RATING: 3.5 STARS
2017; Carina Press
(Review Not on Blog)

A Grave Calling is a new to me author, and even better is from BC, Canada (where I live). Wendy Roberts is now on my list of author's to read. I really enjoyed the paranormal elements in this romantic suspense novel. It is a bit predictable, but is well-written and has great characters. There is a spark of romance between the hero and heroine so I am looking forward to seeing where it goes. This series has great potential and I am excited to read the second book.

***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***

I loved the Ghosts Duster mysteries by Wendy Roberts and regularly checked to see if she had anything new out. I love the murder mystery supernatural twist that wasn't as cozy as most of the series out there today. So I had high hopes for this new series and actually put off reading the book because I was worried about it not meeting my expectations. However with the second book in the series also waiting for me on my KIndle I decided to get over my fears and dived into the book.

I needn't of worried about the book not meeting my expectations. I finished A Grave Calling within hours because I just couldn't stop reading. I was hooked already during the first chapter and found it hard to put down. As the story progressed there was always some new aspect of Julie's life or the people around her that kept me eager to find out more. As the murder mystery unraveled and it became clear that things were closer to Julie than I thought, well I didn't take a break until I was done.

This was a thrilling story and extremely well written. I loved how everything fell into place with no over the top pushes from the author. It flowed and never felt unrealistic. It was compelling and unusual. The dowsing aspect of the story really made the whole thing come together and also made things interesting. It made the mystery stand out even more and I loved the insight into this practice.

I haven't been reading much lately as nothing has really grabbed me but this book was just too good and I gobbled it. I haven't read something that fast in a long time and usually I wouldn't even think about reading the next installment straight away but I am definitely going to be reading it next. I really enjoyed this and I am so happy that Wendy is back. I hope this series continues to thrive.

This was such a different view of the paranormal genre. I really enjoyed the dowsing rod aspect as they have always fascinated me. I wanted to kick the hero's butt though.

My review was published at All About Romance on July 14, 2017.

Holy Schmoly...

This book was absolutely fantastic. Dark, creepy, unique and oh so disturbing. I love a character that is damaged and man oh man she is a hot mess. From her unique name to her eerie ability she has led a tough life. But she is resilient and I so enjoyed her.

This book has a cast of interesting characters with a mystery that left me scratching my head and my mouth gaping open. I couldn't put this book down, I read in a couple of hours.

And Garrett is my hero. He is quite the Special Agent with his own baggage. I loved him from the beginning.

You MUST check out this book, you will be rocked as I was with this authors writing talent. Can't wait for more!!!!!

Julie Hall has a gift for dowsing.
Dowsing for dead bodies
This was a gripping thriller with a touch of the supernatural – Julie’s character is excellently written, disturbed by years of abuse dished out my her grandmother, she lives in a trailer on her grandparents land (her grandmother has died) and looks after her grandfather. She keeps herself to herself and only socialises with her boyfriend Denny and best friend Kate. Her only real company is her dog. Then Agent Garrett of the FBI asks for her help in locating the bodies of some missing girls.
Julie is a great character, although tough and independent because of the abuse she has suffered she still has a soft and compassionate side.
Although she has a boyfriend (Denny) this appears to be more for company and to serve their needs rather than a relationship built on love and he does not approve of her gift, her best friend is selfish and flighty a good time girl who beds Denny at the first opportunity.
Agent Garrett is a nicely written and finely nuanced character, who lives alone after the death of his wife and child, driven by the number of missing girls in the area he is determined and resolute to catch the killer.
Naturally a romance develops between Julie and Garratt and normally this and the ensuing sex scene would have me grimacing and skipping pages – not so in A grave calling. Roberts describes the budding romance and subsequent sex act with compassion and delicacy that I actually felt that it was brilliantly done and if only other writers could write like that all romances would be portrayed in a way that actually progresses the story instead of stopping it.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book, the plot and characters are not what they seem and the end resolution seems both obvious (it’s not) and shocking at the same time. I really hope that this is going to become a series of books as I would defiantly buy the next one and I hope that they will be published in physical form as I would love to add them to my library.

A brilliant novel! Thrilling, a bit creepy and very intriguing novel: a promising start for a new series!

