Fact or fiction, stories about cults are pretty much guaranteed to creep me out. Honestly, any time I can get my hands on a story that makes me think, holy, moly, that craziness could happen, I'm gonna be creeped out, and I'm absolutely gonna have to read it. That's the case with Danger in Numbers. Now, I'm not saying that I think everything in this book could happen. In fact, some things are a little farfetched, but that's the beauty of fiction. I get the edge of my seat thrills without the horror of thinking it all happened.
This one is part thriller, part procedural, part romance, and Heather Graham blends the three pretty well. She does put a bit more emphasis on the thriller/procedural aspects than the romance, but I liked that for this book. The good guys are likable - maybe a little too cookie-cutter in some ways, but not enough to bother me - and we get a decent amount of possible suspects. The crimes are gruesome, so that's something to be aware of going in, and there are some things that were even hard for this jaded thriller reader to get through. Hard to get through or not, Graham has penned a crime thriller that kept me up way past bedtime, turning those pages to see how it would all play out.

I enjoy Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series, so I picked up Danger in Numbers, a romantic suspense thriller set in Florida. Cults, ritualistic murders ,and sizzling chemistry kept me flipping the pages.

This was good even without the paranormal woo-woo I am used to reading with Graham’s novels. The author pulls you right in with an intense escape from a cult. Then we flip to a crime scene near the Everglades in Florida and meet Special Agent Amy Larson of the Florida State Police.

Amy and her partner are at the scene of a murder where a young woman has been staked to a cross. As Amy sketches, Special FBI Agent Hunter Forrest, arrives on the scene. He is a specialist in cults, and it seems the murder resembles another.

I loved the meet and greet between Amy & Hunter. You can tell Amy is a little put out and doesn’t want the FBI taking their case, but the two quickly join forces.

Graham delivered a suspenseful case. We’ve got ritualistic murders with religious elements dealing with the four horsemen and the end of times. This provided foreshadowing as the agents pieced together what would happen next.

Hunter and Amy worked well together and slowly built up trust. The romance was a slow burn that quickly ignited. I enjoyed getting Amy’s perspective on things and liked that Hunter kept her on her toes. The author focuses on Hunter’s backstory and his chosen career path with a tie in to the murders.

I was a little disappointed with the whodunit as I figured it out early on, but we had plenty of suspects and secondary characters involved with lots of danger that kept me engaged.

Fans of light romantic suspense thrillers will enjoy this, as will fan of the author’s Krewe of Hunters.

This didn't quite live up to the premise and my expectations. There are plenty of questionable characters, but some points were just too predictable. Amy and Hunter didn't feel as fleshed out as I felt they should be, so I never really felt that connected to the story. As a result, the story, overall, felt a bit flat. The twist at the end sets up the next book, but it kind of comes out of nowhere.

DANGER IN NUMBERS by Heather Graham is the first of a four book series featuring two agents chasing after a multi-tentacled cult based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This book can be read as a standalone and does not end on a cliffhanger, but it does have an ending that sets up the next book in the series.

FDLE Special Agent Amy Larson is studying the horrific scene of a ritualistic murder with her partner when an FBI agent appears at their location without being requested. At first, Amy has reservations about this agent, but soon ends up assisting him when her partner is off the case.

FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest has heard of the crime scene discovered by the FDLE and believes it ties into his current case. He rushes to the scene to see it for himself. He soon proves to Amy that he is uniquely qualified to investigate cults and is impressed with her abilities and knowledge.

In rural small town central Florida, women are being gruesomely sacrificed and the crimes seem to be following an interpretation of the white horseman of “Death” in the story of the Apocalypse. The group wants Amy. Will Hunter be able to keep her safe?

I enjoyed getting to know these new protagonists and I am looking forward to following them through the future Apocalypse books. Amy was a strong female heroine who did not wait around to be saved and Hunter was her perfect foil. He is intelligent and determined to save people from cults, but he never overshadowed Amy. The romance grows as the two work together, but for me it was a little forced and I would have been OK with it happening later in the series, although I did enjoy the epilogue. The plot moves at a fast pace to the ultimate climax with several twists. All the secondary characters add to the story’s depth and not all are as they seem.

Overall, I can recommend this start to an exciting new romantic suspense thriller series.

Show me a book about cults, and I have to read it!

Danger in Numbers starts strong, with a brutal murder scene and the whisper of a secret cult operating in a rural community. We dive right into the investigation alongside the state police and FBI.

Then the romance blossoms between Amy from the state police and Hunter from the FBI, which was fine. And, really, that’s all it was for me. I didn’t feel any zing. The relationship progressed as expected.

