Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Crimson Summer

Author: Heather Graham

Book Series: Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI Book 2

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: mystery, murder mystery, thriller, suspense

Publication Date: April 5, 2022

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, death, violence, gore, language)

Explanation of Above: There is a lot of murder and death in this book, along with violence and gore. There is also cursing in this book.

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 384

Synopsis: They're not going down without a fight.

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.

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 and put a stop to the escalating cartel turf war before the Everglades run red.

Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The premise is interesting and it kept my interest throughout the book. The characters were fairly well developed and the world building was ok. I also liked the mystery aspect and thought it was intriguing.

However, I feel like the book didn’t execute well and the dialogue was just really weird. The book had a lot of repetition and the book also was weirdly paced. I also feel like some of the backstory was in the synopsis.

Verdict: It was ok.

Crimson Summer is the first book I’ve read by Heather Graham, which I’m shocked about since she’s written over a 100 books. Crimson Summer picks up after Danger in Numbers and while you can read this and still enjoy it, I feel reading that one first would have enhanced Crimson Summer for me. I happen to love reading anything about cults and this one had all the creepiness and believability that I needed to end up really enjoying this. Another thing I enjoyed was Amy. She was a take no prisoners, tough woman who modeled strength and courage.

What’s it about (in a nutshell):

Crimson Summer by Heather Graham is the second book in a crime thriller series about an apocalypse cult whose leader is bringing the four horsemen of the apocalypse to life. Amy Larson (Florida Law Enforcement) and Hunter Forrest (FBI) had already found and stopped the white horse, but a red horse had been sent to them.

What I Enjoyed:

The suspense keeps the pace fast until the twists and turns kick in. Amy and Hunter fly between Florida, New York, and Chicago to the crime scenes and follow up with witnesses and potential suspects. The movement of the characters, followed by the suspense as more and more clues are discovered, kept my pages flipping. There is never a dull moment, and I love it.

Crimson Summer can be read as a stand-alone, technically, but why would you want to. I love that each book in the series ends in a soft conclusion with a tease and not a true cliffhanger. I am always quick to fuss when books in a series end in cliffhangers because I think it is unnecessary and frustrating, but that is not the case with this series. We automatically know that there are four horsemen, so a cliffhanger would just be redundant.

The whole “4 Horseman of the Apocalypse” overall plot is one that I am thoroughly enjoying. I always found The Four Horseman fascinating and scary in equal measures. Graham’s utilization of it for this series is equally as eerily fascinating and entirely appropriate for an Apocalypse cult to yield. It’s been utilized in many other stories on stage, screen, and print, but none quite as chilling as the sequence of events in this series.

I love that the romance burns bright without being gratuitous. Amy and Hunter are a wonderful couple. I gave the critique with the first book that perhaps they are a bit too perfect, and that hasn’t changed technically, but I did look at it differently in this book than I did in the first. In Crimson Summer, I saw their perfection as more of a light in the darkness. A few scenes between the couple show their passion while still leaving a lot to the imagination so that it never breaks the flow of the suspense. In some ways, the possibility that their pureness of feelings could fall prey to the evil they are fighting just worked to enhance the tension.

Boy, that ending took me by surprise! It is so complex and in a totally different direction than I was looking. I always love when a story surprises me, and this one did not disappoint.


Characters:

This is a plot-driven story, but the characters are so well drawn that it could have easily been a character-driven story. Amy and Hunter are a good team in every way and characters that elicit all the right feelings from the reader.

What I Wish:

My only wish is that the next book comes out sooner rather than later.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are looking for a thrilling series that gets better with each installment, Crimson Summer and its predecessor, Danger in Numbers, are two books you won’t want to miss.

Crimson Summer by Heather Graham is the second book in the Amy Larson and Hunter Forrest FBI series. Having enjoyed Danger Numbers I looked forward to reading Crimson Summer on learning it was the sequel. It delivered a thrilling and suspenseful tale served with a side of romance.

