Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Evil Inside
    The Evil Inside
    The Evil Inside
    Audiobook (abridged)5 hours

    The Evil Inside

    Written by Heather Graham

    Narrated by Luke Daniels

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now.

    A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House, or for the chief suspect—a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.

    With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hall to pinpoint who—or what—is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateAug 30, 2011
    ISBN9781441896520
    The Evil Inside
    Author

    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.

    Related to The Evil Inside

    Titles in the series (34)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Ghosts For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Forgiveness

      Oct 5, 2023

      Forgiveness
      17 min read

    • Article

      Salinger’s Nightmare

      Apr 13, 2017

      Salinger’s Nightmare
      9 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 25, 2022

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Jul 12, 2023

      Great Read
      7 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      May 18, 2022

      Great Read
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Hard Man To Forget

      Jan 8, 2024

      A Hard Man To Forget
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Way We Were

      Jun 1, 2023

      The Way We Were
      7 min read

    • Article

      Leading With Love

      Dec 17, 2019

      Leading With Love
      11 min read

    • Article

      Too BAD

      Aug 30, 2022

      Too BAD
      6 min read

    • Article

      What A Hate Crime Looks Like

      Mar 29, 2019

      Here's how you know a hate crime. The act leaves a stain, a wretched taint that festers and ferments through generations. It's a toxicity born from the hate. And no amount of criminal prosecution, spiritual cleansing or dramatic gestures of forgivene

      3 min read

    • Article

      Speedboat

      Mar 24, 2022

      Nobody died that year. Nobody prospered. There were no births or marriages. Seventeen reverent satires were written – disrupting a cliché and, presumably, creating a genre. That was a dream, of course, but many of the most important things, I fi nd,

      14 min read

    • Article

      The 'Peculiar Institution' Is No Artifact Of The Dead Past

      Aug 18, 2019

      Perhaps you've heard of white fragility. The term was popularized by sociologist Robin DiAngelo in her 2018 book of the same name that seeks to explain why white people often find it so hard to discuss race, why the subject frequently makes them angr

      2 min read

    • Article

      Forever 19

      Jun 16, 2022

      Packing the car to the brim, I held my breath as the boot finally closed. ‘Let’s go on holiday!’ I shouted, as my hubby Dexter, now 53, and daughter Michelle, now 40, buckled themselves in. With my son James and grandson Liam gurgling in their baby s

      5 min read

    • Article

      Gone In 13 Seconds

      Sep 15, 2022

      Gone In 13 Seconds
      5 min read

    • Article

      Mr. Rain Jacket

      May 20, 2019

      Mr. Rain Jacket
      10 min read

    • Article

      Life After Death

      May 27, 2022

      Life After Death
      14 min read

    • Article

      Excerpts From The Works Of The 2024 Whiting Award Winners

      Apr 10, 2024

      The 2024 Whiting Award winners were announced Wednesday night. Below are excerpts from their work.

      19 min read

    • Article

      Letter to My Son

      Jul 4, 2015

      Letter to My Son
      30 min read

    • Article

      His Neighbor’s Wife

      May 10, 2023

      The autumn air was crisp as the Subaru idled in the residential street. Despite the early hour, the Enforcers lined the sidewalks, passive as they fulfilled their obligation. They were there to witness the act and were not to engage with the players

      8 min read

    • Article

      His Brilliant Career

      Mar 19, 2023

      His Brilliant Career
      9 min read

    • Article

      Are You Jewish?

      Sep 1, 2022

      Are You Jewish?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Rural Electrifification

      Feb 25, 2021

      Rural Electrifification
      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Evil Inside

    4/5

    115 ratings18 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      This is the first book in this series where Jackson Crow's team is not called in to help the local police. Even Jackson and Angela aren't present until later. Jenna Duffy comes to Salem to visit her uncle who needs her help. A young boy was found covered in blood and wondering naked in the middle of the street. Jenna's uncle believes he is not a murderer, so he manages to convince her and the man who found the boy to investigate. Sam, a famous lawyer, even agrees to defend the boy.
      I liked the setting of this story. The time of the murders is around Halloween. The story has a lot of history (a parallel between the accused at the Witch trials and the unwillingness of the people to even consider that the boy might not be the killer only because he comes from a religious and strict family) and there is a lot of contemplation of justice and religious tolerance. The villain is not that obvious.