Julie Hall has had a tough life: abused by her grandmother in her childhood and cursed with the ability to find dead bodies with her dousing rods, she just wants to blend in and have a normal life with her grandfather and her dog Wookie. At the same time, a serial killer is on the loose, leaving the bodies of young women behind with very little evidence. When an FBI agent called Garrett Pierce comes knocking asking for her help, Julie has to use the ability that she was raised to believe to be evil in order to prevent other killings. As the killer gets wind of Julie, Garrett vows to protect her… but will it be enough?

Grave Calling is highly engaging and addictive. The story-line is very well-developed and constructed, full of twists and turns and a perfect ending with a very unlikely killer. I really enjoyed how the author jumped from the past to the present, it was done beautifully and it was very easy to follow the story without losing myself or the details.

Julie is a great main character and a very unlikely heroine all things considered. The abuse she suffered in her childhood is heart-breaking and the fact that she still struggles with it gives her depth as a character, it makes her more real. Her past has a direct influence in the story, not only because it shapes her, but also because it emphases her struggles to deal with the killings and the bodies she finds. It was a bit agonising to read to be honest. Even so, she has no problems in speaking her mind and definitely not afraid to take on a serial killer. Garrett is a great male protagonist and he has his share of suffering and of bad memories which makes the partnership with Julie a great one, they understand and comfort each other. I really enjoyed reading about their developing relationship and their chemistry. Despite the age difference, they are great together. The secondary characters complement the story very nicely, especially Julie’s friend Katie.

This was my first read of Wendy Roberts and I highly recommend Grave Calling for the fans of cosy mysteries with a bit of spice and a lot of twists and surprises. A great thrilling read!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Mystery/Thriller
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was a great story. I love mystery books and even though I was able to figure out who the killer was, I didn't think that it took away from the story at all.

This was a complex, well developed mystery story with a little romance thrown in.

Garrett is trying to figure out who is killing women around the area. He enlists the help of Julie, who has a gift of finding dead people using dousing rods. Despite the fact that she hates to use her ability, he convinces her.

What Julie is fighting is her memories. She was abused by her grandmother and those memories haunt her. She has fought hard to find a medium in her life – she has her dog, Wookie, her job, and her grandfather. When Agent Pierce comes to her asking for her help, her life is thrown in to the media.

I really enjoyed how Roberts was able to weave the story, both past and present – it came together in a very well-rounded way and I can't wait to see what happens next in this series.

Excellent read. Really gripping and hard to put down once started.

Thanks for the chance to read this

Julie Hall has a unique gift or curse depending on how you look at it. She is able to locate the deceased with dowsing rods. Repeatedly punished for this gift as a child, Julie now chooses to live a quiet taking care of her grandfather and dog.

FBI Agent Garrett Pierce needs Julie’s help. Three young women have been kidnapped and the clues are sparse. It looks like a serial killer is working their way through the state and the FBI are worried this is just the beginning.

As Julie and Agent Pierce grow closer to one another and the killer, the killer turns their attention towards Julie. Pierce vows to keep Julie safe but when a grave calls, someone has to answer.

A Grave Calling is the first book in a mystery thriller series by Wendy Roberts. Set in the state of Washington, a young woman finds herself neck deep in a mystery when the FBI asks her to use her special skills to help them find some local girls gone missing. The beginning hooks you effortlessly. An FBI agent appears on a young woman’s doorstep, asking for her help in finding three missing girls. Told in the present tense, we are swept up instantly into the story as Roberts’ simultaneously builds her world and her main character-Julie Hall.

Julie Hall is a loner. A recovering alcoholic, she lives a solitary life in an old trailer with her Rottie-Wookie. Endowed with a dry wit and strong sense of self-perseverance, helping out her grandfather, working at the local convenience store, and the occasional date with her boyfriend is the extent of her social life. Raised by her grandparents after her mother dropped her off for a visit and never returned, Julie learned the hard way to hide her gift and has the scars to show for it. Using her gift is not easy for Julie. It brings back bad memories that Julie prefers to keep buried. She agrees to help the FBI on the condition of anonymity.

