An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries - No. 3)

I loved this book primarily because of the skilful characterisation, and also because it's part of a series and I love to follow a long storyline through a number of books. However, I don't buy books to read right now; I stockpile them so I'll have something to read when my husband go travelling in our trailer (in Australia, they're called 'caravans'). I think I've got over a hundred books downloaded, of which I've read only 10 or 15, and the rest are waiting until our next trip. That's why I almost never respond to your emails asking how much I liked a book because I haven't read it yet.

Sorry,
Judy Mahony

Disturbingly satisfying. Harris bravely follows through with the hints and suggestions of previous books, despite the taboos and social squeamishness that might accompany her narrative decisions. A great read for a rainy day.

very good book, enjoyed the read immensely. the author captivates the reader's attention with the simplicity of her writing as well as the suspense and mystery. Hooked on this series as well as her Sookie Stackhouse series. Must read!

Like anyone who has read Charlaine Harris, and continues to read her books, I enjoy them a lot. One of her series that I LOVE is Sookie Stackhouse!
But about this 3rd installment in the Harper Connelly Series, which was just slightly disappointing because of what happened in the middle of the book. I won't say what that was, because it would be a huge spoiler and I won't do that to those who haven't read An Ice Cold Grave. But those who have, will probably know what I'm referring to. What happened should never have happened when it did! I felt that it was just thrown in and not thought out by the author. It really threw me off balance. If it happened towards the end of the book, that would have made more sense, because it would have flowed better with what happened at the end of the book, but NOT in the middle! If it hadn't been for that not-so-wise choice on Charlaine Harris' part, I would have given the book 5 stars.
On a lighter note: It was a good read, sans the untimely incident. As with the other books in the series there was a nice balance of annoying characters, great characters, tension, out loud laughs, etc... And the killer was a surprise, which was a surprise in itself.

I love Charlaine Harris. This book is a great change, it steps up a little from the first two books. I enjoyed it very much. I loved Harper and Tolliver very much. They keep the entertainment coming with a little twist of tenderness and contrast. It makes the book exceptional to read.

Best book I've read in a long while. The end will absolutely suck you in! You will bec ome completely intertwined in Harper Conelly's life, if you are not already! Steamy and Suspenseful! My favorite combo;)

Don't know why it's taken me so long to read this series. However, the three books I read were a fun read. I always love it when the protagonist is a woman with special gifts no matter what they are. Couldn't find any Harper Connelly books since "An Ice Cold Grave" and wonder if there are any more out there.

I thought the plot was protracted and the conclusion overdone. I was disappointed that Charlaine's considerable abilities were focused on such perverted crimes. Have been an ardent fan of her Stookie Stackhouse books and hoped to have similar of enthusiasm. Maybe next time!

Charlaine Harris has become one of my favorite authors.. at first I was a little leary of the Harper Connelly mysteries but after reading all of them so far I thoroughly enjoyed them. This is one of those series and books that I will end up keeping... I even let my Mother read the series and she really liked them. I can't wait for the next one......

loved this series, as did my daughter......regret that there are only 4 books to this series........the book came with a plastic book cover and the seller was exceptional in packaging the product......

I've come to be particularly fond of the quirkiness of Charlaine Harris' characters. In this latest Harper Connelly mystery, much of what has been simmering under the surface comes to fruition. It's a delightful read and I couldn't put it down.

I read the Sookie Books first and when there was time I fitted in Harper Connley. This book is the best one in the series.I read it a day and could not stop...This is a book to read and buy can not wait to read the next

An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries, No. 3) Loved it. Couldn't put it down. Has twists and turns. Love this series.

I am a big fan of Charlaine Harris books, and have read 10 of her works so far. I was not
prepared for the explicit content of Harper and Toliver. I could see the relationship
blooming, and expected a more delicate reference than the way it was exposed. I can
understand Harper is kind of up front and can be gritty, but it just turned me off the
way it was written. I know life to be life, and since I am not the author, I leave that
to Miss Harris.......but.....I did not care for this chapter or the way it was revealed in this
book. Naughty can be nice?
I do want to Thank Charlaine for hours of wonderful reading. I hope to acquire her other
novels.
Sandy G.

Ok the story up to the relationship between Harper and Tolliver was good the gory details of the murders did not bother me it was the relationship between Harper and Tolliver ok, for to books we see them as brother and sister then we get Harper asking to go down on him!!! ( WHAT), I could not go any further. Sorry even if they were not of the same blood it just was the creepy factor; reading how close they were and how they helped raise their younger sisters.

And I have a feeling that old Tolliver is the one taking pictures of her and plastering them on the web without her knowlege!! WT heck is that..

This book was better than the first one in the series. The mystery was actually really good and once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the way it ended and many of the secondary characters in the book were well developed. 

As a mystery, I would say the book is closer to a 4/5. 

I liked Harper better in this book though her relationship with her step-brother is still pretty creepy. She is a little less whiny, dependent, and phobic than in the last book. 

I still don't like her step-brother very much. Not sure why but he rubs me the wrong way though less so in this book than in the first one I read. 

I thought this book was pretty good. If the premise of this series interests you I recommend starting with this book over book 1. It was better and you didn't miss anything super important from the first book. There are a couple odds and ends that make more sense if you read both but they aren't such a big deal that you should read the books in order. Especially because I barely managed to get through book 1. 

This book has a neat concept. If you like things like Medium and Ghostwhisperer I would give it a try. 