The events in Crimson Summer occurred one month after Danger in Numbers. The story began with a mass murder, made to look like gang on gang violence. The victims were members of a notorious Latino gang. Meanwhile,  the delivery of red toy horse to Amy and Hunter's hotel room led to them cutting their  vacation short.  A similar toy  found at the crime scene alerted Amy and Hunter to the connection between this crime scene their previous case involving the investigation of an apocalypse cult.  The red horse indicated the beginning of war. Amy and Hunter along with the joint task force finds themselves in a race against time to prevent a catastrophic event.

Graham delivered a clever tale which had me turning the pages while keeping me on the edge of my seat. It kept me guessing from start to finish. The case is chilling and complex. The murders were not confined to Florida and they were several players involved. The big question on everyone's mind, was who was the puppet master?

Amy and Hunter's relationship has evolved and they have grown closer. They had each other's back . Hunter's action near to the end demonstrated how much he loved Amy.

The danger intensified the more Hunter and Amy searched for the truth. The tale provided some nail biting  moments. Now while this aspect of the investigation wrapped up successfully, Hunter and Amy's work isn't over.

𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 by Heather Graham is part two in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. This book was dark, suspenseful, full of good character banter (my favorite thing) and visceral chemistry between Amy and Hunter. The twists and turns kept me invested, but the dialogue felt a little stiff at times to me. All in all, this was a great read and I will be checking out more of Graham’s books in the future!

𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘺 𝘏𝘛𝘗 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 (𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬-𝘺𝘰𝘶!). 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I guess this is the next book in what could be a series. It has some of the same characters and kinda picks up sometime after the previous one. For some reason I’m just not that big of fan of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Danger in Numbers ended with a cliff hanger and I've been waiting to read this story since I read that part of the previous story.
This second instalment it's an excellent thriller, fast paced, and action packed. The plot never drags and the twists are always unexpected.
I read it in one sitting as I wanted to know what was going to happen.
I appreciated how the thriller never took the backseat and the romance part worked well without stopping the flow of the story.
The world building is fascinating and I can't wait to read the next story because I want to know what will happen.
The characters are fleshed out and relatable, the storytelling is excellent.
As there's a lot of backstory it can be read as a stand alone but I suggest to read the series in order.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

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.

This second book is just as intense as the first! I really love the characters. Hunter and Amy work well professionally and personally. This one left me with my jaw hanging open. I never saw the villain coming. I was completely sucked into the story and it is full of suspense! They are now two horses down with two to go. I can't wait to see what happens next.

This author has woven a story that might be real or might not…characters who are likable and some not so much…mystery and intrigue…what will happen next? This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley…although the story moves slowly at times…enjoy

This latest thriller by Heather Graham kept me guessing all the way to the end. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. While it is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. (I have not read the first one.)

The chemistry between Hunter and Amy and the banter among the law enforcement characters is a good balance with the darker scenes of gang wars and murders. Suspense with perfectly paced twists and turns made this a book I had difficulty putting down.

I would have given the book five stars if the dialogue, a bit clumsy at times, had been smoother.

I received an advance copy, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Crimson Summer will grab you from the first page. The characters are deverse and You'll have to keep reading to figure out who the bad guys are and learn if the multiple law enforcement units can stop the killings.

Title: Crimson Summer
Author: Heather Graham
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out 5

They're not going down without a fight.

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.

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 and put a stop to the escalating cartel turf war before the Everglades run red.

I’ve really enjoyed the Larson & Forrest books so far. Just creepy enough to keep my attention without being gory enough to gross me out. The characters—both the two main characters and the supporting characters—are solid and interesting, and I love how they work out exactly what’s going on with the crimes. I’d definitely recommend this!

Heather Graham is a bestselling author. Crimson Summer is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/5.)

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Apparently this is the second in a series, but it can be read as a standalone. This book gives enough details and context that you do not need to have read the first (I haven't).

