What does the red horse signify in the Bible? For a clue, look closer at the title, Crimson Summer. Crimson is another word for red. Red is the color of blood. The rider of the red horse signifies warfare in the Bible. Is that so in this enthralling book by Heather Graham? In fact, all four horsemen of the apocalypse - red, white, black and pale - are all mentioned more than once in this thrilling mystery by Heather Graham.

Readers are back with FDLE Special Agents Amy Larson and Hunter Forrest as they desperately look for someone only known as the puppetmaster - someone very interested in perpetuating a brutal gang war. From Florida to New York, the body count is rising at a rapid pace. As Amy and Hunter seek out clues, they find that they are thwarted at every turn. Will they be able to stop this puppetmaster before even more bodies fall?

This is the second book in an exciting series. The first book, Danger in Numbers, was an excellent crime thriller that introduced Amy and Hunter. They work well together both personally and professionally. I am more than eager to continue to the next book in this series.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

In Crimson Summer, a bloody gang massacre is found in the Florida Everglades. It sounds like a typical Florida day until a small red horse is found in a pool of blood.

Florida Special Agent Amy and her boyfriend, FBI Special Agent Hunter, are put on the case because of a previous run-in with an apocalyptic cult that used the same toy horse but one white in color. Can they find the mastermind behind this act before it triggers a gang war?

I enjoyed the plot and especially the characters. However, I would have liked it much more if I had read the first in the series, Danger in Numbers. This book only briefly outlines that book while also simultaneously ruining any surprises within it. There are two more books planned (for the third and fourth horseman of the apocalypse). If you haven’t read the first in the series, Crimson Summer is good but somewhat confusing. 4 stars!

Thanks to MIRA and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

A tourist group stumbles upon a massacre in the Everglades. FDLE special agent Amy Larson discovers a small horse figurine amid the bloody aftermath. The toy is the calling card of the apocalypse cult that Amy and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, have been investigating.
As tensions between rival gangs rise, so does the body count, and Amy and Hunter’s investigation leads them to a violent, far-right extremist group who are in no hurry to quell the civil unrest. With a deadly puppet master working to silence their every lead, it’s a race against the clock to figure out who’s been pulling the strings.
They question al the tourists and then it looks like the tourists lives are at stake as it seems they may know something. As the investigation goes on I began to wonder myself just who is telling the truth, who is lying, and who really doesn't know anything,
As the investigation leads them to another murder in NY city they are still trying to see how it ties into the Everglades murders.
I like how Amy and Hunter work together but also how they can set aside what happened by the end of the day to be together as real partners and to be able to eat and sleep until the next day,
Thank you to Mira(Harper Collins) and NetGalley for the book to review.

Crimson Summer is the second book in a series, and while it can be read as a standalone title, I think it’s best read in order from the beginning. I missed the first book and felt like I was stumbling around keeping up with the characters and the backstory. I liked the premise of this book, but the dialogue seemed a bit strange and repetitive at times. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. However, the mystery was well thought out, and I didn’t figure out the who and why until the big reveal (both a big plus in my book). All in all, it was entertaining, and I’ll be looking forward to the following books in this series.

After reading the first book in this series and enjoying Heather Graham's work overall I definitely wanted to check this one out. I felt like this was a solid sequel that definitely upped the stakes from the first one while also able to be picked up out of order. The relationship progresses really well in this one and there's a good mix of intense moments mixed in with lighter scenes. Graham kept things going with great plot twists and I can't wait to see what comes next!

When Amy and Hudson are assigned together on a case that has more gruesome murders than leads and an unknown taunting “puppet-master” calling the shots, things are grim. Amy has become a target of sorts for the ‘red horse’ of the plot, which eventually helps them solve the case.

As more bodies come up in multiple cities across the East Coast, Amy, Hudson, and the FBI are scrambling to figure out who is behind this and how to stop this war they are trying start.

I had a hard time getting into this book, but I don't think that was at fault of the book itself. The writing was superb and super descriptive, but I had a hard time following some parts of the investigation and the whole larger plot of the "war," it felt a little unnecessary. Overall though, a solid book!

I loveee the first book in this series so I was super excited for this second book. This series is a mystery thriller about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the first book is aboout "white horse", so this second book is about "red horse" and that means war. This book started with a massacre in the Everglades, and since then is a race to stop any kind of wars happening and find who's behind all of this, and many bodies found with gory details. I love the suspense, the way I keep expecting something bad will happen in the next page. I also love the police procedural with all those interviewing witnesses, love how everyone is a perfect suspect, and keep guessing who is the "red horse". Love the twist even though it's a bit predictable, there's also a repititions here and there but it doesn't take away all the fun.
As for Amy and Hunter, I like this couple and love how they have each other's back, love how they protect each other and don't want to be apart, they worry about each other, that's just so sweet.

A great suspense read with loveable characters, definitely highly recommended book from me.

This is one to enjoy the development of characters as it evolves over the next installment. So glad I got to read this, although the murders were brutal Heather Graham found a way to show the reader the personal sides of the investigators. .

