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kristinisreading's review
3.0
Quick read. Not a good as the first, but obviously, Graham, a romance writer, is planning to pair off all the main characters (the members of the Krewe). Then, I’m curious where she goes. Didn’t love the heroine. The plantation setting and reenactment feel a little out of place in 2022.
kel_pru's review
3.0
Three stars for the Interesting mystery, but I found the romance to be a bit weak. With all the historical context given (in a fabulous way), it seems as if the build up to the romance was an afterthought.
jazzrizz's review
5.0
I'm really enjoying this series. I love Heather Graham's ghost stories. That this one featured a plantation and Civil War ghosts was great!
I have to say I enjoyed the story more than the romance in this book. While I like Jake and Ashley, their "hook up" was more of a secondary aspect of this story for me.
I really liked Marshall Donegal. I thought I had the whodunnit figured out early in the book, but I was wrong! That doesn't happen very often. Granted my pick came down to the final two who could've done it though! I started having doubts about 1/2 way through the book, but I was sticking with my original pick. It's nice to be surprised at the end every once in a while!
Great book & I've already started listening to the next one :)
I have to say I enjoyed the story more than the romance in this book. While I like Jake and Ashley, their "hook up" was more of a secondary aspect of this story for me.
I really liked Marshall Donegal. I thought I had the whodunnit figured out early in the book, but I was wrong! That doesn't happen very often. Granted my pick came down to the final two who could've done it though! I started having doubts about 1/2 way through the book, but I was sticking with my original pick. It's nice to be surprised at the end every once in a while!
Great book & I've already started listening to the next one :)
tiredcat's review
3.0
It was a good book but a typical Heather Graham story. However I really like the characters in this series so it made it worth it.
laurenjodi's review
3.0
Heart of Evil
Rating: 3 Stars
When a man is found murdered following a civil war reenactment, Ashley Donegal seeks the help of an old flame, Jake Mallory, a member of the FBI's paranormal investigative unit. It soon becomes clear that a madman with a grudge is on the rampage and Ashley and her family are his target.
The idea of a killer with a historic score to settle is interesting and constitutes a strong foundation for the story. Nevertheless, the plot is poorly executed. The prologue provides no preliminary information and could easily have been another chapter. The division into chapters is problematic in the sense that the narrative begins from the POV of one character and switches to another in the same chapter with no warning, which can be confusing at times.
The characters are like cardboard cutouts and their characterization lacks substance. Even though the romantic couple has more of a connection than the pair in the first book; there is still a serious absence of chemistry in their relationship. The secondary characters are not sufficiently developed and the suspects are merely candidates for a police line-up. Very few clues are provided for the reader to follow, and the villain is ultimately revealed after everyone else is either killed or has an alibi. I would like to point out that I enjoyed the plot in this book more than in the first.
Ms. Graham has many fans out there. Unfortunately, I am beginning to suspect that her writing is not for me as I do not enjoy having the story spoon-fed to me as if I am unable to follow a narrative thread.
Heart of Evil is scheduled for release on June 28, 2011. An advance copy of the book was provided to me for review by the publisher and NetGalley.com.
Rating: 3 Stars
When a man is found murdered following a civil war reenactment, Ashley Donegal seeks the help of an old flame, Jake Mallory, a member of the FBI's paranormal investigative unit. It soon becomes clear that a madman with a grudge is on the rampage and Ashley and her family are his target.
The idea of a killer with a historic score to settle is interesting and constitutes a strong foundation for the story. Nevertheless, the plot is poorly executed. The prologue provides no preliminary information and could easily have been another chapter. The division into chapters is problematic in the sense that the narrative begins from the POV of one character and switches to another in the same chapter with no warning, which can be confusing at times.
The characters are like cardboard cutouts and their characterization lacks substance. Even though the romantic couple has more of a connection than the pair in the first book; there is still a serious absence of chemistry in their relationship. The secondary characters are not sufficiently developed and the suspects are merely candidates for a police line-up. Very few clues are provided for the reader to follow, and the villain is ultimately revealed after everyone else is either killed or has an alibi. I would like to point out that I enjoyed the plot in this book more than in the first.
Ms. Graham has many fans out there. Unfortunately, I am beginning to suspect that her writing is not for me as I do not enjoy having the story spoon-fed to me as if I am unable to follow a narrative thread.
