dopo aver terminato questa trilogia: leggerò sicuramente tutti gli altri libri di quest’autrice! Ho amato follemente la sua scrittura fluida, le ambientazioni caratteristiche, i cenni storici all’inizio di ogni capitolo della serie e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi stessi.
A parer mio questo è il libro più inquietante dei tre. Preparatevi a vivere brividi di paura lungo la schiena e a sentire la pelle d’oca.
” C’è qualcosa che non va in quell’edificio, il male si annida tra quelle mura. Merlin stava combinando qualcosa, forse era un adoratore del demonio.. è proprio a causa di ciò che ha fatto, ora c’è qualcosa all’interno di quelle pareti, qualcosa che ha preso vita in quel luogo, un’entità malvagia.. una presenza che è… lasci che glielo dica… un’autentica forza del male”
Cutter Merlin è, o per meglio dire era, il proprietario di “casa Merlin”, una vecchia casa vittoriana alquanto stramba per gli isolani, ma pienissima di reperti storici, reliquie e strani libri sulla magia nera.
Merlin amava stare rinchiuso in quella casa, ma nessuno lo vede ormai da giorni. Liam, il poliziotto della famiglia Beckett, decide di fare un giro di ricognizione. Suona per salutare, ma non trova nessuno in casa, decide così di entrare dalla lavanderia e sente odore di morte. Viveva solo, ma Liam pensa subito che la sua morte non sia un caso e nemmeno naturale ma che sia legata a qualcosa di soprannaturale e non solo perché il vecchio stringe tra le mani un volume di esorcismi e uno scrigno misterioso. Qualcuno riferisce infatti di aver visto ombre inquietanti aggirarsi nel giardino.
Liam si sente in dovere di chiamare l’unica persona ancora in vita legata a questo strambo uomo: Kelsey, la nipote.
La ragazza era cresciuta con Liam e con gli altri componenti delle famiglie Beckett e O’Hara, conosciuti nei due capitoli precedenti della serie, ma erano anni che non tornava sull’ isola. Tempo prima, il padre, dopo la morte “accidentale” della madre a causa di una caduta dalle scale, aveva deciso di portarla in California, dove viveva da allora. Per tutti quella casa trasuda morte e sventura, ma non per Kelsey.
Inizierà così una corsa contro il tempo nella ricerca della vera reliquia che Merlin teneva tra le mani: un cofanetto che si pensa risalente all’epoca di Giovanna D’arco e contenente le sue ceneri. Ma quello che più interessa è il suo contenuto: un diamante del valore di svariate migliaia di dollari. Chi sarebbe disposto a uccidere per un valore simile?
Durante l’indagine incappiamo in altri omicidi, qualcuno cerca di entrare nella proprietà e le fa strane telefonate, ma chi è il responsabile di tutto ciò? Chi esegue sacrifici con delle capre sulla spiaggia?
Ad aiutarli troviamo Bartolomew, un corsaro del Diciannovesimo secolo e amico di Katie fin da quand’era piccola… peccato che sia un fantasma! Lui è il personaggio che ho amato più di tutti!! E’ il loro sorvegliante nelle situazioni di pericolo e colui che mi ha fatto fare grasse risate durante la lettura.
Ormai avrete capito che in ogni capitolo della serie c’è una storia di amore e sesso, e in questo caso nascerà tra Liam e Kelsey. Tutto inizia per caso, lui rimane per non lasciarla sola in quella casa maledetta e in un attimo ci ritroveremo davanti a del sesso sfrenato.
È evidente che nella villa agiscono pericolose forze oscure, e Liam, che sa per esperienza come a volte le storie di fantasmi siano vere, è deciso a proteggere il suo primo e unico amore a qualunque costo.
È una serie che ho amato fin dall’inizio ma quest’ultimo capitolo è quello che più mi resterà nel cuore.
March 14, 2021
Great book to end the series!
January 24, 2011
Heather Graham’s novels seem so much like her: full of life, vibrant and a good friend. So it’s no surprise that Ghost Moon lives up to reader expectations of this prolific author. While I hadn’t read the previous two novels in this trilogy, I had no problem following its thread as Heather deftly weaves the tale bringing readers up to date as they fasten their seatbelts for a ride through the unusual.
