While I’m a big fan of Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series, and I liked one aspect of the first in her new Blackbird Trilogy, Whispers at Dusk took a turn I don’t like. I like that Blackbird is a new Euro Special Assistance Team, and the FBI agents Mason Carter and Della Hamilton are working with police officers all over the world. The stories and history of the various countries are fascinating. Graham brings her same interest in history to those countries as she does to the Krewe of Hunters series. But, I wasn’t happy that Della Hamilton sets herself up as bait for an international killer, “the Master”. That’s not a spoiler. From the first time Della is introduced as a member of the Krewe, it’s obvious she’ll do what she needs to do to save innocent live
Once the Midnight Slasher says he wants to be as famous as “the Master”, it’s obvious the team has a serial killer on their hands, a man who influences others to kidnap young women from bars and drain their blood. It makes for a vampire story to scare people. But, there are victims in London, Paris, Norway, the Orkneys, and the bayous of Louisiana. Without Adam Harrison, the founder of the Krewe, and his resources, the team would be more than one step behind “the Master”. They need Angela Crow at Krewe headquarters with her team of computer experts and sketch artists.
Mason and Della do have resources unavailable to the rest of the international team. They’re the only ones with the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Gideon Grimsby sailed with Lafitte. Orm Olafson was a Viking. Sir Gordon Stewart was former Scottish law enforcement. They’re all eager to do what they can to stop a killer.
But, it really comes down to the team, taunting the killer, and taunted by him. Whispers at Dusk was okay, but not quite my taste with a serial killer and an agent as bait.
Heather Graham’s website is https://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com/
Whispers at Dusk by Heather Graham. Mira, 2023. ISBN 9780778333562 (paperback), 368p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I bought a Kindle copy.
This was odd. I had to pick up three library books yesterday, and when I looked at the New Books shelves, I was surprised to see Graham’s second Blackbird book is already out and on the shelf. But I checked on Amazon, and they are coming out in June, July and August. I guess that is better for readers like Jackie, who hates to wait a year between books in a Nora Roberts trilogy, by which time she has forgotten the first book.
Yes, that’s what I discovered, too, Jeff. I’ve seen it before with some fantasy books when they introduce a new series. Works for me. And, I already have the second book.