Death Behind Every Door
by Heather Graham
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Arriving at the sinister Graystone Castle posed as a tourist, Luke is joined by Special Agent Carly MacDonald, and the pair is immediately confronted by dangers hidden in the castle’s depths. With guests disappearing and a network of killers closing in, Luke and Carly have only each other to rely on—and they’ll have to race to cut off the head of the snake before the blood trail of the past can culminate in a very real and deadly present.
The Blackbird Files
Book 1: Death Behind Every Door
The story focuses more on the mystery and suspense element. The romance between Luke and Carly is nearly non-existent. It just happens. The pacing is slow. I could only read so much at a time.
I am no stranger to this author’s works. I have read many of her Shannon Drake and historical romance books. She is a hit and miss with me. This book would be a miss.

“Death behind Every Door” is the first installment of Heather Graham’s new series, The Blackbird Files. Luke Kendrick is sent to Scotland to uncover who is heading up the H.H. Holmes Society, a web based group intent on emulating the killings of the original H.H. Holmes, America’s first known serial killer. He is partnered with Carly MacDonald, another member of the Blackbird team, who like Luke, can see and communicate with the dead. The action starts right from the start, so I had high hopes that the rest of the book would follow, but my hopes were quickly dashed. I couldn’t tell if this was a romance, a mystery, or a freaking history lesson. I had to force myself to plod through the boring history that appeared in the book at the worst times. When I was finished with the book, I was more relieved than satisfied. The characters were poorly drawn out, the romance too fast and almost juvenile. I’ve read some other Heather Graham books before and enjoyed them, but this one left me flat. Still, I want to give thanks to NetGalley and MIRA publishing for the advance copy in return for my opinion. I only wish I could have liked it more.

Luke Kendrick is a member of the newly formed international Krewe group called ‘Blackbird’. He is determined to apprehend the mastermind behind the H.H. Holmes society, murderers who emulate a nineteenth-century serial killer’s MO. Luke arrives in time to rescue his new partner from becoming another casualty.
Carly MacDonald is a new Krewe/Blackbird agent. She is tasked with investigating unusual disappearances near a particular Scottish castle. When her hunches prove true, Carly luckily escapes becoming another victim. Now she and her partner Luke race to locate other members of this one society before they kill again.
Can Luke and Carly destroy the H.H. Holmes society by capturing the mastermind? Or will they become their next target?
I could not connect with either Luke or Carly. They felt more one-dimensional to me. The author never really delved into their individual points of view. I think that is why I had trouble connecting with them both. There were times when Carly came off too perky and bubbly. That annoyed me. Yeah, I know that it was an act to throw off suspension.
DEATH BEHIND EVERY DOOR is the first book in Heather Graham’s romantic suspense series, THE BLACKBIRD FILES, a spinoff from her KREWE OF HUNTERS. I have only read a few of the KREWE books, so I am familiar with what they do. This series can standalone.
The story focuses more on the mystery and suspense element. The romance between Luke and Carly is nearly non-existent. It just happens. The pacing is slow. I could only read so much at a time before I got bored. I do have a small nitpick. It felt like the author tried to shove a history lesson down my throat.
I am no stranger to this author’s works. I have read many of her Shannon Drake and historical romance books. She is a hit and miss with me. This book would be a miss.

Another great book from Graham especially if you really enjoy suspense, paranormal and romance all rolled into one great story. Graham always does a remarkable job on her research no matter where her books take place and/or the history behind the story. Her descriptions of the scenery and places that Carly and Luke visit are vivid and descriptive, so that you could picture each one clearly in your mind. Graham puts just enough suspense to keep you guessing, a splash of romance and a good amount of the paranormal for all types of readers. I highly recommend Heather Graham and her continuation of the Krewe of Hunters series. Luke and Carly, who work for a special branch (Krewe of Hunters) of the FBI, have been teamed up to find out who started up a website based on H. H. Holmes and who is training people to become killers. They are working alongside the Scotland Police to find these killers and their victims before many more people are killed. Thank you to Netgalley and Mira for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book was absolutely crazy and brilliant and just captivated me right from the very first chapter. I couldn’t stop!

I enjoyed this book! The story and the characters were interesting and it kept me interested until the end! Definitely a fun read.