We were disappointed with the second entry in this 4-book Harper Connelly set; but were rewarded for sticking with it for “Ice”, our heroine’s fun third outing. Harper is hired to see if she can find the body of a missing teenager, one of six who have been missing over several years. She not only finds them all, but adds two more “bonus” discoveries to the mix. As usual, she and her “brother” Tolliver (actually they are absolutely unrelated, they were just raised together) have trouble getting out of town, as her abilities per se are always suspect – and usually additional plot developments only get the pair more involved with any crimes at hand.

A very welcome development in this novel is that Harper and Tolliver finally admit their mutual love and consummate their new relationship rather frequently! That made their married-like behaviors way less creepy than in the first two stories, to say the least!

Finally all is settled with all the various crimes at hand, leaving just a fourth and apparently final entry in the set to peruse as time permits.

4.5 stars

Well this series keeps getting better and better. The first book, Grave Sight, was pretty good, the second book, Grave Surprise, was good, and An Ice Cold Grave was very good. Actually, now that I think about it the Sookie Stackhouse series was kind of the same way. Books one and two weren't as good as the others in the series, I think.

I like how Harper and Tolliver are in a different location for each book in this series. That keeps the books fresh and prevents repetitiveness. I also really like how each book is a little mystery in itself which is solved/wrapped up at the end of the book so we don't have a cliffhanger ending. When I finish a Charlaine Harris book, I want more, but I'm not out of control waiting for the next book wondering what will happen (like I am for Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay, for example).

An Ice Cold Grave got pretty gritty a couple of times. The "bad guy" in this book does some pretty awful things, which Harper of course learns of when she finds his victims. Also, there are a couple of sex scenes which are more graphic than any in the first two books. I don't really know what's up with that. The Sookie Stackhouse books have been the same way lately in that regard. I liked the innuendo better than the long descriptions. It seems to cheapen a book to add too much of that in there. But, to each her own, I guess.

At any rate, this is now my second favorite Charlaine Harris series. The Harper Connelly series is actually a very close second to the Sookie Stackhouse books. And, as Elinor says in Sense and Sensibility, that's praise indeed!

Just One Gripe:
There was a little too much grit for my taste.

The Best Thing About This Book:
Harper leaves behind her tortured, Edward Cullen in Midnight Sun existance and gets happy, finally!

Wow. Okay, I read the first two books of the series, and I enjoyed them, even though I predicted in each one the "who done it" mystery but it was okay with me, because I enjoy the way Harris writes so much, and I found harper to be so interesting and her relationship with tolliver to be very intriguing. But this third book, OH MY. I was not expecting such a powerful story. I will admit that I did guess the "who done it" part again, but as usual, it was okay, and even more so with this book. It was riveting from the start to the finish.

Yes, there are some very dark things in the story that I didn't like reading, but it was done well enough that I didn't dwell too much on it and was able to keep reading. SPOILER... I was so excited about the relationship advancement for harper and tolliver. It was so true for them and their chemistry just flowed so well together. They really never seemed like brother and sister to me from the beginning of the series, so it didn't bother me that they finally took it to the next inevitable level. The feelings that were expressed between them were so genuine and touching, and these characters feel so real in their support and need for each other. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens between them. I hope they finally get their house together that they've been talking about from the beginning.

This is one of the most engaging books I've ever read! Harris is a wonderful author.

An Ice Cold Grave is the third book in the Harper Connelly series by American author, Charlaine Harris. Harper’s latest assignment is a law enforcement invitation by Sandra Rockwell, sheriff of Doraville, in Knott County, South Carolina in the middle of winter. The Sheriff is grasping at straws trying to find six boys gone missing over the last five years. Harper finds them all, and two more: a serial killer’s icy graveyard. But before she and Tolliver can depart the town, someone attacks her, landing her in hospital. Psychic Xylda Bernardo and her grandson Manfred (see Grave Surprise) turn up to help, but land in their own hot water. Eventually a serial killer is arrested (but not before another boy dies) so the townspeople can rest easy. Or can they? This instalment features murder , suicide, a lake cottage, power cuts, an ice storm, an underground chamber, quick-thinking neighbours, quite a lot of hospital visits, several suspects, a red herring or two and an exciting climax. Guns, knives and shovels are used as weapons. Harris has created a series with likeable characters and an original plot. The relationship between Harper and Tolliver takes a turn and readers will look forward to the final book in the series, Grave Secret.

An Ice Cold Grave (2007) is the third fantasy novel in the Harper Connelly series, following Grave Surprise. In the previous volume, Harper interrupts the killer in the midst of another murder and is almost shot. Tolliver overwhelms the murderer. Harper and Tolliver have learned and deduced most to the story and pass it on to the police.

Harper has never encountered a true ghost prior to Josiah Poundstone. She arranges with Xylda Bernardo to lay his spirit. Josiah seems amazed at the thought of seeking peace, but gradually fades away.

In this novel, Harper and Tolliver travel to Doraville, South Carolina, during the ice and snow of January. They have been called in to search for six youths who have become missing during the past five years. The sheriff -- Sandra Rockwell -- had been a deputy who ran against the former sheriff over his mismanagement of this issue. Yet she has not been able to discover any additional leads.

The grandmother of the last missing boy suggested that Harper be used to find the bodies. After checking the police grapevine and getting a positive recommendation from a participant in a former case, Sheriff Rockwell asked for Harper to perform a search. After discussing the case with the sheriff, Harper meets with Twyla Cotton, the woman who is responsible for her involvement in the case.

The sheriff provides a list of the most suspicious locales. Twyla drives Harper and Tolliver around to each site. Harper finds the bodies of eight boys -- including Twyla's grandson -- on the grounds of an abandoned house with a two-car garage off to one side. Harper marks the burial sites with red flags while Twyla calls the police.

