Phantom Evil

Written by Heather Graham

Narrated by Jeff Cummings

A secret government unit is formed under the oversight of Adam Harrison, famed paranormal investigator. The six members he’s gathered know a little of the otherworldly—each has honed a psychic talent of their own.

Jackson Crow, part English, part Cheyenne, heads the group. Haunted by his experience with an ancestral ghost who saved his life as a child, and the recent murders of two previous teammates, Jackson can’t tell if Adam’s demoted him or given him an extraordinary opportunity. Despite his link to the realm of spirits, he’s well aware that the living commit the most heinous crimes, with spiritualist charlatans existing merely to fool and seduce the unwary.

To counterbalance Jackson’s careful skepticism, Adam Harrison has paired him with Angela Hawkins, a young woman who learned the painful lesson of loss at an early age. A police officer utilizing her paranormal intuition in Virginia, she already has her hands full. But Adam’s call to New Orleans is strong.

The case: In a historic mansion in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a senator’s wife falls to her death from a balcony. Most think she jumped, distraught over the loss of her young son. Some say she was pushed. And yet others believe she was beckoned by the ghostly spirits that inhabit the house—once the site of a serial killer’s grisly work.

Whether supernatural or all too human, crimes of passion, greed and desire will cast the pair into danger of losing their lives…and their immortal souls.

“Graham does a great job of blending just a bit of paranormal with real, human evil.” —Miami Herald

“Graham wields a deftly sexy and convincing pen.” —Publishers Weekly

“An incredible storyteller.” —Los Angeles Daily News

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Mar 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781441896247

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.

Reviews for Phantom Evil

[sbshepherd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this mystery especially since it also had a paranormal side. The characters and storyline are well developed with multiple twists and turns. The budding love story between the two leading characters did seem to be a bit under-developed and the sex scenes were not as sensual as they could have been....but overall it is a good story.

[Sarah Silverstone · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I really like the first book in the series, but this one was so boring. I didn’t care who killed the guy, I couldn’t find it in me to rally behind a bunch of Civil War, reenactment players and plantation owners. There was a lot of heavy-handed narrative, trying to make it OK if these were modern day former enslavers who now know that slavery was bad, but they still dress up in these costumes and reenact the Civil War in all want to be confederates, etc.

[Nneamaka M. Payne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having this series of novel was entertaining reading equally interesting stories. What a way that this sentor have to taking to getting ride of his wife.

[NNEAMAKA PAYNE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book began with Adam Harrison calling Jackson Crow into his office and giving him another case. After the completion of his last case of which four of his team member were arm bush by the killer and his partners. Some members of this Krewe of hunter were killed but Jackson Crow was not there at that moment but he was able to seek the spirit and through one of their team member who was gone came him and that was how he was able to save the others. Before they met their own faith and Jackson suffered some damager too. But he was able to take out the Pick-Man in the end of that case and investigation. After which he was giving a vacation to recover from the horror of that case.
Now he was thinking that Adams Harrison had call him to give him a desk job but unknown to Jackson Crow he will be heading his own team of Krewe hunters. The new case and new Krewe members of six agents. Among which are Jackson Crow as head of the team, Angela Hawkins, Whitney Tremont a native of Creole back background and from the firm industry, Jake Mallory musician and great with tracking and searching for kidnapping cases , Jenna Duffy is a registered nurse from Ireland, and Will Chan worked in theater and a as a magician. This new team began with their first case and were led by Jackson Crow he got to Louisiana and was led into the home of both Regina Holloway, and David Holloway with their death son Jacob Holloway. Their work was to find out what, why, how, and who caused or lead to the death of Regina Holloway.
He was meet by the detective Andy Devereaux who was the detective in charge of the case when Mrs. Regina Holloway was reported to have committed suicide. While she was living, she had some made and housekeepers that does help her keep the house in good shape. They are chauffeur known as Grable Hairies, and aide to the Senator is Martin DuPre, Blake Conron, Petti, Griffin, and Valeria Abreu. All are aids and house help to both the Holloways.
While Jackson was away meeting with the local police officers, they will work with during this case. By the time he came back to the house, Angela Hawkins was already digging and breaking things in the steps leading to the basement. So, he was caught of the guild with how she was working the tools, and before he knows it; she had uncovered the skeleton of the first kill of Madden C. Newton Donatello. He had to call detective Andy Devereaux to bring in their forensic team to come and recovered the skeleton. They met in the most usual way and they were at each other neck trying to know each other better. But the way and approach was unconventional way asking a question that was meant to touch in the inner personality of each individual. Somehow, they could move on and letting each person take one simple step at a time, learning more and more.
One by one, each member of their team comes to join the job and settling into their duties and responsibilities. By the time, all members were in the divide works who go to the shop and buying food and settling on their first interview of the Senator and his aids. After which they changed the room and while waiting for the rest to come back from the market. By night, each person knows what they are to do and how they act when in or outside the house. Who takes a turn on the camera?
The second night Jackson Crow and Angelo Dawkins took to rest while Will Chang and Janna Duffy take the first watch. While the rest sleeps.