Ghost Moon is the 3rd in the Graham’s Bone Island Trilogy. This novel skillfully combines paranormal and suspense with romantic elements when it places Kelsey Donovan back in Key West to help bury then settle her grandfather Cutter Merlin’s estate. Something of a Key West legend, Cutter was an avid if eccentric, collector of precious historical artifacts whose daughter and family lived with them until her tragic death sent Kelsey and her father to the west coast.
Years later, when Police detective Liam Beckett discovers Cutter’s body he notifies Kelsey whose return sets in motion a chain of events. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Cutter’s death coupled with rumors of the Merlin house being haunted propel the action and set up the suspense. Kelsey returns to Key West and rediscovers the home, island and friends she left behind long ago. While Liam investigates Merlin’s death, Kelsey uncovers clues left by her grandfather in odd artifacts as a disturbing tale emerges of black magic tied to Key West’s past, allowing ghoulish events to unfold.
Katie and Sean O’Hara along with their friends Jonas and Clarinda, and fellow couple Jaden and Ted help Kelsey adjust to her time in southern Florida and she Liam explore their unchecked feelings. Known for being haunted, it’s no less startling when the dashing ghost Bartholomew materializes in Key West and is revealed to be a regular sidekick of Liam and his friends. The only off kilter part about this charming entity is that for a 200 year-old ghost, his speech and manners didn’t reflect his time period (like his clothing), but perhaps that is due to the time he has spent in the 21st century absorbing modern speech patterns and customs…He does provide assistance in sorting out facts and an interesting twist to this contemporary tale.
Burdened by her mother’s death in a home she loved, Kelsey’s independent streak is tested when she continues to sense a presence locking her bedroom every night before going to sleep, even when Liam is with her. Readers get an idea of why this happens when a third party narrator casts just enough doubt to throw readers completely off the trail of whom we begin to suspect of murder, and sinister acts.
Masterful tension combined with sharp turns and forward-moving action keep the novel at a good pace as the feelings between Liam and Kelsey deepen and suspicion shifts from one person to the next. Excellent character development allows readers to really know Liam and Kelsey as well as their circle of friends and ultimately, come to understand Cutter Merlin and his world too.
This tightly plotted and woven story brings together a decades-old murder and haunting while reuniting lifelong friends and would-be lovers in a page turning novel.
The book provides yet another unexpected twist: recipes for Key Lime Grouper, Red Snapper and more fill the last few pages and appear to be as enticing as this read!
Ghost Moon is the 3rd in the Graham’s Bone Island Trilogy. This novel skillfully combines paranormal and suspense with romantic elements when it places Kelsey Donovan back in Key West to help bury then settle her grandfather Cutter Merlin’s estate. Something of a Key West legend, Cutter was an avid if eccentric, collector of precious historical artifacts whose daughter and family lived with them until her tragic death sent Kelsey and her father to the west coast.
Years later, when Police detective Liam Beckett discovers Cutter’s body he notifies Kelsey whose return sets in motion a chain of events. The mysterious circumstances surrounding Cutter’s death coupled with rumors of the Merlin house being haunted propel the action and set up the suspense. Kelsey returns to Key West and rediscovers the home, island and friends she left behind long ago. While Liam investigates Merlin’s death, Kelsey uncovers clues left by her grandfather in odd artifacts as a disturbing tale emerges of black magic tied to Key West’s past, allowing ghoulish events to unfold.
Katie and Sean O’Hara along with their friends Jonas and Clarinda, and fellow couple Jaden and Ted help Kelsey adjust to her time in southern Florida and she Liam explore their unchecked feelings. Known for being haunted, it’s no less startling when the dashing ghost Bartholomew materializes in Key West and is revealed to be a regular sidekick of Liam and his friends. The only off kilter part about this charming entity is that for a 200 year-old ghost, his speech and manners didn’t reflect his time period (like his clothing), but perhaps that is due to the time he has spent in the 21st century absorbing modern speech patterns and customs…He does provide assistance in sorting out facts and an interesting twist to this contemporary tale.
