Sixth Grave on the Edge

The covers of the Charlie Davidson series always have a quote on the front comparing them to Janet Evanovich's books. It's a particular pet peeve of mine, because it seems every other book with any humour in it at all has a Stephanie Plum comparison quote on it's cover. And they are never anything like the Stephanie Plum books. However, if anyone comes close it's Charlie Davidson. But she is oh, so much more. Don't get me wrong, I like the Plum novels, they're a hoot, but I think it's a bit of a backhanded compliment to compare Charlie to Stephanie.

Charlie is a P.I. and the grim reaper –a portal to heaven. She's in love with the son of Satan himself; created and sent to Earth for the sole purpose of destroying her. Only the son has show more his own agenda; he's in love with Charlie and has been for centuries. She just barely juggles both jobs and in spite of herself, manages to make a difference.

I love these books and I loved Sixth Grave... Ms. Jones hasn't yet written a bad book, imo. They are first and foremost entertaining; Charlie's thoughts and dialogue are written as an almost continuous stream of jokes, but it's not just about the funny. There is a lot of pain, a lot of violence, a lot of empathy, a lot of mythology, and some –not a lot– of scorching love scenes (pun sort of intended, see: son of satan). The series premise is steeped deeply in biblical mythology and belief and faith are strong themes without bringing religion into it. I enjoy this part even more than I enjoy the humour. Sixth Grave just hit all the right buttons for me.

The only negative notes for me, and the reason it's a 4 star instead of 5 is the repetition of a couple of pieces of information that felt more like someone forgot they'd already been mentioned than just refreshers, and the ending. The ending, although it feels like the inevitable evolution of the mythology Ms. Jones has created, has me worried.

Worried or not, I can't wait for Seventh Grave's release. Ms. Jones owns me at this point. If you like Urban Fantasy that straddles the PNR line (or crosses it - I could argue either way), can handle some non-gratuitous violence and love wise-cracking, kick-ass heroines who have the power and strength to save the world, you might enjoy these books and I highly recommend checking them out. show less

Darynda Jones is one of only two authors of supernatural novels (the other being Karen Robards) whose books I will read. Because normally I don't like supernatural stories. And I looooove Darynda Jones. Her writing is so entertaining - the fictional T-shirt/bumper sticker quotes she uses at the beginning of every chapter always have me laughing out loud, and I love Charley Davidson, the heroine. In fact, I love all the main characters of her Grave series - Charley the grim reaper, Alexander Reyes Farrow the sizzling hot son of Satan, Cookie the next-door neighbor/assistant, and Garrett Swopes the skip tracer.

I was highly entertained by "Sixth Grave on the Edge," as I always am with the books in this series. What kept it from being show more 5-star caliber was the fact that there were too many subplots going on. I'm ok with one or two subplots, but this one had so many I lost count. It became distracting. I wanted Charley to figure out more about her powers and what's expected of her. I liked the new character of the Dealer, from whom we learn more about what Charley is expected to do. But then there was the one appearance of Charley's stepmother, who asks her to find out what her dad is doing - not off on vacation, as he had told her. Charley's dad doesn't even appear in this book. And then said stepmother never shows up again. Really, that whole part could have been left out and the book would have been just fine without it.

And oh, how disappointed I was that Garrett Swopes didn't play a larger role in this book. When he did appear, his ongoing antagonism for Reyes Farrow was nowhere to be found. What's up with that? He's always hated Farrow, especially knowing what Farrow truly is and having made his own trip to hell and back in a previous book. In this book, he agrees to cooperate with Charley and Farrow, and he doesn't even put up a fight. Swopes has always been a kind of foil to Farrow - here is a person who has always cared for Charley, as much as she drives him crazy, and he always helps her and it doesn't hurt that he's really good-looking - there has always been an underlying chemistry between Swopes and Charley, even though nothing ever happens, but I like that it's there.

All of that sexual tension mixed with animosity/respect/friendship between Swopes and Charley that was in previous books in the series is not here in this book. Swopes is more peripheral in this book, more like a sidekick, and I didn't like that. He's tough enough to hold his own. (In fact, I think he should get his own spinoff book, but I digress.)

Ah, well, as I see that the author has already scheduled a release date of October 2014 for the next book in the series, she's clearly saving up the tying of loose ends for that book. But I hope that the 7th book has fewer subplots and makes more progress on the battle between Heaven and Hell. show less

Everybody's favorite grim reaper is back with another clutch of mysteries to solve. We have a naked guy, a kidnapped boy, and a soul that needs to be found and given back to its owner - so basically, just another day for Charley Davidson. With the help of Cookie, Uncle Bob, and the ever sexy son of the devil, Reyes Farrow, Charley will tackle all of these, with her trademark snark and sarcasm. This series never gets old for me, and I enjoyed this installment as much as I enjoyed the previous ones! Oh, and there's a nice bomb dropped at the very end, too!

Highly recommend - 5/5 stars.