[dunnfunkat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the Krewe of Hunters series. A new team has been chosen to investigate a death in New Orleans. All members of the new team are interesting. At first, I wasn't that fond of Jackson who heads up the new team but he grew on me. The others are interesting and each brings a different skill to the team.The characters involved a senator, his dead wife, his staff, a church cult, dead children, a evil dead murderer, and his victims. The story is mostly in a Victorian home in New Orleans. I didn't figure this out so it was interesting.

[amandanan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable read, though it dragged in places. The blurb is a little misleading, and I really think this book could've been taken up a notch or two had she not written it as a Harlequin romance.

[tvnerd95 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Surprisingly good:

I love it when a book pleasantly surprises and this book did it. I enjoyed all the characters in the team of Krewe Hunters and also enjoyed the mystery and how the author brought it all together in the end. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one and I am glad the author focused on both the paranormal and human side of the world are team gets involved in.

The mystery is great and had plenty twists along the way to keep the listener wondering just how convoluted and tied together all the characters are. I loved the diversity of the team members and they each brought something special into the story.

My one complaint was I wanted to learn my about each member of the team and this book was mainly focused on Jackson and Angela. I am hoping to learn more about each team member as the series continues.

The narrator was really good and I was excited to get back to the story each time. Look forward to the next book in the series.

[liz.mabry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's not great literature. It's a bit formulaic. But man, it's addictive. Like Pixy Stix.

[carl_alves_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Phantom Evil is the first book in the Krewe of Hunters series, a group led by skeptic Jackson Crowe that consists of individuals from different backgrounds who have some level of paranormal ability. In this novel, a state senator from Louisiana requests their services after his wife is killed in a house inhabited by ghosts—at least the senator wants to prove there are ghosts and that his wife didn’t commit suicide. Angela, the former cop who has an ability to see the dead, immediately makes a connection with the ghosts of the house, many of whom were killed by a serial killer from the post-Civil War era.There were things I liked about this novel. I liked the mix of characters that composed the Krewe of Hunters. I liked the setup to the story and the mystery that they had to solve. Where the novel really falls short is in believability. The believability issues have nothing to do with the paranormal elements. It’s the real world aspects of it that make it fall apart. Namely, the cast of characters surrounding the senator, their actions, motivations, and the fact that the news media in Louisiana or the police could not even get a sniff of some of the things that they were doing strike me as being a bit ridiculous. I could only stretch my suspension of disbelief so far. As things unfolded, I had a hard time staying in the story because it was too hard to swallow.Carl Alves - author of Battle of the Soul

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Phantom Evil
3 Stars

A secret unit of six paranormal investigators, each with their own unique skill, is called following the mysterious death of a state senator’s wife. Regina Holloway allegedly fell to her death in a house reportedly haunted by the victims of a post civil war serial killer. As the investigation progresses and the team grows closer both personally and professionally, they must determine whether Regina was the victim of a malevolent ghost or the more insidious machinations of someone closer to home.

The underlying premise of a haunted house is intriguing and the opening chapters are well written and engaging. Unfortunately, this trend does not continue and the writing becomes excessively descriptive and the dialogue forced. There are also one or two editorial slip-ups that create some confusion. For example, one character’s involvement in a nefarious group is revealed through conversation before the event exposing his connection actually occurs.
The characterization is unrealistic. It is extremely difficult to believe that six individuals from such diverse backgrounds will come together so cohesively in a relatively short period of time with absolutely no friction or conflict – this goes against human nature.
The romantic leads lack both tension and chemistry in their relationship. The hero is completely cold and unsympathetic, and the heroine’s initial dislike for him changes almost immediately into an incomprehensible attraction.
Finally, the conclusion is convoluted, and while some aspects of the mystery are solved others remain unexplained, which leaves the reader with a less that satisfied feeling.
Notwithstanding the above, this is a good ghost-hunting story with some interesting twists and turns. Moreover, readers with a passion for New Orleans history and culture will be entertained by the setting and atmosphere.

