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The Blackbird Files #1
Death Behind Every Door
In the shadows of a Scottish castle, something deadly is lurking in every corner…
When FBI special agent Luke Kendrick discovers chilling evidence of dozens of victims at a crime scene in London, he recognizes the calling card of the notorious H.H. Holmes Society. Named for the nineteenth-century monster regarded as America’s first serial killer, the society is comprised of a twisted web of killers, working to carry out heinous murders in Holmes’s memory. And now the group’s been linked to a Scottish castle turned B and B—where guests check in but never check out.
Arriving at the sinister Graystone Castle posed as a tourist, Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald, and the pair is immediately confronted by dangers hidden in the castle’s depths. With guests disappearing and a network of killers closing in, Luke and Carly have only each other to rely on—and they’ll have to race to cut off the head of the snake before the blood trail of the past can culminate in a very real and deadly present.
When FBI special agent Luke Kendrick discovers chilling evidence of dozens of victims at a crime scene in London, he recognizes the calling card of the notorious H.H. Holmes Society. Named for the nineteenth-century monster regarded as America’s first serial killer, the society is comprised of a twisted web of killers, working to carry out heinous murders in Holmes’s memory. And now the group’s been linked to a Scottish castle turned B and B—where guests check in but never check out.
Arriving at the sinister Graystone Castle posed as a tourist, Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald, and the pair is immediately confronted by dangers hidden in the castle’s depths. With guests disappearing and a network of killers closing in, Luke and Carly have only each other to rely on—and they’ll have to race to cut off the head of the snake before the blood trail of the past can culminate in a very real and deadly present.
331 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2024
1026 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,912 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 237 reviews
August 13, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable, intelligent, strong and capable female protagonist, an engaging male protagonist, intrigue, murder, mystery, romance, twists and turns, paranormal elements, and a satisfying conclusion. This is the first entry in Ms. Graham's Blackbird Files series, and her loyal readers will appreciate the appearance of characters from her Krewe of Hunters series. I am looking forward to reading the next entry in this series with great anticipation. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Mr. Roger Wayne, has a captivating voice and does an outstanding job voicing the characters
July 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Audible 🎧
This trilogy is a spinoff of Ms. Graham’s Krewe of Hunters Series.
In this series the crimes take place overseas, Scotland in this book. The American detectives are sent to investigate a series of crimes and murders that mimic that of H.H Holmes. The head of “H.H. Holmes Society” grooms his followers to swindle and kill travelers who he feels won’t be missed. The story also has a paranormal aspect to it, with the investigators getting help from a few ghosts.
A 3.5 read that I rounded up to four stars, because this was almost a five star read. Almost. Unfortunately a lot of the history of H.H. Holmes and of Scotland was repeated enough times that it got annoying. Other than that one flaw the book was very good. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries based on real life events then you will enjoy this book!
This trilogy is a spinoff of Ms. Graham’s Krewe of Hunters Series.
In this series the crimes take place overseas, Scotland in this book. The American detectives are sent to investigate a series of crimes and murders that mimic that of H.H Holmes. The head of “H.H. Holmes Society” grooms his followers to swindle and kill travelers who he feels won’t be missed. The story also has a paranormal aspect to it, with the investigators getting help from a few ghosts.
A 3.5 read that I rounded up to four stars, because this was almost a five star read. Almost. Unfortunately a lot of the history of H.H. Holmes and of Scotland was repeated enough times that it got annoying. Other than that one flaw the book was very good. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries based on real life events then you will enjoy this book!
April 30, 2024
I read my first books, The Bone Island Trilogy, by Heather Graham not that long ago and loved them. I've yet to read any of the Krewe of Hunters Series books, from which this series is a spin-off of. The dialogue in "Death Behind Every Door" is stilted, and the characters are stiff and one-dimensional. The history this book is based on was fascinating, but very overused. The plot moved quickly from one location and scene to another not allowing for any build up and little resolution before moving on to the next place. Losey transitioning and very choppy. And, lose all the exclamation (!) points. It was so annoying!
