The Hexed
Written by Heather Graham
4/5
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About this audiobook
A place of history, secrets…and witchcraft.
Devin Lyle has recently returned to the Salem area, but her timing couldn't be worse. Soon after she moved into the eighteenth-century cabin she inherited from her great-aunt Mina—her "crazy" great-aunt, who spoke to the dead—a woman was murdered nearby.
Craig Rockwell—known as Rocky—is a new member of the Krewe of Hunters, the FBI's team of paranormal investigators. He never got over finding a friend dead in the woods. Now another body's been found in those same woods, not far from the home of a woman named Devin Lyle. And Devin's been led to a third body—by…a ghost?
Her discovery draws them both deeper into the case and Salem's rich and disturbing history. Even as the danger mounts, Devin and Rocky begin to fall for each other, something the ghosts of Mina and past witches seem to approve of. But the two of them need every skill they possess to learn the truth—or Devin's might be the next body in the woods….
Heather Graham
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels. She's a winner of the RWA's Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Thriller Writers' Silver Bullet. She is an active member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America. For more information, check out her websites: TheOriginalHeatherGraham.com, eHeatherGraham.com, and HeatherGraham.tv. You can also find Heather on Facebook.
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Titles in the series (34)
Heart of Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unholy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Uninvited Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Phantom Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sacred Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Evil Inside Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Evil Inside Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Phantom Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Uninvited Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unseen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sacred Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unholy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unspoken Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Is Watching Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Unspoken Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Is Forever Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Betrayed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cursed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Is Alive Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Night Is Watching Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Forgotten Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silenced Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Hexed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Is Alive Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hexed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Night Is Forever Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Cursed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Betrayed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Haunted Destiny Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Forgotten Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for The Hexed
61 ratings10 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Krewe of Hunters: Book 148 audio discsok but wouldn't be a favorite of mine
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This story takes place in Salem with witches, ghost tours, dead people talking & showing up to help solve several murders. Craig Rockwell is an FBI agent that found a girl murdered years ago and has been haunted by that event all these years. When another woman is murdered in a similar way he steps in to help solve this murder reuniting with his two best childhood friends Vince & Jack. Devin Lyle lives in Salem and writes children's books about a witch, based on Devin's deceased aunt. Devin's Aunt Mina is a hoot and I really enjoyed her.The story was interesting because Heather Graham gives a lot of details about the surrounding areas in her books and I like that history. There is danger, a love story, numerous victims, Krewe of Hunters investigators that were in the earlier books and a host of her characters that we learn about. I had figured out who the killer was before the end but not so far ahead that it ruined the suspense for me. You can read this book as a stand alone but I have enjoyed the entire series so I have read the books in order. I would recommend this series.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Liked the story. Though every story has a romance attached. Sometimes it over shadows the real topic. But it was still enjoyable.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My favorite kind of cozy mysteries are those with a paranormal element. There is just something about adding a bit (okay, sometimes a lot) of supernatural to a story that appeals to me most. Despite The Hexed being the thirteenth book in the Krewe Hunters series, it is my first. Fortunately for me, The Hexed is very much a stand alone novel. There is so little (nothing really) about characters that may have appeared in earlier books, that a reader jumping in now should not feel lost or feel like he or she missed out on a minor continuing story line.
In The Hexed, readers are introduced to Craig "Rocky" Rockwell, an FBI agent who asks to be assigned to the an elite division of the FBI called the Krewe Hunters. The Krewe Hunters, once a private detection agency, was adopted by the FBI because of their special abilities in dealing with the supernatural, namely ghosts. Rocky is haunted by the ritualistic murder of a friend when they were teenagers and when another body is found in the same area and in the same manner over a decade later, he requests to be involved in the investigation.
Devin Lyle, once reporter now children's book author, has only recently returned home to Salem, taking up residence in her deceased aunt's home. One night she hears a cry for help and runs outside into the woods by her house only to find the body of a woman.
Devin is pulled into the investigation of the murders due to her ability to see and talk to ghosts, one of which Rocky and Devin are sure has the key who is behind the murders and why someone would want the women dead. Add in an eccentric great-aunt who is a ghost, a black raven named Poe, and a budding love story, and you have an entertaining novel.
I really liked the character of Rocky. He is such a sweetheart, maybe a little too perfect. I found it interesting how the Krewe team gave him lead upon their arrival to town to help with the murder investigation, especially given how new he was to the unit. It made sense in some ways, I suppose: this was the area he had grown up in, one of his childhood friend's was the local lead on the case, and he was the first on the scene. It wasn't something that bothered me at all, just something I noticed.
Devin was no slouch, that's for sure. She's smart as a whip, especially when it comes to the history of the area. Sometimes when a civilian character gets involved with a police investigation it seems too unbelievable to buy into, but not so in Devin's case. At least I did not think so. In part, keeping her close was to protect her, but she was also the person the ghost from long ago wanted to talk to.
I enjoyed seeing the evolution of Devin and Rocky's relationship, but admit the moment they made their feelings known seemed forced somehow and so sudden. It wasn't how I imagined either character acting except maybe in their heads. Still, it was not a bad thing. Given how stressful the situation was, how dangerous, I should not be completely surprised.