While I enjoyed the story, at times I felt the plot went off the rails a little, with everyone being a suspect and every person in the town being more than a little crazy.

The ending wrapped up nicely, or so I thought. Something happens in the last couple of paragraphs that calls into question everything we thought we knew. Then we’re left dangling with this information. I’m not a fan of this type of cliffhanger.

Not my favorite book by Heather Graham, but still an enjoyable read.

As someone who is fascinated by cults this book was perfect for me. It is a very engrossing romantic suspense but the core of the book is really about the history and psychology of cults. Graham did an incredible job balancing all the different aspects of the story and I basically read this book in one sitting. Amy and Hunter were both strong and intelligent characters and I enjoyed the way they worked together. The murders they are trying to solve are graphic and extremely grotesque so please be aware of that before going into this book. The way the case unfolded was mesmerizing and I throughly enjoyed solving this case alongside Hunter and Amy. Everything that happened built up to something else and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, particularly a good crime novel. I have always shied away from Heather Graham in the past because I wasn't sure that romantic suspense was my genre but this book was so clever and well done that I will definitely be trying out more from her in the future.

I have not read any books by this author for a while and I am sorry for that. I really loved the twists and turns and the great suspense. I also enjoyed the slight bit of romance. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I really like all the characters. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Danger in Numbers is a thrilling and gruesome look into a cult's world and answers the essential questions like how and why.

I enjoyed the interlude story that the novel starts and ends with and pops up at various points in the story. The interlude story is compelling, suspenseful, and more personal than the main plot, which follows law enforcement officers. Looking at a cult from the inside is scary, but it helped me understand people's choices. I also enjoyed how the story stories came together towards the end. It provided answers to questions that may seem inconsequential, as it was in my mind. It turns out those questions are not actually insignificant.

The ending unexpectedly left me with an unsettled creepy feeling, and I always enjoy endings like that. It affirms that horrible things cannot be wrapped up with a pretty bow with everybody getting their happily-ever-after. It is the best twist in the story and came about just when I did not think there would be any unexpected twist. I don't often see that in a more police procedural type of mystery story, which made me enjoy it even more.

The story is told through third-person POV, which is great for providing that bigger picture view that the story requires for understanding. The interlude story is more of a limited third-person tale, which is essential for understanding the emotions that go along with deciding to join a cult and all resulting decisions. These two closely related POVs worked very well for telling the whole story in a way that I could relate to and understand.

What I Wish

Character development could have used a bit more attention. The two main characters were a bit too perfect, much like a couple in a romance story where everyone is beautiful and perfect. They are beautiful to look at individually and together, and both are the perfect law enforcement agents. I would just like to have experienced some of the flaws that make characters more human and relatable.

To Read or Not to Read

Suppose you find cults compelling and yearn to learn more about the mentality behind them. In that case, you won't want to miss this entertaining new thriller by Heather Graham.

More thriller than romantic suspense (although there is romance), this is a fast paced read that will keep you turning the pages. FDLE Special Agent Amy Larson is understandably upset when her partner must step aside from the investigation of a ritualistic murder in rural Florida. And, she's not happy about working with FBI SA Hunter Forrest (the name is a bit much) but she, like Forrest, knows that this has not been the only killer. They discover a community which is willing to lie and keep secrets- there's a poisonous cult out there which has frightened and divided its neighbors. Amy and Hunter find themselves coping with the environment as well as the crime. Know that like others in the genre of ritualistic killing, it's graphic in spots. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Good characters and storytelling as well as fine pacing.

There are times when a Heather Graham book just has you holding on for dear life and DANGER IN NUMBERS is just such a book.

Ms. Graham is very good at writing scary, thought-provoking, action-packed mysteries with a sweet/steamy romance and leaving readers wanting more.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=73370

Ok, first thing, that ending. Wow. You can’t let up with this book until the very, very end folks! Don’t get complacent with this one!

Now back to business. Heather Graham is one of the preeminent authors of romantic suspense, and it’s easy to see why. She writes in an easy style, that makes you feel like you’re watching a move or your favorite television show and her storylines are always original and interesting. This one involves a sadistic cult that has ties to a long ago group presumed gone.

The scenes are so vivid, I felt like I was out in the Florida swamp with Hunter and Amy as they hunted down some really sick people. This one also had such a nice touch of “Old Florida,” which was nice, and I enjoyed that. It gave it a bit of a nostalgic flavor. You know, in between the really harrowing scenes, that is.

Cause Graham knows how to write some creepy scenes. Like that ending. Don’t sleep on this one, folks. It looks like we may see more of these two and I wouldn’t hate that! I look forward to it in fact. This is another winner from Graham and something romantic suspense fans will enjoy from a favorite author!

