Grave Phantoms

PRAISE FOR

GRIM SHADOWS

“The story is fun, the sex is hot, and the characters are interesting, but the setting and time period are what really make this series stand out.”

—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

“Elegantly captures the world of San Francisco during this vibrant, lively time period.”

—Fresh Fiction

“If there is one series that stands out with its originality and its imagination, it's Jenn Bennett's Roaring Twenties series . . .
Grim Shadows
is not one to be missed!”

—Under the Covers

“Be ready for griffins, Egyptian fire goddesses, and talk of archaeological digs and artifacts . . . Jenn Bennett is an incredibly gifted storyteller and she has me hooked on this series.”

—Fiction Vixen

PRAISE FOR

BITTER SPIRITS

“You had me at booze, raw lust, and black magic! An inventive setting; delightfully sharp-tongued characters; white-hot chemistry; and wry, subtle humor make for a truly enjoyable read. I couldn't wait to meet each new character. It's
Boardwalk Empire
meets
Ghost Hunters
, but so much better.”

—Molly Harper, national bestselling author of the Jane Jameson series

“I loved this book! Bennett delivers a sizzling-hot yet swoon-worthy love story with a mystery that keeps you guessing until the end, all set in the fresh and ultra-cool world of Jazz Age San Francisco. Can't wait to read the next one!”

—Kristen Callihan, author of
Shadowdance

“Complex and smart romantic leads . . . Expect historical romance authors and fans to eagerly hop on the Roaring Twenties bandwagon, following Bennett's very able lead.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“Absolutely delightful . . . Stirs intrigue, paranormal activity, and romance into a wonderfully refreshing brew . . . Bennett's fast-paced dialogue, often witty and sharp, as well as her charming characters and detailed setting, will truly captivate romance readers.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“The combination of sizzling sex, gritty danger, and paranormal thrills adds up to one stupendous read!”

—
RT Book Reviews
(top pick)

Berkley Sensation titles by Jenn Bennett

BITTER SPIRITS

GRIM SHADOWS

GRAVE PHANTOMS

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) LLC

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

USA • Canada • UK • Ireland • Australia • New Zealand • India • South Africa • China

penguin.com

A Penguin Random House Company

GRAVE PHANTOMS

A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

Copyright © 2015 by Jenn Bennett.

Excerpt from
Bitter Spirits
by Jenn Bennett copyright © 2013 by Jenn Bennett.

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

BERKLEY SENSATION® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-19240-9

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / May 2015

Cover art by Aleta Rafton.

Cover design by Lesley Worrell.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To the spirit of Mary Tape, who stood up for her children when no one else would

Many thanks to my agent, Laura Bradford, and to all the people who helped put this book together at Berkley, including my editor, Leis Pederson, as well as Jessica Brock, Lesley Worrell, and Bethany Blair. Kudos to Aleta Rafton for bringing Astrid and Bo to life on my favorite cover in this series.

I'm also grateful for all the kind people and organizations who answered my (hundreds of) research questions, including: John Jung (author of several fascinating books about the history of Chinese immigrants in America), the National Women's History Museum, the Bay Area Radio Museum, the Shaping San Francisco history project, the University of Washington's Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, the National College in Mexico City, radio historian John F. Schneider, and Professor Tak-Hung Leo Chan.

Most of all, I'd like to acknowledge all of the readers, bloggers, and reviewers who championed this series online. Your enthusiasm has meant so much to me. Thank you for reading!

September 15, 1928

University of California, Los Angeles

Dear Bo,

I got your letter in the mail today and was so eager to read it, I completely forgot to attend my history class—no great loss. My professor never smiles and doesn't seem to like me. Besides that, everything is wonderful here. My dorm mate, Jane, and I took a streetcar to Hollywood Boulevard this weekend. Unfortunately, we saw
zero
motion picture stars.