      There is less romance than in previous books though it doesn't ruin the story.
    • 5/5
      Well this has been a very unique story to see how people jealous can led them into committing great act of killings.
    • 5/5
      Well, this storyline comes from the state of Massachusetts in New England, where there are different beliefs practiced among the different people and their religious practice. Some are the Puritans, Witchcraft, Wiccans, and among other religions like the Catholics, protestants, and many more. A man was driving home when he subtly found a young boy naked and covered with blood. He also appeared to be in shock of all he had been through over the loss of his entire family. The man's name was Samuel Hall, and he was home to look into what he will do about his family home. After the death of his father, who has been gone for one year now. So, he was faced to look at his career and how he had made his money. He began to compare the practice of how he has defended those who have more money. He was struggling with the presence of the boy and the history of the house where the boy’s family had just been brutally murdered.
      Another man who has had a connection with the boy Malachi Smith in the past. He has come to learn who the boy was and all that he loved his family's faith and belief and their religious practices. They attempt different religious practices that believe in doing right by their neighbors. But they were treated differently and people tend to call them names and say mean things about them. Mr. Jamie has been the child psychiatry that has worked with Malachi Smith. He found out about the innocence of the boy’s heart and soul. He is someone that loved all and does good, he also likes humanity and nature.
      In the past, there have been other killings before this very present day. The house of Lexington from the past was the Puritan Eli Lexington where the original owner killed his family because of the belief that his wife practice witchcraft. All this took place during the 1800s and people did not have laws that protect them from such beliefs and practices of hanging people for their faith and for who they are. After that, the house was next down by Mr. and Mrs. Braden who were also brutally murdered in the house. So, it starts to draw some kind of history that someone or some groups are taking advantage of. For reasons that are yet unknown, they want to take the house from the present owners.
      Some individuals had made an offer to buy the house from Mr. Abraham Smith, who refused to sell. After that, they started one rumor after the other to make the Smiths look like they are bad people. And of course, that there is a killer or spirit in the house that is causing people to kill their family members. Coming back to the present day the Smith family from Abraham Smith 62, Beth Smith 59, Abigail Smith 83, and Thomas Smith 87 all living in the town of Salem were murdered inside their home cold-blooded. While at this time their son Malachi Smith and grandson were out. Again, before the killings of the Smith family, another teacher was also murdered on the same street, he is known as Peter Andy. Although, the town accused Malachi of being the killer at the time of the kill Malachi was with the shopkeeper. So, he could not be the person that did the killings because at that time he was running an errand for his mother. By the time he got home, he was in shock and he tries to wake them up and in doing so he was covered with the blood of his family. Detective Alden John arrested him and charged him with the killings of his family. Without investigations to findings what happened and how is it that the entire family had been killed.
      Now Samuel Hall and Agent Janna Duffy were helping in the case, trying to bring the truth out. They went to the house and Jenna Duffy took herself to the historical time. when the first crime and killings took place in the house of Lexington, she was able to see the heart of humanity and the evil accusation of the people who have said things that are not truthful about others because they want what belongs to others. Their actions have led to innocent people been killed just because they worship a different religion. After that, she left, and the next day; she returns to the first house where the teacher was killed. While she was there, she was able to see how he was killed and the individual that was responsible for the killings. Now one fact is known to her that the individual that does the killings was wearing a costume that is known as the horned god with the figure of a cape and cowl.
      The next time they talked with Cecilia Sanderson and Ivy Summers, both women-owned and sells items that are used for the Wiccans religion. It was there that both Janna Duffy and Samuel Hall found out about the lady who just came into town and is competing with the Wiccans business. Especially with tarot readings which only the Wiccans who had the business for quite a while now. Have been doing this reading before she came into town and taking their customers. Her name is Samantha Yeager, and she has been in business with the councilman as partners in different businesses both operate. When the story about the kids accusing Malachi Smith of giving one of the boys the evil eyes. Which led to the parent of Malachi withdrawing him from school and got the kid home from school.