The police discover decayed bodies at each site and contact the State Bureau of Investigation to report the find. SBI agents and technicians come to Doraville to verify the identities and to gather any available evidence about the murderer. Harper is prepared to leave town when she is attacked outside the motel.

In this story, Harper meets with the usual skepticism and hints of fraudulent practices. The existence of the bodies, however, proves to be irrefutable evidence of the crime and, despite their suspicions, the police cannot prove any criminal involvement by Harper. Naturally, some police -- particularly the SBI agents -- still suspect Harper of nefarious wrongdoing.

Harper becomes more involved in this situation than in her previous cases. She gets to know some of the people involved and starts to like several of the individuals. Unlike previous cases, nobody -- other than the SBI agents -- tends to blame Harper for the killings and few are upset by the arcane natural of her talent.

This story also has Harper becoming more troubled by her relationship with Tolliver. She is beginning to feel attracted toward him. While he is her stepbrother, they are otherwise unrelated and that is becoming rather important to her.

Highly recommended for Harris fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of unusual talents, forensic psychology and helpful neighbors. If anyone has not previously read this series, the initial volume is Grave Sight.

-Arthur W. Jordin

"An Ice Cold Grave" is the third installment by Charlaine Harris in the Harper Connolly series. This is by far my favorite of the three I've read. (I still need to read the 4th! Anyone want to donate it? ;o] ) Once again, it was a quick, fun read. As in the first two novels, Harper can locate dead bodies and relive the last moments of their death. Her ability has limitations- she can see how they died but not who killed them. There were additional plot twists in this book that made it more fun to read than the previous two. Yay! I love when a series gets better with each book! This really makes me want to read the 4th.

I don't have many complaints about this book except for one big one. Harper is STILL harping (haha) on her past! It is brought up frequently in this novel... just like in the first and second. Lets hope that she gets some closure in the fourth book so that we can shut some doors and open some new ones. I'm sick to death of dwelling in the past. Lets move forward, Miss Connolly! She finally establishes the relationship she needs with Tolliver, so I think we're headed in the right direction.

So, in An Ice Cold Grave, we find Harper and Tolliver requested once again to a small town with excellent secondary characters. This case is definitely one of the most heartbreaking and emotionally exhausting cases Harper has had so far... Several young boys have gone missing. They've mostly been reported as runaways- but our heroine quickly disproves this theory when she uncovers the bodies. Uh oh, Doraville, NC has a serial killer living in their quaint little town... So, who is the local serial killer?

I can't wait to read the next book- the mystery in this novel was much darker than the ones in the previous two. I also think that the unique relationship between Tolliver and Harper will make the next book better... It will give them new obstacles. (How will others react that knew them as brother/sister? How will they handle all that change? It has to bug out their siblings, right?)

This was a relaxing read... so go for it. Start this series. You know you want to ;]

When she was a teenager Harper Connelly had been struck by lightning, making her already difficult life even harder. Like many other lightning strike survivors she had been left with some scarring, some damaged muscles in her leg and something most unusual - a buzzing sound whenever she was near a dead body, and awareness of the cause of death. Harper had decided to turn this ability into a career, establishing the cause of death for grieving and/or suspicious families, and helping to locate the missing. It was for the latter that Harper and her step brother and business partner Tolliver had been called to a small town in North Carolina by the grieving mother of a missing boy. Sadly, Harper was able to locate not only him but several other bodies of boys and young men as well. Apparently the little town had a serial killer who ha been operating unsuspected by the local police.

This is a rather darker story than the first two volumes of the series (GRAVE SIGHT and GRAVE SURPRISE). The subplot of Harper's own troubled past and her increasingly complicated relationship with Tolliver is brought to the forefront in this one. The overall story arc of the series is quite pronounced so definitely read these stories in order.

The author, Charlaine Harris, is best known for her SOUTHERN VAMPIRE/SOOKIE STACKHOUSE series which is the basis for HBO's TRUEBLOOD. Do not expect Harper to be a wise cracking, confident young woman like Sookie, dealing with the supernatural. Harper has had a much more difficult past and, other than her ability to hear dead people, no other supernatural/paranormal activities take place.

I enjoyed the first two books about Harper Connelly Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 1) and Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 2), and I think that both the second and the third books are stronger than its predecessor.

That said, this book might not be for everyone. The book involves the serial killings of teenaged boys, all of whom are tortured and raped. What happens to these poor kids is absolutely horrifying, as are the descriptions of the crimes.

The language in the book is stronger than the two previous, and I can see why the author did this, as the crimes are so terrible. I can see how and why the characters discussing the crimes can curse over them.

As always with the books of Charlaine Harris, the characters are well written and developed, and the setting is very well done. The sheer horror of the crimes combined with a small southern mountain town in the winter, all iced in, makes for one creepy place.

One other thing that might bother some readers is that the relationship between Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver goes right where it looked like it might right from the first book. Now, I do not view this as incest, as there is no blood relationship between them, and when younger they were the defacto heads of their family, raising the younger children when their parents were not functioning. They both dream of sharing a home together and having those younger kids back. This step was logical to me, given the contents of the two previous books. But I can also see how this could bother some readers, who could think that such a relationship between step sibs is completely improper.

So I guess in short - while I personally loved this book, I can see how other people could have issues with it. If you are someone who might be bothered by the horrific crimes or the relationship between the stepsibs, you might want to check it out from the library rather than purchasing.

Since their last case Harper Connelly and her manager and sort-of brother Tolliver Lang have been tiptoeing around each other, careful not to upset the balance of their relationship. Called to Doraville by Sheriff Sandra Rockwell to help find the bodies of six missing boys, Harper knows that her talent, finding the dead and identifying how they died, will be severely tested. That six boys are missing and that could mean a serial killer. When they learn the sheriff was coerced into calling her, Harper knows things could turn nasty. But neither Harper nor Tolliver knows just how bad it could get.

