The Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters #4)

Sep 03, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: evil, fbi, ghosts, lawyers, murder, mystery, paranormal, romantic-suspense, salem-witch-trials, serial-killers, suspense, salem-ma, halloween

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now… A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for the chief suspect,...more

like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Evil Inside by Heather Graham
4 STARS
The Evil Inside is a 4th in the Krew novels. I have not read any of the ones before, but I have read one after where he sets up another unit. I do feel that I have missed some about how the group worked together previous. But does do well standing on its own. I would like to read them all some day.
The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It has a lot of the Salem Witch trials ref. in it. Even some of their ghosts.
Sam Hall a high price defense attorn...more The Evil Inside by Heather Graham
4 STARS
The Evil Inside is a 4th in the Krew novels. I have not read any of the ones before, but I have read one after where he sets up another unit. I do feel that I have missed some about how the group worked together previous. But does do well standing on its own. I would like to read them all some day.
The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It has a lot of the Salem Witch trials ref. in it. Even some of their ghosts.
Sam Hall a high price defense attorney is coming home to Salem to deal with his family home and almosts runs over a naked boy in the middle of the street covered with blood.
The police when they come put thier guns on the boy who is in shock and tells Sam he just killed his whole family with a ax.
Jenna Duffy is a member of a special team in the FBI when her Uncle Jamie asks her to come visit him on vacation now. On her way into town she hears about the murders that happened in the Lexington House. decades ago other sets of murder happened in that house.
Jenna's Uncle Jamie asked her to come because of other murders that happened last week and six months before that. They were killed by axe too.
Malachi Smith was accused of being seen coming out of the house by other teenage boys. Though a grocery owner swears that the boy was in his store for over an hour at time of first murder too. Now Malachi was under arrest for killing his family.
Malachi was different than most boys. He was skinny and belonged to a church that was strict. When the big football players would try and cause trouble for him he would just turn the cheek. In fact one football player at lunch time took his tray and started to beat himself up and said it was Malachi gave him the eye and made him do it.
Malachi was taken out of school because a lot of people believed the football player. Jamie knew that Malachi was innocent of any of the crimes and wanted jenna to help clear him.
Jenna sometimes see past events happen again she also sees ghosts too. Some of her team comes to visit the sites for halloween. Because the FBI can't investigate unless they are called in.
Jamie also convinces Sam to head Malachi defense probono. Sam also has a private investigator license to help him investigates what happens on his cases and finds the real killers.
So Jenna is just helping Sam with the defense. Sam does not believes that she can talk to ghosts. They grow a lot closer and Sam starts believing more.
are some love scenes in the books. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
08/30/2011 PUB Harlequin Mira Books
http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.c...(less)

like · see review

Sep 14, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Salem Massachusetts has seen it’s share of horror and unfortunately it’s not over, the infamously legendary Lexington House is once again a crime scene of grisly proportions and the only surviving member of the family is also the only suspect, but there’s someone who believes in his innocence and decides to bring in the big guns.
Jenna Duffy has been called by her uncle Jamie to help prove the innocence of a boy accused of a bloody crime spree and her being part of the FBI’s special unit known as...more Salem Massachusetts has seen it’s share of horror and unfortunately it’s not over, the infamously legendary Lexington House is once again a crime scene of grisly proportions and the only surviving member of the family is also the only suspect, but there’s someone who believes in his innocence and decides to bring in the big guns.
Jenna Duffy has been called by her uncle Jamie to help prove the innocence of a boy accused of a bloody crime spree and her being part of the FBI’s special unit known as The Krewe of Hunters she’s used to things that go bump in the night and sometimes use those things to help solve the crime.
Sam Hall has retuned home for a rest after winning a big case and he deserves some R & R, unfortunately there’s no rest for the weary defense attorney because he’s just kissed the Blarney stone known as Jamie O’Neill who’s somehow talked him into not only defending a suspected killer of his family but he’s doing it pro-bono as well as accepting the help of Jamie’s niece Jenna.
The farther Sam and Jenna look into the case the more questions they raise and pretty soon it’s clear that someone wants them quiet, maybe permanently so. Even with all the danger and spectral sightings Sam and Jenna are developing deep feelings for each other and soon it means more than ever to keep each other safe.
Master of the paranormal romance Heather Graham gives us another gripping mystery with more than a touch of the woo woo that makes her famous and for a good reason because who better could make us believe the unbelievable especially in Salem MA at Halloween time. Ms. Graham supplies us with a plot straight out of the Twilight Zone and makes it believable, she does this with incredible characters that fill page after page with details that the reader will use to follow the clues that she lays out like crumbs. She uses a narrative that is clear and precise and easy to read in which she gives us all the details we need to fill in the blanks of her puzzles. Her romance is sweet and sexy and her love scenes are hot as Hades.
If you’re looking for that first spooky read to get you in the mood for All Hallows Eve, you want a contemporary romance that’s filled with history, you want a novel that delves into the paranormal range or you just want a great curl up on the sofa read, pick this one up.
This is part of a series that are loosely connected by characters but in no way need to be read in order, they stand on their own very well.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 14, 2011 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars

Once again, the Krewe is investigating murders that are not what they seem. This time, they are in Salem, just before Halloween to solve a gruesome murder of a family that were killed by an ax. The son, Malachi, was found at night, covered in blood and standing in the middle of the road. He is charged with the murders of his family, but insists that he is innocent. What does this murder have to do with two other murders that took place within the last year around Salem? Both of these victims die...more

like · see review

Jun 16, 2012 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, audiobook, kindlepurchase2011, audible-purchase-2012, 3-5-wine-glasses

Read for Fun/Summer Series Read
Overall Rating: 3.50
Story Rating: 3.25
Character Rating: 3.75

Audio Rating (not part of the overall review): 3.50

First thought when finished: Not as good as the others but still entertaining!

What I Loved: The Team once again brought their A Game! By now they are as much family as friends. They truly treat each other with respect and will go out of their way to help each other. I love that with the exception of one couple that the romances have been outside the team....more

like · see review

Oct 09, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is set in Salem, MA, around Halloween, making it a perfect October read, in my opinion. Jenna Duffy is a member of the Krewe of Hunters, an FBI group made up of people with a little bit different skills- they can see ghosts. Jenna returns home to Salem at the request of her Uncle Jamie, a twee little Irishman, who can spin a good ghost story. He is also respected psychiatrist in the community, and when one of his patients, a teenager named Malachi, is accused of a murder Jamie doesn't...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 10, 2011 Cristy M rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was the first Krewe of Hunters book I'd read. Wasn't a problem to read and follow along since this book really follows one of the Krewe, Jenna, the post-cog on a trip to her hometown of Salem, Mass. where her uncle has called to ask her to help clear the name of an accused murderer, a kid named Malachi that he has developed a relationship with through work as a child psychologist.

Most of the reviews have touched on the main themes and characteristics of this installment. Murders. Mysteries...more

like · see review

Apr 02, 2013 Desiree Streib rated it 5 of 5 stars

I actually really liked this book. Heather Graham does a great job intertwining a modern day murder with the history of Salem, Massachusetts which is an unusual setting in itself. FBI agent Jenna Duffy is part of a unit that specializes in paranormal cases. In this particular case, someone is brutally murdering people with an axe, and Jenna uses her gift to interact with ghosts to help reveal who the real killer is. One of the ghosts happens to be Rebecca Nurse who was famous for being hanged du...more

like · see review

Oct 12, 2011 Brandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, netgalley, nook, paranormal

Heather Graham's newest installment in the Krewe of Hunters still has me hooked! I love the way the series combines elements of both supernatural and ordinary ordinary happenings. She weaves them together so seamlessly.

The Evil Inside delves into the horrific past of Salem, Massachusetts, the famous witch trials and other horrific crimes that took place there. Sam has traveled to his childhood town for a bit of rest and relaxation after successfully winning a hard-fought trial in Boston, but wha...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 26, 2012 Olimpia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book. Not as good as the last one, Sacred Evil. But still intriguing. Loved the history and background in The Evil Inside. This one was set in Salem, Massachusettes. As usual, Heather incorporates a ton of history with in her mysteries. There was a lot of fascinating information about the history of the Salem Witch trials. As in the previous books there a budding romance that builds throughout the story.