      After Jenna has made several trips to the house where the Smiths were killed and to the other house where Peter Andy was also killed. She was able to see into the past and before her very eyes saw how he was killed. She continues to make one trip after another each time she sees different times and different families whose lives were cut short. At a different time, she was beginning to learn and know how things came to be. How many stories of the past are leading to other killings? Due to the human nature of being selfish and misunderstandings with others or through total and shared belief of punishing others because of who they are. The selfishness of leading children to make up stories and lies against other people because they do not like them. Or even want to get rid of these people because of their healing powers, or rather their wealth.
      Today the same thing is happening because Samantha Yeager and David Yates want to buy the house belonging to Abraham Smith. Even though the house has been in their family, for now, two-generation. And when Mr. Abraham Smith turns them down, they were not happy with him. So, they started planning how to get rid of the Smith family; it was between two women known to the community. Today Janna Duffy went in to have her palm read by Miss. Samantha Yeager while she was there, she interviews her and she was not getting as much as she would have from Yeager. She left but also knowing that she knows a lot about her and that she somehow feels that she putting out more than she knows about the killings.
      As the case progresses while she was walking towards her car, she saw something that caught her eyes. As she follows to find out what was that she realized that it was someone wearing the costume of the horned god and also the scythe. Before she knows it, he was trying to attack, but she notices the scythe was plastic. It was then that she took action and took down the kid. Jenna was able to hold him and questioned him after that, she took the costume and making the boy walk home with his underwear. The costume was sent to the lab, and they found out that it has blood and the blood was that of Peters Andy.
      Now the case is beginning to turn one person after the other, the killers now target the shop owner that sells food in the small town. He was killed now, the only witness for Malachi Smith was killed inside his shop. He was left there all through the night and was discovered by his son. Who called in the death as murder because he was the only witness to Malachi Smith's case? The night before the adult was out for the party and in that party, Cindy Yates could not hold herself, she went as far as hitting Jenna on the face twice. It was a show and everyone present at the party saw it happen and the husband was not happy with his wife and he was forced to send her home.
      After the next was the interview from the school, all the kids were brought in and with their fathers present. Joshua Abbott was able to tell the police that he did not see Malachi coming from Mr. Peter Andy's house on the day that he was killed. He told the police that it was Andy Yates who said that if no one said the same that they saw Malachi coming from the house, nobody would believe them. Now the truth is somehow coming out and now there is also another family who has come forward telling them that Malachi was at the shop running an errand for his mother. That Malachi was nowhere near the house of Mr. Peter Andy on the day that he was murdered. The same boy also told Jenna that he was there on the day that Andy Yates was hitting his head with his trial. He equally told Jenna that Mr. Peter did talk to Andy, he said that Mr. Peter has a way of making each student who does wrong feel bad for their wicked action.
      The same day the interview at the school was taking place during that interview Andy Yates was made, to tell the truth, he said he saw his parent went into the costume shop and did not come back out. He said he thought that it was his, so he was trying to protect his father. It was then that Samuel realized that it was Mrs. Cindy Yates and Samantha Yeager who have been killing. Already Jenna Duffy and Angela Hawkins have decided to go to the Lexington house to make use of their gift to try to see again what happened. But unknown to them they were followed by the two mad women, who were doing all the killings.
      While she was in the trance she was attacked by Cindy Yates and Samantha Yeager. The fight started, she was hit on the head and she passed out. But before she came round both women have tied her up in one of the chairs. Cindy started to tell her that she never wanted to do this, but she had forced her hands. Jenna managed to get her body lifted, and she used the chair to run.
    • 4/5
      This is book 4 in the Krewe of Hunters series. I really enjoyed this story even though this is the first book in the series that I did figure out who the killer was before it was revealed. This story takes place in New England (Salem) close to Halloween. Jenna is the Krewe of Hunters team member that arrives home to visit her uncle and becomes involved in a series of murders. Enter, Sam Hall, attorney who just happens to arrive the night of the latest murder. Lots of interesting characters, dead and alive.
    • 5/5
      This book was an excellent read - a little mix of paranormal and mystery - the ending was surprising. I'm giving this book 5 stars.
    • 2/5
      This book has a very interesting story line, which is difficult to get through when you're constantly being hit over the head with it's various themes.