This is the third in the series, and it just keeps getting better and better. Harris's characters are always well developed with back-histories that make them seem alive, so alive in fact that it's difficult at times to remember these are fictional people in a story. Don't be afraid to step into the series with this book because it does stand on its own. There's enough backstory layered into the narrative to explain the interplay between Harper, Tolliver, and Xylda and Manfred Bernardo (psychics met in a previous book). While I found some of the reactions of the investigators irritating and a bit unbelievable, contemplation of the situation made me believe that that is exactly how things would play out in those circumstances.

To me the sign of a good book is when I get so wrapped up in the story and characters that I start feeling upset and argumentative on their behalf -- of course sassing back the book won't change a thing but then again if we care so much about the fictional characters then the author has managed to get us to pay attention and engage with the story. Now if being so engaged also gets us to think about the larger issues involved and to carry those thoughts beyond the book to look at how people react to crime, to those to pursue criminals, those who commit crimes, and those who look away and ignore what's happening around them -- perhaps then we'll see some changes.

There's the major mystery and several subplots that have been carried over from the previous books. Harris manages to balance all these threads so smoothly that there's no jarring note as we move from one to the other. Some of our questions get answered and some don't -- perhaps to be dealt with in a later volume. There is a satisfactory conclusion to the book but also more threads to be taken up in later stories, I hope. Harper's gift is one with limits and limitations and Harris has built a character that is an interesting mix of vulnerability, intelligence, strength, and heart but who yet has the pull of an everyman to her.

Well, I think Charlaine Harris must be finally working her magic with Harper Connelly. The character is still no Sookie Stackhouse (in my humble opinion) but in the third book of Harris' mystery series, she's finally starting to become a little more endearing.

In An Ice Cold Grave, lightning-strike victim and private investigator Harper Connelly is once again putting her strange talents to work. This time, she's in a small town with a big problem -- teenage boys are disappearing mysteriously at a rate too quick to be anything but sinister -- and Harper and her brother (er, manager... er, boyfriend?) Tolliver have been hired to find the bodies and determine the cause of death. Harper soon discovers that a serial killer is at work, and is thrust into a race against time to discover his identity before he succeeds in his attempts to put her out of business for good.

I'm not really a mystery fan, in general. I get too carried away trying to pick up the author's subtle clues and figure out "whodunit", and sometimes I actually miss out on actually sitting back and just enjoying the story. However, I have perservered with the Harper Connelly books because I absolutely love Harris' better-known Southern Vampire Mysteries. I think I can finally say that my persistance is paying off: this book was the most enjoyable of the series so far. I actually would even call it a page-turner. I find myself liking Harper more and more, and am genuinely looking forward to seeing where her next adventure takes her.

Harper Connelly is back at it again, but this time she is really in deep. Finding the body of 8 boys is hard enough. But to tack on the fact that those boys were killed by a menacing serial killer makes life even more difficult.

This book is dark and edgy. In fact, it isn’t as light a read as the first two books in the series. While the characters as the same (and you have to love Harper and Tolliver) the subject matter is truly frightening. Fans of Harris will love this book though as it is true to her writing style. This is my favorite book in the series! Highly recommended.

Overall rating: 4.0

Mystery Rating: 4.6

Darkness: 5.0

Courtesy of My Love of Books

I love Charlaine Harris' books. All of her series! But I especially love her Harper Connelly mysteries. I think it's because Harper is both strong and yet vulnerable, and that's difficult to get across in print. But Harris manages to do it and the books are stronger for it.

Harper Connelly suffered a lightening strike and since that time (her step-brother Tolliver saved her life), she has not only been able to locate corpses but knows what and how they died. She and Tolliver have taken that talent and made a living out of her psychic abilities. They travel together working to help family members and police solve cases. Finding the bodies is easy-it's telling the family and seeing the pain of death that is difficult and draining to Harper.

Harper and Tolliver arrive in Doraville, North Carolina to find the missing grandson of a local resident. It turns out there are a number of missing boys from the community. It doesn't take Harper long to find the six missing boys' bodies (plus two that they didn't know about) and become embroiled in a serial killer case. Harper doesn't want the kind of publicity that comes along side a serial killer case and tries to leave town. She is stopped from leaving by a physical attack from an unknown person (could it be the killer?). If Harper isn't careful, she could be the next victim.

This is a page turner. And I love that Harris explores a bit of Harper's inner self. It makes the mystery even better.

Armchair Interviews says: Read An Ice Cold Grave! You'll love it!

First Line: The eastern seaboard is crammed with dead people.

Struck by lightning as a teenager, Harper Connelly has the ability to find the dead and experience the last few seconds of their lives. This ability has become her livelihood, as she and her stepbrother/manager, Tolliver Lang, travel from place to place. Harper relies upon word-of-mouth to bring her business, usually from police departments she has dealt with in the past.

In this third book in the series, Harper and Tolliver find themselves in Doraville, North Carolina, at the behest of a citizen and the local police. Too many young boys with no reason for running away have disappeared, and some townspeople are beginning to think that a serial killer may be at work. After finding eight bodies, Harper is attacked, and the police insist that she and Tolliver stay in town to help with the investigation. Will they be able to find the serial killer before he strikes again?

This is my favorite of Harris' mystery series. The plots are intriguing, and Harper is a fascinating character. There is a sexual tension between Harper and Tolliver that has made some folks uncomfortable, but Harris clearly explains that the two are not related by blood. They just happened to grow up in the same lousy home together.

