Phantom Evil

Fantastic Read

It's been a long, long time since I've read a book that I didn't want to put down, and then thought about when I couldn't read it. "Phantom Evil" is that kind of book. It called to me, tempting me to stop doing those things I must and instead sit and read. I read late into the night and resented the fatigue that finally caused me to set the book aside. I was simply intrigued by this book, both by the premise and by the characters.

Ms. Graham first and foremost did a great job with her group of six investigators, all of whom were both distinct individuals and truly interesting people. Though they all had the commonality of a belief in the paranormal due to brushes with such throughout their lives, they were not all deeply into "woo-woo". In fact, their belief in the truth of ghosts and such made them more skeptical of claims of haunting. Fascinating.

The circumstances surrounding Regina Holloway's death - did a ghost push her or did she jump? - were only one of several mysteries this book tackles. We have a dark evil, ghosts of children, a cult, and so much more. All these threads are deeply interwoven and, when our investigators tug at one, sometimes others came unraveled.

I absolutely loved trying to puzzle together the clues as they were uncovered. Which were real clues? Which mattered to the case and which were red herrings? I was so pleased that we were only given the points-of-view of our investigators and weren't allowed to see into the minds of others. I dislike reading mysteries when we're allowed to either know whodunit or see into the mind of the antagonist.

The connection between the six investigators was instant and believable and I truly hope Ms. Graham has future books planned for all of them. In this book, the main protagonists are Jackson, the team leader, and Angela, the investigator who seems to trigger all the paranormal events that occur. They're the first two to meet, and it's evident there is an attraction between them, one that I hoped they'd act upon.

This book never quite crossed the line into "horror", but had its moments of evil and terror. Still, the focus remained on the investigation, and it's primarily a mystery with romantic elements. Well written, well plotted, evenly and quickly paced, "Phantom Evil" hit all my happy buttons and left every part of me well satisfied: the mystery lover and the romantic.

I do admit that the ending felt a smidge rushed, but it didn't dispel my feelings of good-will toward this book, and certainly won't keep it off my keeper shelf.

If you're looking for a strong mystery that'll keep you guessing to the end, if you like your romantic suspense with a touch of "woo woo" and a satisfying ending I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Phantom Evil.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

No one writes romantic urban fantasy better than Heather Graham

The wife of Louisiana State Senator David Holloway, Regina falls from the balcony of their mansion to her death. The New Orleans Police Department investigates and concludes Regina committed suicide as she still grieved the loss of her son Jacob due to a DUI several months ago.

Adam Harrison sends his special investigative team to New Orleans to look into the Holloway death. The unit is led by Jackson Crow, who used to work for the Fed's Behavioral Sciences Unit. He, his team of five, and paranormal pragmatic Virginia police officer Angela Hawkins who can detect the supernatural arrive at the Holloway mansion in the French Quarters. Their mission is to determine whether the supernatural was involved in the woman's fall. Soon they revise the objective to staying alive.

No one writes romantic urban fantasy better than Heather Graham does as she consistently blends suspense with the paranormal. Her latest thriller Phantom Evil uses the disturbing past of people who resided in what appears to be a haunted house with modern day supernatural happenings. Readers will hear the bumps in the night as Ms. Graham provides another powerful New Orleans paranormal romantic suspense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

For immature audiences only

I was hoping this would be an interesting read; however, it turned out to be a shallow mystery with limited character development and little exploration of the more interesting aspects of the ghostly phenomena. The characters were so one-dimensional it was hard to like or dislike them....a waste of good reading time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

To Vineclaw

I'm new around here, so could you please tell me where your leader is. I would like to join.

Teriffic read by KayDeeDid

I've read 'em all and look forward to more.

Excellent Read

This book is a great read. It is easy to read and keeps you engaged. The characters are introduced and i believe as you read each book after this we will find each investigator filling out. Can't wait to read the next one.

Had potentialk

This is primarily a romance novel. When the two main characters fall into bed within 48 hours of meeting and there are two explicit scenes it is easy to see what the focus is on. I wish I had known Mira is an imprint of Harlequin before I bought it.

I picked this book up for the paranormal mystery that the blurb promises, in post Katrina New Orleans no less. There is upfront an emphasis on the Senator's wife being in a locked and security alarmed house when she supposedly jumps from her balcony committing suicide. This newly formed team with varying expertise are assembled and it becomes clear she was pushed, but the security system shows nobody came and disabled the system so it must be the ghosts that haunt the place drove this woman over the balcony. Much is made of the security system. Yet, when the confrontation with the killer occurs - no explanation at all of how the security system was gotten around without some record - it is just dropped.

This book seems quickly written. I felt like the team lead would say, "in the morning your assignment is..." but then in the next paragraph say "before you go to bed you'll do that". There were a few instances of that sort of lack of continuity. The paranormal is there along side human manipulation. The biggest question is, how much did the Senator know was going on? The paranormal had some tense moments and a few good chills. But to be honest, I think the story would have been better served to just have romantic tension between the two lead characters and focused on the murder mystery.