      The same information about the Salem Witch Trials is presented multiple times from the perspective of each character, in the same chapter. The author repeatedly slams the reader over the head with the bible. There is a completely unnecessary romance sandwiched in between the male and female lead characters.

      I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
    • 3/5
      The Evil Inside
      3 Stars

      After enjoying the previous book, Sacred Evil, I had hopes for the series but unfortunately Graham has regressed and The Evil Inside continues in the same mediocre vein as the first two installments.

      The book is in serious need of editing as the numerous grammatical and spelling errors, and repeated sentence structures detract from the overall reading experience.

      The historical background on Salem and the Witch Trials is fascinating but too much emphasis is placed on political correctness and warnings against prejudice. The murder plot is one of the more absorbing and exciting in the series but it is easy to guess the culprit as the mystery unfolds and more characters are introduced. The paranormal elements are not effectively merged into the suspense story, which may have been even more compelling without them.

      The romance is almost an afterthought - Sam and Jenna have virtually no chemistry and the obstacle to their relationship (i.e. Sam's difficulty accepting Jenna's gift) is quickly glossed over.

      It seems that the next book has a completely different set of characters so I'm willing to give it a try even though Heather Graham is a very hit/miss author for me.
    • 4/5
      Attorney Samuel Hill is headed to his hometown for a little R&R after a tough case. He never expected to become embroiled in another high profile case. His curiosity is peeked as he stumbles upon a boy covered in blood. The boy is being touted as another Eli Lexington. Sam doesn't believe in all that mumbo jumbo. Just because the town is home to the legendary Lexington House doesn't mean evil ghosts provoked the boy to commit murder.

      This book is a fun read and a good mystery with a bit of American history thrown in to the mix. A great read. The paranormal stuff is good, but not over the top.
    • 4/5
      The Evil Inside is book four in the Krewe of Hunters series by Heather Graham.

      Attorney Samuel Hall is returning to his native Salem, Massachusetts for a well deserved short vacation after an exhausting case. Late at night Sam is on his way to his Salem’s home when he encounters a young boy covered in blood in the middle of the road. He stops to assists him and calls the authorities. When the police arrive they identified the boy as Malachi Smith. Malachi is arrested on the scene and charged with the murders of his family. Sam knows the evidence implicates Malachi but something in his gut tells him the boy is innocent.
      Jenna Duffy is a member of a special FBI team known as the Krewe of hunters. They specialize in paranormal cases, Jenna specialty or ability is call post-cognition, it means she can talk to ghosts and in certain cases she can see what happened in the past when she is present in a room, almost like a residual reading.
      When Jenna receives a call from Jamie, requesting her help with Malachi’s case, Jenna cannot say no to her favorite uncle and accepts to help him. Jamie is Malachi’s psychologist, he knows Malachi better than anyone and he is certain Malachi is innocent. Jamie also contacts Sam requesting his help as a lawyer. After some consideration Sam accepts to represent Malachi as his attorney pro-bono.
      To be able to find out the truth about the murders Jenna and Sam need to work together, as a team, but there is a problem, Sam is a non-believer and kind of mocks Jenna’s “gift” and Jenna thinks Sam is a pompous man, and to add to this there is a unequivocal attraction between this two, as they say, opposites attracts.

      Jenna is a very likeable character; she knows her gift is not a normal one and not everybody is going to accept it but she is ok with that, she has come a long way accepting it herself and now she uses to help others with the collaboration of her FBI team.

      Sam is smart, cute and interesting. He comes as a non-believer but he is also not completely close to otherness. At the same time Sam is discovering himself, he thinks he is happy and has everything he wants in life but slowly he starts to question himself what is what he really wants to do with and in his life.

      As with all romance novels we know our heroine and hero are going to end together, the question is how are they going to get to that point. In Sam and Jenna's case they are attracted from the beginning and the more they know each other the more the attraction grows and the more they start to care for each other.

      The secondary characters are all interesting and diverse, from Jenna’s uncle Jamie to the Wicca members, from the mayor to the members of Malachi’s family conservative church. Some of the members of Jenna’s FBI team or Krewe Hunters are also present, it’s obvious there is a back-story with some of them but this didn’t affect or detract my enjoyment of The Evil Inside. It just made me want to pick up their books.

      What I like the most about The Evil Inside was the setting. I have always wanted to visit Salem MA. and have been very intrigue about the Salem witchcraft trials. They author not only does an amazing job describing the city of Salem but intermingles perfectly the historical facts about the witchcraft hunts with the story, to complete this, the events happens during Halloween. I don’t know of a more perfect setting for a mystery than this one.

