This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Published by St. Martin's Press
Released on February 2, 2012
Pages: 330
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
The Delight
When I was invited to participate in the re-read blog tour to celebrate a long-lasting amazing series that culminates in Summoned by Thirteenth Grave, I jumped on the opportunity. I loved the idea of going back to one of the earlier books and reminiscing. There is always that niggling worry in the back of the mind that a few years later might change my opinion about how much I loved a book originally. No worries. Third Grave not only was just as good, but going back and experiencing nostalgia for who the characters were before later events and reveals happen made me love it more than ever.
Review
I just love this series. I know I say that every time, but its worth saying again. The blend of humor, paranormal elements, mystery elements, character building and a dab of forbidden romance tossed in for good measure.
This installment begins (oh, backtracking a little to say that the series must be read in order) with several things happening to Charlie. Not a surprise, right? First off, she is desperately trying to stay awake to keep a very bound and thus very angry Reyes out of her dreams. Then she is offered a missing wife case. And finally, her dad tells her she needs to quit as a private investigator.
With her usual humor and lack of elan, Charlie goes about dealing with all the above. She gets beat down and keeps getting up and continuing on. All the usual suspects make an appearance whether its the irascible Garret, Ubie (Uncle Bob), Cookie, Reyes, her ghost friends, and her family. There are also new characters introduced in the form of the motorcycle gang and her new protector in the form of that demon dog we all come to love and adore, as well as the newly revealed Marigold.
The series just gets better and better with each new book, but knowing that had me relaxing and enjoying a look back into the past. I didn’t realize how much I had forgotten so bits of the plot took me by surprise once again. I love the plot twists that leave me surprised even when I have some of it figured out. Each new scene with Reyes just leaves me wanting more (so the re-read will probably end up continuing). Oh who am I kidding? I love every scene because of Charlie.
If you haven’t picked up this series yet, urban fantasy fans who like a liberal dose of humor and mayhem, I envy you your first time experiencing such an abso-fab series.
My thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Recommendations
Preview
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I read your delight, and I’m tickled pink you still love the series! I am waiting to read your review, though. I also jumped on this reread tour, but it’s a first read for me. I am reading the first book right now, and I love it so much! I am so excited to have discovered another series to read. Between this and Anita Blake, I’m going to be very busy in 2019!
Thanks for sharing.
Oh, yes! You are definitely in for a long binge between the two series. I love the Charley Davidson series. Most were 4 or 5 star reads for me. Enjoy!
I read book one and although I really liked it, I never continued and then there was so many to catch up on. I do own books two and three. I think I would probably have to start all over. I know I am missing out.
I’ve done that so often. I was just thinking the other day that I need to start over with Jeanine Frost’s Vlad books so I can get those caught up before I head into Ian’s series.
But yes, the Charley books are great and its a good idea to remember some of the details that carry through from book one to two and then three. A few times I had to stop and think hard about why she was doing things like not letting herself sleep because I couldn’t remember the earlier storylines.
Darynda Jones always makes me laugh my head off. Love listening to the series because Lorelei King’s performance of Charlie and her comedic timing is perfection! 🙂
I only got to listen to one audio and read the rest, but yes, Jones and King are a great combo for good times, Rachel. 🙂
Oh goodness she has a lot going on. I do need to start these and meet this Reyes.
LOL! Yes, she literally has ADHD, but she also always has tons of stuff going on around her. It seems unrelated and that she’s just fumbling and bumbling her way through until the ‘gotcha’ moment when she shows how smart she is. 🙂
Oh yes, you need to meet our hot and broody Son of Satan, Reyes. That introduction builds over several of the books and it was worth it. 🙂