The FBI has a special unit, the Krewe of Hunters, which is made up of agents with "unique" abilities. Special Agent Luke Kendrick is a part of this unit and was the original agent who uncovered the infamous H. H. Holmes Society, based on an infamous 1800's seral killer, in the US. Now the Society has moved across the pond and set up Murder Castles in Europe. Luke is determined to track down the person behind the Society and end their murderous spree once and for all. The group has been linked to a medieval Scottish castle that has been turned into a Bed and Breakfast that several tourists have disappeared from.
Graystone Castle is steeped in history and is a wonderful façade which hides a sinister purpose. FBI Special Agent Carly MacDonald is on her first Krewe Hunters assignment and will be posing with Luke as a couple. When they check in, Carly checks in she has a distinctive vibe from the owner, and it isn't a good one. She and Luke must work together, and they do, very, very well. But routing the evil from Graystone Castle isn't their primary mission, they need to track and uncover the evil genius behind the H. H. Holmes Society and deal with them.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
The FBI has a special unit, the Krewe of Hunters, which is made up of agents with "unique" abilities. Special Agent Luke Kendrick is a part of this unit and was the original agent who uncovered the infamous H. H. Holmes Society, based on an infamous 1800's seral killer, in the US. Now the Society has moved across the pond and set up Murder Castles in Europe. Luke is determined to track down the person behind the Society and end their murderous spree once and for all. The group has been linked to a medieval Scottish castle that has been turned into a Bed and Breakfast that several tourists have disappeared from.
Graystone Castle is steeped in history and is a wonderful façade which hides a sinister purpose. FBI Special Agent Carly MacDonald is on her first Krewe Hunters assignment and will be posing with Luke as a couple. When they check in, Carly checks in she has a distinctive vibe from the owner, and it isn't a good one. She and Luke must work together, and they do, very, very well. But routing the evil from Graystone Castle isn't their primary mission, they need to track and uncover the evil genius behind the H. H. Holmes Society and deal with them.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
July 29, 2024
Death Behind Every Door by Heather Graham
The Blackbird Files seres #1. Spin off of the prior Blackbird series, Harrison Investigations and Krewe of Hunters. Mystery, romantic thriller.
FBI Special Agent Luke Kendrick find evidence of a secret killing society modeled after the notorious H.H. Holmes. He travels to the Scottish castle turned B and B where it seems guests check in, but never check out. Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald and they pose as tourists to try to catch the killers. As they search for hidden passages and stairs down to the dungeon, another group of killers pop up on their radar, and then a third. They need to survive before they can help the other victims.
Fast moving seek, find, rescue, kill, then repeat as the secret society grows. Luke and Carly try to stay ahead but the killers have the advantage of knowing Scotland and where the hidden dungeons can be found. There is a slight paranormal help from a ghost which made me think that the evil they are searching for can travel from person to person to person. Maybe that was just my reading more into the society. Glad they were find the gruesome torturers and saving the innocents.
There was no downtime between sites and little time for the romance either. Clearly the author knew a lot of this history but they moved so fast from location to killing, to location that it seemed we missed some closure or case analysis or simple character connection and caring.
I’ve read a lot by this author. This one wasn’t my favorite. I’m going back to the Krewe and Finnegan’s Pub.
The Blackbird Files seres #1. Spin off of the prior Blackbird series, Harrison Investigations and Krewe of Hunters. Mystery, romantic thriller.
FBI Special Agent Luke Kendrick find evidence of a secret killing society modeled after the notorious H.H. Holmes. He travels to the Scottish castle turned B and B where it seems guests check in, but never check out. Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald and they pose as tourists to try to catch the killers. As they search for hidden passages and stairs down to the dungeon, another group of killers pop up on their radar, and then a third. They need to survive before they can help the other victims.
Fast moving seek, find, rescue, kill, then repeat as the secret society grows. Luke and Carly try to stay ahead but the killers have the advantage of knowing Scotland and where the hidden dungeons can be found. There is a slight paranormal help from a ghost which made me think that the evil they are searching for can travel from person to person to person. Maybe that was just my reading more into the society. Glad they were find the gruesome torturers and saving the innocents.
