Kimberly’s review of The Unseen by Heather Graham

TITLE: The Unseen
AUTHOR: Heather Graham
PUBLICATION DATE:   03/27/12
ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
1800s. San Antonio, Texas: In room 207 at the Longhorn Saloon, in the long shadow of the Alamo itself, a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. One year ago: In that same historic room, another woman vanished without a trace. Her blood was everywhere…but her body was never recovered. Now: In the last month, San Antonio has become a dumping ground for battered bodies. All young women, all long missing, almost all forgotten. Until now. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree cannot sit by and let his city’s most vulnerable citizens be slain. So when he is approached to lead a brand-new group of elite paranormal investigators working the case, he has no choice but to accept the challenge. And with it, his powerful ability to commune with the dead. Among Logan’s new team is Kelsey O’Brien, a U.S. marshal known for her razor-sharp intuition and a toughness that belies her delicate exterior. Kelsey has been waiting all her life to work with someone who can understand her ability to “see” the past unfolding in the present. Now she has her chance. Together, Kelsey and Logan follow their instincts to the Alamo and to the newly reopened Longhorn, which once tempted heroes with drink, cards and women. If the spirits of those long-dead Texans are really appearing to the victims before their deaths, only Kelsey and Logan have the skills to find out why. And if something more earthly is menacing the city’s oldest, darkest corners, only they can stop it – before more innocent women join the company of San Antonio’s restless ghosts…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly Wise            NUMBER OF STARS: 3 Stars

REVIEW:
*3.5 Stars*  This is the first in the new Texas Krewe of Hunters. While most of Graham’s books have been set in Florida (mostly Key West) or some in New Orleans this is set in San Antonio, Texas. It is the start up of the new Krewe of Hunters. A new branch of the Harrison Investigation/Krewe of Hunters in New Orleans series.

Logan is a Texas Ranger who is coming back from losing his wife three years ago after a revenge killing for putting a man into prison. Kelsey is a US Marshal from Key West. Neither of them knows why they are being called to San Antonio except there is going to be a new job offer but neither has an idea of what kind of job or why them. When Jackson Crow (Krewe leader of the New Orleans branch) explains why they have been asked to help they learn women are being killed and left around the city. Jackson feels there is something going on and because The Alamo has such history maybe Logan and Kelsey with the “gifts” they have can get to the answers before another woman goes missing.

This is a very typical Graham ghost story. And ghost stories are where Graham should stay. She has a way of writing that draws the reader in. I guess you could say that Graham writes it all. Her books fall under “Paranormal Romantic Suspense”. Her books are not the same when she does not write about ghost. Thankfully we have three in this book to enjoy. The problem was I never felt a connection between Kelsey and Logan. Their relationship felt more like a working affair and when the case was over they would go their separate ways and be fine with it. What keeps this story going? The suspense of who-dunnit (which I am not sure I have ever figured out in one of Graham’s books and I read a lot of suspense books) and the history of the area she is writing about. The history that we find out through Graham’s writing is incredible and it makes you want to go visit. In this case it was The Alamo which of course was part of our history class growing up but Graham wraps a story around that history and brings the area to life. Is this one of her best ever? Maybe not. But I did enjoy it. And if you are a fan of Graham’s then you will as well. No one tells a ghost story like Graham!