      If you love mystery, suspense, ghosts and a well-written story with a touch of history The Evil Inside is the book for you. The Evil Inside is a fast pace thriller, with some twists in the story that will surprise you and will have you on the edge of your seat.
      The Evil Inside was my first novel by Heather Graham but I can guarantee you it won’t be my last.
    • 3/5
      This is the first book in this series where Jackson Crow's team is not called in to help the local police. Even Jackson and Angela aren't present until later. Jenna Duffy comes to Salem to visit her uncle who needs her help. A young boy was found covered in blood and wondering naked in the middle of the street. Jenna's uncle believes he is not a murderer, so he manages to convince her and the man who found the boy to investigate. Sam, a famous lawyer, even agrees to defend the boy.
      I liked the setting of this story. The time of the murders is around Halloween. The story has a lot of history (a parallel between the accused at the Witch trials and the unwillingness of the people to even consider that the boy might not be the killer only because he comes from a religious and strict family) and there is a lot of contemplation of justice and religious tolerance. The villain is not that obvious.

      There is less romance than in previous books though it doesn't ruin the story.
    • 4/5
      This is book 4 in the Krewe of Hunters series. I really enjoyed this story even though this is the first book in the series that I did figure out who the killer was before it was revealed. This story takes place in New England (Salem) close to Halloween. Jenna is the Krewe of Hunters team member that arrives home to visit her uncle and becomes involved in a series of murders. Enter, Sam Hall, attorney who just happens to arrive the night of the latest murder. Lots of interesting characters, dead and alive.
    • 4/5
      For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now… A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House – or for the chief suspect, a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill. With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hill to pinpoint who – or what – is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.(Retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Jun 2011)This is the 4th book in the Krewe of Hunters series. They are great romantic suspense novels with a touch of the paranormal. This one takes place in Salem, MA during halloween. Halloween in Salem is the perfect setting for this tale of serial killers, bloody, gory crime scenes and the ghosts who help solve the crime. This is a great series and look forward to #5.
    • 4/5
      Read for Fun/Summer Series ReadOverall Rating: 3.50Story Rating: 3.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating (not part of the overall review): 3.50 First thought when finished: Not as good as the others but still entertaining!What I Loved: The Team once again brought their A Game! By now they are as much family as friends. They truly treat each other with respect and will go out of their way to help each other. I love that with the exception of one couple that the romances have been outside the team. It has really made it possible for the friendships to shine through.What I liked: Jenna has always been one of my favorite members of the Krewe so it was nice to spend more time with her. Her character has always been the most helpful so it was nice to see her take center stage.What made me go huh?: It took a long time for me to warm up to Sam though part of that had to do with the narration.Audio Review: Usually I am a fan of Luke Daniels but he wasn't great in this book. It might have been because I listened to the Iron Druid series first but Sam sort of sounded like Oberon. That isn't great when one is a dog and the other is a love interest. So I would say read this one, I ended up doing just that about half way through.Final Thought: This was probably the weakest of the 4 books but I still enjoyed it!
    • 4/5
      The Evil Inside by Heather Graham 4 STARSThe Evil Inside is a 4th in the Krew novels. I have not read any of the ones before, but I have read one after where he sets up another unit. I do feel that I have missed some about how the group worked together previous. But does do well standing on its own. I would like to read them all some day.The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. It has a lot of the Salem Witch trials ref. in it. Even some of their ghosts.Sam Hall a high price defense attorney is coming home to Salem to deal with his family home and almosts runs over a naked boy in the middle of the street covered with blood.The police when they come put thier guns on the boy who is in shock and tells Sam he just killed his whole family with a ax.Jenna Duffy is a member of a special team in the FBI when her Uncle Jamie asks her to come visit him on vacation now. On her way into town she hears about the murders that happened in the Lexington House. decades ago other sets of murder happened in that house.Jenna's Uncle Jamie asked her to come because of other murders that happened last week and six months before that. They were killed by axe too.Malachi Smith was accused of being seen coming out of the house by other teenage boys. Though a grocery owner swears that the boy was in his store for over an hour at time of first murder too. Now Malachi was under arrest for killing his family.Malachi was different than most boys. He was skinny and belonged to a church that was strict. When the big football players would try and cause trouble for