This one has all the ingredients for a chilling, globe-hopping paranormal thriller—serial killers on the dark web, a pair of ghost-whispering American agents, and a moody, misty Scottish setting straight out of a gothic mystery. But for me, the final product didn’t quite live up to the potential of the premise.

This is a spin-off from the Krewe of Hunters series, which I haven’t read, but I didn’t feel lost. The backstory is explained well enough that you can jump in without a problem. That said, I have a feeling longtime fans might be a better audience for this one than I was.

The story follows Special Agents Carly MacDonald and Luke Kendrick as they track down members of a serial killer syndicate inspired by H.H. Holmes—America’s first (and most theatrical) serial killer. The twist? These agents can see ghosts, and those ghosts occasionally lend a spectral hand with witness accounts and eerie insights.

The Scottish backdrop was easily my favorite part—underground tunnels, secret vaults, ancient buildings steeped in local lore—it set the mood perfectly. I especially liked the local detective, Brendan Campbell, and how the U.S. agents teamed up with their Scottish counterparts. I always love a bit of cross-cultural crime solving.

Unfortunately, where the setting shined, the character development fell flat. Carly and Luke’s dynamic worked well professionally, but any romantic sparks were pretty dim. Their dialogue often felt more like a history textbook than natural banter, and I found myself skimming when they started info-dumping entire Wikipedia pages mid-conversation.

The story also jumped from one killer to the next so quickly, I couldn’t connect with any of them. Most were introduced with a bang and then faded into vague villainy. The concept of a dark web society modeled after H.H. Holmes was so fascinating—I just wish the execution had matched the intrigue. Instead, the killers came off as more cartoonish than terrifying, and even the big bad felt more like a sketch than a showstopper.

So, while the premise was super compelling and the location drew me in, the formulaic pacing and shallow characters left me a bit underwhelmed. I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series—but I am very much here for more Scottish crime settings!

A Scottish B&B, a copycat serial killer, and romance. What’s not to love? This is a good book. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.


Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Graham does it again! I have loved every book she has written. This one did not disappoint! Can’t wait to read more from her! Such a great book.

Death Behind Every Door by Heather Graham is a pulse-pounding, spine-tingling thriller that hooks readers from the start. When FBI Special Agent Luke Kendrick stumbles upon evidence linking a string of grisly murders to the infamous H. H. Holmes Society, the stakes are raised to terrifying new heights. The story takes a chilling turn as Luke and his partner, Special Agent Carly MacDonald, venture to the eerie Graystone Castle, a seemingly idyllic B&B where guests mysteriously vanish without a trace.

Graham skillfully crafts a sense of claustrophobic danger as the agents navigate the dark, foreboding halls of the castle. The tension escalates as the pair uncovers the deadly network of killers tied to H. H. Holmes's legacy, and with every room they explore, the peril feels more imminent. The plot is tightly woven, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, and the chilling setting of the castle only adds to the atmosphere of dread.

With complex characters and a relentless pace, Death Behind Every Door is a captivating blend of suspense, historical intrigue, and modern-day thrills. Graham expertly weaves a tale where past horrors bleed into the present, creating a truly gripping read for fans of psychological thrillers and murder mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
An interesting premise with the H. H. Holmes Society angle, but not quite the satisfying conclusion I was hoping for. The romantic relationship, although probably welcome as a paranormal romance, seemed a little forced.

While I do think this books premise was a very interesting one. I had a hard to connecting to the characters. I wasn’t able to continue past about 30% as I felt like I couldn’t even focus on the storyline because I was lost most of the time.

I will rate as 3 stars because the premise was fun and maybe delivered in a different way it could have been a higher star rating for me.

“Death behind every door” focuses on the inspiration from “America’s first serial killer” (also with references to the same individual being connected to UKs notorious “Jack the ripper).

In present day there is a secret society spread across the globe who are using the inspiration of Herman Mudgett (aka H. H. Holmes) murder dungeon methods and set up.

It is unknown just how many members are involved in this society, and how many missing persons are actually previous victims.

What we do know are field agents Luke and Carly are teamed up as new partners and sent from the USA to Scotland to locate and apprehend members who are actively killing in the hopes of gathering intel that will allow to crime team to take down the society as a whole.

I really enjoyed the chemistry and newly formed relationship between the two agents. Although they were both used to working alone they quickly fell in step with one another and seemed to care about each other in earnest. I loved watching their bond grow with their witty banter and looking out for each others safety, also the cute chemistry between the two of them was wholesome! I definitely am a fan of their potential love match and hope their relationship develops over the series.

I loved the whole plot breathing life to historical serial killers as well as the present modern day secret society aspect. Serial killers all over the world in secret communications as they enact heinous crimes definitely sends a shiver down the spine, but makes for an entertaining read.

I enjoyed the fast pacing and the friendly dialogue between international and local police enforcement, as well as watching the investigations and undercover work taking place.

I look forward to the next instalments in this series!

Thank you to Heather Graham, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date; May 21st

This book is very well written and fast paced. I love a story based on in a Scottish B&B so count me in. I chose to read this book for the mystery but the romance and the couple themselves were a nice bonus. I really hope this series continues.

Heather Graham is at it again with this wonderful book. I did not know going into this book that it was a spin off from another series that she wrote but even without that knowledge this book can easily be enjoyed. As someone who is fascinated by old true crime cases this book was a delight, taking inspiration from the murders that H. H. Holmes committed and Jack the Ripper you get this mysterious book. The only downside that I had for this book is that I think the action took place to rapidly, there was a long lead up then about 2 seconds of action and then the bad guys were dealt with, it felt a little too fast. Overall though I really enjoyed the characters in the book, the descriptions of the settings made it easy to visualize where everything was taking place. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

"In the shadows of a Scottish castle, something deadly is lurking in every corner."
Death Behind Every Door is about two FBI agents Luke and Carly but they are apart of a unit that has unique abilities . This time they travel to Scotland on the trail of a killer whose killings impersonate HH Holmes. This was a exciting read that was written well and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the second book in the series. I would recommed this to any reader who loves a good mystery or suspense. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this read in exchange of my honest review of Death Behind Every Door by Heather Graham.