There was no downtime between sites and little time for the romance either. Clearly the author knew a lot of this history but they moved so fast from location to killing, to location that it seemed we missed some closure or case analysis or simple character connection and caring.
I’ve read a lot by this author. This one wasn’t my favorite. I’m going back to the Krewe and Finnegan’s Pub.
August 21, 2024
“Death behind every door” focuses on the inspiration from “America’s first serial killer” (also with references to the same individual being connected to UKs notorious “Jack the ripper).
In present day there is a secret society spread across the globe who are using the inspiration of Herman Mudgett (aka H. H. Holmes) murder dungeon methods and set up.
It is unknown just how many members are involved in this society, and how many missing persons are actually previous victims.
What we do know are field agents Luke and Carly are teamed up as new partners and sent from the USA to Scotland to locate and apprehend members who are actively killing in the hopes of gathering intel that will allow to crime team to take down the society as a whole.
I really enjoyed the chemistry and newly formed relationship between the two agents. Although they were both used to working alone they quickly fell in step with one another and seemed to care about each other in earnest. I loved watching their bond grow with their witty banter and looking out for each others safety, also the cute chemistry between the two of them was wholesome! I definitely am a fan of their potential love match and hope their relationship develops over the series.
I loved the whole plot breathing life to historical serial killers as well as the present modern day secret society aspect. Serial killers all over the world in secret communications as they enact heinous crimes definitely sends a shiver down the spine, but makes for an entertaining read.
I enjoyed the fast pacing and the friendly dialogue between international and local police enforcement, as well as watching the investigations and undercover work taking place.
I look forward to the next instalments in this series!
Thank you to Heather Graham, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date; May 21st
In present day there is a secret society spread across the globe who are using the inspiration of Herman Mudgett (aka H. H. Holmes) murder dungeon methods and set up.
It is unknown just how many members are involved in this society, and how many missing persons are actually previous victims.
What we do know are field agents Luke and Carly are teamed up as new partners and sent from the USA to Scotland to locate and apprehend members who are actively killing in the hopes of gathering intel that will allow to crime team to take down the society as a whole.
I really enjoyed the chemistry and newly formed relationship between the two agents. Although they were both used to working alone they quickly fell in step with one another and seemed to care about each other in earnest. I loved watching their bond grow with their witty banter and looking out for each others safety, also the cute chemistry between the two of them was wholesome! I definitely am a fan of their potential love match and hope their relationship develops over the series.
I loved the whole plot breathing life to historical serial killers as well as the present modern day secret society aspect. Serial killers all over the world in secret communications as they enact heinous crimes definitely sends a shiver down the spine, but makes for an entertaining read.
I enjoyed the fast pacing and the friendly dialogue between international and local police enforcement, as well as watching the investigations and undercover work taking place.
I look forward to the next instalments in this series!
Thank you to Heather Graham, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date; May 21st
September 30, 2024
Interesting premise and setting however I didn’t care for the execution of the story. Too many characters.
April 14, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this earc
Sadly, this one wasn’t great. I’ve read a few Krewe of Hunters books so I thought this one would be just as good. But there were just too many things I couldn’t overlook.
One, even if a series is a spin off, author can never assume that the reader read other book. Especially when this technically is a first book in a series. We’re thrown in the middle of the scene without any explanation.
The first 40% of the book was all over the place. All the scenes were rushed and choppy. I couldn’t understand how they were catching every bad guy within a hour of getting there.
The history was interesting but took over the story at many points. There were bunch of the characters added to every scene, so you don’t feel like you have time to get to know any of them enough to care about them.
The relationship between the main character didn’t feel like anything. So when they “got together” I couldn’t care less.
And of course, one thing that drove me crazy the most was how many times characters were told to “get some sleep”. Honestly it just felt like bad editing.
Overall all the issues took away from what could have been an interesting story.
Sadly, this one wasn’t great. I’ve read a few Krewe of Hunters books so I thought this one would be just as good. But there were just too many things I couldn’t overlook.
One, even if a series is a spin off, author can never assume that the reader read other book. Especially when this technically is a first book in a series. We’re thrown in the middle of the scene without any explanation.