I’ve loved Jenna’s character, and her ability to see spirits in the past is such a gre...more

like · see review

Aug 03, 2011 Vivian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Salem, Massachusetts has a rich and strange history. It is a beautiful coastal town that is now best known for its history with the Salem Witch Trials. Centuries ago the mass hysteria led to numerous accusations of witchcraft and many innocents died. Now a series of heinous murders, Lizzie Borden style murders, may lead to the lifelong incarceration of a true innocent. Jenna Duffy, a member of the Krewe of Hunters, is asked by her uncle to come to Salem and investigate and perhaps save Malachi S...more Salem, Massachusetts has a rich and strange history. It is a beautiful coastal town that is now best known for its history with the Salem Witch Trials. Centuries ago the mass hysteria led to numerous accusations of witchcraft and many innocents died. Now a series of heinous murders, Lizzie Borden style murders, may lead to the lifelong incarceration of a true innocent. Jenna Duffy, a member of the Krewe of Hunters, is asked by her uncle to come to Salem and investigate and perhaps save Malachi Smith, the accused murderer. Is there an old evil lurking in Salem or is this just another case of people judging what they don't understand? The Evil Inside by Heather Graham is the fourth in the Krewe of Hunters series and seeks to answer these questions.

Jenna begins to work unofficially with her uncle to investigate these bizarre murders. Is it possible that Malachi may have killed his family, a neighbor and a former school teacher without knowing it? What was his motive? Jenna and Uncle Jamie feel that Malachi may be railroaded because of his family's unconventional religious beliefs (hard to believe that a town can embrace Wicca but have a problem with a fundamentalist Christian faith). Malachi's father wasn't loved or understood and was inordinately strict but, were these grounds for murder? Fortunately Jenna and Uncle Jamie are assisted by a well-known Boston attorney, Samuel Hall. Their investigation starts with the house that was the scene of several historical murders just like the Smith family's murders. What follows isn't really a paranormal thriller than a basic whodunit mystery. As a mystery, The Evil Inside keeps the reader on the edge with the story twists and turns. The initially antagonistic relationship between Jenna and Sam quickly devolves into the expected love-fest. This story doesn't involve as many of the Krewe of Hunters, Jackson, Angela and Will make appearances and play secondary roles in the investigation. Jake makes cameo appearances by phone consultations. The ghost of Rebecca Nurse, the first to die as a result of the Salem Witch Trials, makes periodic appearances as well.

The Evil Inside does a great job of weaving the factual history of the Salem Witch Trials into the fictional story line. The inclusion of the ghost of Rebecca Nurse is a nice touch. As a romantic suspense-thriller, this falls a little short. This may be because it has more focus on the sexual aspects of the relationship and not so much on the romance. But as a suspense thriller it excels, with the thrills and mystery front and center. Ms. Graham has taken fact and fiction and woven them into a great story. The Evil Inside is a great suspense-thriller with paranormal elements and a light romance thrown in . . . a perfect read for the weekend.
(less)

like · see review

Jul 30, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: heathergraham

I have had some Heather Graham books on my to be read list but after reading mixed reviews of her books, I decided to put them on the back burner for awhile. I found this title on Net Galley and was selected to read it and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed Heather's writing style and the fact that it takes place in Salem, MA (I've always loved reading about the Salem Witch Trials) was another bonus. You can tell a ton of research went into this story; I even researched some of the characters an...more I have had some Heather Graham books on my to be read list but after reading mixed reviews of her books, I decided to put them on the back burner for awhile. I found this title on Net Galley and was selected to read it and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed Heather's writing style and the fact that it takes place in Salem, MA (I've always loved reading about the Salem Witch Trials) was another bonus. You can tell a ton of research went into this story; I even researched some of the characters and found the information was the same. The story takes place around Halloween (my favorite holiday!) and you can just picture this New England town full of fall colors and activity.
Jenna Duffy works for the Feds and is part of a special group of investigators known as the Krewe of Hunters, who all have a sort of paranormal specialty. Jenna, who can see ghosts, is called by her Irish uncle Jamie to come visit him but that is pretty much all her tells her. When she arrives he wants her to come visit teenage Malachi who is in jail on suspicion of brutally murdering his parents. Malachi's family lived in the famed Lexington House, which has a long history of murdering inhabitants. Because Malachi and his family were part of a strict church and Malachi's father was greatly disliked by almost everyone, the town's people instantly believe Malachi is guilty. Enter attorney Sam Hall, originally from Salem, is taking a break to come back home to his deceased parents house when he encounters Malachi standing in the road covered in blood and Jenna's uncle Jamie convinces him to represent Malachi, who Jamie firmly believes is innocent. Sam is a cut and dry person, believing only what he can physically see, and doesn't quite believe what Jenna can do. As more characters are introduced, the two of them seem to be hitting every dead end they possibly could. The rest of Jenna's team arrives to help, another murder takes place, and someone is out for Jenna's life.
All through the book, I was trying really hard to figure out the who done it. Of course I won't give it away because I don't like spoilers, but it took me until almost the end to really narrow it down. I enjoyed most of the characters, there were a couple that I felt were just page fillers but being as this is the fourth installment in this series, and from the book descriptions, they have more of a role in the first three. Along with a bit of a creepy factor, mystery, murder, suspense,and a supposed haunted house, there is also romance as Jenna and Sam realize they have feelings for each other. Which also makes me interested to see how much of a role Sam will play in the next book, as the other books seem to take place in New Orleans and New York. You get a bit of everything in this read for sure and also makes for a great stand alone read. (less)

like · see review

Jul 02, 2011 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ghosts, net-galley, thriller, massachusetts