him he would just turn the cheek. In fact one football player at lunch time took his tray and started to beat himself up and said it was Malachi gave him the eye and made him do it.Malachi was taken out of school because a lot of people believed the football player. Jamie knew that Malachi was innocent of any of the crimes and wanted jenna to help clear him.Jenna sometimes see past events happen again she also sees ghosts too. Some of her team comes to visit the sites for halloween. Because the FBI can't investigate unless they are called in.Jamie also convinces Sam to head Malachi defense probono. Sam also has a private investigator license to help him investigates what happens on his cases and finds the real killers.So Jenna is just helping Sam with the defense. Sam does not believes that she can talk to ghosts. They grow a lot closer and Sam starts believing more.are some love scenes in the books. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.08/30/2011 PUB Harlequin Mira Books
    • 3/5
      This book is set in Salem, MA, around Halloween, making it a perfect October read, in my opinion. Jenna Duffy is a member of the Krewe of Hunters, an FBI group made up of people with a little bit different skills- they can see ghosts. Jenna returns home to Salem at the request of her Uncle Jamie, a twee little Irishman, who can spin a good ghost story. He is also respected psychiatrist in the community, and when one of his patients, a teenager named Malachi, is accused of a murder Jamie doesn't believe he committed, he asks Jenna to return home and use her gifts to help free Malachi. They enlist the help of hot-shot attorney Sam Hall; Jenna and Sam inevitably fall in love, but Sam does have to struggle with a few aspects of Jenna's life- such as her ability to see ghosts. Jenna obliges her uncle, which leads to learning much more about the history of Lexington House, where Malachi lived and his family was axed to death.In my opinion, we didn't learn enough about the history of Lexington House. As with all the books in the series that I have read, I have enjoyed them immensely, but was left wanting to hear more of the back story. This book in particular left me even more curious than the rest. The house is "evil", filled with tales of murders that have taken place there throughout the decades, all the way back to the Salem Witch era, a period of time that has been an interest of mine for years. I wanted to know more about the history of the house, and why what happened there, happened. This is a fun book, and while it didn't scare me, it did have some pretty gruesome scenes. I enjoyed this book, and think it was a perfect addition to my October reading lineup.I also read this for the Frightful Fall Readathon hosted by Castle Macabre. I had intended to read more, but it just didn't work out this week.
    • 5/5
      In Heather Graham's paranormal romantic suspense novel, Jenna Duffy, a member of the nation's foremost paranormal forensic team, has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. But nothing could have ever prepared her for the slayings that plagued Lexington House or for the chief suspect--a teenage boy. Teaming both professionally and romantically with attorney Samuel Hall, they work to pinpoint the who or what that is taking lives around them. Once again, Graham illustrates why she sits at the top of the genre.
    • 4/5
      RECEIVED FROM: Net Galley for Review***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***When a Salem psychologist’s young patient is accused of slaughtering his entire family, with the whole town certain of his guilt even though the psychologist believes the boy is innocent, Jamie O’Neil calls in help. First he enlists the aid of his niece Jenna Duffy, a special division FBI agent in the Krewe of Hunters, and then he enlists Salem born high powered attorney Samuel Anthony Hall to defend the boy pro bono. Sam doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into, all the evidence points to Malachai and he certainly doesn’t expect any help from Jenna with her ghost mumbo jumbo – FBI or not. Jenna knows Sam doesn’t believe her or even respect her. She’s used to that sort of reception no matter how many times she and the Krewe have proven their gifts instrumental in solving dangerous cases. In Jenna’s eyes the stuffy attorney is just looking for more press and doesn’t care who’s really guilty, but her Uncle Jamie asked for her help and after meeting Malachai she knows he’s innocent. Multiple people have been slaughtered by a brutal killer and despite popular opinion the wrong person is behind bars. But can Jenna and Sam get past their differences and work as a team? Regardless Salem’s residents don’t like their snooping and with a killer still at large will they be the next target? Once again Heather Graham shows why she remains on the Best Sellers list with this fast paced paranormal romance mystery. (Yeah I’m not completely sure that’s a genre but it’s a good description.) The plot was extremely detailed, intricate and I’m sure for most readers surprising until the very end. About the only thing you know for certain, since this is a romance, is that at some point Jenna and Sam will hook up. Of course you know that with any romance you open. I did guess some of who did it within a few chapters, but I will say the full answered surprised me. It makes sense when they explain it and you can look back and see the minor bits of foreshadowing here and there, but it wasn’t one of those mysteries that isn’t a mystery in any way, you really were on the edge of your seat awaiting what really happened. One of the