The first 40% of the book was all over the place. All the scenes were rushed and choppy. I couldn’t understand how they were catching every bad guy within a hour of getting there.
The history was interesting but took over the story at many points. There were bunch of the characters added to every scene, so you don’t feel like you have time to get to know any of them enough to care about them.
The relationship between the main character didn’t feel like anything. So when they “got together” I couldn’t care less.
And of course, one thing that drove me crazy the most was how many times characters were told to “get some sleep”. Honestly it just felt like bad editing.
Overall all the issues took away from what could have been an interesting story.
July 10, 2024
Boring, stupid and a waste of time. Such a shame because I felt like the story had so much potential.
July 18, 2024
Ok so here is the thing, until recently I have not read for pleasure since high school which is sad to say so I’m glad I’m getting more into reading. That being said this is the first book I have read recently that I honestly had a hard time getting through. The idea of there being a whole society of serial killers is very interesting but the whole booked seemed rushed. They took down so many “murder castles” throughout the story that each were rushed including the last big take down. I enjoyed the info about the old castles and estates and the Scottish countryside but I’m not a huge history buff so having pages of who won what battle in year… was not of much interest to me. The author also seemed to repeat herself a lot. Several time I would read something and think I had lost my spot because I swore I had already read that part. The characters ( other than the killers of course) we are so polite when taking to each other so much so that their conversations felt like robots. It didn’t make the characters feel real. Yeah not my favorite!
June 4, 2024
Quite boring thank you
July 16, 2024
Used to be good- now her books read like she uses “cut and paste”.
June 1, 2025
In Death Behind Every Door, Heather Graham leans into what she does best—gothic settings, shadowy threats, and a whiff of romantic tension—but the result feels more like a scenic detour than a gripping thriller. The premise has teeth: a secret society of serial killers inspired by H.H. Holmes, a haunted Scottish castle turned B&B, and a pair of FBI agents walking into a trap disguised as a cozy inn. Unfortunately, it never quite lives up to the chilling potential it promises.
The atmosphere is undeniably the novel’s strongest feature. Graystone Castle is lush with creeping dread, and Graham relishes crafting a sense of foreboding. The setting is almost cinematic, with its stormy skies, hidden passageways, and whispered histories. But atmosphere can only carry a story so far, and here, it's forced to do the heavy lifting when the plot and characters fall short.
The pacing is uneven. After a fast start, the novel meanders through long passages of historical exposition that feel more like tourist brochures than necessary narrative beats. The investigation into the H.H. Holmes Society—a terrifying idea on paper—loses urgency with each digression into Scottish lore. What should feel like a race against time often feels like a sightseeing tour with a few murders sprinkled in.
The protagonists, Agents Luke Kendrick and Carly MacDonald, are capable but flat. Their banter lacks spark, and their chemistry never fully ignites. They’re written as seasoned professionals, but the emotional resonance of their partnership never quite materializes. When the story shifts to their romantic arc, it feels more perfunctory than earned. As characters, they do the job but don’t leave a lasting impression.
Structurally, the novel suffers from abrupt transitions and moments that seem to exist only to move the plot along. There’s a sense that the story is more interested in getting to the next twist than in deepening tension or exploring motive. The villains remain largely abstract; the H.H. Holmes Society sounds menacing in concept, but they’re more of a looming presence than an active force of dread. That removes a lot of the immediacy and suspense from what should be a taut, claustrophobic thriller.
Bottom line: Death Behind Every Door isn’t bad—it’s just middling. It’s the kind of book you pick up for the setting, enjoy in a single sitting, and then move on without much reflection. For die-hard Graham fans or readers who prioritize atmosphere over depth, it might be enough. But if you’re looking for complex characters, escalating tension, or meaningful stakes, this one checks in but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
The atmosphere is undeniably the novel’s strongest feature. Graystone Castle is lush with creeping dread, and Graham relishes crafting a sense of foreboding. The setting is almost cinematic, with its stormy skies, hidden passageways, and whispered histories. But atmosphere can only carry a story so far, and here, it's forced to do the heavy lifting when the plot and characters fall short.
