Seventh Grave and No Body (Charley Davidson 7) by Darynda Jones-Review and Blog Tour
Seventh Grave and No Body
Charley Davidson #7
by Darynda Jones
Genre: adult, contemporary, UF, paranormal
Release Date:
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository / iTunes
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 21, 2014
Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.
A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.
We’re doomed.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••
REVIEW: SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY is the seventh installment in Darynda Jones’s adult, contemporary Charley Davidson UF series focusing on part time PI/full time Grim Reaper Charley Davidson. This is the continuing story of Charley’s life as the Grim Reaper, the corporeal spirits who have yet to pass, and the man to whom she has pledged her undying love-the son of Satan-Reyes Farrow. The series should be read in order for cohesion and the ongoing history between Charley and Reyes.
Told from first person POV (Charley) the focus of the storyline follows Charley as she is called in to help investigate a series of ten year old unsolved murders. Meanwhile, not only has Charley been targeted for extermination by Satan himself but someone has sent twelve hellhounds to make sure the job gets done. When a young sixteen year old girl is murdered, Charley is asked by the recently deceased herself, to track down her missing body. With the number of cases building, Charley continues to place herself in danger at every opportunity. Reyes is NOT a happy camper when he discovers that Charley has risked their future for the sake of someone else.
The relationship between Reyes and Charley is one of undying love, ordained by hell, and soul mated by birth. Reyes has waited thousands of years for Charley’s arrival and he isn’t about to lose Charley to the demons of hell. Their sexual chemistry is explosive; provocative and intense. But Reyes sex appeal does not go unnoticed and a local reporter aims her sights at Mr. Farrow.
SEVENTH GRAVE is a storyline that advances the series but a few days. Charley’s father is still missing; Uncle Bob (Ubie) is in a relationship with Charley’s BFF Cookie; and Reyes is more determined to protect Charley than ever before. Enter the Dealer-a demon known as ‘Osh’-and Charley has a veritable army of supernatural beings hoping to keep her alive while an even more powerful and larger army is hoping to take her down. As Charley’s powers slowly reveal themselves, she will discover that she is more god-like in potential and talent then ever before.
As per Darynda’s writing style, SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY is packed full of sarcastic whit, one liners, sexual innuendo, euphemisms and character asides. Each chapter is introduced using ‘bumper stickers logos’ or ‘t-shirt quotes’ adding an even more humorous element to the story. Cookie and Charley play off of one another like yin and yang-a veritable game of table tennis of the mind.
The secondary characters and regulars, including human and spirit alike, add a familiarity to the storyline as each adds their own charm and finesse to Charley’s life. Angel (Charley’s perpetually thirteen year old spirit assistant) and Rocket (a deceased savant who tracks every death in the world) add mystery and reveal a little more information about Charley’s purpose on earth. Mr. Wong’s identity-although his role has yet to be completely determined– is a constant spiritual presence in Charley’s apartment, and one that may have a larger role in the upcoming installments. Mr.Wong’s purpose in the series is painstakingly slow to reveal with only a hint of what is to come.
With every storyline, Charley begins to amass a following of the recently deceased that assist Charley in one way or another. Not only do these spirits refuse to move forward but they remain behind to help Charley in any way they can. SEVENTH GRAVE adds one more ghost to Charley’s fan club.
Darynda Jones is an amazingly, talented author whose imagination grows with each installment. There are moments of humor and sorrow; heartbreak and love; mystery and suspense. My only complaint is the slow reveal of everyone’s purpose (including Charley) in the series. There are so many secrets that have yet to be revealed. The true nature of Charley’s predestination is the biggest secret of all.
Reading Order and Links to Reviews:
First Grave on the Right
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Dead Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.
Reviewed by Sandy
Reyes was still working, so I decided to cut out alone. I knew he’d freak. He wasn’t about to leave me alone for long, and neither would he put up with my running off without him, so I decided to pick up a passenger. Well, another passenger. The one I had at the moment would be of no help in a fight against hounds from hell, should they spot me in a crowd.
Jessica was harping again, this time about how her friends were at the restaurant, fawning over Reyes as though she had never died. She’d called dibs the moment she saw him, and they seemed almost relieved she was out of the way. I refrained from reminding her that (1) I’d had dibs long before that, and (2) she was as dead as the Twizzler I was gnawing on in an attempt to forget about my extreme caffeine depletion. Poor little Twizzler.
“She said that!” Jessica shouted. “Like, she said it. Right to Reyes’s face.”
“Wait, what?” I almost slammed on the brakes, then realized my foot was already on the brake, as we were idling at a stoplight. “Who said what to Reyes’s face?”
“Oh . . . my god. Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Not especially. Who said what?”
“She said she’d do anything, any . . . thing, for an interview.”
I turned to her. “Are you telling me you heard what Reyes and Jolene—I mean, that hooch—were talking about?”
“Duh. I was so upset with Joanie and the girls that I started to walk out when that—that ho practically assaulted our man.”
Follow: Website / Facebook / Twitter /Goodreads
NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter.
Great series and author. Don’t forget to Vote for Us. If any chance we win, there will be a nice celebration Giveaway.
On my TBR list
I am a huge fan of this series. It has everything I love. A great paranormal story, memorable characters, humor and thrills. 🙂
I’ve head so many great things about this series! I’m Going to have to binge read it to catch up with the rest of Darynda Jones’ fans!
Great review Sandy. I love the Charley Davidson series. Congrats to Darynda Jones on another fabulous release.
I haven’t read any of the books but I just ran across this book today on my newsfeed. It sounds to be an interesting & funny/humorous read. Thx for this opportunity!!!
This is new to me so I don’t have a favorite yet.
Just going to start this series. Sound’s awesome!
Congratulations Darynda on the new release. The Charley Davidson series is such an amazing read with the humor, sarcasm and the reality of the ‘unreal’. Thanks for making my life a little happier with every new release.
I just started this amazing series. I didn’t realize what I was missing!
Ann(dot)sheiring(at)gmail(dot)com
Great review but it sound like it should be read from the first book to realy understand what is happening. Darynda thank you for coming by.
I just love Charlie. Great series :).
vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com
Terrific review, Sandy. I agree, Darynda is great.
A friend turned me on to this series,And I find I’m enjoying it very much … Thank you for the chance …. ruth.gutscher@cox.net
Great review, Sandy. I love the Charley Davidson series.
Great review Sandy. This series sounds so good, I just need to find time to start it.
I love this series! Charlie is such a kick ass heroine, the books are fast paced and laugh out loud funny:)
Love this series. Great review Sandy and I agree with you about the slow reveal. So many characters and we know very little about their purpose!
Congrats to Darynda. Keep up with the humor and sarcastic wit!
Wonderful review Sandy. Congrats to Darynda Jones on the new release and the fantastic series.
Just finished it last night!! This series really really really makes me LOL!!! And, holy crap!! Things are heating up, and quick!!! Didn’t see a thing or two that was coming……………. Great review Sandy!!!
This book sounds terrific!
LOVE this series. And yes, so much humor and sarcasm, and in a way that will definitely make you laugh. Congrats to Darynda on the new release.
Pingback: Book Review: First Grave On The Right By Darynda Jones | Cubahoy
Pingback: Book Review: Second Grave On The Left (Charley Davidson, #2) By Darynda Jones | Cubahoy