Amy Larson and Hunter Forrest - a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent and an FBI Agent - team up to investigate after they receive a red horse while on vacation. Around the same time, a large number of gang members are murdered in the everglades. The toy horse is the calling card from the investigation they just finished - except that one was white, and that guy is in jail. It seems there is a mastermind at work, and they are not finished. The red horse signifies war.

The premise of the story was good and interesting, but the execution didn't work well for me. The dialogue was weird and kind of distracting, and it seemed like there was a lot of repetition. In the end, though, I was interested enough to finish the book to see what happened.

This crime thriller was just okay. It starts with a gang massacre in the middle of the Florida Everglades and the threat of the “red horse” of the Apocalypse bringing war to the world. The premise was good, but the conversations between characters were awkward and weird. They did not come across as natural conversations that would actually occur in real life. If the conversations were written differently, I probably would have enjoyed this book more.

First things first: this is book two in this apocalyptic horseman series, (<a href="https://ebooknerdreviews.wordpress.com/2021/03/30/blogtour-danger-in-numbers-by-heather-graham-including-excerpt/">Read my review of the first book here</a>) and while the events of the first book are referenced, and this book does give away the "bad guy" from the first, if you're OK with that, you can absolutely read this book as a standalone. It's plot is self-contained and the characters are easy to get to know.

The last book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger and this one starts with quite a bang as Hunter and Amy are back on the trail of the four Horsemen. Heather Graham certainly knows how to write an incredibly suspenseful thriller and this one is no exception, with the questions and twists coming right away. I don't want to give too much away, but our heroes find themselves find themselves faced with bad guy who seem untouchable and basically no information - it makes for a great mystery!

The ending was really great and I was completely gripped. It was one of those "don't stop reading until the last page" books that make you hold your breath as you keep turning pages. I didn't guess the ultimate resolution myself ... and there's of course hints that's there's more to come! I'll be waiting!

Another success. Loved this book. Great chemistry between characters. Lots of red herrings but really logical. Looking forward to the next two “horses.”

Engrossing police procedural Murder mystery. Part 2.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story is one that you definitely need to read book one before diving into this one. It is part two of a four-part series and not for the faint of heart.

Graham is liberal with her descriptions of the raw and gritty crime scenes. The reality of murder and destruction of people and families. The hate and intensity of a gang war. She imagery she crafts dig deep into your soul.

But she also adds levity and lightness with a love connection and friendships that offer a great balance. Crimson Summer is unique in its plot and the twists she loads throughout keep you off balance in the race against time.

Great pacing with addictive qualities that make this one tough to put down! Definitely one to grab, after reading book one, of course!!

Strong Police Procedural With Overarching Mythology. Read Book 1 First. Upfront, I'm disagreeing with most other reviews currently on Goodreads for this book. Yes, technically it *can* be read as a standalone, as there are more than enough spoilers from Book 1 to give you what you need to follow along here. But with this being an overarching mythology involving the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and who each horseman is and who is controlling them... this is absolutely a series that is best started with Book 1. And then, of course, you'll want the next book and the next and the next, until you've finished the series - no matter how long Graham keeps it going. (Presumably no more than 6 or 7 books or so, with a potential Book 5 revealing the mastermind, Book 6 unveiling the mastermind's true plot, and a final showdown in Book 7. Though all three of those last things could be done in a single epic tale.) Great for those who love at minimum nation-trotting creepy action tales that span the US. This reader in particular is a sucker for such tales, and is looking forward to seeing where this series goes from here. Very much recommended.

Second book in her Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI Series ,and just as good or should I say even better then the first book . And just like the first one as soon as I started it I couldn't put it down . This series is becoming my second all time favorite series by her right after her Krewe of Hunters Series. The twist and turns that kept coming kept me on the edge of my set, as well as kept me guessing who was the red horse, and that's other thing I liked about this story while it mentions the four horsemen of the apocalypse ,Heather Graham does it in away that’s it's not religious centaured ,in fact it helps give the cult a creepy and villans feeling to it , because you don't don't who you can trust or who is even part of this dark and dangerous Cult.
This series is a mixture of romance , suspense, action-packed from page one to the very last page .