Goodreads Summary:

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now…
A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for th...more Goodreads Summary:

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now…
A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for the chief suspect, a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.
With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hill to pinpoint who – or what – is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

My Review

This was actually a pretty creepy read! It's a total whodunit though and a mass-market paperback thriller. If you don't like that type of thing, then don't bother reading, BUT I actually really enjoy most of Heather Graham's books because I enjoy her settings. She often writes about New Orleans and the Florida Keys. This time the setting was Salem, Massachusetts during the Halloween season. Pretty cool. They had fortune tellers and Wiccans and people dressed up in costumes. It just created a really great atmosphere.

Let's be honest though. No one reads Heather Graham thinking they are going to read a Booker or Pulitzer prize nominee. This book was decent and fun and a whole lot cliche. But it is totally a guilty pleasure of mine. Every now and then you have to read a book like this that's not so serious and just a whole lot of fun.

The one thing I can say though was that the villain was a little hard to pick out of a line-up. There were a lot of possibilities, but none that I was totally sure of. Most of the time I take a guess and I end up being right, but not this time. That I enjoyed very much.

I liked the characters, but I didn't love them. And I have to tell you, this is the first book in this series I have read. So it's possible that I missed some of the back story and character development from the earlier books. I do plan to read them though, at some point.

The Evil Inside was a fun and fast read, and if you haven't read a Heather Graham novel before, I suggest you give one a chance if you are looking for the perfect guilty pleasure beach read. It makes a great fall read too. (less)

like · see review

Dec 05, 2011 Stefani rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paperback, swapped

Overall I am not quite sure how best to summarize this book. I was going to put together a quirky little paragraph about the plot and characters and leave it on a cliffhanger that makes you want to pick this up tomorrow, but then I realized I just didn't love it enough to do that! I wanted to, because I have heard such wonderful things about Heather Graham. This was a decent book, a good introduction to the author, and entertaining enough to keep me reading. But that was about where the greatnes...more

like · see review

Nov 15, 2011 Kari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, 2011

The Evil Inside is the 4th book in the series. I enjoyed this one as much as the rest of them. The mystery was interesting as it took place in Salem, MA. I have been there several times, especially during the Halloween season, so it was easy to immerse myself in the setting. This time around, the story centers on the Salem witch trials as well a house that has a history of brutal murder. A young boy stand accused of killing his family. Did he do it? You have to read to find out.

I had a hard time...more

like · see review

Jul 30, 2011 Lisarenee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Notes: I read the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book. Contains murder in a horrific manner.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

In the historical town of Salem a horrific murder has been committed. The prime suspect is a teenage boy found running around naked in the streets covered in blood. His family being the ones murdered. Most believe it to be an open and shut case. Not everyone in the small town, however, believes Malachai Smith did it. Is...more

like · see review

Jul 03, 2011 Chibineko rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, murder, netgalley, paranormal-romance, harlequin, mira

I was initially apprehensive about reading this book. After all, some of the previous books in this series weren't really as good as some of Graham's previous works. I decided to give this a read & ultimately I'm rather glad I did.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I really enjoyed reading this book. From the very first page I was hooked. The suspense in this was well done for the most part & unlike some of the previous books, I couldn't instantly discover who the true killer w...more I was initially apprehensive about reading this book. After all, some of the previous books in this series weren't really as good as some of Graham's previous works. I decided to give this a read & ultimately I'm rather glad I did.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I really enjoyed reading this book. From the very first page I was hooked. The suspense in this was well done for the most part & unlike some of the previous books, I couldn't instantly discover who the true killer was. The romance in this was also pleasant, albeit a little too overly similarly plotted to the romances in the previous books. I'd like to see a romance in this series (there's still one more character to match up) where the love interest didn't instantly go the skeptical route or have that be a big focus of the match up. It just gets a little overly tread after a while. Even with this handicap our main characters are still well matched. Their romance isn't "set the pages on fire" hot, but it is sweet.