Crimson Summer by Heather Graham
Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest #2

Amy and Hunter are called away from their vacation as the hint of a new big case comes rolling in. The four horses of the apocalypse will be featured in this series and this is the red horse’s turn. Will Amy and Hunter find and be able to stop the red horse OR will the deadly game being played out by a master manipulator come to fruition?

What I liked:
* Amy Larson: Special Agent for Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), bright, dedicated, an artist that makes drawings at the scene of crimes, capable, thinks on her feet, from a family in law enforcement, likable, cool under fire, perfect for Hunter
* Hunter Forrest: FBI Special agent, ex-military, knowledgeable about cult and ritualistic murders, mid-thirties, well known on the job, intelligent, experienced, likable, perfect for Amy
* The continuation of the Four Horses theme from Revelation – so glad I read book one first
* The way the clues played out
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The task force and how they all worked together seamlessly
* The red herrings, twists, and turns
* That Amy and Hunter were able to save some if not all of those targeted for death
* The relationship between Amy and Hunter – equal partners on the job and off
* The interactions between the team and that all levels in departments got along well together
* That the story moved from the Everglades to New York and on to Chicago
* Knowing that there are two more books (at least) to look forward to

What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about who might be the master puppeteer pulling the strings in this series – heinous, selfish, and worthy of loathing
* Thinking about how gullible people can be and how easily they are preyed upon
* Having to wait for the next book in the series

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

Agent Amy Larson received a gift from an old case. She thought the case was completed and over. But, when she receives a toy red horse, she knows her life is about to get complicated.

Amy Larson and Hunter Forrest are two of the best agents to hit the pages! And to tell you the truth, I did not know how this story was going to end. It just kept twisting and turning. I love all the conspiracy theories and the guessing game. Add in the romance between Amy and Hunter and this story is unstoppable.

I have been reading Heather Graham since high school. This was back when she was straight romance. She has changed over the years and now writes romantic suspense. But, she is truly one of the most steady authors out there. I know that if I pick up one of her books, I will be entertained from start to finish. And Crimson Summer is one you don’t want to miss.

Need an edge of your seat read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Crimson Summer is the second book in the Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI series. This can be read as a stand alone but I do think reading the first book helps you know more about the main characters.
I enjoyed reading Crimson Summer though a few times I did struggle with some of the interactions between Amy and Hunter.
Lots of twists and turns within the plot. The author definitely weaves a intricate thriller mystery. You just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen.
Crimson Summer is good detective, police procedural series that I recommend you pick up.
Overall a solid FBI detective story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

CRIMSON SUMMER (Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI Book #2) by Heather Graham is the second book in this romantic suspense/crime thriller series with an overall series arc of a mysterious apocalyptic cult with each book featuring one of the four horsemen from Revelations. This book can be read as a standalone, but it is easier to follow the overall arc by reading them in order.

FDLE Special Agent Amy Larson and FBI Special Agent Hunter Forrest are on vacation when they receive a small red toy horse figurine delivered to their room. They return to Florida immediately to a massacre in the Florida Everglades.

As the investigation gets going, a second massacre occurs in New York City. The red horse is “War” and with tensions rising, law enforcement is afraid of retaliations. A mystery puppet master is killing every witness and lead Amy and Hunter uncover. With the stakes increasing nationwide, Amy and Hunter are in a race to uncover a trail that does not lead to a dead-end but will lead them to the red horse mastermind.

I was so happy to finally get the follow-up to Danger In Numbers and the next book in this series. This is a solid next step the overall arc and a good crime thriller in its own right. Amy and Hunter are a wonderful couple to follow as the main characters. Even with the brutality of the crimes and the danger along the way, Ms. Graham is able to give Amy and Hunter lighter moments, too. This is a pair of law enforcement officers I look forward to reading more about. All the secondary characters were interesting, and the plot twists make this a story I could not put down.

I recommend this series and author and I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

Crimson summer by Heather Graham.
When FDLE special agent Amy Larson discovers a small horse figurine amid the bloody aftermath of a gang massacre in the Everglades, she recognizes it immediately. The toy is the calling card of the apocalypse cult that Amy and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, have been investigating, and it can only mean one thing: this wasn’t an isolated skirmish—it was the beginning of a war.
A really good read with good characters. I did like the story. 4*.

My second read of a thriller written by Heather Graham was a huge success. This instalment follows on from book one, Danger in Numbers. In Crimson Summer, FDLE (Florida Law Enforcement) special agent Amy Larson and FBI special agent Hunter Forrest are on holiday when a small redhorse figurine is delivered to their room. In Florida, there has been a bloody gang massacre in the Everglades area. The two special agents cut short their island break and return to Florida to help with the investigation.

Right from the start, I was gripped by this enthralling mystery. I love a dark crime novel and this did not disappoint. Well written and chock full of twists and turns it will keep even the most exacting of readers entertained. There are some graphic, violent parts but there's romance, too. I was kept guessing throughout and I highly recommend Crimson Summer 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.

Heather Graham writes enjoyable romantic suspense. They're not always the most memorable but they're always a fun read. That said, I do find her books that feature recurring main characters to be her weakest and this is an example of that. I think one of the reasons I mostly read her Krewe series because while there are reoccurring side characters the main characters change.

