THE GRAVE ROBBER (Charley Davidson 13.8) by Darynda Jones-review & excerpt tour
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September5, 2023
Eric Vause is done.
Done with ghosts. Done with hellhounds. And definitely done with asshole demons, mostly because he’d been possessed by one. Even now, five years later, the rage he absorbed from the creature has yet to wane, so he decides a road trip is in order. Surely some cool air, great scenery, and a case of Dos Equis will shake things loose. Unfortunately, supernatural events happen everywhere. When he meets up with a friend whose partner’s daughter needs help with a pest problem—aka, a ghost—Eric takes that as his cue to leave.
Until he sees her.
He can tell Halle’s house isn’t the only thing that is haunted. The hopelessness behind her eyes tugs at something deep inside him. Something all too familiar. The fact that she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen has nothing to do with his change of heart. And he vows to leave her in his rearview the minute he takes care of the poltergeist. Then again, vows were never his strong suit.
•••••
REVIEW: THE GRAVE ROBBER is instalment 13.8 in Darynda Jones’ contemporary, adult CHARLEY DAVIDSON paranormal series, and a part of the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights. This is Eric Vause, and twenty-nine year old Halle Nordstrom’s story line. THE GRAVE ROBBER can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and back story I recommend reading book thirteen SUMMONED TO THE THIRTEENTH GRAVE where Eric’s life change.
Told from first person perspective (Eric Vause) THE GRAVE ROBBER follows Eric Vause as he is tasked with hunting down a ghost haunting our story line heroine. All of his life Eric has had the ability to know if something is going to happen but five years earlier, Eric was possessed by a demon during Charley and Reyes war to save their daughter, and in the ensuing time Eric’s ability to see the future also allows his to talk to the dead. Halle Nordstrom believes she is haunted by a ghost, a ghost that came into her life at twelve years of age, when something catastrophic happened in her life but Eric is about to discover there is more to the ‘ghost’ than he could have imagined, something more tangible and deadly for our story line heroine. What ensues is the search for the truth, and the potential fall-out when our couple are targeted by a ‘ghost’ from the past.
The relationship between Halle and Eric begins when Eric is asked to ‘exorcise’ the ghost from Halle’s life but Eric suspects there is more to the story than anyone has revealed. Halle and Eric’s sexual attraction is palpable, but Eric believes his time with Halle is about to come to a violent close. The $ex scene is limited but passionate and intense.
The secondary and supporting characters include bar manager and Eric’s friend Jason Vigil, as well as Halle’s father, Charley’s late Aunt Lil, and her father’s head of security Paul.
THE GRAVE ROBBER is a fast paced, character driven story of betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing and captivating ; the characters are energetic, sassy and determined.
Reading Order and previous reviews
First Grave on the Right
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Straight Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Eighth Grave After Dark
Brighter Than the Sun (novella)
The Dirt on Ninth Grave
The Curse on Tenth Grave
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
Trouble with Twelfth Grave
Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave
The Graveyard Shift
The Gravedigger’s Son
The Graveside Bar and Grill
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
She pulled her lower lip between her teeth, stalling. She stalled some more when she said, “I can’t always read them.”
“Halle,” I warned.
Her shoulders deflated as she released a surrendering sigh. “At first, they were just numbers. They started right after my mom died. The number twelve kept popping up. But a month later, it changed to an eleven. Then a ten. Then a nine.”
“A countdown.”
“Yes. Every month for the last year, he’s been counting down. And now we’re at number two.” She leveled an accusing gaze on me. “And you’ve known since the first time you laid eyes on me.”
“Not the first time,” I said, slightly offended. “What makes you think they’re death threats? They could mean anything.”
“Because the other note he leaves is pretty explicit. It’s just one word. Payback.”
Ah. Now we were getting somewhere. “Halle, what happened seventeen years ago? What changed your life so dramatically? And who wants payback?”
She shook her head and looked away, tears shimmering in her eyes.
I leaned onto my elbows and put a hand over hers. “Halle, I know this is hard, but please trust me.”
“It’s not that. It’s not that I don’t trust you. You’ve earned that and then some. But if I tell you what happened, what I did, you won’t want to have sex with me anymore.”
I almost snorted. Clearly, she didn’t understand the male thought process.
But I needed to chill. I was pushing her too hard. I wanted her to bend. Not break.
The furball started whimpering at her feet. Halle picked her up, nuzzled her, then set her in the box she’d brought along with a dry towel from the bathroom. With a full belly, the furball settled immediately and went to sleep.
Halle straightened and walked over to stand in front of me. “Is that a yes?”
“No,” I said, taking in every curve she had to offer. She smelled sweet, like jasmine. “It’s a hell yes.” I put a hand on her hip, the heat from her body soaking into my skin as she straddled me.
With hesitant fingers, she tested the abrasion on my jaw. “Are you sure this is okay? You were hit by a truck yesterday.”
“I was sideswiped by a truck. Huge difference.”
She nodded and grew thoughtful as though making calculations in her head. Now was not the time for math.
“I’m pretty sure you’re a supernatural being,” she said, completely serious. “That you’re not real and will disappear as soon as all of this is over.”
“I have several friends who are supernaturally inclined. I am not one of them. And I’m not going anywhere.”
She buried her fingers in my hair and covered my mouth with hers. I’d never welcomed a kiss more in my life.
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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.