[bookjunkie777 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this mystery especially since it also had a paranormal side. The characters and storyline are well developed with multiple twists and turns. The budding love story between the two leading characters did seem to be a bit under-developed and the sex scenes were not as sensual as they could have been....but overall it is a good story.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The wife of Louisiana State Senator David Holloway, Regina falls from the balcony of their mansion to her death. The New Orleans Police Department investigates and concludes Regina committed suicide as she still grieved the loss of her son Jacob due to a DUI several months ago.

Adam Harrison sends his special investigative team to New Orleans to look into the Holloway death. The unit is led by Jackson Crow, who used to work for the Fed's Behavioral Sciences Unit. He, his team of five, and paranormal pragmatic Virginia police officer Angela Hawkins who can detect the supernatural arrive at the Holloway mansion in the French Quarters. Their mission is to determine whether the supernatural was involved in the woman's fall. Soon they revise the objective to just staying alive.

Ghosts are hard to put down on paper and still give you that haunting chill like seeing it on screen. Graham pulls it off and not without her typical humor and wit. I found myself turning each page wondering if it was ghost or human who did the deed.

[yvonne.sevignykaiser · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Picked this up from the library was on a Paranormal Book Club Read though I would check it out although I could not make the meeting for this group. I enjoyed the New Orleans setting and the background story on the house once owned by a serial killer after the civil war. Pretty well have an idea of who did the crime but you are intrigued by the city that is filled with ghost stories and the unknown. I could have done with out the roll in the hay towards the latter half of the book. But this is a beach type fluff read a little swarthy sex is to be expected.

[vampiregirl76 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Heather Graham has been on my authors to read list for a long time now. I wish I would have started earlier than I did. Phantom Evil is an excellent story. It's a wonderful mixture of paranormal, romance and mystery. I admit the "secret government unit" almost put me off, but the Krewe is exciting mix of people. I look forward to reading more of the books. I definitely recommend this one. I know some people might be put off by how many books are in the series, but just by reading the first book - I can see it's gonna be worth it.

[jalenv_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Phantom of Evil is the first book in the Krewe of Hunters series, which I read after reading books 13 and 14.It was interesting to see how the first Krewe got together. Jackson Crow, team leader (his tragic back story is in chapter one) is a skeptic who has spent years debunking ghost stories. He;s not happy about being transferred from the Behavioral Sciences Unit to a what he considers an X-Files unit.That's why I chuckled when the state senator who wanted the Krewe to check out his house thought he was getting real-life ghost busters.Jackson is our romantic hero. Our heroine is Angela Hawkins, a cop who has learned to cover up her psychic abilities with logical (or logical-sounding) explanations. Her tragic back story is told in chapter two. We get to learn more details later about both of them later, with plenty of teasers along the way.Senator David Holloway is adamant that his wife, Regina, did not commit suicide. Is he right? Does his house deserve its reputation for being haunted?Ms. Graham tickled my sense of humor when she gave her fictional serial killer, Madden C. Newton, the same first initial and surname as Michael Newton, author of the Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Madden bought the house not long after the American Civil War. He wasn't the kind of serial killer who has a preferred victim type and sticks to it. He was perfectly happy to kill men, women, and children. Unlike the real-life Axeman of New Orleans, Madden was caught and hanged. Could he be haunting his former happy hunting ground?The original Dark Shadows fan in me enjoyed the fact that the Martin DuPre, the senator's aide surnameis one letter away from being the same as Barnabas Collin's beloved Josette DuPres. Deliberate? Coincidence? Angela enters the mansion while Jackson is out. She ticks him off right away by making a sensational discovery before he gets back. (It did involve some damage to the place...) He doesn't approve of what she wants to do later on. (Angela is braver than I am. You would have had to drag me into that room after that second encounter with the ghosts. Forget screaming -- I'd have been trying to bite you so you'd let me go.)The younger members of the Krewe are a nice bunch. Because I've read books 13 & 14, I expect Will Chan, Jake Mallory, Whitney Tremont, and Jenna Duffy to be romantic leads in future books. Good thing I can't remember which guy winds up with which gal.Whitney's great-grandmother, Voodoo priestess Mama Matisse, is a good character. There's a description of her shop in chapter eight. Although she uses the word 'a man' instead of 'a politician,' I agree with her opinion about what she wants to see one doing.There's something the Krewe infers from crime scene photos that make the local police look bad because they should have caught the implication themselves -- unless they were subconsciously refusing to catch it out of deference to the popular senator. Senator Holloway's major opponents are a white supremacist group called the Aryans and a probable cult called the Church of Christ Arisen. If a man really can be known by the enemies he makes, those groups make him look good.The strip club scene in chapter twelve was fun.Warning: there's a major spoiler for Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House in chapter seven, as well as both book and the 1963 movie in chapter eight. (Because Crow says 'the movie,' I'm guessing he either didn't see the 1999 remake or has mercifully forgotten its existence. I'd like to.) The book and original movie are rightly classics. The book is short, but read it carefully -- I couldn't understand why the heroine was so frightened in one scene until I noticed a crucial sentence during one rereading. Unlike the 1999 remake, the 1960 version of The Haunting has very little in the way of special effects. What it implies is chilling. I once showed it to a co-worker's macho 13-year-old who loved horror films. Within 10 minutes he was on the floor by my rocking chair and asking me to open the curtains.If Heather Graham was paying homage to Barbara Michaels' Ammie, Come Home in chapters nine and ten, she has good taste in ghost stories.Was I correct in thinking the author might also be paying homage to Richard Matheson's Hell House? It would be a spoiler to tell you. Hell House was really brutal for its time (1971). Although Mr. Matheson wrote the screenplay for the 1973 movie, The Legend of Hell House, be sure to read the book first. The movie couldn't do more than hint at what goes on in the print version without getting an X rating.Good setting, good haunting, good mystery. Check it out.

[krystalsbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in a series but I have read several of the others. Great writing exciting storyline.

[cldunn-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the Krewe of Hunters series. A new team has been chosen to investigate a death in New Orleans. All members of the new team are interesting. At first, I wasn't that fond of Jackson who heads up the new team but he grew on me. The others are interesting and each brings a different skill to the team.The characters involved a senator, his dead wife, his staff, a church cult, dead children, a evil dead murderer, and his victims. The story is mostly in a Victorian home in New Orleans. I didn't figure this out so it was interesting.

[irishcontessa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars

Review first posted at Just A Reader book blog.

Phantom Evil by Heather Graham is the first in the Krewe of Hunters series set in New Orleans about a quasi-governmental unit that investigates the paranormal and is set up by Adam Harrison, a character who also appears in the Harrison Investigation series.

I have to admit that I didn't love Jackson, the "hero" of this book. Despite his experience with the paranormal, he treated Angela and the others on his team as if they were lunatics for believing in the paranormal. He also shot down every idea Angela came up with for the first half of the book. In turn, Angela treated Jackson as if he could never be or do anything wrong. It was a little irritating.

The plot was fantastic - it kept me guessing right up to the end as to who was guilty. The appearances of the various ghosts was creepy (in a good way) and always a little disturbing and unexpected. I enjoyed that "relationship" between Angela and the ghosts in the house.

The various suspects were all really well written - shady enough to make you suspicious but with just enough explanation to make them understandable and not obviously evil or guilty. The other members of the Krewe were great as well. The banter and interactions with the various members was fun and easygoing without being contrived in any way.

While I didn't love this book at the beginning and didn't warm up to Jackson until the middle of the book, I ended up enjoying it a great deal. The plot and guessing about what would happen made up for my lack of love toward the two main characters and by the end I really wanted to read more about the other members of the Krewe.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Following the devastation of his previous BAU team, Jackson Crow is assigned a new and secret unit to investigate the death of a Louisiana state senator's wife. The catch? The senator is convinced that his wife was killed by a ghost. I enjoyed this book and will be reading more in the series. I am a sucker for anything set in New Orleans and ghosts just add to the fun. It was not the best book on ghost hunting that I have ever read but it was introducing characters and that always slows the first book in a series down. And it could have been a tiny bit scarier. But all in all a fun way to pass a few nights.

[weeziesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When the New Orleans police department brings together an odd assortment of characters to stay in an old house where a murder occurred strange events occur. This paranormal historical romance story is structured around Jackson a part-Cheyenne FBI agent who becomes the leader of this team of misfits who are to investigate and solve the murder of a key political leader's wife. Was it ghosts, suicide or flesh and blood that led to the senators wife's murder? Relationships between the team members and contact with a church of questionable beliefs cause Jackson and the team to question the role and purpose of those supporting the senator. The story was not believable and the characters, although somewhat entertaining were not believable and not just because it was a ghost story. This was a 2.5 to 3 mystery novel without depth or suspense.

[lrobe190 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jackson Crow, a former member of the government's Behavioral Sciences Unit in Washington, D.C., leads a covert group investigating a reputedly haunted New Orleans house. When Regina Holloway, the wife of a popular Louisiana state senator takes a fatal fall from the balcony of the couple's French Quarter mansion, her death is officially ruled a suicide, but could ghosts have been involved? Angela Hawkins, a Virginia police officer with the ability to detect paranormal activity, partners with Jackson professionally and romantically as she assists his team in discovering the truth behind Regina's death. (PW, Amazon.com)Graham writes taught romantic suspense novels, often with a paranormal theme. This one doesn't disappoint. I listened to this one and the reader put me off a bit, but the story was good enough to keep going.

[ashleywintters · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After his last case, Jack Crow expects to get a desk job with mainly paperwork pushing responsibilities. Instead, Adam Harrison gives him the task of heading a new unit, with six unique members who are to solve the murder or suicide of a senator’s wife. Jack is a skeptic and yet he has had several unexplainable experiences that have saved him and others.The senator is convinced his wife didn’t commit suicide as the police have determined, though they recently suffered the loss of their young son. Since he is so well liked and connected, his wife’s case is a task for Jack’s new unit. The unit members literally meet on the job, at the house in New Orleans…a house that has supposedly been haunted for decades!Angela Hawkins is one of Jack’s team, who has some special talents, and their attraction is basically instantaneous. Angela is more than Jack’s love interest; she also helps him lead the team through the paranormal and beyond.This is the perfect example of how a paranormal romance should be! Graham takes you through the whole book with just enough romance, suspense and ghosts to keep you up late into the night!Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine

[booklovingmommy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heather Graham is one of my favorite adult paranormal authors! I think her books are spooky and fun to read and Phantom Evil is no exception!Jackson Crow is recruited by Adam Harrison (whom you will recognize if you've ever read any of Graham's other series) to head up a unique team after losing members from his old team. Jackson is not sure if this is a promotion or a demotion but decides to go along with it and heads to New Orleans to meet his new team and try to solve the question of whether a Senator's wife committed suicide or was murdered.Once in New Orleans, Jackson meets Andy, the detective in charge of the case. While at the police department, another team member, Angela arrives. Jackson returns to the Senator's house to find Angela digging up the bones to a body in the basement. From there, the story speeds up as the other members of the team arrive and the whole team discovers that they each have some talent of speaking with or seeing the dead.The house has it's own sordid history of murder and tragedy. The Senator wants to know whether his wife, distraught after the loss of their only child, jumped to her death or whether ghosts killed her. There were many avenues and characters to check out and that had me guessing until the very end!The romance between Angela and Jackson was pretty predictable (especially if you are familiar with Graham) but was still fun and sexy. In fact, by the end of this series, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole team was paired up into couples.I loved the setting! New Orleans is obviously a perfect place for a haunted story and the author does an amazing job in describing the city so you feel that you are right in the middle of things. The characters are well developed as well and while some of the parts seem a little over the top, well...it is about ghosts right? I really enjoyed this fast read! I think it was well developed and loved that it kept you guessing until the very end. I will be picking up the other two in this series for sure!

[debbieaheaton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Heather Graham's novel of paranormal romantic suspense, Jackson Crow, a former member of the government's Behavioral Science Unit in Washington, D.C., leads a covert group investigation into a reportedly haunted New Orleans mansion. When Regina Holloway, wife of a popular Louisiana state senator takes a fatal fall from the balcony of the home, her death is officially listed as a suicide. Others believe that ghosts were to blame. Angela Hawkins, a Virginia police officer with the ability to detect paranormal activity, partners with Jackson professionally and romantically as she assists his team in discovering the truth behind Regina's death. Graham expertly blends a chilling history of the mansion's former residents with eerie phenomena, once again demostrating why she stands at the top of the romantic suspense category.

