Member Reviews
Danger in Numbers was excellent!! It's hard to come by thrillers that fool me since I've read so many! I can anticipate the twists a lot of times, but Heather Graham got me in this one! It was an exciting ride all the way through!! If you like thrillers that will keep you on your toes until the very end, read this one!!
Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham
Ok, so I read this just recently because somehow it slipped by me. I will not write a long review as this book has been out for awhile but I will definitely say one thing. This book ROCKS! Graham is a very talented writer who has an ability to take a psychological thriller and add to it more thrills and twisted turns that you will second guess yourself. If you have not read this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat biting your nails, you need to run out and find it. This is one of Graham’s best.
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
I can’t believe I have put this book off for as long as I have! This was a surprisingly wonderful find. I have not read from this author previously but will definitely watch for further books from her.
It is primarily a police procedural involving a local female law enforcement officer, Amy, who is on the scene of a grisly discovery of the body of a woman who appears to have been murdered in a ritualistic sort of sacrifice. She becomes partnered with a federal agent, Hunter, who has a complicated history and who is the expert in cult activity. Other murders occur and these two join with their colleagues to try to shut down the illegal activity.
This story has something for everyone. There is the possibility of romance, a cult, a crime story and police procedural, and thriller/suspense. All of this takes place in the small towns of Florida, where you don’t know who to trust.
This book felt like a series and after checking, I was pleased to discover that it is in fact the first in a series.
This was well written and engaging, although quite dark at times. It reminded me of the first season of True Detective, with the same gothic, mysterious, deep southern vibes.
I think my only criticism is with the romance. To me, especially given that this is a series, the romance occurs rather quickly and probably could have been played slower to better effect. I still loved the book though and this would not put me off it.
This was just what I was in the mood for reading. Loved it! Highly recommend!
#DangerinNumbers #NetGalley #Harlequin #MIRA
***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
I absolutely loved the premise of this book. Cults can be very creepy and interesting. My main reservation was with the romance. It seemed forced and a little blah.
loved the use of the everglades as a mystery novel, this had what I was looking for in this type of book and had great characters. The twists were wonderful and I enjoyed going on this story.
Quite a mysterious thriller, this was set in dual timelines. I was happy to note that it was a standalone so I could get into the book easily. A cultish slant to the plot was not my most favorite, but this was quite dark and fast paced. OVerall, a fun read.
I don't set out to find books that have cults as part of the plot, but this is the third one I have read in the past month. Having said that, this was a thrilling, twisty read with tentacle into the past. When a body is found at the side of the road in the Florida Everglades, Amy Larson, a special agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has a feeling that this is just the beginning. FBI agent Hunter Forrest, is called in due to his knowledge of cults and ritualistic killings. When young women begin to disappear, especially those who are marginalized, the investigation picks up, until Amy herself is in danger.
This is my first book by Heather Graham and I know I will watch for more, especially as I understand that this is just the first of four in this series. Amy was a strong female protagonist who did not wait around to be saved. Hunter is intelligent and determined to save people from cults, but he never overshadowed Amy. They worked together well and make a great team. My only disappointment was the relatively quick romantic liaison. It would have been better to sizzle on the back burner until further along in this series. All the secondary characters add to the story’s depth and not all are as they seem. The story has settings both in the past and present, but they flow together well. There were several twists and extremely tense moments that had me switching back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. With lies and secrets, people in town sneaking around and people pretending to be something else, it took awhile to get to the final climax, but I enjoyed every moment of this one. The epilogue was not a cliff hanger, but it does set up the next story in this series. I recommend this one to those who enjoy an action packed thriller, police procedural or cult based story.
Heather Graham gives the reader a creepy story in Danger in Numbers. In the Everglades Special Agent Amy Larson finds the ritualistic murder corpse of a young woman, shades of the Four Horses of the Apocalypse. She and FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest who has insider knowhow about ritualistic violent cults have to nail the mastermind cult leader behind everything before too many people, mostly young women, die. Danger everywhere. Who is in the cult? Read and find out.
Thriller is an excellent description for this book.
Also, if you are interested in cults, they get good attention here. Those sections were actually quite informative.
The blurb for this book says that it’s a stand-alone, but there were times that I felt like I was coming into a series. The way the characters related and referred to each other made me feel like I was missing some background.
That didn’t detract from the overall plot, however, which was extremely interesting. After a prologue that really drew me in, the action shifted to a macabre finding and that’s where the investigation starts.
It took a while to circle around to connecting the prologue, but the ride on the way was entertaining. I liked the mysterious aura that Hunter had (at least, that’s how I felt about him). It made me question what was personal and what was professional in his motivations. That made him a particularly interesting character.
I will say that this isn’t for the squeamish. There is extensive detail regarding both dead bodies and the psychological abuse suffered within a cult. Those things don’t bother me, but fair warning to others.