Burdened by her mother’s death in a home she loved, Kelsey’s independent streak is tested when she continues to sense a presence locking her bedroom every night before going to sleep, even when Liam is with her. Readers get an idea of why this happens when a third party narrator casts just enough doubt to throw readers completely off the trail of whom we begin to suspect of murder, and sinister acts.
Masterful tension combined with sharp turns and forward-moving action keep the novel at a good pace as the feelings between Liam and Kelsey deepen and suspicion shifts from one person to the next. Excellent character development allows readers to really know Liam and Kelsey as well as their circle of friends and ultimately, come to understand Cutter Merlin and his world too.
This tightly plotted and woven story brings together a decades-old murder and haunting while reuniting lifelong friends and would-be lovers in a page turning novel.
The book provides yet another unexpected twist: recipes for Key Lime Grouper, Red Snapper and more fill the last few pages and appear to be as enticing as this read!
October 27, 2010
*This is a review of the entire Bone Island Trilogy*
I promised myself no more Heather Graham after last year's ultra-disappointing "Flynn Brothers" trilogy. But I caved, yet again. As always, the premise of the book sucked me in. I had no expectations and thought this might be something light to read while recovering from an illness. I was actually pleasantly surprised. "Ghost Shadow" is genuinely creepy, even if the killer is somewhat obvious. The second book in the trilogy, "Ghost Night" is the weakest of the three, much less creepy and not as campy and fun. The last in the trilogy, "Ghost Moon" is a fun read, with some scary moments. There's definitely something to be said for light reading, and Heather Graham fits decidedly into that category. However, I must say I did learn some things about the ghostly legends of Key West. Which proves my theory that we learn something from everything we read. No matter how "light" it may be. I guess I can't promise myself I will never read another Heather Graham novel. I will just approach with caution and hopefully be pleasantly surprised.
I promised myself no more Heather Graham after last year's ultra-disappointing "Flynn Brothers" trilogy. But I caved, yet again. As always, the premise of the book sucked me in. I had no expectations and thought this might be something light to read while recovering from an illness. I was actually pleasantly surprised. "Ghost Shadow" is genuinely creepy, even if the killer is somewhat obvious. The second book in the trilogy, "Ghost Night" is the weakest of the three, much less creepy and not as campy and fun. The last in the trilogy, "Ghost Moon" is a fun read, with some scary moments. There's definitely something to be said for light reading, and Heather Graham fits decidedly into that category. However, I must say I did learn some things about the ghostly legends of Key West. Which proves my theory that we learn something from everything we read. No matter how "light" it may be. I guess I can't promise myself I will never read another Heather Graham novel. I will just approach with caution and hopefully be pleasantly surprised.
February 11, 2018
Ghost Moon by Heather Graham is full of spook. Chills, ghosts, and hauntings are found here. I was hooked. The mystery in this last part of the series was really evil. A man once known to a family ends up killing them all for a power in some object. But what he does not know is that the surviving member is friends with a cop who can also see and hear a ghost. A friendly ghost who helps the protagonists with their ongoing investigation. An old house full of creepy objects that would give anyone nightmares. Rumors of devil worship and black magic fill the pages. Only there is an evil human behind it all. And there's another ghost wanting to destroy the human. The ending was bittersweet. I will miss Bartholomew. His personality and help were a major part of the attraction to this series. I cannot believe the series has finally come to an end...I loved all the protagonists and ghosts alike. Overall, I recommend this suspenseful yet dark read to all.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
February 23, 2014
This book, part of Heather Graham's Bone Island trilogy, is a real pleasure to read. Easy going, yet filled with suspense and history.
Set in Key West and dealing with the history of the island. The story is amazing in such a gentle way and easy way.
The reclusive old gentleman who has lived on the Island his entire life has not been seen around town in quite awhile. This draws the attention of Liam Beckett, the town sheriff. When he goes to see the old man (Cutter Merlin) he finds Cutter dead at his library desk gripping a volume of occult lore and a reliquary with a look of complete surprise and horror on his face and spiders climbing around a web in his mouth.
It's a mystery needing solving and so the O'Haras and Beckettes join together once again to bring a conclusion to the mystery. Easier said than done.
Ms. Graham again doesn't disappoint. There is history, mystery, supernatural happenings and romance all set to be joined together in a good to read book.
