Review & Giveaway: The Dirt on Ninth Grave

The Dirt on Ninth Grave (Charley Davidson #9) by Darynda Jones

Publication Date: January 12th 2015 by St. Martin Press

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book:

In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she's more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.

But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her—even from her new and trusted friends—the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn't help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she's lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.

My Thoughts:

The Charley Davidson series is one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal romances out there.  Darynda Jones’ humor had me laughing out loud most of the book!  She writes Charley with a sort of slapstick humor and her sidekick, Cookie is on the same hilarious, A.D.D. wavelength!  The run of comedy has me snorting and giggling, enough to get some odd glances from anyone around, (something to keep in mind if you read in public) and so sometimes when things get very dire it’s almost a shock.  It does help temper the truly horrible things Charley has been through over the years, and I do admire her positive outlook and unwillingness to let anything get her down.  Her recklessness has always been a source of frustration for me, but at the heart of it is the complete self-sacrificing spirit she has for others.  While I am angry with Charley a lot (right along with Reyes) for her rash actions, her motivations come from a sincere love of other people, so I can never hold a grudge. 

From here on out, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series there will be some SPOILERS.  Proceed with caution.  If you haven’t read the other books, stop, run, and pick up the first book!

The Dirt on Ninth Grave was definitely different from the previous installments, and yet, also the same.  We had the same Charley at her core, even though she lost her memory and ended up on the other side of the country in Sleepy Hollow, New York.  All the regulars followed and played along so as not to traumatize Charley anymore. It was a little painful to see Charley and Reyes unsure of each other, but it was also kind of sweet watching them fall in love all over again, making it abundantly clear that nothing will stand in the way of their love.  Of course, there were hot and steamy scenes!  Anytime Reyes and Charley are together things turn hot and explosive!

There were several mysteries besides the continuing story arc of the series, as with the other installments.  I was moved by all but the Vandenberg mystery, and unfortunately, it seemed like it took up the most page time.  Plus, I’d scratch my head when Charley would be so worried about them and then get distracted by another conflict and forget.  I did enjoy Erin’s story and how it all turned out.  I wish more time was spent on Ian Jefferies’ past and the retired detective, Mr. Pettigrew. Don’t get me started on the bittersweet story of Lewis, Shayla, and Francie.   Not much plot progression on the continuing story arc because so much time was spent with Charley as “Janey” without her memory.  I wished that was resolved sooner in the story. 

Still, I enjoyed this story, like I said, this is one of my favorite series’, and with all the books and stories I almost feel like Charley and the gang are old friends.   I can hardly wait to hang with Charley and the gang in the next book!  

3.5-4 Suns

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The lovely people of St. Martin's Press have generously provided TWO copies of The Dirt on Ninth Grave to giveaway to two Waves of Fiction followers!  The giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents only.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter for a chance to win!

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