This is also a well-researched book. I don’t want to give anything away, but the details (and motivations) of the murders (no spoiler) were intriguing as well.
As a personal note, I got a kick out of the Everglades location, because we just moved to the region so some of the references were familiar (or at least made me think of where we have already explored).
Not that we’ve explored the small towns and found anything like described in this book! 😊
Anyway, for a stand-alone, this was a pretty decent read. I’d recommend it but with the warnings above.
Review: This is a standalone book but has a similar feel to Graham’s Krewe of Hunters (minus the paranormal factor). Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson and her partner, John, are investigating a murder of a female in the Florida Everglades. The circumstances seem to suggest ritualistic overtones. Amy uses her powers of observation and artistry to capture crime scenes through sketches. Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest travels to assist in the investigation despite Amy’s feelings about outside assistance.
What Amy learns, after her partner suffers a heart attack and is pulled off the case, is that Hunter has a great deal of experience with similar murders. Information dating back to 1993 seem to suggest a connection to the present-day crimes, but they’ll find it difficult to get necessary information from the close-knit small town they’re studying. An engaging read with a few twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #DangerinNumbers #NetGalley
My first read of a thriller written by Heather Graham was a huge success. Right from the start, I was gripped by this enthralling mystery. I love a spooky, dark crime novel and this did not disappoint. Well written and chock full with twists and turns it will keep even the most exacting of readers entertained. The cult aspect was well orchestrated as were the FBI elements. I was kept guessing throughout and I highly recommend Danger in Numbers so grab yourself a copy.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing /MIRA via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I frickin' love Heather Graham, her books are the best and this one did not let me down!
Sometimes romance authors just throw in gratuitous love scenes for no real reason but that is never the case in Heather's books. I love that the books have romance but that Heather manages to tie it into the story. This was a great book. I believe this is a standalone but I wish it wasn't, the characters are well developed, the story was fantastic, and I want to see more from Hunter and Amy.
Since this is a standalone I can't wait to read the next Krewe of Hunters book!!
I can always read Heather Graham books anytime in the day. She knows how to grab reader attention from the start. And continue doing so until you reach the last page. Dangers in Numbers is a new book from Heather Graham. And we get read about new storylines and new characters along the way. It's a bit refreshing to read a cult theme murder spree. I usually don't like to read about them but Dangers in Numbers grab my attention. I like that it was slow-paced to understand the meaning behind the murders spree. It also gives us as readers an opportunity to form attachment to the main characters.
A horrific, ritualistic murder, a cult, and a pair of law enforcement investigators sifting through small towns and Florida backcountry for the truth. I had never read this author's books before and have wanted to for some time so I jumped at the chance.
Danger in Numbers opens with the gruesome death that brings Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson and her partner in on the investigation, but soon she is antagonized by the arrival of FBI Agent Hunter Forrest. She must join Hunter when her partner suffers a heart attack and she learns that Hunter's knowledge of similar murder and cult crimes will give them the edge. The antagonism de-escalates and they become a great investigative team. Her drawing talent and investigative skills and his experience lead the way through potential suspects and delving into a dangerous cult. Their partnership becomes something more even as things build to a suspenseful climax.
I enjoyed the way the author built the setting and situation while getting my attention with that grisly death. I loved the rural Florida backdrop and the feeling that something is seething and everyone seems to know something. Between the preppers and the cultists, this was one fulminating area and ripe for the crime setting.
At first, I was a little leery of the main character, Amy. She got all bent out of shape when Hunter showed up and I didn't want a bunch of law enforcement rivalry drama-ing up a good thriller set up. But, she lowered her hackles and got to work after a brief time of showing her displeasure. I was really glad of that because Hunter was the one with the expertise in this type of crime and had the past crime to help solve this one. He also was the character I was most drawn to with his slowly emerging background and the way he did his job. In truth, I felt I knew Hunter much better than Amy. Her background was never drawn as well as his though she was a likeable, capable woman who had a talent for drawing the crime scenes.
The romance was mostly background for this book and I was actually fine with this. I think it was the brutal killing up front and the potential for worse. If they had been spending all their time and thoughts on their attraction when so much trouble was happening, I would have seen them as unprofessional and worse. But, that said, they were both great people and I was happy to see them forming more than a working partnership by the end.
As to the mystery, I had no idea who did it. I pointed the finger a few times, but, honestly, I couldn't have figured this one out. The how, yes, but the rest was too ambiguous until late right about the time of the reveal. I even saw betrayal and conspiracy where there wasn't any. Definitely one of those where I could only follow along at the pace of the story.
All in all, this was a solid murder thriller and I enjoyed the author's writing. I definitely want more and I need to go and get her backlist from others series, too. Those who enjoy romantic suspense with emphasis on a gritty, engaging suspense should definitely pick this one up.
An eerie crime scene in the Florida Everglades will send two agents deep into a world of corrupted faith, greed and deadly secrets.