Set in Key West and dealing with the history of the island. The story is amazing in such a gentle way and easy way.
The reclusive old gentleman who has lived on the Island his entire life has not been seen around town in quite awhile. This draws the attention of Liam Beckett, the town sheriff. When he goes to see the old man (Cutter Merlin) he finds Cutter dead at his library desk gripping a volume of occult lore and a reliquary with a look of complete surprise and horror on his face and spiders climbing around a web in his mouth.
It's a mystery needing solving and so the O'Haras and Beckettes join together once again to bring a conclusion to the mystery. Easier said than done.
Ms. Graham again doesn't disappoint. There is history, mystery, supernatural happenings and romance all set to be joined together in a good to read book.
July 31, 2013
Heather Graham writes books that are down-right spooky. I keep telling myself I really don't have to read them; HOWEVER, I am always there, ready to read what she's written.
Cutter Merlin hadn't been seen for several weeks, so local cop Liam goes to see about him. He finds the old man dead, and has benn for several weeks. The local coroner tells Liam the old man had the same look on his face that the deceased's daughter had when SHE died, that of being frightened to death Now Liam has to notify Kelsey, Cutter's granddaughter, who left Key West days after her mother's funeral.
Kelsey returns, and it appears that something malevolent is in the house as she searches for Cutter's message to her. And, there is....
Like I said, Graham's books are down-right spooky. But, I will continue reading them because, like others, I like scary stories.
Cutter Merlin hadn't been seen for several weeks, so local cop Liam goes to see about him. He finds the old man dead, and has benn for several weeks. The local coroner tells Liam the old man had the same look on his face that the deceased's daughter had when SHE died, that of being frightened to death Now Liam has to notify Kelsey, Cutter's granddaughter, who left Key West days after her mother's funeral.
Kelsey returns, and it appears that something malevolent is in the house as she searches for Cutter's message to her. And, there is....
Like I said, Graham's books are down-right spooky. But, I will continue reading them because, like others, I like scary stories.
March 2, 2011
The final in the trilogy and a nice wrap up to the story of several friends that have appeared throughout the trilogy.
I was a little disappointed that the previous 'main characters' in the first two books weren't involved a little more in the final book, but the story was still good.
There was still a lot of mystery and romance involved, and a touch of the paranormal sprinkled throughout the story.
I have not had the pleasure of reading the first installment of the trilogy, which is something I hope to remedy! I would recommend this book to anyone that likes action, suspense, romance, action and ghosts.
Ursula Gorman
author of Old Acquaintances
I was a little disappointed that the previous 'main characters' in the first two books weren't involved a little more in the final book, but the story was still good.
There was still a lot of mystery and romance involved, and a touch of the paranormal sprinkled throughout the story.
I have not had the pleasure of reading the first installment of the trilogy, which is something I hope to remedy! I would recommend this book to anyone that likes action, suspense, romance, action and ghosts.
Ursula Gorman
author of Old Acquaintances
October 17, 2011
I was surprised to find out this book was a romance, thinking it was just going to be a good old ghost mystery. But the good news is the "romance" part wasn't too heavy so that was OK. Since it took me 7 weeks to read it, it wasn't a "page turner" by any means. I did keep picking it up and reading because I wanted to find out "who did it". It was easy to read and could easily be read in a couple of days if you put forth any effort. A read on the beach book where it is easy to doze in between chapters. (or in my case, long dozes) "Ghost Moon" is part of the Bone Island Trilogy and it was enjoyable enough for me to read "Ghost Shadow" and "Ghost Night" some day.
February 11, 2014
Well read audio book, sorry I had not read the two previous books. I found it interesting because I have lived near Key West and could relate to the characters. A short audio book worth listening to.
Read
December 23, 2014Miniseries: The Bone Island Trilogy
September 6, 2011
Loved all three books,and I was happy with the way it ended,sad about Bartholomew,but I guess it was what had to happen.Would recommend all three books in this series.
July 29, 2014
I had forgotten what a suspensful writer Heather Gramham is, now I'm going back to past reads and going to download some more.
March 30, 2016
Un tome que j'ai beaucoup aimé encore une fois mais un épilogue triste et assez peu explicatif!
