From the dark depths of Hollywood’s past
The crime scene is horrific: the corpse of a young actress drained of blood and cut in two. LAPD Detective Sophie Manning’s new case is high-profile and difficult—there’s no evidence to work with. And it’s a disturbing echo of the infamous Black Dahlia killing. Sophie is burning the candle at both ends, desperate to catch the murderer before he strikes again when she starts to experience inexplicable visits…from ghosts.
Bruce McFadden has a particular talent that can help Sophie—he can speak with the dead. As a consultant for the FBI’s paranormal team, the Krewe of Hunters, he’s been tasked with Sophie’s case and they’re forced to partner up. But Sophie doesn’t want his help, and she doesn’t want to share his peculiar skill. And she certainly isn’t ready for love, despite Bruce’s attentions.
As the killer taunts the police, Sophie and Bruce will discover that the threat is closer to home than they’d ever realized. Working side by side is the only way they’ll stop this deadly sequel.
Pale as Death is the 25th title in the ongoing Krewe of Hunters series. It is the second story of a trilogy within the Krewe of Hunters featuring the McFadden brothers. The titles within the trilogy include — Fade to Black – Pale as Death – Echoes of Evil.
Title: Pale as Death
Series: Krewe of Hunters #25 (McFadden Brothers Trilogy #2)
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Published: August 1, 2018
Publisher: MIRA
My Rating: 4.5 stars
PALE AS DEATH starts off with an intensity that never lets up until the final page. We met Sophie in FADE TO BLACK, and while she was a strong secondary character there she certainly comes into her own in this one – and we had no real clue then that she could also speak to the dead, even if she didn’t want to believe that fact.
As with any of the Krewe of Hunters stories, I always enjoy when we get to visit and catch up with old book friends from previous stories and running into Jackson Crew again was perfect. That is one aspect of Heather Graham’s ongoing series, I never know who I’ll run into again and that adds continuity to the series that I enjoy.
Anytime there is a mystery to be solved I’m very careful about what I say in a review for I feel that should be discovered by each reader firsthand. So what I am comfortable saying is PALE AS DEATH had me guessing from start to finish. Oh, I had my suspicions but, as always, there are red herrings tossed about, so many possible villains but I was kept guessing right until the end. And… I was wrong. Actually, I love when that happens for it’s a sign of a really good storyteller, in my opinion.
Sophie and Bruce make a unique couple. Stubborn, prickly at times, Sophie doesn’t want to see ghosts but she reluctantly begins to accept her unusual talent. Bruce is rock steady as an investigator, he’s well accustomed to ghosts helping along the way of a murder mystery. They might have started out battling each other in some ways, but the attraction, that sizzle was there between them from the start. We get a romance beginning as they search for the killer, one that grows deeper over the course of the investigation. I never get a sense of insta-anything with Ms. Graham’s couples, more a quick realization in the midst of danger that this is the one person who gets them, who they are comfortable with no matter the situation. I liked both Sophie and Bruce together as well as individually.
PALE AS DEATH is a solid paranormal mystery that is intense, frightening in many ways because there is always the sense that yes, there are these types of crazy, evil people outside of books as well. The action is fast-paced, the mystery not really easy to solve, and the characters are all realistic and believable. I had a blast and would not hesitate to recommend this story or any of the Krewe of Hunters stories to any reader who loves a mystery with a touch of paranormal along with a good romance.
I own a Kindle edition of Pale as Death.
Available in a variety of formats including the Kindle