An interesting ensemble is introduced early on and cast a long shadow even though most of them are used to elevate and promote the female protagonist. Beyond Julie’s grandpa and the dog, everyone else is simply cannon fodder. The mystery weaves its way through and Robert’s allows us just enough insight into the investigation to keep us intrigued but not overwhelmed. I found the whole concept of dowsing quite interesting as I had never heard of it used in this aspect before. Roberts’ integrates it smoothly into the story, giving readers an impromptu history lesson as we watch Julie use this and other similar methods to find the missing girls

The halfway mark is where the story begins to lose it steam and stumble around. Julie evolves at a steady pace, slowly shedding her protective layers as she grows more comfortable with her gift but it felt at the expense of the storyline itself. She experiences a series of small shocks which are used to primarily to open up a romantic connection between her and Garrett. It’s awkward as their chemistry is almost nonexistent and it’s obvious the connection is more based on two lonely people looking for some comfort. I would have brushed it off to had Robert’s not used another agent to promote jealousy and conflict. There was no purpose for it. I also found the logistics surrounding the reveal of the villain overly melodramatic and rushed. Roberts’ spins you round and round in attempts to misdirect and when you stop, you’re left in shock with quite a few questions at the end.

Grade: C

A Grave Calling by Wendy Roberts
Bodies of Evidence #1

Having used a few divination tools with mixed results I was eager to read this book of a woman who dowses for the dead. Watching my husband’s cousin look for water and being told how he does it using the same tools Julie used in this book made it come even more alive for me. I do like things that are not always scientific and don’t come with easy explanations ;)

Julie Hall, born Delma Arsenault, is the once abused but very talented heroine of this book. She has survived her childhood and is doing her best as an adult when along comes FBI Agent Garrett Pierce asking her to do something she has been raised to believe is evil – get her divining rods out and dowse for the bodies left behind by a serial killer. It is tasking for her but with the support of rather silent and quite a bit older Garrett she has success on more than one trip into the field. Before the end of the book she finds herself in the crosshairs of the killer. Since she is not one to follow the rules the FBI finds it a challenge at times to keep her safe.

As the first book in the Bodies of Evidence series I found this interesting and intriguing. It drew me in and kept me turning the pages without taking a break. I liked both Julie and Garrett and felt they brought out the best in one another. I have a feeling that they will make a great team in future books of the series. I liked that the book ended with the case tied up in a bow but with a hint at the direction the series plans to take for book number two. I am looking forward to reading more of this series and other books by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

Wendy Roberts is able to take two very unlikely people and bring them together to comfort one another while trying to solve the mystery.
The best part of this story was I had no Idea who the killer was until the person was revealed. The mystery has elements of romance but it wasn't believable enough to keep me needing to read the next in the series.

Stars 3.75 out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book for my honest thoughts.

A Grave Calling is a promising start to a new series by Wendy Roberts. Julie Hall has a unique talent that the FBI thinks might help them find missing girls. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was pulled into the story from page one. Interesting characters that you"ll want to know more about with a new spin on paranormal. The mystery kept me guessing and I was totally surprised by the ending. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Ms. Roberts’ Ghost Dusters series, and I was very excited when I came across this new series. Eagerly, I jumped on the chance to read A Grave Calling via Netgalley. At first, I have to admit I was a little taken aback. This book was a little darker than the other series I had read. Of course, all of this was my expectations going into the book; it was a new series and I shouldn’t have expected it to be just like the other one. After adjusting my outlook with this series, I settled in to read. I was startled to realize just how good this book was. Julie was an extremely flawed character with a dark past she’s been trying to outrun with alcohol. Her friend, boyfriend, and grandpa are the center of her world, but they aren’t exactly what she needs (can’t say too much!). As side characters, I really liked the way they all played a part in furthering the plot. I do have to admit I didn’t see any chemistry between her and her love interest (hmm, didn’t I just say she had a boyfriend?!?) and felt more like they were helping each other survive a cruel world. Not a bad thing, in my humble opinion. This book was well-written, extremely engrossing (I actually didn’t go to bed until I finished it), and had a great plot. I didn’t see a couple of things coming and I was stunned. This is a great start to a series I can’t wait to read more of! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Carina Press for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed. This exact review will be posted on both Amazon and Goodreads.

WOW! This book kept me riveted. I could not put it down. This story takes you on twists and turns you don’t see coming. Fans of the Harper Connelly stories by Charlaine Harris will love this story. This is the first I’ve read by this author but I assure you it won’t be the last.

Julie Hall has a blessing ...or a curse. With the help of dowsing rods, she can locate dead bodies. When FBI Agent Garrett Pierce shows up and wants her help to locate three missing young women. She really doesn't want to .. but she agrees to help in his search.

As bodies are discovered and more girls disappear, it's almost more than Julie can mentally handle. Finding the bodies brings back bad memories of when she was a child. Her grandmother was physically abusive .... and she still has all the scores to remind her.

