Review: Deadly Night

Deadly Night (The Flynn Brothers Trilogy - Book 1) by Heather Graham

Publication Date: October 2008
Publisher: Mira
Format: E-book, 400 pp
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Paranormal influences
ISBN-13: 9781426821127
ISBN: 1426821123

(E-book from the Library)

Synopsis (Courtesy of Barnes & Noble):

Adian Flynn, a private investigator and eldest of the Flynn brothers scoffs at the haunted-house rumors - especially since Kendall Montgomery, a tarot card reader who has been living in the mansion, is the one to tell him the tale of a woman in white. But when he finds a human bone on the grounds and another by the river, Adian delves into the dark history of the plantation.

Forced together to uncover the truth, Aidan and Kendall realize that a serial killer whose victims seem to vanish into thin air has long been at work...and that their own fates are about to be sealed forever unless they believe in the unbelievable.

Thoughts:

This is a book that I checked out from the library to read for pleasure and to read for the 2010 Support Your Local Library Challenge. I was looking for something with a bit of spookiness since it was close to Halloween, when I found Deadly Night by Heather Graham, a great mystery with some ghosts thrown in for good measure, LOL!

Deadly Night is set in post Katrina, New Orleans, where it wouldn't be out of the ordinary to see voodoo dolls, tarot card readers and a few bones lying around. The story centers around the three Flynn brothers who have recently inherited an old plantation house from a relative they didn't know they had. Aidan, the oldest brother is former military, former FBI and a very hard-nosed man, who lost his wife a few years ago.

When Aidan finds two human bones in two different locations the local officials give him the brush off, saying that they are still finding stuff like that all over the place due to Katrina. But, Aidan has a feeling there's a lot more to it than that. Kendall Montgomery had been taking care of the Flynn brothers aunt before her death and had stayed at the plantation with her for some time. When she tells Aidan the creepy story of two cousins who ended up killing each other over a woman, and the woman is said to still haunt the plantation, he certainly isn't convinced. Between Aidan and Kendall they soon realize that there is a serial killer on the lose and he is somehow tied to the plantation and Kendall.

I really liked this book. It had a very good creep factor. Not only were the ghosts a scary part of the equation but the killer makes the hair on your neck stand up when you read about him. I have to admit when sitting up late at night reading this book, it gave me the heebie jeebies LOL... I loved the background story of the Flynn's from long ago, and Fiona, the lady in white. It was really interesting to see how Heather Graham was able to bring the elements from the past to the forefront in the future.

I also liked the vibe from Kendall's shop and the bar that all the locals frequented. In Kendall's shop you had the feeling that even though she said she didn't believe in all the hocus pocus stuff, that down deep she really did. I liked her two friends who worked with her in the shop too. One a local guitar player, with a penchant for women and the other a bald headed tarot reader with a lot of personality. The Hideaway was a gathering place for just about everyone in the story, and I liked the atmosphere that Graham gave the place, with the local band and a few ghosts hanging around for good measure.

I recommend this one to anyone looking for a good spooky read as well as to readers who love a good mystery.

Deadly Night is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag.




New York Times bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than a hundred novels, many of which have been featured by the Doubleday Book Club and The Literary Guild. An avid scuba diver, ballroom dancer and mother of five, she still enjoys her south Florida home, but loves to travel as well.