The murders in An Ice Cold Grave are upsetting, and the way the killer is unmasked is heartbreaking. It sounds ghoulish to say that I enjoyed this book a great deal, but I did. Harper Connelly is an edgy, unique character of whom I've yet to get my fill.

In Memphis Xylda told Harper "In the time of ice, you'll be so happy". At the time Harper had no idea what Xylda was talking about, as is the way with Xylda, but now Harper is about to find out just how happy she can be while chasing a serial killer in the freezing town of Doraville.

Harper and Tolliver have been hired to search for a missing grandson. At the time of the disappearance it was put forward by the then Sheriff that the boy had simply runaway, but many others weren't convinced. As it turns out there were more then a few disappearances of teen boys that were ruled as runaways.

Harper has stumbled upon eight bodies, all boys who were cruelly tortured, abused and left to die. It is the first time she has ever discovered so many bodies at one time. It is her first experience with a serial killer. It is also the first time she has realised that Tolliver maybe keeping a secret from her. Harper and Tolliver are about to come clean with their secrets, and afterwards things will never be the same again.

An Ice Cold Grave mixes the horror and heartache of a small town stalked by a serial killer with the beginnings of a new romance. There is loss and sadness in this story, but even amongst all the panic and fear we are given faith, hope and a story of love. Not everyone may be happy with the events of this story, but it is both well written and intriguing. A must read for any Harper fan.

I am so into this series. I stumbled across Charlaine Harris right about the same time I discovered Janet Evanovich--just after my son was born. I credit the two of them for getting me through those postpartum blues, for making me laugh when all I felt like doing was cry. While I always look forward to the next Sookie Stackhouse book, it's Harris' Harper Connelly mystery series that's really got me champing at the bit for more. Harper finds dead people. With the help of her stepbrother Tolliver, she travels from town to town helping police departments and grieving families alike get to the heart of mysterious deaths. The best thing about these books is the unexpectedly complex relationship between Harper and Tolliver (two people who don't have a thing in the world except each other) and the increasingly mesmerizing/horrifying events they find themselves mixed up in. Harper never fails to find the body(ies) in question, but the two of them just can't seem to make it out of town before all hell breaks loose. This third installment is by far the most chilling and Harris wisely balances out the heinous with some great interpersonal stuff between Harper and Tolliver. I like that she isn't dragging this series out. With Harris you always get plenty of bank for your buck.

I find Harper and Tolliver to be rather interesting protagonists -- two people just trying to make a living from an unusual gift and keep to themselves, but who keep getting pulled into other people's affairs. In this case, the discovery of a serial killer, an attack on Harper, and several other events all conspire to keep the two in Doraville much longer than they'd like. I've decided that this has been my favorite book of the three, maybe because we actually get a taste of a happy Harper in this one. Granted, her happiness comes from a realization of shared feelings between herself and her "brother", but I had been told to expect it. I was afraid I might feel icky about their relationship, which appears incestuous from the outside, but by the time the book got to it I was prepared. Harper had already stopped thinking about him as her brother, so as a reader, I did too. I'm sad that this series hasn't been continued yet, because I'm really interested to see how things continue for Harper and Tolliver.

This is the first book in the series I listened to instead of read, so I wonder if the audio production is what made me enjoy it more? That is an interesting rumination for another time.

This is the third book in the Harper Connelly Mysteries. I liked this book; it was a quick, fun, and easy read! Main reason it didn't get 5 stars was because it was exactly what I was expecting and I didn't necessarily find it outstanding!

In this book Harper and Tolliver are called to North Carolina in the winter to check on a case in which a teenage boy went missing. Harper quickly discovers that there are actually many boys missing and finds that they are actually dealing with a serial killer.

This was very well-written and fun to read. This is the type of book I read when I want something lighthearted and fun with some twists. This book definitely had the twists in there; it was a well written mystery (of course, I don't have a ton of experience reading mysteries). It kept you guessing and there was some nice character development between Tolliver and Harper (those who have read it will chuckle at my *nice* description).

This book was exactly what I expected from the next book in this series, and I wasn't disappointed at all! I look forward to reading more books in this series in the future.

[...]

In An Ice Cold Grave, Charlaine Harris continues the story of Harper Connelly, a woman who was left with a strange gift after being struck by lightning as a teenager. Harper has the ability to "feel" the dead - she can find their bodies and tell how they died. This talent earns her and her step-brother/manager, Tolliver, a living as they travel around the country working for both everyday citizens who want to be sure their loved ones died of natural causes and law enforcement who need her help in locating missing persons and/or determining exactly how they died.

This novel has Harper and Tolliver traveling to Doraville, North Carolina, in an attempt to help the town find the location of six missing boys. When the first few went missing, the sheriff at that time and many other residents assumed that the boys were merely runaways, even though most of them were really not the type to run away. As more and more boys disappeared over the years; however, it became increasingly clear that they could have a serial killer in their midst. Even though the new sheriff acknowledges that possibility, the police were still unable to make any headway on the case so the grandmother of one of the missing boys decides to raise money to bring in Harper. She does find the bodies early on in the novel, and is then able to piece together a disturbing picture of what happened to the boys.

One of Harris's strengths lies in her ability to write novels with supernatural and paranormal elements that are exciting, passionate, and, at times, heart-stopping without becoming "horror" novels in the traditional sense. The Harper Connelly Mysteries, while being somewhat darker and less humorous than Harris's more famous Sookie Stackhouse novels, is a good example of this strength. I like that this series does not necessarily have to be read in order - An Ice Cold Grave is a good read by itself, although there are a few questions regarding the characters that can only be answered if you have read the previous 2 novels. I look forward to reading the next book in this very original series.