things I really loved about this plot is the way it’s basically a modern day version of a Salem Witch trial, everyone is sure Malachai did it because he’s different and his family was different. I probably wouldn’t have seen this comparison on my own to be honest, but the writer brings this to light many times in the book and the characters also make the comparison. While you get the enjoyment of a wonderful mystery the book is also filled with interesting facts about the historical Salem witch trials which I really enjoyed. About the only thing I didn’t like was the initial hook up between the characters. While I knew they would end up together in the long run, I didn’t see their first overnight visit together coming. The scenes before that one were missing those sparky moments where they notice and deny their attraction, while the characters apparently saw it I didn’t feel it was appropriately displayed to the reader. The book is a well written third person with a fast pace that makes it difficult to put down. The details in this novel were excellent, clearly creating the scene without being excessive in her descriptions. While the book is in my opinion first and foremost a murder mystery, I loved how Graham brought in ghosts through dreams and cryptic encounters. While I wouldn’t call them full blown characters as most were just cameo appearances, it was neat how she brought across the idea that some ghosts from the past stay to prevent history from repeating itself. Jenna’s ability to see scenes from the past also contributed some extremely interesting scenes. While the romance was there and it would be safely shelved with romance due to many people’s strange aversion to the genre, I felt it was a secondary plot line rather than the primary one. And I like how she managed to write a romance without making it the focus of her work. Though this book is part of a series it works fine as a standalone novel. It’s actually my first Krewe series novel but I didn’t face any confusion due to missing back story while reading this novel. I’m sure the series fits together nicely if read in order, however you can easily pick up this book without having read the series and know what’s going on. Jenna and Sam were truly likeable and memorable characters, especially Jenna. I really enjoyed their story and loved how Graham still managed to flesh out the secondary characters as well. I could picture pretty much every character clearly in my mind as if they were someone I could easily run into on a random street. Overall I really enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. I think it will appeal to readers who enjoy suspense mysteries, paranormal and romance novels. I know this is one of my shorter reviews, however I feel the rating and details I’ve given are enough to speak for themselves about how great the book was.
    • 4/5
      Salem, Massachusetts has a rich and strange history. It is a beautiful coastal town that is now best known for its history with the Salem Witch Trials. Centuries ago the mass hysteria led to numerous accusations of witchcraft and many innocents died. Now a series of heinous murders, Lizzie Borden style murders, may lead to the lifelong incarceration of a true innocent. Jenna Duffy, a member of the Krewe of Hunters, is asked by her uncle to come to Salem and investigate and perhaps save Malachi Smith, the accused murderer. Is there an old evil lurking in Salem or is this just another case of people judging what they don't understand? The Evil Inside by Heather Graham is the fourth in the Krewe of Hunters series and seeks to answer these questions.Jenna begins to work unofficially with her uncle to investigate these bizarre murders. Is it possible that Malachi may have killed his family, a neighbor and a former school teacher without knowing it? What was his motive? Jenna and Uncle Jamie feel that Malachi may be railroaded because of his family's unconventional religious beliefs (hard to believe that a town can embrace Wicca but have a problem with a fundamentalist Christian faith). Malachi's father wasn't loved or understood and was inordinately strict but, were these grounds for murder? Fortunately Jenna and Uncle Jamie are assisted by a well-known Boston attorney, Samuel Hall. Their investigation starts with the house that was the scene of several historical murders just like the Smith family's murders. What follows isn't really a paranormal thriller than a basic whodunit mystery. As a mystery, The Evil Inside keeps the reader on the edge with the story twists and turns. The initially antagonistic relationship between Jenna and Sam quickly devolves into the expected love-fest. This story doesn't involve as many of the Krewe of Hunters, Jackson, Angela and Will make appearances and play secondary roles in the investigation. Jake makes cameo appearances by phone consultations. The ghost of Rebecca Nurse, the first to die as a result of the Salem Witch Trials, makes periodic appearances as well.The Evil Inside does a great job of weaving the factual history of the Salem Witch Trials into the fictional story line. The inclusion of the ghost of Rebecca Nurse is a nice touch. As a romantic suspense-thriller, this falls a little short. This may be because it has more focus on the sexual aspects of the relationship and not so much on the romance. But as a suspense thriller it excels, with the thrills and mystery front and center. Ms. Graham has taken fact and fiction and woven them into a great story. The Evil Inside is a great suspense-thriller with paranormal elements and a light romance thrown in . . . a perfect read for the weekend.