The pacing is uneven. After a fast start, the novel meanders through long passages of historical exposition that feel more like tourist brochures than necessary narrative beats. The investigation into the H.H. Holmes Society—a terrifying idea on paper—loses urgency with each digression into Scottish lore. What should feel like a race against time often feels like a sightseeing tour with a few murders sprinkled in.
The protagonists, Agents Luke Kendrick and Carly MacDonald, are capable but flat. Their banter lacks spark, and their chemistry never fully ignites. They’re written as seasoned professionals, but the emotional resonance of their partnership never quite materializes. When the story shifts to their romantic arc, it feels more perfunctory than earned. As characters, they do the job but don’t leave a lasting impression.
Structurally, the novel suffers from abrupt transitions and moments that seem to exist only to move the plot along. There’s a sense that the story is more interested in getting to the next twist than in deepening tension or exploring motive. The villains remain largely abstract; the H.H. Holmes Society sounds menacing in concept, but they’re more of a looming presence than an active force of dread. That removes a lot of the immediacy and suspense from what should be a taut, claustrophobic thriller.
Bottom line: Death Behind Every Door isn’t bad—it’s just middling. It’s the kind of book you pick up for the setting, enjoy in a single sitting, and then move on without much reflection. For die-hard Graham fans or readers who prioritize atmosphere over depth, it might be enough. But if you’re looking for complex characters, escalating tension, or meaningful stakes, this one checks in but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
May 29, 2024
Loved reading this book, loved the couple and their romance and the mystery!
May 1, 2025
"Heather Graham's new series, 'The Blackbird Files,' offers a thrilling dive into the world of espionage and intrigue. While it promises an exciting premise, it might not captivate every reader. Despite its potential, it wasn't my personal favorite. Graham's signature style shines through, but the execution might leave some longing for more depth and character development. Nonetheless, for fans of the genre, it's worth exploring for its fast-paced plot and engaging narrative." I’ve loved all her books but this one did not reel me in like her other ones. Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this early
August 27, 2024
Omg, I hate this book so much. It’s so poorly written, choppy, and the story is just bad. I guess learning it’s a spinoff of another series makes sense why so much stuff just seemed to pop up out of nowhere. But even still, it’s just bad. The story is highly unbelievable and there is no development of characters, relationships, plot lines. Ugh. I wish I had stopped reading this book when I was annoyed by how bad it was just a few chapters in, but I thought it would get better. Please please save yourself the time and do not pick this one up.
May 20, 2024
I was disappointed in this book. It was obvious the author did a tremendous amount of research but put way too much history in the book. It felt like a history lesson in spots. I skipped over pages of the book. The plot of the story was good but the story would have been much better without the distraction of too much history. I have enjoyed other books by this author so I will read her again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
July 16, 2024
Ugh, I made it through 25% and just couldn’t do it anymore. The writing is awful, really awkward character dialogue and no build up or connection with them. Tons of random history thrown in and way too descriptive in parts that didn’t seem to matter. I thought serial killers and castles, I’m in! Then they threw in a group of special FBI agents that see ghosts on top of the horrible writing and I have to tap out. Life is too short to read horrible books. Don’t do it.
March 8, 2024
A mystery to sink your teeth into! One of my favorite authors- meticulous details, characters and settings! The history she has weaved into this story set in Scotland is mind boggling. A truly macabre mystery based on history! H H Holmes was a monster with many others trying to emulate him. And what’s better than ghosts helping save the day and solve the crime!
June 29, 2024
This is the first novel in The Blackbird Files series, a spinoff series from the Krewe of Hunters series, which I haven’t read. I think this is easily read as a standalone. The background of their connection to the former series is explained within the text. Readers of the aforementioned series may be a better audience for this novel than me.
The story is told in third person and follows American Special Agents Luke Kendrick and Carly MacDonald as they search for a syndicate of serial killers communicating with each other and their leader via the dark web. These special agents can see and communicate with ghosts or revenants, which often aid their investigations providing witness accounts and other information.