I want to start with a recommendation: if you have not read the first two books in this series, go get them and read them first. You will be able to follow along if you just read this book and it is a great stand-alone mystery. But without reading the first two books, you will miss the insight into Harper and Tolliver and the changes in their relationship that Ms. Harris has been developing in each book. That relationship is a major part of this book.

Now to the book as a mystery. Harper is a reluctant sleuth: her job is to use her "gift" to locate dead bodies and tell her clients how they died. Law enforcement is supposed to figure out the killer but inevitably Harper and Tolliver are sucked into the investigation. The reader doesn't know anything Harper doesn't know and I was as surprised as she was at the ultimate ending.

I agree with the reviewers who say this is the best book so far in the series even though it is a great deal darker than the first two. I am looking forward to what happens with Harper & Tolliver and their family in the next book.

An Ice Cold Grave continues the trend of the well-written Harper Connolly series (Grave Sight and Grave Surprise). I read this in one sitting and agree with the other reviewers that this book is the best of the three so far. Not only does Ms Harris describe the wintry climate in such a way as to make you actually feel you're right there in the freezing temperatures with Harper and Tolliver and the rest of the inhabitants of Doraville, NC, but you can feel the tension among them as well.

An Ice Cold Grave is definitely darker than the first 2 books in the sense that there are more violence, more bodies, and more graphic descriptions of what happened to the victims. After all, Harper's talent is to find dead bodies, by nature a dark skill, regardless of whether the deaths are natural or not. On the other hand, Harper and Tolliver's personal and business relationship grows apace, and they each come to terms with what it is they want. {My hope is that this series doesn't follow Ms Harris's other two (ie, The Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse series, Lily Bard/Shakespeare series), as well as a number of other paranomal/urban fantasy series, in that the "heroine" loves and then leaves or is left by the "hero(s)." There seems to be a trend of such women finding and losing one's lover (sometimes many lovers throughout a series) recently. I can think of 6 series offhand that have done this.}

Another nice thing about An Ice Cold Grave is that, for once, Harper and Tolliver aren't treated with suspicion by every person they meet. Sure, there's skepticism, but at least most of those they come in contact with aren't outright hostile, leading to a wearying tango and tangle with such individuals.

We also meet Xylda and Manfred Berdardo again, and both are colorful as always, but they're also sympathetic and poignant characters here. I can't wait to see what becomes of Bernardo and his psychic skills. Will he be a small talent, as he seems to believe, or as great as or better than his grandmother? And how will his path cross that of Harper and Tolliver in future?

I strongly recommend An Ice Cold Grave -- which can be read as a standalone but would enhance a reader's experience if read in sequence. The book consists of a taut story line, mystery, love, grief, betrayal, and pathos, but in the end, there's hope and compassion.

I loved each book in this series, which were different from other books in the genre that I've read. It's too bad Harris abandoned this series when it seemed far from finished (and unfortunately kept writing Sookie Stackhouse novels well past the point where it seemed she should have "wrapped up").

This one was a harder read, in part because of the subject matter. It's never easy when kids go missing, and in this small North Carolina town, it's been happening a bit too often to ignore. On the whole, the book is great, but this one left me near tears more than once simply because of the subject matter and how the story plays out.

Harper's interactions with the people in town, especially the sheriff are top notch. She has to prove herself as usual, but she does it with grace and aplomb especially in light of the circumstances. Also? We finally end the will-they, won't they, and I think we can all cheer for that one.

Plot Summary: A desperate sheriff in Doraville, North Carolina hires Harper and Tolliver to search the surrounding area for some missing boys - six to be precise. Harper hits pay dirt in a miserable little area where she finds eight boys who died at the hands of a sadistic killer. Normally they'd grab their check and go, but Harper is attacked by a hooded, shovel-wielding man, and she's forced to stay in the hospital. Just when they think they're free, an ice storm traps Harper and Tolliver in a small cabin, where she must face up to the truth about Tolliver; she no longer loves him like a brother.

Well, this mystery series officially became a romantic mystery series. Between Harper and Tolliver's relationship, and the grisly hunt for a serial killer, I was enormously entertained. If you were holding back on reading this series because you thought it was only about finding dead people and solving mysteries, you can quit stalling now.

The murders in this book are particularly disturbing, because innocent young lives are snuffed out in terrible ways. If you are too susceptible to fiction that feels horrifically real, you may want to reconsider reading this one. This book contains equal parts of the best and worst we humans have to offer. Harris doesn't force the reader to relive the horrors in any kind of excruciating detail (thank goodness), but it still manages to be plenty intense. I just think it's fair to let you know that this book isn't a light-hearted read for that reason.

I wish I could talk about Harper and Tolliver, but I can't think of anything to say that wouldn't ruin it for a new reader. If you read book two, "Grave Surprise," you already know that Harper's feeling for Tolliver had undergone a sea change. This series absolutely, positively, no doubt about it, MUST be read in order. Don't skip straight to this book, or you're killing the story.

Book four, "Grave Secrets," is currently set for release on October 27 of this year.

After being struck by lightning as a teenager, Harper Connelly has developed the unique ability to find the dead and see how they died. She and her stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, run a business in which they travel the country assisting law-enforcement personnel and family members of the dead. In her third case, Harper is hired by a woman to find her missing grandson. In fact, numerous teenage boys have disappeared from Doraville, North Carolina. Harper finds the bodies, but still reeling from coming into contact with her first serial killer, she is attacked and injured. She stays in Doraville to recover and assist in the investigation.

Ice Cold Grave is an excellent addition to the Harper series. The story line is well written and it kept me glued, reading it in one sitting. However my pleasure in the story was marred by the disturbing description of horrible murder, torture and rape of children. That is just too far over the line for my reading pleasure. I tried to skim over that part. So I have to subtract one star.

