Review: The Witching Hours by Heather Graham

April 6, 2026

Synopsis:

Skye McMahon sees things. Good and bad, the past unreels in her mind’s eye like a movie. Such is Skye’s uncanny life. That’s why she’s been summoned by Special Supervisory paranormal investigators Jackson and Angela Crowe, to help solve a mystifying murder and kidnapping on the outskirts of historic Salem.

Alicia Bolton discovered her grandfather-in-law murdered, her nanny and her young son have both vanished without a trace, and her infant daughter was found terrified and crying in her playpen. Skye, partnered with the intriguing Zachary Erickson, a charmer with a psychic touch, is at first beset only by visions of Salem’s witch trials and the tragic, paranoia-fueled executions. Then she sets foot in the Boltons’ house.

What Skye sees is not another innocent from the 17th century swinging from a noose. What she sees is a bona fide crone, pointed hat and all, preying on the family like something from a children’s nightmarish fairy tale. And when another local woman and her daughter inexplicably vanish, Skye has a second vision—that same wicked witch creeping up on her new victims on a lonely Salem road. It’s impossible to believe. Yet Skye’s visions never lie.

As Skye and Zachary put their otherworldly abilities to use, and grow closer with each revelation, they’re lured into an ominous mystery enveloping Salem like a fog. Navigating suspects, whispers of a cult, and a sinister history that threatens to reignite in the present, with Zachary’s help, only Skye can see the way to find the missing—but first, she may have to dance with the devil himself.

spinoff of the Krewe of Hunters series

Review:

The premise of the book sounded genuinely promising, but by the end I felt as though something essential was missing. A story set in Salem, involving witches, a kidnapping, and agents with unusual abilities – on paper, it had all the ingredients for a compelling read.

What worked well:

it offered a rich and engaging look into Salem’s history
it acknowledged the brutality of past events
it embraced the idea of people being different and treated that with respect

What didn’t work for me:

the writing often felt off; certain sentences were phrased in ways that didn’t quite make sense to me
some dialogue came across as stiff and unnatural
the chemistry between the main characters didn’t land for me
the central mystery and kidnapping storyline never fully captured my interest

Overall, the story dragged for me, and I found myself looking forward to the ending simply so I could be done – which is never a great sign. The book wasn’t able to pull me in or make me feel connected to the story or characters. This may come down to personal preference, but it ultimately didn’t resonate with me. Some writing styles and narratives draw me in more than others, and this one just didn’t hit the mark.

🌙 Recension: The Witching Hours (The Crows #1) by Heather Graham
📚 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Romance
📅 Release Date: January 27, 2026
📖 Publisher: Kensington Books
📱 Read as: Kindle
📗 available in various formats
💸 I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 299
⭐️ 2.5/5