The Hexed was an enjoyable read. I suspected just about everyone in the book at one point or another of being the killer, but it was not until closer to the end that I had it figured out. Somewhat. The investigation was slow going at times, but rightfully so given the amount of research and foot work the characters had to do. There is a bit of a need to suspend one's disbelief (and I'm not referring to the ghosts) in how Rocky came to some of his conclusions, but it was easy to look past as much fun as I was having reading to see what would happen next.
Will I read more by this author? Absolutely. I'm curious to learn more about the other members of the Krewe Hunters team and see what mysteries they encounter.
Copy provided by publisher for an honest review. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange of a fair and honest review.If like me your thoughts turn to the paranormal at this time of the year and you’re looking for something new to read, you just might find what you need with Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, The Hexed, gives us the story of Devin Lyle, a writer specializing in children’s novels and Craig “Rocky” Rockwell, a new member of the FBI’s team of paranormal investigators. Both colorful and likeable characters they have one thing in common; they can see and speak with the dead. Ms. Graham does a good job introducing the characters in this story and also introducing the “Krewe” itself; while this is the first book in the series I’ve read, I was able to jump right into the story and enjoy it on its own. Using the location of Salem and its history with the witch trials, Ms. Graham sets up a murder mystery with a serial killer who is selecting specific targets who all happen to be members of the local Wicca group. The secondary characters are also well developed and I particularly liked Devin’s “Aunt Mina”, who died before the start of the book, helped to raise Devin as a child and left her home to Devin. A home she now haunts. I also enjoyed getting to know Craig’s high school friends and getting a look at his past – it’s not every day a young man passes up a promising football career to become a federal cop.The romance between Devin and “Rocky” is pretty low key but at the same time it’s nice; it adds an extra element to the story without being overly graphic. The mystery of the killer’s identity is well handled and there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot. The pace is also good and kept me turning the pages to discover what would happen next. Though I thought I knew who the killer was, Ms. Graham does a good job and the final reveal wasn’t what I expected.Overall I enjoyed reading The Hexed and look forward to going back to the beginning of this series to discover how the “Krewe” got its start. I know I’m looking forward to seeing where Ms. Graham takes us next in this series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I always forget how much I like the books in this series until I start reading one again. The amount of research that Ms. Graham must do before each book must be astounding because these books are packed with great historical facts that she expertly weaves with her own brand of mystery and romance. This book is set in Salem and has so much information about the witch trials that I was right back in my high school history class, but thankfully this time I actually paying attention. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5In Graham’s paranormal mystery novel, Devin Lyle has recently returned home to the Salem area and taken up residence in her deceased grandmother’s house—the same grandmother who chooses to continue to live in the house. Craig Rockwell is a new member of the Krewe of Hunters and he never got over the murder of a friend of his in high school. In fact that event is what encouraged him to go into the FBI.Devin discovers the body of a murdered girl in the forest surrounding her house. This discovery draws Rockwell into the investigation—an investigation in which a ghost leads Devin to yet another murder. Teaming together, the duo delve into the past history of Salem and its families while attraction pulls them closer together. Despite the passion they feel pulsing between them, they must stay sharp because the killer has turned his attention to Devin.Another great addition to the Krewe of Hunters series by a master storyteller.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book strong characters. I love that this seriesis so well developed. I can't wait to read the next book.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This story takes place in Salem with witches, ghost tours, dead people talking & showing up to help solve several murders. Craig Rockwell is an FBI agent that found a girl murdered years ago and has been haunted by that event all these years. When another woman is murdered in a similar way he steps in to help solve this murder reuniting with his two best childhood friends Vince & Jack. Devin Lyle lives in Salem and writes children's books about a witch, based on Devin's deceased aunt. Devin's Aunt Mina is a hoot and I really enjoyed her.The story was interesting because Heather Graham gives a lot of details about the surrounding areas in her books and I like that history. There is danger, a love story, numerous victims, Krewe of Hunters investigators that were in the earlier books and a host of her characters that we learn about. I had figured out who the killer was before the end but not so far ahead that it ruined the suspense for me. You can read this book as a stand alone but I have enjoyed the entire series so I have read the books in order. I would recommend this series.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/53 STARS I like Heather Graham's writing and love the Krewe series. This one I just did not connect to the characters as much. Could just be my mood. The suspense was good and keeps you guessing with lots of suspects. A couple of love scenes easy to skip if you want. Lots of history of Salem. Craig Rockwell is a FBI Agent and asked to join the Krewe and work on a case near where he grew up. Thirteen years before he discover a friend murdered just like the new one in Salem. He heard his dead friend asking for help. Devin Lyle writes children books about a witch. She just moved back home and lives in her Deceased Aunts home. She finds a new murdered women close to her house. She lives in a house in the woods that are haunted some think. She is single. There is a murder that is just like the one 13 years ago. Details were kept secret. Now no clues are found. Everybody that was around 13 years ago and now is a suspect. Craig or Rocky suspects his friends that were with him when they found the body. There are things about the murder that draws from history of the Salem Witch trials. One of the victims they have no idea who she was and why she was picked. The setting is Salem. Lots of history of what life was like and what happened back at the witch trials. I was given this ebook to read and in return agreed to give honest review.