[dd196406 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Love these books by Heather Graham. Her blend of murder mystery and paranormal mystery is so enjoyable. I can't get enough of these.

[kimsmyth · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I picked this book up thinking it was more of a sci-fi than a "romance" as it was categorized by the library. The story was fast moving and easy to follow with some interesting twists and turns. However, I was very disappointed by the final chapters with a "tell all by the bad guys as they threaten the beloved main character with death". I think the book would have been better served to let the narrative tell the story rather than a confessional tell all at the end.

[cinnamonowl_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book reminded me it has been too long since I have visited New Orleans- the sights, sounds, restaurants described all make me want to go back right this second. As for the book itself, I felt it was just ok.The supernatural plot lines were the best - I felt that they were well written, and told a good story. Everything dealing with the house being haunted, the ghosts, the serial killer Newton- all were well done. I wish the rest of the book had been as good. However, there was just too much going on to be believable. The Aryans, the creepy church, just too much. I also did not like how the main characters, Angela and Jackson, kept referring to their teammates as "kids". Angela and Jack are in their thirties, while the rest of their crew were in their twenties. It drove me crazy, they just were not old enough to refer to them as kids- and it happened alot. It was a small thing that grated on my nerves. I am in my thirties, and have friends in their twenties, and I don't think of them as children.I read this book because I am about to read the second in the series, Heart of Evil, for netGalley, and felt the need to read the first one before I did. I am anxious to compare the two.

[dragonlibrary8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My thoughts:This was an edge of the seat thriller, ghost story with a romance on the side! The characters are wonderful and the setting is fantastic. I fell in love with the characters in the first few pages and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. The author takes the reader through the wringer with the emotional rollercoaster that is this story. This is a story of good vs. evil, life vs. death, real vs. unreal, natural vs. supernatural and the power of goodness and love. If you enjoy ghost stories, love stories, mysteries, or thrillers - this is a must read!!!New Orleans is the perfect setting for a ghost story and the author takes full advantage of that fact, using religion, folklore, and legend to add their own edge to her wonderfully written tale. The descriptions of the city and the people are colorful, imaginative, and complete. You feel as though you are right there with them as part of the team. The plot is thick and twisted - which is what we are all looking for in a great thriller/mystery. The author keeps you guessing and then second-guessing what you think you know and what you think you have figured out for certain. The characters are carefully created and realistic. Each appears to have been developed with the others in mind so that they work together seamlessly. The storyline is character driven and both the characters and the story have been meticulously maintained throughout the book.

[bookdivasreads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Do you believe in ghosts? Maybe you believe that evil, pure evil can transcend human life. Both beliefs are at the core of Phantom Evil by Heather Graham. A new team of paranormal investigators, lead by a profiler from the FBI, is sent to New Orleans to investigate the suspicious death of the wife of a state senator. In addition to confronting ghosts and the evil that is inhabiting a local house, these investigators stumble upon corrupt politicians (say it isn't so), a cult masquerading as a church (oh no), and a racist hate group. I forgot to mention that a local voodoo priestess provides probable insight into the beliefs of the deceased. I also forgot to mention that two of the investigators fall head-over-heels in lust after only 2 days, but I digress. I know it sounds like I didn't like this book but it was a decent read even with all of the cliches. I personally think it would have been just as good without the lust fest (I couldn't really call it a romance) between two of the investigators, but that's just my opinion. All things considered Phantom Evil makes for a pretty good weekend or vacation read.

[mckait · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

From the description of this book, I was expecting a funread. New Orleans, ghosts and CSI should add up to something.Sad to say the book fell flat for me from the beginning.Regina Holloway fell to her death, shortly after the deathof her young son in an accident. These things occur after sheand her husband, a state senator, move into a house with a reputationfor being haunted. The police conclude she committed suicide, asthere is no evidence of a crime. A special team is called in byher influential husband, to prove otherwise.Now, think Ghost Hunters International, and Criminal Minds.These shows were clearly the inspiration for the characterson the team put together to investigate.I had the impression that the author used a guide bookfor this beautiful city and picked out some of the highspots,and made sure to mention them. Often.The characters had no substance. There wasn't even enough thereto dislike. The sentence structure was so choppy, so uneven thatit was literally difficult to read.I was not looking for great literature in this book, but I waslooking for a fun weekend read. Instead, I found frustrationand irritation with the stumbling story.Run Away.