And then the killer turns his eyes toward Julie. Pierce becomes very protective and vows that nothing will happen to her ... but the killer has other ideas.

Interesting book with an engaging story premise. Julie is a terrific character ... she's had to come to terms with her childhood. Called a witch when caught using the dowsing rods had her grandmother doing horrific things to Julie to drive the devil out. She's outgoing with no problem saying what's on her mind. She doesn't play head games and she's fiercely loyal to the one or two friends that she has. Her one love has 4 paws ... a Rottweiler name Wookie.

Garrett Pierce has had his share of heartache. He lost his beloved wife and young son to a drunk driver a few years ago. He's a little gruff, a little arrogant but feels a strong attraction to Julie, even though he's 20+ years older.

There are several secondary characters that lend a note of credibility to the story. Her ex-boyfriend, Dennie. Her best friend, Katie, who has a fling with Julie's ex. Julie's grandfather, who never stopped his wife from beating Julie. Jonas, a young man who works at the same gas station as Julie, who has a small crush on her.

If you like a bit of spice, a bit of paranormal, then this book may be for you. Watch for the second book in this series ..... A GRAVE SEARCH.

Many thanks to the author / Carina Press / Netgalley for the advanced uncorrected digital proof. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I enjoy Wendy Roberts and though I have wished that her standalone books had continued as series, I am glad to see that Julie Hall and Bodies of Evidence will.

Twenty five year old Julie Hall refers to herself as a corpse magnet ever since, as a young twelve year old child with dowsing rods, she found a body instead of water. Having changed her name from Delma Arsenault to Julie Hall, she now leads a quiet life as a gas station attendant. That is until FBI Agent Garrett Pierce appears in her life and knows about her past, a past that can now help him find three missing girls.

She does not like taking money for her talent since that feels like a bad karma thing to do, but will take enough to help pay for a birthday present for her beloved grandfather. She had been dropped at her grandparents’ farm when she was six and hoped that her mother would come back for her. When that did not happen, the unimaginable abuse from a brutal grandmother ensued. She had always wondered why her grandfather never intervened, but that was a long time ago. Her grandmother was now gone and her grandfather and dog are all that she has left.

Then she begins to find the bodies and her life will never be the same.

This is creating yet another downward spiral for her, the alcoholism is bad enough, and the quicksand – her name for PTSD, is unrelenting. Yet, she does not want to give up on the missing girls. As one by one, she finds them along with white ribbons, she is in deeper then she wishes. So deep that the truth of “betrayal comes from friends and not enemies” hits her so hard that this is a spiral that she may never recover from.

A serial killer is on the loose and the FBI seeks the unique skills of Julie Hall and thus began this fast-paced and hauntingly mysterious drama that pulled me immediately that I could not put down until the last sentence was read. The pacing was on par with the tempo of this story as each chapter took me deeper into the mindset of the main protagonist and the turmoil that surrounded her as she fought for her sanity and the innocent victim of the nefarious doings of the serial killer. The author staged this tale with narrative that was visually descriptive placing me in the middle of all that was happening on the pages. This mystery was filled with suspense, intrigue and trepidation and my heart palpitated with thump, thump, thump as it became clear that who I thought was the killer was not and then the author revealed the killer’s identity and OMG, I did not see that one coming. That scene just blew me away. The lead protagonist is flawed and vulnerable and yet that gives her the strength to prevail through what life has handed her. I enjoyed my time spent with Julie and the supporting cast of characters that kept me engaged in all aspects of this story. I look forward to reading the next book in this captivating series.

Quirky suspense with dark elements. It's always a treat to find a new author that writes a unique story.

Julie Hall had a childhood filled with abuse from her grandmother, made worse by the gift she had for finding dead bodies with a pair of dowsing rods. Only returning to the home she grew up in after her grandmother dies, she's content with just working at a gas station and looking after her Grandfather. She's helped law enforcement in the past to find missing people but is surprised when the FBI knocks on her door needing help to locate the body of a woman killed by a suspected serial killer. She is just one of 3 recently taken and they need Julie's help in hopes that finding the bodies they will find clues and evidence against the killer.

Julie had more than her share of bad things happen to her in life and even let them for a while put her on a self medicating path. Her gift was something I've never seen used before and held me captivated until the shocking ending.

Looking for a dark, edgy suspense different from the rest – give A Grave Calling a try..