One of the strongest points in the book was the book's atmosphere, which was helped along by Graham setting the story in Salem, Massachusetts. The name alone gives the reader a certain mental image, which helps out greatly in this book. It also doesn't hurt that Graham decided to bring in the idea of witch hunting, comparing the hunts of the past to those of the present. It was a bold but smart move by Graham.

It's not a completely flawless book, however. At times I really couldn't help but wish that Graham had fleshed out some of the characters more, especially our whodunit. The whodunit wasn't an outrageous surprise but a little more development would have made the finish really stand out. I sort of blame this on the fact that this book was part of a series. It was only when the KoH had to be involved that the book started somewhat unraveling & I feel like if our two heroes had to do more of the footwork themselves (rather than relying on people who could quickly do it offscreen) the book would have been a little more tightly woven. This would have been an excellent standalone novel.

I'd still highly recommend this as a last minute vacation or "yay, the kids are back in school" read. Despite a few stumbles, this was a lot of fun to read & I would recommend it even if you haven't read or been all that entranced by the previous books. I'd go as far as to say that this is easily the best book of the series so far.

3.4/5

(ARC provided by Netgalley)(less)

like · see review

Jan 15, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think this was my first Heather Graham novel, and it was truly uninspiring. The book suffered from lack of an editor--sentences that were missing words and key phrases that were repeated several times per paragraph or page (with the end effect that all of the characters sounded alike). It was an absorbing and rollicking plot, I'll give her that. The romance seemed pinned on but it was fairly interesting, too, though just as rushed as in most of these books--from "He's a jerk" to "I think I wan...more

like · see review

Nov 19, 2011 Kimba (Caffeinated Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Evil Inside is the fourth novel in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. All of the books in this series involve a special forensic unit of the FBI, which deals unofficially with the paranormal. If you enjoy paranormal romances steeped in mystery you are sure to love this series. All of the tales can be read as a standalone. Graham gives enough background to bring the reader up to speed, and each novel deals with one agent and their romance.

The Evil Inside focusing on Jenna Duffy, a reg...more Evil Inside is the fourth novel in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham. All of the books in this series involve a special forensic unit of the FBI, which deals unofficially with the paranormal. If you enjoy paranormal romances steeped in mystery you are sure to love this series. All of the tales can be read as a standalone. Graham gives enough background to bring the reader up to speed, and each novel deals with one agent and their romance.

The Evil Inside focusing on Jenna Duffy, a registered RN turned FBI agent, who can see ghosts and events from the past. The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts and deals with a murder at the old Lexington House. Samuel Hall is a defense attorney headed to his old family homestead when he comes across a young man standing in the middle of the road;naked and covered in blood. He is charged with the brutal murder of his parents and grandmother. Jenna's Uncle lives in Salem and ask her to come and unofficially help the boy. She meets him at a pub, where he states the boy is innocent and that more help is coming. Sam Hall enters the pub, and its apparent Jenna's Uncle has planned this meeting. He tries to convince Sam and Jenna that they must help the young man. He arranges for them to speak with the boy.

Sam decides to defend the young man and together with Jenna and her Uncle they begin to investigate the murders. Jenna's team shows up and offers their unofficial assistance. The plot was filled with lots of twists, suspects and danger. While I did eventually piece together the suspect before it was revealed, I enjoyed the ride. The romance between Jenna and Sam was sweet, hot and complimented the story. Graham has a great ability to deliver a romance that is hot and sexy without too much detail.

The Evil Inside was a fast paced paranormal murder mystery, filled with suspense, danger and just the right amount of romance. I found myself completely immersed in this tale, and loved all the background on the Salem Witch trials. The town’s diverse citizens and characters made it the perfect backdrop for this case.

I highly recommend this book to fans of romance, mystery, the Salem Witch trials and paranormal elements. Heather Graham is one of my favorite authors and I encourage you to check out some of her other series such as; the Flynn Brothers series, Bone Island Trilogy and the Harrison Investigation series.
(less)

like · see review

May 14, 2013 Mike S rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've read a couple of Heather Graham's books that focus on Salem and they both have drawn me in wholeheartedly. The way the author describes the city, the people and the time of year that the book's set in, it makes you want to plan a vacation there and experience it yourself. The mystery, twist and turns the story takes as you read it are what keep you enthralled. There were a couple of times I figured out who had done it and then another twist happened and I was partially wrong, I like that in...more

like · see review

Oct 07, 2011 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

I am not one to be overly critical on writing, because I by far am not the best at writing. However, you come to expect that professional written and published works have been properly editted. I found way too many mispelled words, duplicate words, word omitted, improper punctuation or lack thereof for my liking. No character development for the few main characters there were, but I shouldn't expect much from a less than 250 page book. The motive for the killing when the killers were identified...more

like · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Jenn of Frequent Reader, Infrequent Blogger rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-written

RECEIVED FROM: Net Galley for Review

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

When a Salem psychologist’s young patient is accused of slaughtering his entire family, with the whole town certain of his guilt even though the psychologist believes the boy is innocent, Jamie O’Neil calls in help. First he enlists the aid of his niece Jenna Duffy, a special division FBI agent in the Krewe of Hunters, and then he enlists Salem born high powered attorney Samuel Anthony Hall to defend the boy pro bono...more RECEIVED FROM: Net Galley for Review

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

When a Salem psychologist’s young patient is accused of slaughtering his entire family, with the whole town certain of his guilt even though the psychologist believes the boy is innocent, Jamie O’Neil calls in help. First he enlists the aid of his niece Jenna Duffy, a special division FBI agent in the Krewe of Hunters, and then he enlists Salem born high powered attorney Samuel Anthony Hall to defend the boy pro bono. Sam doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into, all the evidence points to Malachai and he certainly doesn’t expect any help from Jenna with her ghost mumbo jumbo – FBI or not. Jenna knows Sam doesn’t believe her or even respect her. She’s used to that sort of reception no matter how many times she and the Krewe have proven their gifts instrumental in solving dangerous cases. In Jenna’s eyes the stuffy attorney is just looking for more press and doesn’t care who’s really guilty, but her Uncle Jamie asked for her help and after meeting Malachai she knows he’s innocent. Multiple people have been slaughtered by a brutal killer and despite popular opinion the wrong person is behind bars. But can Jenna and Sam get past their differences and work as a team? Regardless Salem’s residents don’t like their snooping and with a killer still at large will they be the next target?

Once again Heather Graham shows why she remains on the Best Sellers list with this fast paced paranormal romance mystery. (Yeah I’m not completely sure that’s a genre but it’s a good description.) The plot was extremely detailed, intricate and I’m sure for most readers surprising until the very end. About the only thing you know for certain, since this is a romance, is that at some point Jenna and Sam will hook up. Of course you know that with any romance you open. I did guess some of who did it within a few chapters, but I will say the full answered surprised me. It makes sense when they explain it and you can look back and see the minor bits of foreshadowing here and there, but it wasn’t one of those mysteries that isn’t a mystery in any way, you really were on the edge of your seat awaiting what really happened. One of the things I really loved about this plot is the way it’s basically a modern day version of a Salem Witch trial, everyone is sure Malachai did it because he’s different and his family was different. I probably wouldn’t have seen this comparison on my own to be honest, but the writer brings this to light many times in the book and the characters also make the comparison. While you get the enjoyment of a wonderful mystery the book is also filled with interesting facts about the historical Salem witch trials which I really enjoyed. About the only thing I didn’t like was the initial hook up between the characters. While I knew they would end up together in the long run, I didn’t see their first overnight visit together coming. The scenes before that one were missing those sparky moments where they notice and deny their attraction, while the characters apparently saw it I didn’t feel it was appropriately displayed to the reader.

The book is a well written third person with a fast pace that makes it difficult to put down. The details in this novel were excellent, clearly creating the scene without being excessive in her descriptions. While the book is in my opinion first and foremost a murder mystery, I loved how Graham brought in ghosts through dreams and cryptic encounters. While I wouldn’t call them full blown characters as most were just cameo appearances, it was neat how she brought across the idea that some ghosts from the past stay to prevent history from repeating itself. Jenna’s ability to see scenes from the past also contributed some extremely interesting scenes. While the romance was there and it would be safely shelved with romance due to many people’s strange aversion to the genre, I felt it was a secondary plot line rather than the primary one. And I like how she managed to write a romance without making it the focus of her work.

Though this book is part of a series it works fine as a standalone novel. It’s actually my first Krewe series novel but I didn’t face any confusion due to missing back story while reading this novel. I’m sure the series fits together nicely if read in order, however you can easily pick up this book without having read the series and know what’s going on.

