Category: Mystery

The Witching Hours by Heather Graham

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Series Crossover, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Witching Hours (The Crows)The Witching Hours by Heather Graham

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Crows #1

Release Date: January 27, 2026

When Special Agent Skye McMahon was contacted by Jackson Crow of the FBI’s Special Circumstances Unit aka “the Krewe of Hunters” or the “Ghostbuster Unit”, due to the paranormal aspects of most of their cases, she was wary, but it soon became clear that Agent Crow and his partner/wife Agent Angela Crow were already aware of her “gift” and thought she would be a perfect fit for their team. She arrives in Salem, MA to assist the local police in a death & missing persons case and is partnered with Special Agent Zachary “Zach” Erickson. Almost immediately, Skye’s gift of seeing the past, enables the team to learn that the death was not a heart attack as originally thought, but a murder and that the missing Nanny and young boy were abducted by someone dressed up as the Wicked Witch of the West, complete with green skin and a pointy black hat. And Zach’s ability to connect to a person with personal objects helps them determine that the victims are still alive. But before they can make any headway into the case, there is another abduction.

Jackson and Angela return to DC, leaving Skye and Zach to work the case with the help of Lt. Gavin Bruns of the Salem PD, who has a gift of his own. Together they piece together the clues and track down the leads, finding even more victims of the “Wicked Witch” and as they work, trust grows and blossoms into something deeper than just work partners. Their combined gifts and that connection will ultimate be the key they need to unlock this mystery and stop the Wicked Witch!

This was my first Heather Graham paranormal mystery, I have read some of her historical romances and liked her writing style, so I had no doubt that I would enjoy this book and I was not wrong. As much as I liked her HR books, this genre really lets her amazing talent shine. I was hooked from the first page and didn’t figure out the villain until just before it was revealed in the book. This story was great mystery with strong ties to the Krewe Hunters series and filled with emotion, psychic abilities, murder, lots of twists and turns, a bit of romance, and finally a satisfying ending with possibility of more cases with Skye & Zach! I highly recommend this book and as it is the first book in a spin-off series, it is the perfect book to start with, especially if you are new to this author or if you are looking for a new paranormal mystery series!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

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Wildewood by Jessica Thorne

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal / Fantasy, Romantasy, Standalone Title, Thiller / Suspense, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

WildewoodWildewood by Jessica Thorne

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Dr. Alexandra “Alex” O’Neill, aka “the Sceptic’s Sceptic”, the “debunker” on the paranormal investigation show “Ghost Patrol” doesn’t believe in ghosts and after a traumatic run in with a disgruntled show participant, she welcomes the chance to return to Ireland to settle her brother’s estate. She is heartbroken at the loss of her twin brother Theo and regrets not keeping in better touch after she left Ireland. Theo had inherited Wildewood Hall, the family estate and the barony title upon the death of their grandfather and he loved it – Alex on the other hand hated the place – it was filled with nothing but bad memories and loss for her. But as the last of the de Wilde family, the estate is now hers. She returns intent on selling the property and leaving just as soon as possible. Too bad the house has other plans!

Alex is swamped by memories and almost immediately begins to hear voices and noises in the house – her logical debunker’s mind writes off the noises as normal old house noises – but what she can’t write off is her reaction to Nick Walker – the caretaker of Wildewood and her brother’s best friend. She doesn’t understand her immediate attraction to him, and tries to distance herself, but when the house tries to kill her, Nick becomes her lifeline. And the debunker will have to accept that not everything can be explained away. So, to save herself and Nick, they will have to work together to save Wildewood from the dark forces set on overtaking them!

This story is not what I was expecting, but I was totally invested from the very start! The story is on the darker side, with a lot of evil entities infesting the home and lots of secrets and haunting memories of death and fear. But it is a well-written, nicely paced story featuring very likable characters and a complex plot with both dark and light energy. Layered in the ghost story are all the secrets of the house, the family and Nick, with twists and revelations that will have you stunned! I really enjoyed this story, it did start a little slow and there were things that I honestly didn’t understand, but overall, it was a very good, albeit, creepy read with a very satisfying ending. If you enjoy a gothic-like dark read with a bit of steam and lots of surprises – this book is a must read!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *