Kay Hooper

I have read and enjoyed the "Bishop Special Crime Unit" series for a very, very long time. The stories, most of the time, feature long known members of the team but there are enough completely new characters to keep the series fresh. The longtime members often make jokes or references like any group of people that work constantly together do...but a new reader, one that doesn't start at the first may not understand them all...so if you like this type of story you might want to read some of the earlier books first. This being said...this one, Curse of Salem follows on the heels of the previous one in the series, Hidden Salem. The setting and some of the characters are the same as in this previous book, so you may want to read that one before this one. Most of the earlier books I would call "romantic suspense", but these later books are diffidently "paranormal mystery". Bishop's team returns to Salem, where things have again gone wrong. Hollis is usually the key figure on the team, but she doesn't feel she's 'right " for the job this time. Noone is very comfortable being here and Hollis soon realizes that she needs to let some of them with other abilities take over, which added a refreshing element to the storyline. There is lots of suspense with this killer, and his work is nothing but horrific, and the team is missing vital clues as the killer seems to have the ability to jam their receptive talents. I have always loved this series which has a specific kind of magic and is absolutely perfect for the "ghost story junkie".… (mer)

Chill of Fear
3.5 Stars

I had put this series on the back burner for a while, but dusted it off for a challenge.

This installment focuses on an exclusive resort known only as The Lodge, which has a long history of unexplained disappearances and strange deaths. For several years, SCU agent Quentin Hayes has been investigating the unsolved murder of Missy Turner, who died at the hotel when they were children. Now, he joins forces with Diana Brisco, a medium with the rare ability to walk with the dead. Can the two stop the malevolent force stalking The Lodge before it strikes again?

To begin with, unlike some of the earlier SCU books, Chill of Fear is a paranormal mystery with some very minor (virtually non-existent) romance elements. Readers looking for romantic suspense will be disappointed.

The mystery itself is very good with strong overtones of Stephen King's It and Dean Koontz's Phantoms, but without the gruesome descriptions. It is relatively easy to figure out the culprit although the investigative process is engaging.

Despite some overly descriptive sections, the narrative flows and the characters are very appealing.

In sum, Chill of Fear is a solid addition to Hooper's series and I'm glad that I've returned to it.… (mer)

Sleeping with Fear
4 Stars

SCU agent Riley Crane awakens covered in blood and with no memory of the past three weeks. As she attempts to piece recent events together, Riley learns that the small community of Opal Island, South Carolina, is being plagued by a series of occult-like rituals, the latest of which is a bizarre murder. Riley also discovers that all four men in her life - her boss, Noah Bishop; her army mentor, Gordon Skinner; the handsome local sheriff, Jake Ballard, and the enigmatic DA, Ash Prescott - are keeping secrets that may be deadly. Who can she trust?

For some reason, I keep procrastinating with this series, which is unfortunate as Hooper's writing is well-paced, and her characters are very engaging. Perhaps it is simply a case of too many books and so little time.

In any event, this addition to the Bishop/SCU series is gripping from the start. Riley's short-term memory loss sets the stage for the intriguing revelations surrounding the strange events on Opal Island and keeps the reader, and Riley, guessing. Nevertheless, once the clues begin accumulating, it is possible to guess the identity of the culprit and the motive.

The romance is a significant improvement from the previous book. I will refrain from identifying the hero so as not to ruin the big reveal. Suffice it to say that he is incredible, and his interactions with Riley are sexy and sensual. It is fun seeing them discover one another again following her amnesia.

Overall, this installment has reminded me that I really enjoy this series and I will definitely continue sooner rather than later.… (mer)