Jenna and Sam were truly likeable and memorable characters, especially Jenna. I really enjoyed their story and loved how Graham still managed to flesh out the secondary characters as well. I could picture pretty much every character clearly in my mind as if they were someone I could easily run into on a random street.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy suspense mysteries, paranormal and romance novels. I know this is one of my shorter reviews, however I feel the rating and details I’ve given are enough to speak for themselves about how great the book was. (less)

like · see review

Jul 27, 2011 Wendy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters #4) by Heather Graham was an “on the edge of your seat” thriller. On his way back to his hometown of Salem Massachusetts, Attorney Sam Hill sees a young boy run into the street covered in blood and clearly in shock. He calls his longtime friend and sheriff John Alden to the scene. Come to find out, the boy is Malachi Smith who lives in Lexington House. Lexington House has been a legend in Salem where many have been murdered since the 1600’s. Unfortunately, this...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Debbie Heaton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Heather Graham's paranormal romantic suspense novel, Jenna Duffy, a member of the nation's foremost paranormal forensic team, has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. But nothing could have ever prepared her for the slayings that plagued Lexington House or for the chief suspect--a teenage boy. Teaming both professionally and romantically with attorney Samuel Hall, they work to pinpoint the who or what that is taking lives around them. Once again, Graham illustrates why she sit...more

like · see review

Sep 25, 2011 Sherry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books

Lexington House has stood for many generations sitting atop a rugged coastline, murder and even insanity is a part of its history, but that was in the past…or is it?

With 2 murders committed in the last 6 months and now a family is found hacked to death, with the young son the only survivor and the whole town convinced that he is guilty of this wave of brutality.

Attorney Samuel Hall must partner up with Jenna Duffy, FBI Special Unit Agent to find out if the young man is indeed delusional and dan...more

like · see review

Oct 26, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: best-paranormal-fiction, fun-fluffy-reads

A seriously haunted house with a tragic history in a small New England town once again is the scene of a mass murder. Are ghosts to blame, or is a much more human cause responsible?

When Sam Hall is driving into town late one night to check up on his family home, inherited on his parents deaths he almost runs over a boy standing in the middle of the road. When he stops, he realizes the boy is naked and covered in blood. Soon, the boy, Malachi Smith, is charged with the grisly ax-murders of his en...more

like · see review

Nov 12, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fbi-agents, ghosts, paranormal-mystery

The Evil Inside
3 Stars

After enjoying the previous book, Sacred Evil, I had hopes for the series but unfortunately Graham has regressed and The Evil Inside continues in the same mediocre vein as the first two installments.

The book is in serious need of editing as the numerous grammatical and spelling errors, and repeated sentence structures detract from the overall reading experience.

The historical background on Salem and the Witch Trials is fascinating but too much emphasis is placed on politi...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Marcela (BookaholicCat) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Evil Inside is book four in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham.

Attorney Samuel Hall is returning to his native Salem, Massachusetts for a well deserved short vacation after an exhausting case. Late at night Sam is on his way to his Salem’s home when he encounters a young boy covered in blood in the middle of the road. He stops to assists him and calls the authorities. When the police arrive they identified the boy as Malachi Smith. Malachi is arrested on the scene and charged with...more The Evil Inside is book four in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham.

Attorney Samuel Hall is returning to his native Salem, Massachusetts for a well deserved short vacation after an exhausting case. Late at night Sam is on his way to his Salem’s home when he encounters a young boy covered in blood in the middle of the road. He stops to assists him and calls the authorities. When the police arrive they identified the boy as Malachi Smith. Malachi is arrested on the scene and charged with the murders of his family. Sam knows the evidence implicates Malachi but something in his gut tells him the boy is innocent.
Jenna Duffy is a member of a special FBI team known as the Krewe of hunters. They specialize in paranormal cases, Jenna specialty or ability is call post-cognition, it means she can talk to ghosts and in certain cases she can see what happened in the past when she is present in a room, almost like a residual reading.
When Jenna receives a call from Jamie, requesting her help with Malachi’s case, Jenna cannot say no to her favorite uncle and accepts to help him. Jamie is Malachi’s psychologist, he knows Malachi better than anyone and he is certain Malachi is innocent. Jamie also contacts Sam requesting his help as a lawyer. After some consideration Sam accepts to represent Malachi as his attorney pro-bono.
To be able to find out the truth about the murders Jenna and Sam need to work together, as a team, but there is a problem, Sam is a non-believer and kind of mocks Jenna’s “gift” and Jenna thinks Sam is a pompous man, and to add to this there is a unequivocal attraction between this two, as they say, opposites attracts.

Jenna is a very likeable character; she knows her gift is not a normal one and not everybody is going to accept it but she is ok with that, she has come a long way accepting it herself and now she uses to help others with the collaboration of her FBI team.

