The Evil Inside by Heather Graham (Krewe of Hunters #4)

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England's jagged coastline, Lexington House

has been the witness to madness and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now.

 

A member of the nation's foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House, or for the chief suspect a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.

With the young man's life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hall to pinpoint who or what is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

Series: Krewe of Hunters #4 | Narrator: Luke Daniels | Publisher: Brilliance Audio |  Length: 9 hours 2 minutes | Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense | Source: Purchased  | Rating: 4.5

Set in Salem, during Halloween, this riveting romantic suspense combines a mystery that dates back to the Salem Witch Trials and the modern day mystery of a young boy accused of doing horrific things. Both cases are demanding justice.

When Samuel Hall discovers Malachi, a teen boy, covered in blood, standing in the middle of the road, he knows he needs help. What Sam didn’t realize was that the teen would need legal help when he’s arrested for murdering his entire family. Although something’s not sitting right with Sam. When he reaches out to friend and retired psychologist, Jamie Duffy, who once treated Malachi, he didn’t expect Jamie to offer up the help of his niece, Jenna, who happens to be a member of a special FBI unit. Jenna is just what this case needs. Not only does she have a way of getting Malachi to open up, she also has the ability to connect with the house’s dark past as well as the ghosts that still linger. As they dig deeper into the history of Lexington House, they find themselves growing closer to the truth and each other.

If you’ve read my previous reviews of this series, you’ll know that the books have had a few problems. I feel like with this book, the fourth, the series has finally found its footing. The mysteries were well developed, the investigation solid, the characters were well rounded, the romance shown, the paranormal was present, and everything was well balanced.

Sam and Jenna are my favorite couple in this series. They’re both working through some issues and they have some emotional baggage to sort through but they opened up to each other and had actual conversations, which I enjoyed. They also have a shared history; they knew each other in the past but, due to their age difference, they didn’t really rotate in each other’s orbit, so it was nice to watch their relationship develop into something more. They also had amazing chemistry and amazing banter.

The mystery and the way it ties into the past mystery was intriguing. There’s so many avenues that this case takes Sam and Jenna down and so many layers they have to sort through and it was very detailed. There’s also a lot on the line in this one as they are racing against the clock to prove Malachi’s innocence. There is a heavy paranormal element, which I was glad to see considering that this is a paranormal romantic suspense.

The pacing in this one was outstanding. It’s on from the very start and doesn’t stop until the last page. While this one was fast-paced, nothing is lacking or out of balance. It was so close to being a 5-star read but the whodunit aspect was slightly predictable and I would have like it to have been a bit harder to work out.

I will say that this one is a little gory in places. It’s not gratuitous but it’s a little more than the previous three books in the series.

Luke Daniels does a brilliant job narrating this one and I highly recommend the audiobook.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was the perfect combination: Salem, Halloween, Salem Witch Trials, spooky past and present mysteries, an amazing couple, and great pacing.