I really enjoyed this book! It was hard to follow at first with all the history and background information, but the premise of finding copycat serial killers was so interesting! I liked that there was also a romance aspect to help break up the tension of all the murders and suspense.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and author Heather Graham for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this but unfortunately I could not get into it and I didn’t finish it. I didn’t like the characters and overall I was just bored.

This was a good thriller with classic Heather Graham paranormal thrown in with a bit of history to keep it interesting. Unfortunately for me this book seemed a bit slow and not exciting. I was not edge of my seat.

Although not a bad detective “thriller”, I found it lacking in a lot of areas. I did like the paranormal and history mixed in. But overall, I found this book to be slow and a little boring. I did not like the writing style very much either.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Heather never ceases to amaze me in her books! I was ON THE EDGE of my seat from start to finish! Honestly didn’t want the book to end! So so good! I look forward to reading more!

The premise of the story is very engaging. The reader is immediately immersed in the oddities that occur in the old mansion. The alternating POV assists in building the pace of the book, but in some ways slightly plateaus after the initial incline. I did not quite get hooked enough to completely finish.

I found the 1st part of this book annoying, it skips around all over the place. It does get more linear at the end as they start tracking the head of the society instead of all the followers. I do like that’s there’s a lot of history given. #DeathBehindEveryDoor #NetGalley

Heather Graham's latest novel, Death Behind Every Door, takes readers on a chilling journey through the shadowy corridors of a Scottish castle-turned-B&B. If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers with a touch of historical intrigue, this book is your perfect escape! 📚✨

FBI special agent Luke Kendrick and his partner, Special Agent Carly MacDonald, dive headfirst into a sinister case linked to the notorious H. H. Holmes Society. Named after America's first serial killer, this group of killers is enacting their gruesome deeds in homage to Holmes. As Luke and Carly infiltrate the eerie Graystone Castle, posing as tourists, they uncover a web of secrets and danger lurking behind every stone wall. 🏰🔍

Graham masterfully weaves together a tale of suspense and mystery, keeping readers guessing with each twist and turn. The castle's ominous atmosphere adds to the suspense, as guests vanish without a trace and the agents race against time to unravel the truth. 💥🔓

The characters are compelling and well-drawn, each with their own motives and secrets that add layers of complexity to the plot. Luke and Carly's partnership is tested as they navigate treacherous waters, facing adversaries who are as cunning as they are deadly. The suspense builds to a crescendo as they uncover the dark legacy of the H. H. Holmes Society and confront the sinister forces at play. 🕵️‍♀️🌟

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the first novel in The Blackbird Files series, a spinoff series from the Krewe of Hunters series, which I haven’t read. I think this is easily read as a standalone. The background of their connection to the former series is explained within the text. Readers of the aforementioned series may be a better audience for this novel than me.

The story is told in third person and follows American Special Agents Luke Kendrick and Carly MacDonald as they search for a syndicate of serial killers communicating with each other and their leader via the dark web. These special agents can see and communicate with ghosts or revenants, which often aid their investigations providing witness accounts and other information.

The villainous leader in this story has taken on the persona of HH Holmes, a serial killer from the nineteenth century regarded as America’s first serial killer. It has a great setting, primarily in Scotland, where basements, underground tunnels, and vaults set the stage for grisly murder scenes and suspenseful confrontations. I really enjoyed the Scottish settings and the local police characters collaborating with the Americans, especially Brendan Campbell.

I enjoy learning about the history of different places and my favorite way to learn is through fiction, but it often felt like these characters were reading a synopsis of the local history taken from history class notes or from a Wikipedia page with dates and bullet points. It didn’t read like casual conversation or even romantic foreplay for the partners. I found their relationship development to be lacking though I did enjoy their relationship as colleagues as well as their other coworker relationships.

The story jumped from one serial killer to the next and most of them felt shallow and interchangeable, unimportant to the story, one second charming, the next a melodramatic female-hate spouting lunatic or an even wackier female perpetrator. It felt like the overall theme of a dark web of interconnected killers was more detailed than the individuals.

The concept of the HH Holmes Society was fascinating, and I wanted the stories of the individual members to be more drawn out rather than rushed through. I would have enjoyed more in-depth villains rather than these followers that read more like caricatures. I also expected a more charismatic leader in the end but didn’t find the head perpetrator to be any more compelling than his followers.

Overall, I found the story to be a little jumpy and formulaic with characters that lacked depth. I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, HTP Books, The Hive, and MIRA for a copy provided for an honest review.

FBI Agent Luke and Special Agent Carly are working as a team to figure out who is behind a bunch of killings that are similar to The HH Holmes Society. Luke is already experienced in following one of the many people that are in the society and is working with a new teammate doing everything they can to figure out who is behind this. With every person they find it seems another one just pops up as well as another website for everyone they take down hopefully they can stop these people for good.

So it appears this book does branch off of the Krewe of Hunters but branches off with its own Blackbird files so I'm really looking forward to seeing what's in store for the series. I really enjoyed reading this book and following along as they navigate through this case. Just when you think they drop the person another one just simply pops up as well as another website so clearly this case goes much more deeper. There was just so much going on that I really couldn't put this book down because I was really enjoying it so much. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next book.