The Night Is Alive (Krewe of Hunters)

I would recommend this book and all of the 'Krewe' books. They are fun to read and keep you in suspence up to the end of the story. About the time you think you have the story figured out, there is a new twist to the story. I truly enjoy reading Heather Graham's books.

I was disappointed in this tale because although it was set in the perfect place for a ghost story (Savannah, Ga), and although the pirate premise was fresh and interesting, it seemed Ms. Graham had to write this book in a hurry and ran out of story before she'd reached her publisher's required word count. There were several places in the book where entirely too much time was spent on lengthy descriptions of scenes which did not really move the story forward: ex:, when Abby had to play the wench on the tourist pirate ship. Really dragged the story down. I still enjoyed it, but found myself wanting to fast forward through parts (I listened to it on Audible). The narrator, however, did an awesome job. I still like the premise of Krewe of Hunters and will be trying out another soon.

I enjoy Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters series. They are a mystery with FBI agents that all have extra senses to solve their cases. So they have romance, murder mystery, ghosts and in this story pirates.
The Night is Alive is a good mixture of history of Savannah, pirates, ghosts and a modern day problems.
There was a few love scenes that I skipped over. I enjoyed reading it.

Abigail is a strong female character. She just finished her FBI training and is waiting to be assigned to where she will be working. Her grandfather Gus called and asked her to come home. He has a problem he does not want to discuss on the phone. Since Abigail was young she has seen her family ghost when their is a problem the famous pirate Blue Anderson.
Gus is her last living relative. She can't find him in his bar or in the apartment of above it. She does see Blue and follows him down to the underground tunnels and finds her 90 year old grandfather dead. She tries to convince local police it was murder. No one believes her so she emails FBI Agent Krewe and tells him that there is a family ghost, murder victims and asks for help.

Malachi Gordon has been sent by Krewe to see if their is a case that the FBI should be working especially one with their talents. Malachi is thinking of joining the FBI and becoming on of Krewe's Hunters. Malachi can see and talk to ghosts. He used to be a policeman and quit and became a P.I.
because he does not have to explain how he knows extra stuff. Malachi has been a widower for 5 years.

The cop in charge of the murders just happens to be ex-partner of Malachi's when they both worked in New Orleans police department. He knows the extra that Malachi comes up with and is willing to work with him.
Abigail's family have lived and owned the tavern Dragonslayer since 1750s. The kidnappings and murders seem to be around her area. The latest missing female was last seen at the bar. The bar is a pirate bar wearing costumes and on weekends pirates fights. The tunnel is supposed to be locked but Abby found it unlocked.
A lot of the story happens on a pirate ship, in tunnels under Savannah and in the tavern. I really like the fun and scary mixture of the story settings. I was still guessing who the murder was till he revealed himself.
A couple of scenes with the ghost of pirate Blue Anderson and other ghosts were moving or funny. The ghost characters were fun to read about and learn about the history and what is going on now and in the past.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.
publication: July 30th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA 384 pages ISBN:9780778315070)

This was a very good mystery. Heather has a wonderful talent of bringing the scenery her story takes place in to life. I've not been in Georgia but with the details she provides you can see the taverns, the boats, the entire thing in great detail in your mind's eye. The history she gives each character is also an added charm to the story. It makes you connect with the characters that much better and the way she provides "red herrings" keeps you guessing throughout the story although at one point I did figure out who at least one of the killers could be.

The problem I still have with her mysteries is the way the woman, even if she's a federal or local law agent, always seems to need to be rescued by a fellow male agent. Her love interest. I realize this creates a "romantic" situation, the man saving his woman and all but still, it's too predictable and I hope she'll change that up in future stories. There was one small twist in this story that was a nice touch though but I shan't ruin that for you if you choose to read the story. Also, one other thing that's nit picking really but in every story I've read so far in the Krew of Hunters and the other paranormal mysteries she writes, there's always a shower sex scene lol. I have no problem with that of course but let's be real, the chances that in every story a romantic situation develops in the shower between the characters is as unbelievable as the case of a woman constantly needing to be saved by her love interest in each story.
Granted, "believability" is subjective, I mean after all, the stories center around the paranormal but still, the human characters that are alive should be placed in different scenarios. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy Heather's Krew of Hunters mysteries as well as some of the other paranormal mysteries she's written but it'd be nice to get away from the formulaic way she creates her stories.