Heart of Evil is scheduled for release on June 28, 2011. An advance copy of the book was provided to me for review by the publisher and NetGalley.com.
thegeekyblogger's review
4.0
Read for Fun/June is Audiobook Month/June 2012 Series Read!
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating(Not part of the overall rating): 4.50
First thought when finished: I am really enjoying the Krewe of Hunters! Plus, this one is set in New Orleans!
What I Loved: Anytime you even hint that you are going to have historic re-enactments tied in with a murder mystery--you pretty much have me interested. I love that Heart of Evil weaves in historic events with a present day murder investigation. Throw in the hot chemistry between Jake and Ashley and a very fun cast of characters, this was just a downright good read!!
What I Liked: The Donegal Plantation was a great setting for Heart of Evil. It had ghosts, graveyard, swamp, and a vastness that made you feel like you had stepped back in time. I felt like the plantation itself was a character in the story. I loved Grandpa and M. Donegal--both were strong men and great characters.
Audio Specific Review: Luke Daniels hit it out of the park. I think I am officially a fan girl!
Final Thought: I recommend this series to Paranormal Mystery Readers--it only has a bit of romance (that is not the focus).
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.50
Audio Rating(Not part of the overall rating): 4.50
First thought when finished: I am really enjoying the Krewe of Hunters! Plus, this one is set in New Orleans!
What I Loved: Anytime you even hint that you are going to have historic re-enactments tied in with a murder mystery--you pretty much have me interested. I love that Heart of Evil weaves in historic events with a present day murder investigation. Throw in the hot chemistry between Jake and Ashley and a very fun cast of characters, this was just a downright good read!!
What I Liked: The Donegal Plantation was a great setting for Heart of Evil. It had ghosts, graveyard, swamp, and a vastness that made you feel like you had stepped back in time. I felt like the plantation itself was a character in the story. I loved Grandpa and M. Donegal--both were strong men and great characters.
Audio Specific Review: Luke Daniels hit it out of the park. I think I am officially a fan girl!
Final Thought: I recommend this series to Paranormal Mystery Readers--it only has a bit of romance (that is not the focus).
firefox_83's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book. It’s an intriguing storyline, but there were several parts that were just nonsense. I liked that the ghosts were involved more in this book than they were in Phantom Evil. The ending was so rushed it left me more irritated than anything.
Ashley runs a plantation that does civil war re-enactments and one of the actors gets murdered. She starts seeing ghosts of her ancestors. The ghost of Marshall Donegal is some sort of comedian, he tells her he’s a powerful ghost who can protect her, but when she needs to be saved his great and powerful ghost sword goes right through her kidnapper. Surprise, surprise. So much for his protection.
When she goes missing Jake starts barking commands (I thought Jackson was the unit leader??????).
Unable to fight her attacker, Ashley gets placed in a tomb, but while Jake and the killer are fighting she’s able to push the cement slab off the tomb and “rise” (that’s literally how Heather Graham describes it in the book.) She can’t fight the attacker to save her life, but she has the strength to move a cement slab. Okay. Jake stops fighting the killer to try to help her out and you guessed it he gets hit from behind. Grandpa saves them by shooting the killer and Ashley says, “you go, Grampa!” And then she collapsed in Jake’s arms. And that’s how the book ends. Probably the corniest ending to any book I’ve ever read.
Ashley runs a plantation that does civil war re-enactments and one of the actors gets murdered. She starts seeing ghosts of her ancestors. The ghost of Marshall Donegal is some sort of comedian, he tells her he’s a powerful ghost who can protect her, but when she needs to be saved his great and powerful ghost sword goes right through her kidnapper. Surprise, surprise. So much for his protection.
When she goes missing Jake starts barking commands (I thought Jackson was the unit leader??????).
Unable to fight her attacker, Ashley gets placed in a tomb, but while Jake and the killer are fighting she’s able to push the cement slab off the tomb and “rise” (that’s literally how Heather Graham describes it in the book.) She can’t fight the attacker to save her life, but she has the strength to move a cement slab. Okay. Jake stops fighting the killer to try to help her out and you guessed it he gets hit from behind. Grandpa saves them by shooting the killer and Ashley says, “you go, Grampa!” And then she collapsed in Jake’s arms. And that’s how the book ends. Probably the corniest ending to any book I’ve ever read.
sinadria's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5