Sorry to hear someone scratched your new Buick, but not half as sorry as they'll be when you find out who did it. Sounds like you're working too much at the warehouse. Just because Winter promoted you to captain doesn't mean you're his personal slave. Tell him to give you some time off. Perhaps
a weekend in sunny L.A.
would do you some good!

I have to go. My next class, Physics, starts in ten minutes and I've already missed it too many times. Luckily,
that
professor thinks I'm cute.

Your friend,

Astrid

P.S.—
Don't tell Winter
I've skipped any classes.

September 25, 1928

Magnusson Fish Company

Pier 26

San Francisco, California

Dear Astrid,

Your brothers both send their regards. In fact, Lowe came by the warehouse with Hadley and Stella today. They have booked a trip to Egypt next month. (All three of them.)

The mystery of the Buick's scratch is solved. It was Aida. She ran into it with the baby carriage—an accident, of course. It's hard to stay mad at a pretty woman. By the way, I'm thinking of naming the Buick “Sylvia.”

Sounds like you're having fun, but you need to stop missing classes. If they expel you, Winter will blow his top. He's mad enough that his baby sister isn't going to Berkeley and still moans about your Southern California campus being a “poor substitute for the real U.C.” And while we're on the subject, who is this Physics professor? Old men shouldn't be telling you that you're cute. Be careful around him. Don't make me worry about you.

Your friend (and enemy to lecherous old men),

Bo

October 5, 1928

University of California, Los Angeles

Dear Bo,

Egypt? Stars above. Please give Stella lots of kisses for me when you see her again and tell her Auntie Astrid misses her. I'm not sure how to make the word “miss” in sign language, but Lowe will know.

My dorm mate, Jane, and I are not on good terms
right now because her sweetheart asked me to join him and some of his friends last night when Jane was at a sorority meeting. We saw the Bruins play football—that's our collegiate team. I thought it might be boring to spend time with all those boys, but they were cutups, and called me Queen of Sheba, joking that they would be my male harem.

You don't have to worry about dirty old men. Professor Barnes is only twenty-six. This is his first year teaching. He thinks I'm “delightful,” and not just cute, so he's not only interested in my good looks. He told me if he has time this semester, he might take his best students to visit Mount Wilson Observatory, to look through the giant telescope there. It's up in the mountains near Los Angeles, so we will stay there in a hotel overnight. More soon. Sylvia is a great name for the Buick!

Your friend,

Astrid

October 15, 1928

Magnusson Fish Company

Pier 26

San Francisco, California

Mui-mui,

Your professor is up to no good. Teachers should not be staying in hotels with students. Lowe, being a professor himself, agrees with me. I am very concerned about your well-being. If you need to wire me a message for any reason, please do so. Never mind the train ticket, I will drive down there and come get you. I haven't mentioned this to Winter,
because he would already be down there. Please use common sense.

Your friend,

Bo

October 30, 1928

University of California, Los Angeles

Dear Bo,

I can't believe you told Lowe. That was personal, between you and me. I am perfectly capable of making decisions without anyone's help, you know. And for your information, I had a wonderful time with Luke at the observatory. He is kind and sensitive, and he sees me as none of you do:
as a
woman
.

Your
adult
friend (
not
your “little sister”),

Astrid

December 5, 1928

University of California, Los Angeles

Dearest Bo,

I am sorry about my last letter. I suppose I was upset with you, but that was silly. It's really very touching that you're concerned about me. It means a lot. I just wish you'd trust me to make my own decisions, even if they are the wrong ones sometimes.

Are you receiving my letters? I've heard on the radio that terrible storms are heading up the coast toward the Bay, so please stay safe.

My favorite wristwatch broke, which was upsetting. I will look for a replacement in S.F. There are no decent jewelry stores here. Oh, I bought my train ticket home and leave in ten days. That's
December 15th at
noon
. (Does that date sound familiar?) I can't wait to see you at the station.

Your
true
friend,

Astrid

P.S.—I'm sorry I got mad about you calling me
mui-mui
. I actually miss hearing you saying that. No one here speaks
Cantonese.