Review: “Unhallowed Ground”
Have you ever picked up a book and thought “I might like this, might not.” Maybe it’s in a genre that’s not your favorite. Or the back of the book summary sounds good, but there’s just something about the cover that just doesn’t appeal to you. But when you finish reading it, not only did you enjoy the story, but you suddenly remember you actually really like everything you’ve read by that author?
That’s what happens to me every time I pick up a Heather Graham novel.
I am always leery of her work because it’s filed in the romance section of the store. At the same time, I’m drawn to her stories because of the fantastic way she weaves the paranormal into the story. If I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m not a huge romance fan. In fact, if you queried my husband, he’d likely tell you that I don’t have a romantic bone in my body. Therefore, reading romance isn’t something I normally do.
Having said all that, I really enjoy Heather Graham’s books. I think the paranormal aspects of the stories overshadow the romance sections. In other words, there is more to the story then the stereotypical “girl meets boy/girl hates boy/girl needs boy to solve some problem/girl loves boy/they live happily ever after.”
And in Unhallowed Ground, Ms. Graham didn’t disappoint me.
In the book, Sarah McKinley has returned to her St. Augustine, Florida, hometown and has purchased the historic antebellum mansion she’s always loved. During the renovation process, however, Sarah finds more than she bargained for.
There are skeletons buried in the walls. Lots of them.
Now, this doesn’t freak Sarah out quite as much as it would me. You see, this particular mansion did a stint as a funeral home around the time of the Civil War. As a living history enthusiast, and an archeologist, Sarah understands the process her home must go through to be cleared for her to return.
Meanwhile, private investigator Caleb Anderson is in the area searching for a missing girl — one of two, actually. Since the missing girls are the same “type,” there is some concern about a serial killer.
Sarah’s and Caleb’s separate investigations cross paths and the two find themselves drawn to each other and the overlaps in their various “mysteries.”
Ms. Graham spins a captivating yarn. I enjoy the twists and turns she employs and even the romantic tension isn’t strained. The characters are multi-dimensional and the pacing of the story (as well as the sense of place) are fantastic. If you enjoy paranormal stories, but are tired with the excess of vampires out there, you’ll enjoy just about anything by Ms. Graham. Don’t let the “romance” label put you off, there’s just as much mystery in the books as there is romance.
Blessings!
Nichole