The villainous leader in this story has taken on the persona of HH Holmes, a serial killer from the nineteenth century regarded as America’s first serial killer. It has a great setting, primarily in Scotland, where basements, underground tunnels, and vaults set the stage for grisly murder scenes and suspenseful confrontations. I really enjoyed the Scottish settings and the local police characters collaborating with the Americans, especially Brendan Campbell.
I enjoy learning about the history of different places and my favorite way to learn is through fiction, but it often felt like these characters were reading a synopsis of the local history taken from history class notes or from a Wikipedia page with dates and bullet points. It didn’t read like casual conversation or even romantic foreplay for the partners. I found their relationship development to be lacking though I did enjoy their relationship as colleagues as well as their other coworker relationships.
The story jumped from one serial killer to the next and most of them felt shallow and interchangeable, unimportant to the story, one second charming, the next a melodramatic female-hate spouting lunatic or an even wackier female perpetrator. It felt like the overall theme of a dark web of interconnected killers was more detailed than the individuals.
The concept of the HH Holmes Society was fascinating, and I wanted the stories of the individual members to be more drawn out rather than rushed through. I would have enjoyed more in-depth villains rather than these followers that read more like caricatures. I also expected a more charismatic leader in the end but didn’t find the head perpetrator to be any more compelling than his followers.
Overall, I found the story to be a little jumpy and formulaic with characters that lacked depth. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, HTP Books, The Hive, and MIRA for a copy provided for an honest review.
The story is told in third person and follows American Special Agents Luke Kendrick and Carly MacDonald as they search for a syndicate of serial killers communicating with each other and their leader via the dark web. These special agents can see and communicate with ghosts or revenants, which often aid their investigations providing witness accounts and other information.
The villainous leader in this story has taken on the persona of HH Holmes, a serial killer from the nineteenth century regarded as America’s first serial killer. It has a great setting, primarily in Scotland, where basements, underground tunnels, and vaults set the stage for grisly murder scenes and suspenseful confrontations. I really enjoyed the Scottish settings and the local police characters collaborating with the Americans, especially Brendan Campbell.
I enjoy learning about the history of different places and my favorite way to learn is through fiction, but it often felt like these characters were reading a synopsis of the local history taken from history class notes or from a Wikipedia page with dates and bullet points. It didn’t read like casual conversation or even romantic foreplay for the partners. I found their relationship development to be lacking though I did enjoy their relationship as colleagues as well as their other coworker relationships.
The story jumped from one serial killer to the next and most of them felt shallow and interchangeable, unimportant to the story, one second charming, the next a melodramatic female-hate spouting lunatic or an even wackier female perpetrator. It felt like the overall theme of a dark web of interconnected killers was more detailed than the individuals.
The concept of the HH Holmes Society was fascinating, and I wanted the stories of the individual members to be more drawn out rather than rushed through. I would have enjoyed more in-depth villains rather than these followers that read more like caricatures. I also expected a more charismatic leader in the end but didn’t find the head perpetrator to be any more compelling than his followers.
Overall, I found the story to be a little jumpy and formulaic with characters that lacked depth. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, HTP Books, The Hive, and MIRA for a copy provided for an honest review.
March 5, 2024
With the popularity of the TV show “Ghosts” and the fact that procedural shows never go out of style, I keep picturing this series made into a TV show. This story is Ghosts meets FBI International. With our leading man being Luke which happens the real name of the leading man in FBI International, I have no problem seeing him in the story.
The pacing of this book is a bit of a shock. When Carly finds herself nearly victimized in the first castle, I found myself surprised. The story wasted no time outing the first in a long line of killers emulating H. H. Holmes. Carly is incredibly well trained and catches the bad guy off guard with her strength despite her appearance. Luke is also a strong character, but he doesn’t stand in front of Carly. He stands beside her even as he worries for her safety Even more surprising was the number of bad situations Carly and Luke found themselves in as they learned to trust their foreign counterparts. The story truly kept you turning the page finding more darkness in their world. Carly and Luke we lucky for the assistance of both the other cops and the ghosts.
Hearing nasty tales about what is happening on the dark web are out there but the true depravity that exists on the web is mind blowing. We all seek to find our place in the world and it is easier to find your people online. It is just a shock to think that some of those people finding their place online are finding likeminded sick individuals to help perpetrate violence. The book does a nice job of talking about that world and stopping it.
