A Perfect Obsession, the second book in the New York Confidential series by Heather Graham once again blends suspense, romance, and the macabre in this chilling tale of obsession, murder, and love set beneath the streets of New York City. When beautiful young women begin turning up dead in crypts, catacombs, and hidden mausoleums, Special Agent Craig Frasier and Forensic Psychologist Kieran Finnegan, are pulled into a case that quickly becomes personal—too personal. Especially when a body turns up in a deconsecrated church-turned-nightclub just steps away from her family’s pub. It’s a brilliantly eerie setting that adds to the novel’s dark, atmospheric appeal.

Graham does a masterful job of ramping up tension as Craig and Kieran race against time to find a killer who sees his crimes as art—twisted, morbid tributes to female beauty. The psychological depth of the characters, especially the dynamics between Craig and Kieran, adds heart and humanity to the high-stakes plot. Their chemistry is palpable, their loyalty fierce, and their dedication to justice unwavering.

Creepy, clever, and compulsively readable, this is a gripping crime thriller laced with romance and just the right touch of Gothic. Fans of the Krewe of Hunters series or anyone who loves serial killer thrillers with a personal twist will find plenty to sink their teeth into here. Don’t read it alone in the dark.

This ARC book was complimentary…provided by Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I'll admit to being a little reluctant to read A Perfect Obsession because I was a bit underwhelmed by the first book in the series, Flawless. I felt like the author was kind of phoning it in with that one. I ended up being pleasantly surprised at how much this second book hooked me in and made me want to keep reading. The book once again features Keiran and Craig. They met in the first book and now they are a couple. Because of their jobs, they both end up working on the case of a potential serial killer in the area.

The mystery is what really sold me. I was really kept guessing until the end. With multiple suspects, it was hard to pinpoint the killer. Also having the main characters already be a couple, there wasn't the sense of forced insta-romance that the first book had. I was able to concentrate on the mystery with the added bonus of a couple in love. I do recommend this one. Honestly, it works well as a stand alone. There was enough background to clue you into the events of the first book that you could skip it and be comfortable. I definitely recommend the book and look forward to the next one, A Dangerous Game. I'll be reviewing that on the blog later in March, so stay tuned!

Oh, this book was so fantastic! I really enjoyed being with these characters again! I had thought going in that this was going to star a different couple, but was pleasantly surprised that it starred Kieran and Craig again!

I've been meaning to read this book for a while. After all, I got an ARC of it, from before it came out. So I'm about a year late. But it means that I don't have to wait long to read the 3rd book, because I already have a copy, so it all works out!

This book, there's a death right away, and pretty quick confirmation that he's a serial killer, so a bit different from the diamond heist and subsequent crimes of the first book, at least, what I remember! I really enjoyed both of them investigating in their own ways-and how many not-supposed-to-be-there bodies she finds!

Who the bad guy could be, was automatically pretty limited. Well, until the tunnels came into play, but mostly, they had a set number of people, because there was also knowledge about the site. So yeah, when he was unmasked, it was so great, because while he was suspected, it wasn't serious, so that was a shock!

This book was really fantastic, and I can't wait to read more!

There is never any doubt, when it comes to Heather Graham, that I will grab her book without hesitation. Even a bad book by Heather Graham is a good book and I would definitely recommend A Perfect Obsession.

Kieran Finnegan, a psychologist, also works at the family pub and shares a bed with her FBI guy, Craig Frasier. He knows to keep tabs on her because trouble seems to find her…or does she find it?

A model/actress was murdered just around the corner from Finnegan’s, but nobody thought it was connected to the family…until her brother, Kevin, told her his secret.

Someone wanted her found.

“Living art.”

It’s easy to figure out that Kieran is Irish. She has three brothers. They are quick to defend and protect her, since she’s prone to finding trouble to get into.

We have a headstrong woman, a hunky cop, mystery and dead bodies on display in mausoleums that haven’t seen the light of day in decades, but…

I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m just not getting into this like I do most of her work. Am I having an off day? Or is it because it’s an ARC and will be tidied up before publishing. I think it will get better. You’ll need to check out A Perfect Obsession to figure it out for yourself.

I feel on edge. I keep thinking…waiting…for “the moment”…when the monster reaches out from under the bed and grabs me.

Heather has created a sense of menace from the serial killer. I can’t put my finger on the villain. Have I met him?

Uh Oh. I think I know who it is and we have a big problem.

I started out having a hard time getting into the story. I don’t know why. It has all the elements I require for a thrilling read. I rarely give up on a book, and I sure wasn’t going to give up on a Heather Graham book. And it is worth sticking with. As usual, she leaves me wanting more and I can hardly wait to pick up another one of her stories.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of A Perfect Obsession by Heather Graham.

Kieran Finnegan finds herself in the midst of another mystery when a young woman's body is discovered inside a church turned nightclub directly behind her family's pub. The bodies begin to pile up as a killer with a taste for history stalks his victims. I enjoy how Heather Graham incorporates history into her novels, upping the stakes for the characters while providing interesting facts to the reader.