This is the first book I have read by Heather Graham, I can see myself reading more by her. This one was full of suspense and romance. I even liked the conversations about ghosts in it. There was never a dull moment in this book. I am grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was great!!! I enjoyed the ride. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed the book, but I found myself getting bored more often than I would’ve liked to. The story is great, and the history packed into the book is fantastic. General history and history to give more insight into the notorious serial killer, H. H. Holmes. There were only a few times that I felt the need to really devour the book. I think it’s written very well, but it wasn’t my favorite.

A mystery to sink your teeth into! One of my favorite authors- meticulous details, characters and settings! The history she has weaved into this story set in Scotland is mind boggling. A truly macabre mystery based on history! H H Holmes was a monster with many others trying to emulate him. And what’s better than ghosts helping save the day and solve the crime!

What a twisty book this is. Every time I thought the book was coming to an end something unexpected happened. The writing is phenomenal and kept me hooked from the first page. The characters are richly defined. Even the criminals were fascinating. It such an intriguing book. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

Book review posted on NetGalley and GoodReads.
Book publication date: May 21 2024

I liked that this book linked history, ghosts, and a little mystery/thriller. It had a little bit of everything that I like. I did find myself getting a little bored at times and just skimming some parts, but in general, it was an ok book.

It’s a real treat when a book opens with a cast of characters! Ex-Pat, Aaron Miller fulfills the dream of many Anericans to buy a castle in Europe and as we meet the newest guest of this Scottish castle turned into a B&B, we learn that the sordid history of the castle did not stay in the 15th century. A serial killing society named after famed American serial killer H.H. Holmes has caught the attention of law enforcement from both American and Britain, and Carly and Luke team up to save the day but finding Aaron Miller is only the beginning. The scenery is stunning and magical and the mysteries and mayhem run deep. Death Behind Every Door is a gripping read that while thoroughly modern, is a delightful homage to the macabre history of Scotland.

Ohhh wow! Could not put it down! If you love suspense mixed with some romance this is for you! When Luke is sent to back up another agent, they have chemistry! They are after a serial killer! Not just any serial killer, but H. H. Holmes, but how can that be he’s dead and buried, or is he? With the help of some interesting characters, can they stop him?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

Heather Graham has always been one of my favorite authors. This book did not disappoint. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

With the popularity of the TV show “Ghosts” and the fact that procedural shows never go out of style, I keep picturing this series made into a TV show. This story is Ghosts meets FBI International. With our leading man being Luke which happens the real name of the leading man in FBI International, I have no problem seeing him in the story.
The pacing of this book is a bit of a shock. When Carly finds herself nearly victimized in the first castle, I found myself surprised. The story wasted no time outing the first in a long line of killers emulating H. H. Holmes. Carly is incredibly well trained and catches the bad guy off guard with her strength despite her appearance. Luke is also a strong character, but he doesn’t stand in front of Carly. He stands beside her even as he worries for her safety Even more surprising was the number of bad situations Carly and Luke found themselves in as they learned to trust their foreign counterparts. The story truly kept you turning the page finding more darkness in their world. Carly and Luke we lucky for the assistance of both the other cops and the ghosts.
Hearing nasty tales about what is happening on the dark web are out there but the true depravity that exists on the web is mind blowing. We all seek to find our place in the world and it is easier to find your people online. It is just a shock to think that some of those people finding their place online are finding likeminded sick individuals to help perpetrate violence. The book does a nice job of talking about that world and stopping it.
The relationship between Carly and Luke blooms out of the need for something life affirming and builds from there. That made the relationship seem very real as it wasn’t instalove or instalust. It developed naturally and you could clearly feel the spark between them.
One last thing to mention is the history in the book. We all had history classes at some point in our past and most did not get too excited. However, the history included in this book was done conversationally keeping it light and perhaps making it a cautionary tale. Early on a character refers to his country as bloody and if the villains are given a choice, it will get bloody again. The Krewe and their counterparts are all that stand in the way, fortunately the Krewe is a stellar team with awesome resources.
Heather Graham is a favorite author of mine. I think I have more of her books on my kindle than any other author. She has written a lot of books and clearly, she has more stories to tell. I recommend giving them a try, you will not be disappointed. I know I will read the next book and the next after that and as many more as she writes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.