I have read many stories by Heather Graham. This is the best one I have read to date by far. I mostly
enjoyed the mystery presented.

Amy Larson of the Florida State Police is assigned a grisly case. A woman had been left on a cross and other clues lead to a religious ritual. For once, law enforcement is dealing with a cult. While not satanic, they have taken Revelations and are making effigies of the Four Horsemen. With the help of Special Agent Hunter Forrest, Larson must find this cult before more innocent women die.

The story moves quickly even though it kinda bumbles in spots. There were sections I had to read multiple times before I understood what being convey but I managed to look over those few times and let the story take me away. It was good intrigue with a strong female lead.

The story itself is pretty solid. The idea of cults and the research on types and those who join is well researched. But Graham is behind on her Biblical research. One of the characters even claims they read Revelations several times and different versions and not once did they use The White Horse correctly. Death does not ride a white horse. That particular steed belongs to Conquest or in most know terms Pestilence. Death himself rides a pale horse. This is not a white horse either a pale green horse like the look of sickness and death. These things are easy to look up so I'm disappointed in Graham when I found out that being incorrect wasn't a plot point.

I'm not sure how the title reflects in the book. I can only guess this was a veiled allusion about cultists and religions. Other than that, the cover is gorgeous and give you a hint about what to expect in the book,

In the end, I have mixed feelings about this book, As just a fun tale to relax on the beach? Go for it! I think it's just the kind of book for relaxing.

3.5 stars
I think Heather Graham is a talented author and I have enjoyed many of her "Krewe of Hunters" suspense novels. I was interested to see this book which is either a standalone or the start of a new series and thought the idea of a creepy cult sounded interesting. The book is suspenseful and I wasn't expecting a "cozy mystery", but I hadn't counted on how graphic and gory the descriptions of the murders would be. This just didn't appeal to me.

I like the way Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson distrust of FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest turned to respect and then something more as they continued to work together to solve the case. The plot wasn't overly complex, but it's an interesting romantic suspense story that readers less squeamish that I am may enjoy more. It's not my favorite by this author, but there are elements to the story I enjoyed.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Mira. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

A combination of a dramatic story about cults and religion mixed with a murder mystery - Amy Larson is a Special Agent and this case is going to take her to a few small towns in Florida as they track ritualistic murders of young females.

I enjoyed combining two interests of mine - cults and murder mysteries! I am weirdly fascinated by the sociology of cults and how one person can influence a group and have them "buy what they are selling." Add in some murder and this book was in my wheelhouse.

Even while enjoying the book, there were a few moments in the book where either the story stalled and the pacing wasn't working OR I completely predicted the next moves. Both of those instances are frustrating in a murder/mystery where pacing matters to keep the reader on the edge of the seat and as a reader I don't love finding things out too early and it loses value when the reveal actually happens.

This was my first Heather Graham read and she has quiet the backlist, where should I go next if I liked this one?

I have read books by this author before and I love how she can create intrigue. The premise of this story involved a cult with the setting in Florida. Her descriptions put me right into the scene. I enjoyed Amy and Hunter's romance as they work together to solve the mystery before another murder occurs.

Book: Danger in Numbers
Author: Heather Graham
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Mira Books, for sending me an ARC.

Well, this is another one of those books that I thought was going to be a four or fives star read, but ended up being disappointed. I really was interested the whole idea of a cult and people being killed rather awful ways. I liked that idea and really thought that this was going to be something different form the normal thrillers that I read. However, I found that as the book went out, it kind of lost all its’ momentum.

Let’s start there then….The beginning of the book was really solid. I found myself flying through it. I was fully invested in the characters and trying to figure out just what was going on. Heather did a great job of hooking me right from the first words. We have this cult that no one seems to be know about and now young women are showing up dead. Their murders are just terrifying. There also seems to be a biblical motive behind all of them. The very idea about a cult and religious murders just makes me a little uneasy and I had to keep reading. I had to find out what was going to happen.

The sense of mystery and the unknown in the start of the book was a solid five star read. I felt like I was pulled in and trying to figure out what was going on. The fact that these events are things that could very well happen in the real world just adds another level. Not to mention that Heather’s writing was kind of on the spooky side.

Then, we got to the halfway point and I just felt like all of the magic from the beginning of the book was gone. It felt like the author just decided to go off in a completely different direction. There was a romance thrown into the mix and I did not like it. Normally, I am not someone who is bothered by romance in books, but this one, just did not work. It felt like the romance was thrown into the mix just for the sake of having a romance.