The relationship between Carly and Luke blooms out of the need for something life affirming and builds from there. That made the relationship seem very real as it wasn’t instalove or instalust. It developed naturally and you could clearly feel the spark between them.
One last thing to mention is the history in the book. We all had history classes at some point in our past and most did not get too excited. However, the history included in this book was done conversationally keeping it light and perhaps making it a cautionary tale. Early on a character refers to his country as bloody and if the villains are given a choice, it will get bloody again. The Krewe and their counterparts are all that stand in the way, fortunately the Krewe is a stellar team with awesome resources.
Heather Graham is a favorite author of mine. I think I have more of her books on my kindle than any other author. She has written a lot of books and clearly, she has more stories to tell. I recommend giving them a try, you will not be disappointed. I know I will read the next book and the next after that and as many more as she writes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
The pacing of this book is a bit of a shock. When Carly finds herself nearly victimized in the first castle, I found myself surprised. The story wasted no time outing the first in a long line of killers emulating H. H. Holmes. Carly is incredibly well trained and catches the bad guy off guard with her strength despite her appearance. Luke is also a strong character, but he doesn’t stand in front of Carly. He stands beside her even as he worries for her safety Even more surprising was the number of bad situations Carly and Luke found themselves in as they learned to trust their foreign counterparts. The story truly kept you turning the page finding more darkness in their world. Carly and Luke we lucky for the assistance of both the other cops and the ghosts.
Hearing nasty tales about what is happening on the dark web are out there but the true depravity that exists on the web is mind blowing. We all seek to find our place in the world and it is easier to find your people online. It is just a shock to think that some of those people finding their place online are finding likeminded sick individuals to help perpetrate violence. The book does a nice job of talking about that world and stopping it.
The relationship between Carly and Luke blooms out of the need for something life affirming and builds from there. That made the relationship seem very real as it wasn’t instalove or instalust. It developed naturally and you could clearly feel the spark between them.
One last thing to mention is the history in the book. We all had history classes at some point in our past and most did not get too excited. However, the history included in this book was done conversationally keeping it light and perhaps making it a cautionary tale. Early on a character refers to his country as bloody and if the villains are given a choice, it will get bloody again. The Krewe and their counterparts are all that stand in the way, fortunately the Krewe is a stellar team with awesome resources.
Heather Graham is a favorite author of mine. I think I have more of her books on my kindle than any other author. She has written a lot of books and clearly, she has more stories to tell. I recommend giving them a try, you will not be disappointed. I know I will read the next book and the next after that and as many more as she writes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.
April 24, 2024
Death Behind Every Door is the first installment of the Blackbird Files by Heather Graham.
I am no stranger to Heather Grahams writing and her Krewe of Hunters series, but I do feel like an introduction to some of the characters would have benefited new readers, as this is a new spin off series and I could see how readers could possibly feel like they have been thrown into the middle of a storyline that they have no background on.
I really enjoyed the main premise of the book, which is tracking down the leader of the H.H. Holmes Society, which in turn would stop the murder and disappearances of tourists in and around Scotland. With a little bit of romance and some paranormal elements, this book had all the right elements to be a great read, it just needed a little bit more of both for me to really love it.
One of the issues I had with this book was the massive amount of unnecessary history lessons. I do appreciate the backstory on H.H. Holmes, but the Scottish history was a bit much and unnecessary to the plot. I found myself putting the book down and reading something else because it wasn’t as fast paced as some of her other works.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and will not give up on the Blackbird Files just yet.
I am no stranger to Heather Grahams writing and her Krewe of Hunters series, but I do feel like an introduction to some of the characters would have benefited new readers, as this is a new spin off series and I could see how readers could possibly feel like they have been thrown into the middle of a storyline that they have no background on.
I really enjoyed the main premise of the book, which is tracking down the leader of the H.H. Holmes Society, which in turn would stop the murder and disappearances of tourists in and around Scotland. With a little bit of romance and some paranormal elements, this book had all the right elements to be a great read, it just needed a little bit more of both for me to really love it.