However, the story itself was facinating from cover to cover. I am a loyal fan of Charlaine Harris work (Sookie and Harper) and will look forward to the next installments. Yet, I will read the reviews on the next Harper before purchase just to make sure it does not have so much yuk factor. So pleased with the eventual development between Tolliver and Harper.

First Sentence: The eastern seaboard is crammed with dead people.

After being struck by lightening, Harper Collins was left with spider-web scars, a weak leg and the ability to find dead people and to determine how they died. With Tolliver, whose dad married her mom but they're not related by blood, by her side, they are in North Carolina where Harper has been hired by Twyla Cotton's missing grandson, Jeff. In talking to the Sheriff, six boys have gone missing without a trace. Near the place where Jeff's cell phone had been found was an abandoned house--and, Harper perceived, eight bodies. Now that the bodies have been found, someone is not happy and Harper's life is in danger.

This is my favorite book of the series so far. The characters, and their relationship, have developed. Learning about Harper's gift and how it works is fascinating. There is enough skepticism of Harper's abilities yet willingness to let her use them on the part of the authorities to make the story realistic. The plot was tight with enough possible suspects to keep me going. There is an escalating feeling of suspense with the protagonists continually almost leaving town but then something else happening to keep them there. An ice storm, the illness of a friend's mother and the alteration in a relationship all add dimension to the story. Readers should be aware that this book is more graphically violent and sexual than previous books.

An Ice Cold Grave is mind blowing and a fantastic read. It did not take me long at all to read once I finally bought it. Harper and Tolliver are back at the job and this time end up in North Carolina where young boys have been missing for days, months, and even years. When the most recent victim's grandmother hires Harper to find the body, for she knows that he has to be dead, Harper finds more than just one body. She finds several.

When Harper and Tolliver try to leave town after solving the case they are delayed when someone beats up Harper. Could it be the kidnapper?? Harper is determined to try to solve this mystery even though she did her part. Mandfred and his grandmother come along to support Harper and help her out, but then tragedy strikes them. Meanwhile Harper is trying to deal with the developing feelings that she has been having for Tolliver that are anything but sibling love. Tolliver's reaction to her feelings that suddenly get reveal are life changing for the both of them.

Then there is a turning point in the case where they catch the kidnapper/murderer, but something is still nagging Harper. She believes strongly that there is yet another murderer out there somewhere prowling the streets of the quaint town.

An Ice Cold Grave is a fabulous read!! I cannot wait until the next one, the only compensation to get is that the Sookie Stackhouse book will be out around May and then in September we'll get the next Harper book, yea!!

This story follows Harper (who can 'see' in her mind where bodies are buried and how those bodies came to be...well dead bodies) and her 'brother' and manager Tolliver. Some things shift in this novel, including her relationship with her brother, who really isn't her brother. Also, the murder case is intriguing. At times its grisly, and Charlaine Harris doesn't shy away from some of the more heart wrenching aspects of the case. The deaths focus on young to teenage boys and the torture they endured before dying. Harper for some reason is more compelled by these deaths than any of her previous ones and vows to find out who killed them. She has a theory that she has to try to get the sheriff to belive. There is plenty of intrigue, thrills, and horror to this volume, but its also heavier on the romance side of things than the previous books. Still very worth a quick read.

Third time out for psychic Harper Connelly and stepbrother Tolliver in this entertaining series. Harper has the uncanny ability to find unmarked graves and determine how the deaths occurred. This time she’s invited by a sheriff in South Carolina to solve the disappearance-and-suspected death of six teenage boys in a small town. Right off the bat she locates 8 bodies. Who among the elite locals is behind it all? I wish Harris would return to this series, which got overshadowed by Sookie Stackhouse.

This one is the best of the series, without a doubt, and all of the books in the Harper Connelly series are outstanding.

OK, so here I am at 4AM on a weeknight reading this book and NOT REGRETTING IT even though I paid for it the next day. Some writers identify so much with their characters that they never put them into jeopardy, never make them do anything stupid, they march the main character around and have them do everything just perfectly and then tie up all of the loose ends in a neat bow - the end. Not so here. OK, in the end the villain got a LEEETLE bit Terminator-like rising from the dead about five times, but it was still scintillatingly suspenseful, and so graphic that I could believe it and it gave me the supreme heebie-jeebies. And that's why we read these thrillers, right? The sensual richness Harris puts into her novels is astonishing, and somehow not done in a way that I even noticed it. She is truly a master.

This heroine can find dead people after being struck by lightning. She has made a business out of identifying dead bodies who are able to tell her how they died. This book involves serial killers. I liked it an am looking forward to more of series.

This was my least favorite Harper Connelly book so far, less focused and rambling than the other two.

And Boy George, does this have some of the most awkward, unintentionally humorous sexual dialogue I have ever read. I'm fine with the fact that Harper is hooking up with her step-brother, but only until she starts comparing certain sex acts to basic cable vs. HBO. That just kills the mood.

The climax (of the plot) was exciting, and I almost thought Harper might not need someone else to rescue her, but unfortunately she did, yet again. I've lost count how many times she, and other Charlaine Harris heroines, have gotten clubbed in the head in a parking lot and needed a guy to rescue them in the end. Come on, ladies, stand up for yourselves!

I was torn between 5 stars (a good mystery) and 2 stars (a little too graphic). I didn't realize this was part of a series, so I don't feel like I've missed anything. It stands on its own. However, now it makes me want to read the others. Spoiler alert...after being rescued, Harper didn't tell anyone about the dead fisherman (who actually helped rescue her).