I found Kieran to be a lovely character with a well-developed personality. There is a nice interplay between Kieran and her brothers, and several interesting secondary characters. The plot, while not exactly original, offers more than enough suspects and an appropriately frustrating lack of useful clues to keep me unsure of the murderer until a scene or two before the reveal—and I wasn’t absolutely certain until the reveal

Great plot, stellar characters and kept me reading well into the night.

Heather Graham’s A Perfect Obsession is the second book in her New York Confidential series. In this book, FBI special agent Craig Frasier is investigating a case that appears to involve a serial killer. Someone is murdering beautiful young women and leaving them carefully staged and displayed in mausoleums and underground tombs around New York City. Craig’s girlfriend, Kieran Finnegan, a forensic psychologist and also part owner of her family’s pub, is also consulting on the case to try to help them get inside the mind of the killer in hopes of narrowing their field of suspects. Although Craig and Kieran have worked together before, this time Craig is somewhat uncomfortable having Kieran on the case.

Because the killer is targeting beautiful women, Craig fears for Kieran’s safety, especially if she puts herself out there actively trying to help find the killer. Craig’s nerves with respect to Kieran are especially on edge because the first body that was discovered was found in a catacomb under a two-hundred-year-old church, which has been deconsecrated and renovated into a nightclub. The former church/nightclub is located directly behind Finnegan's Pub in lower Manhattan, thus right at Kieran’s back door.

As more bodies are found, all staged in similar ways, it becomes clear that they are, in fact, dealing with a serial killer and that they are in a race against time to stop him or her before more beautiful women are killed.

LIKES

The Mystery and Suspense. The case itself was my favorite part of A Perfect Obsession. The killings themselves and the way the bodies were so carefully and artfully staged in the graveyards and mausoleums was just so darn creepy! It literally made my skin crawl every time they discovered a new body. In addition to the awesome creepy factor, it’s also just a great mystery story filled with plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing about the killer’s identity and motivations until the very end. I thought I had it all figured out a few times along the way but got thrown a curve ball each time that sent me looking in another direction, so I enjoyed that it wasn’t at all predictable.

The FBI Investigation. The story had a very CSI/Criminal Minds feel to it since there was so much emphasis on forensics and the crime scenes and also because they were clearly dealing with a twisted individual. I’m a big crime show junkie so this aspect of the story worked very well for me. I loved following the actual FBI investigation as they discussed suspects and possible theories, as they followed leads, and as they traveled to interview law enforcement and witnesses in other locales as more and more bodies were found. I thought the author did a fantastic job showing every angle of the investigation as it unfolded.

The New York City Setting. Another highlight of the book for me was the historical/archaeological aspect. New York City has always been one of my favorite cities. I love its rich history and I especially love those old churches in Lower Manhattan, especially Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel. I found it thrilling to be immersed in so much of New York’s history while following the FBI investigation as they search, not only for the killer’s lair, but also for potential crime scenes that could fit the killer’s apparent criteria. It was clear the author had done her homework when it came to researching the history, especially when it came to what might be buried beneath the city.

DISLIKES/ISSUES

My biggest issue with A Perfect Obsession was that even though the story itself was entertaining, the characters themselves were not well-developed and so I had a hard time connecting with any of them. For that reason, the story definitely reminded me of a procedural crime drama. I don’t know if it’s a case where these characters are more fleshed out in the first book of the series, which I haven’t read, but in the second book, what I found was a riveting criminal case but unfortunately forgettable characters. (That said, even though this is the second book in a series, overall it still works well as a standalone.)

Kieran and Craig, as the main characters, stood out from the rest of the pack. Unfortunately, the main reason they stood out for me was because I often found them annoying. I appreciated Craig’s concern for Kieran’s safety, but after a while, his whole “Oh no, my girlfriend’s so pretty, she might become a victim of the serial killer. I must constantly tell her not go to anywhere alone” routine just got old. And as if he wasn’t irritating enough, Kieran was so stubborn about going out alone and going to places she has no business going, that it almost seemed like she was deliberately trying to put herself out there as a possible target. By about the halfway point of the book, I just wanted to knock both of their heads together.

Another issue I had was that there were just too many times where Kieran and her family members conveniently came across things that could help the FBI investigation. New York is a huge city filled with millions of people. What are the odds that it would always be Kieran or one of her brothers who would come across valuable clues?

FINAL THOUGHTS

Even with the issues I had with it, I still thought A Perfect Obsession was a solid read. If you’re looking for memorable characters that you can connect with, this may not be your book, but if you love a good mystery and want to immerse yourself in some New York history, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book.

RATING: 3 STARS


Thanks so much to Netgalley, Heather Graham, and Mira Books for allowing me to preview a copy of this book. This in no way impacts my review.

It was another really good and enjoyable mystery from one of my favorite authors. Overall very good book with strong characters and storyline. Would recommend!

Thank you so much to Heather Graham, Harlequin (US & Canada) & NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book..

Really enjoyed the details of old New York and what is hidden beneath her streets. The murder mystery of this book was very well thought out and executed! This book was definitely one that I want to continue on in a series!