I received this eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Wendy Roberts was one of my first paranormal mystery writers, her series Ghostdusters Mysteries was an instant favorite, so I was excited to try out her newest series beginning with A Grave Calling. And much like her previous series, we once again find a heroine who has a unique ability. But this time, instead of talking to ghosts, Julie finds dead bodies with her dowsing rods.

Julie was quite the unique character. I’ve read many different kinds of books over the years, but I can’t remember ever reading about a character who seems so broken. Julie has had a rough life, but she makes do. She lives in her own little trailer on her grandfather’s property and has a lovable pooch and a steady boyfriend. Things are going good, until the day Agent Garrett Pierce knocks on her door asking for her help in finding a missing body. He’s heard that Julie has special abilities with her dowsing rods and would like her to assist with an ongoing case involving missing girls turning up dead and then not being able to find the bodies right away.

One missing girl turns into two, then three, and then we begin to realize how dangerous this situation is! The added element of danger really added some spice to this one. It’s not your typical cozy mystery, which I always found odd calling a murder mystery cozy! Whether it involves a hardcore detective or just your average Jane, ignoring her superpower of course, murder never seems like a “cozy” kind of mystery. Lol.

I enjoyed the added balance we got with Julie’s normal life and the mystery case, she becomes deeply entangled into the case as Garrett is constantly bringing her back in to find yet another body. Julie tries to cling to her life, but soon all those things are taken away from her the more she’s involved with her case. She loses her job, she’s betrayed by the remaining people she loves and soon she even must leave behind her grandfather and dog for a while to be in protective custody.

You would think with all that going on there wouldn’t be time for romance, but there is! Even with the description I almost didn’t expect Julie and Garrett to start a relationship after some time. Largely due to the age difference. Yeah, I know, it’s weird to be weirded out by that. But let me explain, the vast majority of books I’ve read usually have the “relationship” characters at or around the same age. If there’s an age difference I really don’t think it’s ever topped 10 years. Garrett and Julie are 20 years apart at least. And I don’t know it just felt weird, my brain was thinking that when Garrett was a legal adult of 21, Julie was just being born! And add to the fact that Julie never knew who her father was, my brain went down that road and thought he could be your dad!! Spoiler, he’s not. But yeah, while I did like the relationship in some aspect I was still always reminded—by the characters themselves—that there was a huge age difference between them and yeah, it weirded me out just a bit. But now that I’ve read a 20 year age difference romance maybe I will be able to get used to it for future reads. (And on a side note, yeah I get that the vampires are some centuries years older than the other human, that’s a whole other issue up for debate at another time!)

The ending is what totally blew me away! I was convinced I had this mystery down pat! I knew who did it! I didn’t know why exactly, but that usually comes along after the bad guy is caught! And let me tell you, things get really, really intense in these last few chapters (as I can’t give page numbers or even an accurate guess as to how much “towards the end”). But I was wrong you guys!! So wrong! Did not see this bad guy reveal coming at all!! I both love and hate when that happens. Because while shocking, I felt like this came out of left field. And the reasoning? (Note here, things will start to be worded oddly as I avoid identifying the serial killer’s sex.) Why did the killer do all the things that were done? We don’t know. A serial killer is a serial killer.

I didn’t like that. There was methodology to the things that were done. The killer left little “parting gifts” with the bodies. Why? Why only young teenage girls? They weren’t being molested or anything like that, so that’s not a factor. It just didn’t make sense to me. And later on, looking at other past victims who are in no way, shape, or form teenage girls just made me all the more confused! I feel like that if there’s going to be a methodological serial killer, there has to be a reason for why the killing is being done in the way it’s done, the victims that are chosen…why why why?! You can see how this is driving me a little nuts, right? I don’t like that we didn’t get any of those answers when all was said and done. It almost defeats the purpose if we don’t know what was driving the serial killer in their killing ways, what’s the point of the mystery at the end of the day?

And let me tell you, writing in such vague terms and sentences was hard! I had to go back and re-read this last part and revise what I had written! LOL!

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read. It was very mysterious and creepy in some ways as we watch the killer set Julie in their sights. It was freaky!! My heart was racing through several moments towards the end. But then the reveal? And its aftermath? Kind of disappointing without any explanation whatsoever. If you enjoy a good mystery with an added touch of paranormal in way of psychic powers, then I would still highly recommend this one. Just don’t expect answers in regard to the serial killer’s motives.


Overall Rating 4/5 stars


A Grave Calling releases June 5, 2017