Sam is smart, cute and interesting. He comes as a non-believer but he is also not completely close to otherness. At the same time Sam is discovering himself, he thinks he is happy and has everything he wants in life but slowly he starts to question himself what is what he really wants to do with and in his life.

As with all romance novels we know our heroine and hero are going to end together, the question is how are they going to get to that point. In Sam and Jenna's case they are attracted from the beginning and the more they know each other the more the attraction grows and the more they start to care for each other.

The secondary characters are all interesting and diverse, from Jenna’s uncle Jamie to the Wicca members, from the mayor to the members of Malachi’s family conservative church. Some of the members of Jenna’s FBI team or Krewe Hunters are also present, it’s obvious there is a back-story with some of them but this didn’t affect or detract my enjoyment of The Evil Inside. It just made me want to pick up their books.

What I like the most about The Evil Inside was the setting. I have always wanted to visit Salem MA. and have been very intrigue about the Salem witchcraft trials. They author not only does an amazing job describing the city of Salem but intermingles perfectly the historical facts about the witchcraft hunts with the story, to complete this, the events happens during Halloween. I don’t know of a more perfect setting for a mystery than this one.

If you love mystery, suspense, ghosts and a well-written story with a touch of history The Evil Inside is the book for you. The Evil Inside is a fast pace thriller, with some twists in the story that will surprise you and will have you on the edge of your seat.
The Evil Inside was my first novel by Heather Graham but I can guarantee you it won’t be my last.(less)

like · see review

Nov 13, 2011 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

"The scariest unknown in the world is the human mind."~ Jenna, from The Evil Inside

I enjoy this series and the biggest draw in each book, aside from the ghostly elements, is the case being investigated. Right from the start I was absorbed with the details of this mass murder because the haunting of Lexington House reminded me of Amityville, and the axe murders were reminded me of Lizzy Borden. I never really figured that it would be the obvious choice, it never is with the Krewe, but I was shock...more "The scariest unknown in the world is the human mind."~ Jenna, from The Evil Inside

I enjoy this series and the biggest draw in each book, aside from the ghostly elements, is the case being investigated. Right from the start I was absorbed with the details of this mass murder because the haunting of Lexington House reminded me of Amityville, and the axe murders were reminded me of Lizzy Borden. I never really figured that it would be the obvious choice, it never is with the Krewe, but I was shocked at how events played out. Yes, I managed to figure out some of the big shockers, a bonus for me, but others remained a surprise. And you won't read any spoilers here...not my style.

I want to say that Sam and Jenna are a cool couple, but the word cool doesn't do them justice at all. They fit so well, like a matched set, and they make a great team. I liked them a lot. Jenna is smart and capable, no damsel in distress, and she takes pride in her ability and her position with the Krewe. Sam is noble and kind, buried in work and searching for himself. The attraction was immediate but as with most of Graham's novels the romance builds and develops slowly. I like that too. They share a mutual attraction but neither act on it until it means more than just a romp in the bedroom, and when they do finally make it to the bedroom...it wouldn't use the word cool anymore.

The setting of Salem was the perfect avenue for a ghost story, plenty of local history to add in, and the witch trials even make an appearance. The town was explained with a fine attention to detail, very expressive, and I especially thought the discussions about Wicca and acceptance were well done. It's another decent addition to the series, you can read it as a stand alone or in order, the choice is up to you. Characters do make their way from book to book with what I'd call a supporting role, but each person is given a small backstory so the reader is able to easily keep up. I recommend this series for anyone that enjoys suspense, mystery, romance and paranormal elements.

(less)

like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Evil Inside is the fourth book in the Krewe of Hunters series and this one had something quite a bit different going on in that The Evil Inside doesn’t have all of the Krewe of Hunters present in the book. For the first half of the book it was just Jenna and then for the second half only some of the Krewe of Hunters were present. It was definitely quite different and I really enjoyed it.
I liked Jenna, I think she’s one of my favourites in the Krewe of Hunters series and I really liked learni...more

like · see review

title link	preview: The Evil Inside
avg rating	preview: The Evil Inside Goodreads rating: 3.94 (1094 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10477597-the-evil-inside?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348550953l/10477597.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10477597-the-evil-inside?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Evil Inside by Heather Graham[/url]

The Evil Inside (Krewe of Hunters #4)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (14)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Heather Graham

Books by Heather Graham

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Evil Inside

Quotes from The Evil Inside