Florida State police, Special Agent Amy Larson is called to the scene of a ritualistic murder that leads her to believe that this is just the beginning. This crime scene draws the attention of FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest, who has insider knowledge of how violent cults operate.
Some in this rural community know more than they are saying. As Amy and Hunter join forces, every lead takes them further into the twisted beliefs of a dangerous group that will stop at nothing to see their will done.
3.5 stars rounded up
Danger in Numbers is the latest from Ms. Graham that is not part of her Krewe of Hunters series. It still involves the FBI, but there is nothing supernatural here. The story involves a series of murders that seem to be related to a cult. For the most part, I did enjoy the book.
I thought the mystery was solid. I was sucked into the hunt for the killer and how they were tied to a cult. There were some twists. Along with the present day mystery, we also get flashbacks to a family who is trying to flee a cult years before. It was interesting how that storyline was tied onto the present day murder case. But the thing I didn't love was the romance. Honestly, it would have been OK if it had not been included . It was a bit too insta-love for me with little chemistry. The story only takes place over a few days. The ending was left on a bit of a cliffhanger. So I hope there will be another book.
When readers pick up a Heather Graham novel, they know that they are in excellent hands and with her latest novel, Danger in Numbers, this much-loved author has penned a spine-tingling, nerve-twisting and heart-pounding thriller that is impossible to put down.
Disturbing and distressing crime scenes are all in a day’s work for Special Agent Amy Larson. Amy is used to the unexpected and the perplexing, but even she is completely floored by her latest case: a ritualistic murder on the sign of the road. Even the most hardened of police officers cannot help but be rattled and perplexed by this crime scene and Amy is certainly going to need all her nerve, courage and skills to get to the bottom of this case – especially as there are sinister implications that this murder is only just the beginning…
Special Agent Hunter Forest from the FBI is called in to assist with this case. Hunter is a man with insider knowledge of how violent cults operate and his tumultuous and turbulent past has cast a long shadow upon his life and left him completely unable to vanquish old demons that still haunt him. Hunter joins forces with Amy and together they hope that they can uncover and untangle the devastating secrets which this community on the edge of the Everglades is hiding.
However, Hunter and Amy soon realize that they’ve got quite a challenge on their hands. Although the rural community is completely floored by this barbaric murder, their lips are sealed shut – even though Hunter and Amy know that these people know far about what’s going on than they are letting on. As Hunter and Amy edge closer and closer to finding out the truth will they get close enough to unravel the insidious machinations of an evil group that will stop at nothing to achieve its malevolent objectives? Or will they end up running out of time?
Heather Graham certainly knows how to keep her readers turning the pages and in Danger in Numbers, she has penned a complex and compelling thriller spiced with intrigue, suspense and romance her legion of fans are simply going to lap up. Brilliantly plotted, exquisitely paced and packed with shocking twists after twist, Danger in Numbers is a dark, sinister and captivating thriller readers will want to read in one go.
As superb as ever, Heather Graham has written another compulsively readable chiller with her latest novel, Danger in Numbers.
I really enjoyed this latest book by Graham! I am a fan and read all of the Krewe of Hunters series. In Danger in Numbers Amy is a strong female protagonist that didn’t wait for Hunter to save her in every situation. Hunter and Amy bumped heads but overall I appreciated that all Hunter wanted was to get people out of cults. I appreciated the romance that evolved between Amy and Hunter and I hope to hear from these characters again.
If you love a great cult story and murder with a side of romance pick this one up it’s fantastic!! Thank you to Heather Graham and Mira for my. digital copy of the book to review.
Special thanks to the author, Harlequin and NetGalley for this review copy! This is my first novel by Heather and it definitely will not be my last!
Do you love tough women who are good at heart but, know how to take someone down? Then you’re in for a treat with this one. Special Agent Amy Larson gets involved in some horrendous murders encompassing the Florida Everglades. Her partner has a heart attack and she becomes paired with Hunter Forrest. Forrest, an FBI agent has seen these types of killings before. They seem to point to a sadistic cult following and they become frenzied trying to find out who’s behind them before they kill another innocent person.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It’s set in Florida, which is my favorite vacation spot. It was super easy to keep up with and honestly hard to put down. The characters were very well developed and the crimes were very well researched. I can’t wait to read more by Heather.
I really liked this book. It was different from so many of Heather Grahams books I’ve read in the past. Danger in Numbers tells the story of two agents from two agencies that work together to solve a gruesome murder. Further investigation leads them to a cult committing the crimes. Hunter, half of the partnership, has personal experience with cults from his childhood. That experience helps him quickly put the pieces together to determine the party responsible for crime. Amy, his partner, becomes a target for the cult because she doesn’t fit their expressed expectations of a woman.
When I started reading this book, I expected a stand-alone. Having finished it, I’m not so sure anymore. I think that’s why I liked the ending. Didn’t see it coming