It seemed like once the romance started, there whole thrill was gone. It felt like we were solving the case for a while. Yet, the romance just seemed to overtake my reading experience and I could not move past that. I just don’t know what to say. Once the romance started, the book kind of lost its speed for me and I found myself no longer caring about what was going on or even if they actually solved the case.

It seemed like that once the romance started, we kind of ended up losing the characters as well, like I said earlier, I was very interested in the characters at the start of the book. However, as the book went on, I just found myself no longer caring about what happened to them. it was almost like we started out with these complex characters in the beginning of the book, but ended up with flat and uninteresting ones by the end of the book.

I just don’t know what else to say other than this started out great, but fell apart for me.

Anyway, this book comes out on March 23, 2021.

GASP!
WHAT.A.STORY!
Heather Graham’s new series is Danger in Numbers. What a engrossing, heart pounding story!
The investigation into religious cults, trafficking, murder, communes......Danger in Numbers covers it all. With romance thrown into the mix, you will be totally engaged in the story.
The intertwining of a past story and present time was very intriguing.
The ending is satisfying with a hint of more to come.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Mira-Harlequin and author, Heather Graham, for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publish date: 23 March 2021

Solid start to a new series by Heather Graham. It was fast-paced and entertaining. It definitely left me wanting more. I am looking forward to the next one.

Thank you #netgalley and #HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) #MIRA for the eARC,

.3.5 stars, actually.

After having read and enjoyed two of the author's other books, I have to say that this one - while enjoyable in many ways - doesn't quite measure up. The subject matter - ritualistic murders and a secretive religious cult - always makes fodder for a good story, and this is no exception. The main characters, though, just seem a bit too "perfect" to be totally believable - the budding relationship between Florida State Police Special Agent Amy Larson and FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest was a forgone conclusion from the moment she met and disliked him.

While it in no way factored into my rating, I confess to being very bothered by the frequent and glaringly incorrect references to the Bible book that's the basis for the cult's beliefs. It is "Revelation," not "Revelations" (plural). Although I'm reading a pre-release galley and a few errors can be expected - publishers almost always contend these things will be caught and corrected in the final version - but this mistake is so pervasive that someone should have caught it long before this. If it hasn't been fixed before you get a copy, well, you read it here first.

All that said, this is still an engrossing story, with twists and turns that held my interest all the way to the end. It begins with the exceptionally gruesome murder of a young woman that clearly has religious overtones. Amy has been called in, and she's surprised when Hunter - a Fed - shows up unannounced (and, as far as she's concerned, unauthorized). Despite her wariness, they manage a truce of sorts; as the investigation moves along, the truce begins to turn to trust.

And time is of the essence when suspicions turn to what's outlined in that Bible book - predictions of four murders - one by sword, one by starvation, one by disease and one by animal attack. Given the nature of this murder, could it represent the first of four? If so, can Amy and Hunter and members of their teams find who's behind it before he or she strikes again?

The chase takes the pair through some of Florida's most remote parts as they meet up with some small-town locals who put a very different spin on what faith is all about. The search continues right up to an action-packed ending that makes the whole thing well worth reading. Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Danger in Numbers by Heather Graham is a highly recommended thriller/procedural.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent Amy Larson and her experienced partner of two years, John Schultz, are sent to investigate a horrendous ritualistic murder on the edge of the Everglades. The FBI quickly joins the investigation because of a similar ritualistic murder that occurred. FBI special agent Hunter Forrest join the two. Hunter has information and knowledge that will focus the investigation as he specializes in ritualistic killings, extremists, and the occult. When John has a heart attack, Amy joins Hunter in investigating the murder. Amy sketches every crime scene and her sketches helped focus the investigation as she often captures subtle nuances that can be overlooked when viewing crime scene photos. Hunter and Amy work together and quickly determine the direction their investigation will take.

Hunter is a better developed main character, however Amy is not given the same character development. She is known for her proclivity to draw crime scenes, but her artistic ability seems to be a bit over-stated as a sketch wouldn't necessarily capture everything it is purposed to be able to do in the plot. Ask anyone who actually is talented at drawing. Hunter has a whole backstory to shore up his character and give it some depth. Both characters are portrayed as intelligent and insightful, as well as attractive.

While the investigation will hold your attention, there were not the twists or surprises that one expects in a procedural thriller. It is a very familiar plot with no real surprises. The key to enjoyment is simply to read, follow the clues, and reach the conclusion. The fact that a cult is involved does make it more interesting and frightening. The side story set set in 1993 actually raised the rating of the novel for me and added at least something beyond the unremarkable, familiar plot. Honestly, I could do without the partners attraction to each other as I would prefer the investigators to concentrate on the actual investigation. 3.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of MIRA Books.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.