One of the issues I had with this book was the massive amount of unnecessary history lessons. I do appreciate the backstory on H.H. Holmes, but the Scottish history was a bit much and unnecessary to the plot. I found myself putting the book down and reading something else because it wasn’t as fast paced as some of her other works.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and will not give up on the Blackbird Files just yet.
February 24, 2025
I love these books. I started with the first one, and haven’t stopped. This one is about someone copying HHHolmes. He was the notorious serial Killer of his time. He had a murder castle, and those that checked in never checked out. This book covers several countries where converts to this cult were torturing, and killing guests to their establishments. They also got their trust ,and they inherited all they had. It was up to the gifted agents of the Black Bird Krewe of hunters to track them down. Most of the hunters have some form of psychic ability. Luke , and Carly both could see, and speak to the dead, plus were very smart, and crack shots. They worked in three different areas, while other partners were doing the same thing in Paris, and other areas. People were being indoctrinated through the dark web, at the H H Holmes sight, and felt privileged to kill, and torture in the founder’s name, who they believed had cheated death over 150 yrs. ago. Great plot, and fast paced. I gave it 5 stars.
May 30, 2024
Crimes from the headlines
Luke and Carly. The international Krewe is growing and with more crimes that have an American angle or facet we see a new partnering in Scotland while Della and Mason are still in France working on the same case. New colleagues as well with the Scottish legal agencies and new castles that brought about new ghosts and history. The serial killer angle remains from the first Blackbird trilogy. The romance that is part of the Krewe partners is evident and has a good build, but does not take the focus of the crime solving components. Loved the team dynamic and humor between them and Campbell and Charlie at the end. Jackson and Angela are also present and being the great connection to the original series. A good read and I can’t wait for more!
Luke and Carly. The international Krewe is growing and with more crimes that have an American angle or facet we see a new partnering in Scotland while Della and Mason are still in France working on the same case. New colleagues as well with the Scottish legal agencies and new castles that brought about new ghosts and history. The serial killer angle remains from the first Blackbird trilogy. The romance that is part of the Krewe partners is evident and has a good build, but does not take the focus of the crime solving components. Loved the team dynamic and humor between them and Campbell and Charlie at the end. Jackson and Angela are also present and being the great connection to the original series. A good read and I can’t wait for more!
July 12, 2024
3.5 stars 🌟
The storyline is good, and the way that history is woven into the plot is excellent.
The downfall is that it seems every place they get to within hours they some how uncover whose behind that extension of the network. I could see it happening once but not every time.
The detail on what happens in the dungeons lacks.
The romance between the two detectives was good, not great.
They are told to get some sleep a lot. It's kinda comical.
Character development is okay. The mastermind unveil was lacking for me.
The storyline is good, and the way that history is woven into the plot is excellent.
The downfall is that it seems every place they get to within hours they some how uncover whose behind that extension of the network. I could see it happening once but not every time.
The detail on what happens in the dungeons lacks.
The romance between the two detectives was good, not great.
They are told to get some sleep a lot. It's kinda comical.
Character development is okay. The mastermind unveil was lacking for me.
July 26, 2024
DNF. Apparently this is a spin off series? But it does not make any sense if this is your first entry into the author's work.
November 9, 2024
Poor character development. It didn't feel like a book by Heather Graham. At one point someone's name charged in the middle of a scene and no one noticed.
January 24, 2025
Loved the quick pace to keep you interested. Beginning jumped you right in the story, wish there was a little more background and guidance.
September 24, 2024
Fast paced thriller with a ghostly helper.
March 27, 2025
Good book
August 7, 2024
"Death Behind Every Door" is part of the "Blackbird Files" series by Heather Graham. It is book one, and it was an edge of the seat read. It takes place in Scotland, where there is a bed and breakfast that keeps having guests disappear. Carly and Luke are part of the FBI and are sent there to investigate what is happening. I really enjoyed how they worked together, and they make good partners. With the help of a ghost and another agent, they work to see what is going on. It had just enough suspense to keep me reading on. I will definitely be reading on in this series.
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