The actual mystery here was interesting but because the beginning especially referenced the earlier book pretty heavily it wasn't as fast paced as the first book and took me a bit longer to get invested in this particular story. I did like that Amy and Hunter discussed some of the issues about being two law enforcement officers in a relationship and I think they're an interesting couple to head a series. I just wish this particularly mystery had been a standalone featuring them instead of connecting to the previous book.

If you're looking for an entertaining romantic suspense Heather Graham is a great author to try though I recommend picking up her Krewe of Hunters series or the first book in this series.

This sequel suffers from too large a scope even though the Biblical research is spot on.

War is the focus of this book featuring Amy Larson and her boyfriend Hunter Forrest. The two law enforcement members just finished taking down a cult and are on vacation when a red toy horse shows up at their hotel. Amy knows that more murders have been committed. The unsub won't stop until they bring out the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The two must deal with mass murders stylized in turf wars including American Indians and Street Gangs. With the cult leader from the white horse in prison who is actually in charge?

This sequel is both better and worse than its original story Danger in Numbers. Heather Graham made me proud with her actual Biblical research. She does well with the “red horse” which symbolizes war, specifically civil war. War is the star of this show and yes, it's infighting. I was also happy to see a better explication of the cult and the ”white horse”. The author uses the anti-Christ aspect as a symbol for the cult leader. This was smart stuff.

The problem is that the book gets too big. It starts in Florida and jumps to New York and then Chicago. These mass killings make little sense when the culprit is unveiled and I didn't understand why the kills spanned so far and exactly how they were accomplished. While I can understand Chicago to New York and visa versa, Florida is so out of the sphere that it feels forced that the “red horse” would start where the “white horse” did.

Overall, I didn't find this very novel very exciting. The writing and plot aren't tight, and I was never concerned for our characters. It was easy to see who would die and who would not. This was a disappointing thriller.

When it looks like a turf war has begun between rival gangs, Amy Larson and Hunter Forrest arrive on scene, not convinced that this is a single incident. While on holidays they received yet another toy horse which indicates that this is yet again the work of a madman who is proclaiming the Apocalypse of the Four Horsemen. As the body count increases, Amy and Hunter must race against the clock to find who the puppet master really is. Can they stop the madness and finally find the mastermind behind the curtain of destruction?

This novel by Heather Graham will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. As the story develops, the plot twists and turns even more than you can imagine. Just when you think you know what is happening, the story takes on a new direction. As other readers have suggested, I would agree that you should start with the first book, Danger in Numbers to get familiar with not only the plot of the series but also the characters. There is plenty of insights to direct you in the second book, but honestly, the series is so amazing, you do not want to miss a thing. I received an advanced copy of this book from Harlequin Publishing, Netgalley and Heather Graham and voluntarily provided an honest review. A riveting five star read.

This is a wonderful suspense series based on the four horsemen from the Bible. Amy and Hunter are together now and get pulled into another case that now features the red horseman. There are lots of twists and turns that keep you wanting more. There are some sexy components to the story. I am looking forward to seeing what the next horseman will bring to this wonderful series. Remember to read the first book in this series so you get a better understanding what is all going on. I received a copy of this book from harlequin publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I previously have read books by Heather Graham and have enjoyed them as for what they are., good suspenseful thrillers. I did not realize that this was a second in a series but the book can be read out of sequence as the author recaps how the characters had met.

The book begins with horrific murders in the Florida Everglades and our main characters are called in to investigate. This is a continuation from the first book, dealing with the Four Horses of the Apolysis theory. Be forewarned, some of the murders descriptions are very graphic.

For those readers of thriller, I recommend.

Crimson Summer by Heather Graham is the 2nd book in her Amy Larsen & Hunter Forest FBI series. I did not read the first book in this series (guess I missed it), but this reads very well as a standalone. Amy Larson (FDLE special agent) and Hunter Forest (FBI special agent) are our heroes in this series. The storyline revolves around an apocalypse threat (the four horsemen), which concentrated on the first book being a cult, and using the white horse. While on vacation, Amy and Hunter discover someone left them a gift, a red horse toy; knowing the danger in that message, as well as learning that there was a bloody gang massacre in the Everglades; they cut their vacation short and return to Florida to help investigate the massacre and red horse clue.

The tension and suspense escalate, especially between rival gangs, as another mass murder happens in New York, as well as threats in Chicago. Amy and Hunter begin to suspect that a violent, extremist group maybe behind the war, as there are many twists and turns along the way, leading them to try and figure out who the real person is behind the scenes.

What follows is a fast paced, exciting, suspenseful thriller that even puts innocent people in danger. Amy and Hunter race against the clock to protect the innocents, and find the villain. There were a number of surprises, and to say too much more would be spoilers. I really loved Amy and Hunter together, as they made a great team, not to mention romance. Since there is more horseman to come, I look forward to reading what Graham has in store for us. Crimson Summer was so very well written by Heather Graham. If you enjoy exciting suspense thrillers, you need to read this book; especially Graham is one of the best in writing suspenseful novels.