When the body of Jeannette Gilbert is found in a recently discovered crypt under an old church, Kieran Finnegan finds herself unexpectedly drawn into the investigation. Kierans’ family owns the Finnegan’s pub which is located directly behind the church turned nightclub. What she doesn’t realize at first is that her twin brother Kevin is Jeannette’s “mystery lover”. Meanwhile, her boyfriend Special Agent Craig Frasier of the FBI is assigned to the case, and Kieran and her employers are called in to help with the profile of the killer. As the publicity heats up and another girl goes missing, the pressure to find the perpetrator intensifies. Will Kieran and Craig be able to find him before he has a chance to strike again, or will Kieran become his next victim?

This is a very intriguing story with some clever twists thrown in to keep you guessing. It reads in a way that is more similar to a cozy mystery than an intense thriller, but there is danger and some psychological thrills given that Kieran is a forensic psychologist. I found Kieran to be a lovely character with a well-developed personality. Likewise, her boyfriend Craig, though he’s just a bit too protective sometimes. There is a nice interplay between Kieran and her brothers, and several interesting secondary characters. I was still guessing almost till the end as to who the killer was, so in that respect the mystery is well presented. This is the 2nd book in a 3 book series and I have not read the first one, but I didn’t feel like that detracted from my enjoyment of this story. Overall, I found this book to be an enjoyable read with a good story and characters.

This was a DNF for me. I couldn't get into the story, but thank you for providing me with a chance to read it early.

Another good, fast read by Heather Graham—the action keeps up till the end.

Excellent romantic suspense. I thoroughly enjoy the Finnegan Four, they always have each other's back. The psychologist Kieran and the FBI agent Craig are a great couple and coplement each other well. Believable story line and great plot twists. I will read everthing this author puts out.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30780759-a-perfect-obsession" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Perfect Obsession (New York Confidential #2)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1472474128m/30780759.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30780759-a-perfect-obsession">A Perfect Obsession</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/30819.Heather_Graham">Heather Graham</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2057323975">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
A Perfect Obsession is another GREAT one by Heather Graham. You will NOT regret reading this. I couldn't figure out who "the one" was until the very end, which completly surprised me.<br /> This is the second in the NEW YORK CONFIDENTIAL series. It does take off from the first, but can also be read as a stand alone. Craig is a FBI agent that gets called into a case that is about a serial killer that is killiing young beautiful women. He/she dresses them up and lays the body out to be diplayed in tombs. Craig is dating Keiran, physchologist and part owner of the family bar. Keiran is a very beautiful women herself and Craig is very worried about her safety, especially because she gets more and more intersted in this case. <br /> I received this copy for free to give my honest review. If I would of purchased this book, I wouldn't of had any regrets. This is a GREAT story. You can NOT go wrong with Heather Graham! :) <br />Happy Reading!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/41499116-pammy">View all my reviews</a>

Heather Graham is a prolific writer. That is without question. And she has an incredible talent for plotting compelling stories that are filled with twists and turns and romance and suspense and all the things that go into great storytelling. A Perfect Obsession is yet another example of her incredible abilities. In this story pub owner and forensic psychologist Kieran Finnegan consults with FBI Special Agent Craig Fraser to investigate a series of murders perpetrated by a serial killer who is obsessed with beauty. His victims are beautiful young women and he displays them as if they are works of art. Which to him, they are. The characters in this story are wonderful, the villain as bad as villains get, the plot convoluted, and the writing spot on. I don't know how she does it, but Heather Graham seems to turn out almost perfect thrillers and A Perfect Obsession is another in her long list of excellent stories. Could not put it down. Highly recommended.


DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series

Perfect Obsession is the second book in the New York Confidential series by Graham. Although not a supernatural thriller like Graham's widely successful other series, fans of those series will still enjoy this creepy thriller.
Someone is killing and staging "perfect" women in crypts and mausoleums around the country and one is right in the backyard of Finnegan's pub where Kieran (our smart and capable forensic psychologist ) calls home. With the help of her FBI agent boyfriend, they have to track down this serial killer before he makes Kieran his next victim.
I'll admit I'm a die hard fan of Graham's but this one offered some very creepy moments. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

I love Heather Graham!! Her books are the best when it comes to Suspense!

A creepy, engaging mystery about a serial killer that is also filled with the history of New York City. I love historical fiction and contemporary fiction that builds on history, so that part of this story fascinated me. Unfortunately the mystery was just a bit too predictable for my taste. I figured out pretty early on who the FBI should have been arresting. On the other hand, I loved the relationship between Kieran and Craig and would like to read more of their adventures. Hence the 3 star rating -- enjoyed reading it, but not the most compelling mystery I've read.

Beautiful women are murdered and put on display. When an up and coming model is put on display in the catacombs of a former church turned night club, around the block from Finnegan’s the family pub, forensic psychologist Kieran Finnegan is asked to assist. Special Agent Craig Frasier is also on the case when the FBI takes over. The two have worked together and are also a couple. Although, I enjoyed the story and how it developed, it was missing something. Certainly a mystery, but less thrilling than expected and the finale was predictable. Not that it will stop me from reading further exploits of these two.