*Book source ~ Library

It’s only been a few weeks since yet another deranged person, place or thing has tried to wipe Grim Reaper Charley Davidson from the face of planet Earth, but she’s hard at work again attempting to solve cases for her PI business, drooling over her sexy soon-to-be-affianced son of Satan AKA Reyes and trying to get her best friend laid by Uncle Ubie. That last one she doesn’t want to think about too closely lest it squick her out. In addition, she’s working a 30-yr-old cold case, trying to get a client’s soul back, worrying about her dad, finding a missing woman before one of her friends gets iced, figuring out her powers, deciphering a prophecy and juggling her Reaper duties. No worries. This girl has mad show more skillz. Right?

Six books in and this series is still going strong. I love, love, love Charley & Co. Charley is a delight as always, Reyes is yumminess personified, Cookie is the bestest of best friends and every other character (no matter how minor) has depth and nuance not usually seen in a book let alone a series. The things Charley has to deal with are numerous and yet nothing gets ignored or short-changed. Somehow, she pulls things together though she gets hurt yet again and then does something, several somethings, that implies they will have drastic effect on future books. I do have to say, I’m getting a little tired of certain people telling Charley that she has to learn some of this shit “in her own time/way” because, well, do they know her at all?!

My curiosity is off the charts for what is coming because I know it will be big. There are many loose threads dangling that I’m itching to pull and yet the big picture is slowly revealing itself. More! Must have more! Thank the Book Gods there will be another book out this year. *sighs in relief* show less

Yep, I'm on the bandwagon with all the lovers of this series. I may have begun loving it because it's so geeky and Albuquerque everything and the bumper stickers and the t-shirts are just too spot-on memory-lane for me not to gush over them, but I stay because I've fallen in love with Charley.

She DEFINITELY has a death wish. Her snark alone makes her deserve anything that's coming to her, and that's including the end reveal(s) of this novel.

Fortunately, for a Grim Reaper to have a Death Wish is all kinds of funny. Not even Funny-Funny, but more Groan-Funny, and the way these women fawn over the son of Satan? Let's not go there. Or go there much.

Strangely enough, we finally got some interesting and DIFFERENT sex scenes. Because I know show more there's a huge percentage of the lovers of this UF that are ALL in it for the sex, I won't disparage them, but I did have to mention that it got... INTERESTING. Rather than just explosion this and explosion that. :)

But jeeze. That end. Not the END END spoiler, but the one in the mental institute. ; ; *sigh* show less

There's nothing more enjoyable than listening to a Charley Davidson book. Charley is such a fun and sarcastic and smart heroine. Charley knows she bumbles around but she also figures things out. She doesn't need anybody to take care of her but it sure is nice having Reyes Farrow and her rottweiler. What impresses me most about this series is that I'm on book six and never tire of listening to them and always come out of one thinking they are too short. I laugh, I cry, I get tense. All the things I look for in a book. And Lorelei King is the perfect narrator.

Another winner from Darynda Jones. This has quickly become one of my favorite series. I never get tired of the characters. They all bring their own brand of fun to the story. Charley continues to make me laugh out loud as I read but she also wears her heart on her sleeve, often putting the needs of others above her own. She still ends up in every possible bad situation and this just makes the book even harder to put down. Reyes, her almost fiance, is a perfect mix of deep, dark, and deadly and incredibly hard to resist. We did get to learn a bit more about him in this book and I found it hard at times to remember he was the son of Satan because he was so protective and caring toward Charley and her friends. Finally, I can't forget to show more mention Cookie, Uncle Bob, Artemis, and Angel. I love them all, every one.

There is plenty of action in this book and things are definitely escalating. In addition to Charley's obsession with coffee, the naked ghost in her jeep, the ghost stuck to her face, and Mr. Wong in the corner of her apartment, it is easy to see that something big is on the horizon, something big and bad. The main case Charley works in this book is locating a demon who has taken a man's soul. He wants it back and she vows to help him. In addition, she and Garrett are also trying to figure out what the prophecies about her and Reyes really mean and it isn't looking good. We have been leading up to a big event since the beginning and I feel we are getting closer to finding out what that event is going to be. I can only hope that whatever crisis these characters face, even if it is the possibility of the end of the world, that they somehow come through it together.

Even with all of these ominous clouds of doom approaching, I did laugh out loud often as I read, probably even more than in the other books. I could make huge lists of favorite Charley Davidson sayings and laugh over and over again every time I read them. I continue to love the t-shirt and bumper sticker sayings at the beginning of each chapter. My favorite one in this book being, "I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure." I also loved when the ghost of Miranda stuck herself to Charley's face and Charley says, "and for the love of pancake syrup, get her off of me!" I could go on and on but I'll control myself...

In all seriousness, this series is truly enjoyable. If you like paranormal romance with attitude and you haven't tried this series yet, please pick up First Grave on the Right. I promise, you will not be sorry. show less