When recent FBI academy graduate Abigail (Abby) Anderson returns home to the family restaurant, the Dragnonslayer, in Savannah, GA, at her grandfather's request, she finds him dead under unusual circumstances. She also discovers that a serial killer may be prowling the Savannah night. When local authorities think her concerns are the result of her grief, she calls in a special FBI group, the Krewe of Hunters. Each member has his/her own extraordinary skills. Abby finds that she has more in common with them, especially Agent Malachi Gordon, than she ever would have imagined. But will their talents be enough to keep the killer from striking again?

I never put this novel down from the time I started page 1 until the end. I didn't even take a bathroom break! It went that fast and was enthralling. Part of the fun, I think, was that I figured out "who did it" before the FBI agents did. The clues are all there if you pay attention!

Mystery, suspense and ghosts. Savannah is one of my favorite places. The book is set in the city with ghosts from the past. The FBI has a paranormal investigation division seldom known about. The well rounded character of the granddaughter meets up with a stranger who is a consultant to this division. Both have paranormal experience that help them solve the crimes being actively committed, and at the same time, getting to know each other well. The loyalty to each other and the department plus their attitudes is honor bound and compelling. A refreshing new look of trust to co-workers and working together in that environment.

Although I have read many books by Heather Graham, The Night is Alive is my first Krewe of Hunters experience. Since I really was not confused by the characters the entire time, I feel this can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel. This was a well-paced story full of mystery, romance and ghostly appearances. I was guessing ‘who-done-it’ the whole time, but when the murderer is finally revealed, I had that ‘of course I should have known that’ moment.

Ms. Graham is an awesome story-teller, and although I really am not all that interested in pirate things in general, this story kept me interested until the end.

The Night Is Alive
Heather Graham
Mira, Jul 30 2013, $7.99
ISBN: 9780778315070

Two and half centuries ago Blue Anderson was a gentleman pirate. When Abby Anderson was a child she saw the ghost of her ancestor at times when family members needed him; she saw him when a killer was stopped and when her parents and grandma died. Now a FBI trainee, Abby comes home to Savannah because her grandfather Gus asks her to visit him. When she arrives at the family's historical tavern Dragonslayer, she fails to find Gus waiting for her; instead Blue guides her to a tunnel where her beloved relative lies brutally dead. As Blue begins to make out of character frequent appearances, Abby informs FBI Krewe of Hunters unit chief Jackson Crowe.

He decides to send private investigator Malachi Gordon to Savannah as a beta test of the potential recruit's paranormal skills though veterans will also be there. As more violent mysterious murders occur, Malachi and Abby struggle with their attraction and their life-long distrust of showing their otherworldly skills to someone else. To end a serial killer's reign of terror they must rely on one another or become victims.

Though similar in tone to the previous Krewe of Hunters paranormal romantic mystery (see The Night Is Watching), this is an entertaining thriller due to Savannah (as fascinating as the Old West was in its "night" predecessor) and Blue the ghostly pirate; as they combine to give readers a flavor of the city's history. Action-packed from the moment Abby calls Jackson and never slowing down; readers will relish visiting the haunts of Savannah.

Harriet Klausner

Abigail Andersen's grandfather told her that her pirate ancestor Blue would appear in times of need to watch over the family. When she sees Blue in the tunnel with Gus beneath the family restaurant, the Dragonslayer, she knows something is terribly wrong and that it is more than just an old man's heart giving out. Coupled with the newspaper articles about the women found murdered recent FBI graduate Abby feels she has enough information to contact the Krewe and ask for assistance.

The Krewe send Malachi Gordon as an FBI consultant to check out what's going on with Abby in Savannah. Malachi has something in common with Abby. He too can see Blue. Abby and Malachi must learn to trust each other before they become victims.

The book moves along at a fairly fast pace. I hadn't read any of the Krewe books before, and I think this one can stand alone pretty well. The action focuses on Abby and Malachi with the rest of the Krewe only as a supporting cast.

I love the setting of Savannah and the combination of real history of the city, the pirates, and the tunnels with the fictional setting of the Dragonslayer. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect as well.

If you like your mysteries with a touch of romance and a bit of the ghostly, then you will enjoy this book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I hope these two characters Abigail and Malachi show up again in future books :o) I've never read a murder mystery before but walmart didn't have much to choose from so I picked this because of the ghostie angle. Got hooked with the fast pace and development of the characters - finished the entire book in one day. Now I've got to go through the other Krewe stories and find some earlier ones. Any suggestions for the best ones?