The team idea has some real potential, but the focus is so on the two leads slipping off for a roll in the hay that the rest of the team doesn't get developed much. In spite all the potential I felt the characterization was lacking, or never begun, even with the two main leads. Overall a few paranormal chills, otherwise a lot of missed potential. I doubt I will read any more in the series, or this author. If you are tempted, get it from the library.

Phantom Evil

After his last case, Jack Crow expects to get a desk job with mainly paperwork pushing responsibilities. Instead, Adam Harrison gives him the task of heading a new unit, with six unique members who are to solve the murder or suicide of a senator's wife. Jack is a skeptic and yet he has had several unexplainable experiences that have saved him and others.
The senator is convinced his wife didn't commit suicide as the police have determined, though they recently suffered the loss of their young son. Since he is so well liked and connected, his wife's case is a task for Jack's new unit. The unit members literally meet on the job, at the house in New Orleans.a house that has supposedly been haunted for decades!
Angela Hawkins is one of Jack's team, who has some special talents, and their attraction is basically instantaneous. Angela is more than Jack's love interest; she also helps him lead the team through the paranormal and beyond.
This is the perfect example of how a paranormal romance should be! Graham takes you through the whole book with just enough romance, suspense and ghosts to keep you up late into the night!

Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine

I liked it

It was an entertaining read. It won't win any Pulitzer or Nobel prices, but it achieves what it is supposed to achieve. It embroidered me in the mystery and the ambiance of the Big Easy and before I knew it, I was done with the book. It is very engrossing.

As a matter of fact, it is so entertaining, I bought the rest of the Krewe of Hunters collection.

Just ok

I am halfway through the book and there are STILL characters being introduced! Why so many?? I was hooked by the prologue, but not much going on yet.

Highly recommended

This is an excellent seriers.

LOVED IT!

First Heather Graham book I have ever read. I am not much of a reader and the prologue or first chapter has to really get my attention. I was hooked from the first page and couldnt put it down. I cant wait for the next one to come out!

I was hooked from page one

Graham quickly draws you in. I love these new characters and look forward to book 2 and 3. Takes place in New Orleans. Lots of suspense, twists and surprise. A great team of investigators.

What's up in The Big Easy

A distraught senator's wife is found dead of an apparent suicide in the garden of her supposed haunted house. Wanting answers albeit discreetly the senator calls on a newly formed government team run by Adam Harrison and led by enigmatic Jackson Crow. This assignment may be just what the doctor order for Jackson after the tragedy that was his last case with the FBI. Now he's teamed up with 5 specially equipped people to handle all things paranormal and what better place to test that theory and the team then The Big Easy. Angela Hawkins is a trained policewoman from Virginia who at a young age had her first experience with paranormal activity when the plane her family was on crashed killing her parents and almost herself as well. She's learned who to trust and who to stay away from and she's learned about love and loss, but Jackson is more than what she's expecting and maybe more than her heart can handle. But their attraction is hard to resist and there's enough to worry about without complications of the heart there's something in the house something not right could it be "Phantom Evil".
Heather Graham always does a bang up job when she expertly mixes paranormal with romance, she always comes up with likeable and believable characters and even though the plot may be quite a bit outside the normal box she somehow makes her audience believers during the read. Well Phantom Evil is no different there's enough from both worlds to excite any fan. She gives us a storyline that could be seen on any news show or headline and then she makes it more interesting by giving it a shade of otherworldly. She will take you to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, introduce you to the characters who call it home and she'll show you the real New Orleans through her descriptive narrative. Her characters are spot on, perfectly portrayed and infinitely important to the telling of the story from the Voodoo Priestess to the ghosts themselves. Her hero and heroine are two people in desperate need of one another and she brings them together with earth moving and fireworks and keeps them together with honesty and compassion and of course with heat, because the love scenes are as hot as the humidity is high in a New Orleans summer.
So take a stroll downtown, blow the sugar off a beignet while you enjoy a cup of pecan coffee and batten down the hatches of your emotions as this paranormal, psychological thriller will take you on a frightening journey, one that will leave you breathless when the ride is over.

Very Good

If you like Heather Graham then you are sure to like this book. I found it to be very spooky at times. It was very enjoyable.

Why do I do this to myself?

I'm an eclectic reader and when I'm in the mood for a romance novel, I like mystery attached. I keep getting sucked in and buying Ms. Graham's books, but am often disappointed. This book was a special disappointment. Too many characters thrown in for no reason (is she planning some sort of team sequel?), the romance scenes had absolutely no passion..."he was a considerate lover"????...and the suspects were unbelievably stupid and inept. Don't pick this one up...just not worth it.

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