December 12, 2021
One of my favorite Graham novels! I loved the setting, the atmosphere, and it included one of my favorite elements to a romantic suspense: antiquities/curses. Loved loved loved.
August 20, 2025
Esta es la tercera y última entrega de la trilogía Bone Island. En esta ocasión seguimos a Liam Beckett, policía de Cayo Hueso (Key West), que investiga la muerte de Cutter Merlin, excéntrico anciano del pueblo que también es el abuelo de Kelsey Donovan, antiguo crush de Liam.
Este es otro de esos libros que te lees en dos sentadas. Al igual que en las primeras dos entregas, la autora ha mantenido el ritmo ágil, la atmósfera inquietante y la trama interesante.
Con respecto a la trama, debo admitir que esta vez no logré adivinar quién era el culpable, sino que la autora me tuvo sospechando tontamente de todos menos de quien realmente era. Por otro lado, el romance fue tan “insta-love” como en las dos entregas anteriores. Dado que yo no leí esta trilogía por su verosimilitud sino por el misterio, esto no fue algo que me molestase demasiado.
En cuanto a los personajes, Bartholomew continuó siendo mi favorito hasta el final, y me gustó lo que la autora logró con él, aunque me hubiese encantado que le dedicaran un poco más de tiempo en el epílogo. Liam y Kelsey me gustaron como personajes, pero no se convirtieron en mis favoritos, sino que los encontré bastante genéricos. Una cosa que no me gustó fue que Liam no parecía muy bueno para hablar con potenciales sospechosos sin contrariarlos. Siendo policía, esto es un problema. Sin embargo, algo que sí me gustó mucho fue la forma en que Liam interactuaba con Bartholomew, años luz mejor que Sean (hermano de Katie, prota de la segunda novela).
En general, esta es una novela fácil de leer, interesante y llena de momentos de tensión que disfruté mucho. Lo mismo se puede decir de toda la trilogía. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro. Recomendable.
Este es otro de esos libros que te lees en dos sentadas. Al igual que en las primeras dos entregas, la autora ha mantenido el ritmo ágil, la atmósfera inquietante y la trama interesante.
Con respecto a la trama, debo admitir que esta vez no logré adivinar quién era el culpable, sino que la autora me tuvo sospechando tontamente de todos menos de quien realmente era. Por otro lado, el romance fue tan “insta-love” como en las dos entregas anteriores. Dado que yo no leí esta trilogía por su verosimilitud sino por el misterio, esto no fue algo que me molestase demasiado.
En cuanto a los personajes, Bartholomew continuó siendo mi favorito hasta el final, y me gustó lo que la autora logró con él, aunque me hubiese encantado que le dedicaran un poco más de tiempo en el epílogo. Liam y Kelsey me gustaron como personajes, pero no se convirtieron en mis favoritos, sino que los encontré bastante genéricos. Una cosa que no me gustó fue que Liam no parecía muy bueno para hablar con potenciales sospechosos sin contrariarlos. Siendo policía, esto es un problema. Sin embargo, algo que sí me gustó mucho fue la forma en que Liam interactuaba con Bartholomew, años luz mejor que Sean (hermano de Katie, prota de la segunda novela).
En general, esta es una novela fácil de leer, interesante y llena de momentos de tensión que disfruté mucho. Lo mismo se puede decir de toda la trilogía. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro. Recomendable.
November 25, 2019
In this one, a former adventurer who in his later years had become a recluse has died and was found only when accumulated newspapers, etc. were reported. Local police detective Liam Beckett was the one who responded to the call and found him at the somewhat creepy but large and beautiful mansion in which the old gentleman, Cutter Merlin, had lived. The death is first thought to have been "natural causes" but the look of terror on the old man's face led Liam to believe there was more to the story than that. The old man had lived happily with his daughter, son-in-law, and daughter Kelsey until the daughter had died when she fell and broke her neck on the elegant, wide staircase. Kelsey and her father immediately went out to California to make a life there after the death and Kelsey's father had recently died, leaving her the sole heir to the old man's estate and fortune. The helpful and somewhat amusing two hundred year old privateer, Bartholomew, is one of the major characters in this last of the trilogy. This story was well-told and the mystery wasn't too easily solved.
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