I feel like Charlaine Harris is really capable of more than the same pre-packaged drivel driven by the God in the Machine and a silly girl. The Southern Vampire series was way better and so is the Midnight Texas series, and even though I expect fluffy fiction with no real substance when I read her books, this one wasn't even amusing. I rolled my eyes more than I enjoyed the book.

An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 3)
Harper Connely is the latest intriguing personality created by Ms. Harris.
I read this book as slowly as I could, with frequent re-readings because I didn't want it to end. It is always facinating seeing Ms. Harris spin out a great "who-dun-it" but the relationship between Harper and her not-brother Tolliver is the main draw in this series. I was a bit surprised that the cat was let out of the bag this soon, but Harper, along with beloved Sookie, is a very practical young lady and it would have been wrong for her personality to continue a "tease". I LOVED the book. I cried for the sad young men whose graves she finds. I guessed the killer when first introduced but that'a not why one reads the book! Please more?

My favorite of the series so far. Aside from the small amount of paranormal ability of the main character, this series is really a pretty basic mystery. This one has a little more "meat" than the previous books in the series.

Last fall, I stumbled onto the middle book in this three-novel series (Grave Surprise) and bought it simply because it looked interesting. I found both the writing and the characters quite engrossing, and have since read all three of the novels. This latest is a really strong entry that follows up on some plot elements from the earlier two books (though you need not have read them first to enjoy this).

The writing reminds me a bit of Barbara Michaels, but a little edgier. It definitely has the page-turning "have to know what happens" quality of the best Barbara Michaels romantic/supernatural suspense novels.

Just crossing my fingers that this book is not the last of its line. The author states on her web site that she would like to write at least one more novel in this series, but the earliest it could possibly see publication will be 2009.

I would really give this book 3 1/2 stars if that option was available.

I'm also a huge fan of the Sookie Stackhouse books. At first, I didn't like Harper or Tolliver all that much, but the they became more interesting in the third book. The story line was also more complicated and interesting than the first two books.

I knew Harper and Tolliver would eventually hook up (like I knew Eric and Sookie would!), but there was a bit too much information written about their sexual encounters that left no room for any imagination. Ms.Harris seems more careful and not as graphic when describing Sookie's love affairs. The detailed description of the sexual relationship between Harper and Tolliver seems uncalled for.

Having said that - I'm glad they finally got together. I hope Ms. Harris develops their relationship to be more loving and not just filled with gratuitous sex. I will continue to read this series hoping that there will be more complex character development in the future.

"An Ice Cold Grave" is a modern day variant murder mystery. The setting is much like our own, the major difference being that the main character, H--, is a woman who was hit by lightning and now "knows" when human bodies are nearby, and can psychicly determine cause of death and some other details. She and T-- are hired to find a teenage boy who is presumed to have been murdered. What they find in the ice & snow are multiple victims from a pretty horrible murderer. A string of bad luck causes H-- and T-- to be stuck in town in the midst of the investigation.

Though this book is third in a series, I dodn't feel that you'd need to read the previous two. For those of you who have read the previous, I think this one is better than #1 and #2. I wish I had read it first! The "everybody hates me" elements have been dropped or subdued, the police are both reasonable and respectful, and we aren't drowned in casual sex. H-- and T--'s reason for remaining in town is contrived, but we knew it was coming, so no biggie. The feeling is more murder mystery than scifi/fantasy. The middle drags a bit, but the ending was exciting, well written, and left me wanting more.

For myself, I'd appreciate a sequel that didn't have any murders, but that is probably asking too much. Books with murders make me feel down. If you don't mind reading about murders, you should add one star to my rating.

About a month ago I read all the Sookie Stackhouse books, and decided to read her other stories. I like this series. I think anyone who reads Ms. Harris has to expect creepy and unresolved relationships.

I have no problem with Tolliver and Harper becoming a couple. They aren't brother and sister and didn't come together until they were teenagers. Plus, from the moment they're parents married, Tolliver and Harper were placed in the role of mother and father to the two youngest children. They weren't able to be children together, they had adult responsibilities and only had each other to lean upon and offer comfort and support.

I was disappointed in how the love scene was written. I understand that Harper is only 24 or 25 and Tolliver around 28, but the juvenile language that the author uses to express their thoughts and feeling, doesn't fit their relationship. It should have been fraught with the tension of Tolliver's fear of almost losing Harper.

We experience his increasing jealousy, which is normal, but that shouldn't have been the reason for the two of them to finally express their adult love for one another. After all that they have experienced together and their emotional commitment to each other, their coming together should have been more passionate, sweet, and filled with loving words. Yes, Tolliver does express some of his thoughts, but it's just not done to my satisfaction.

As seems to Ms. Harris's way, I expect that Tolliver and Harper will eventually break up as a couple, and maybe come back together at then end of the series. I hope that this statement proves false, as I think, it would be more real if they grew to trust one another as a couple, and allowed their feelings to become firm with love and commitment. After their childhood and what they've experienced since Harper being hit by lightening, this would be the most satisfactory outcome, at least for me.

As an aside, I think Tolliver's biological brother killed Harper's biological sister and we'll find this out in a future book. I hope Ms. Harris doesn't make it that Tolliver knew, because he so would not have kept this from Harper. Tolliver may have his faults, but he does love Harper more then anyone else. I think if this hypothesis proves true (his brother being the killer)that this will cause some hurt to the couple. However, it would only make them realize what they've always known that they only have each other.

I thought the story was well done, and I'm interested and awaiting the next book.

I became a Sookie Stackhouse fan when the HBO Trueblood series began. I gobbled up all of the books (even though Dead and Gone was somewhat weak and disappointing - really hoping Dead in the Family is better)

Out of curiosity, I checked all 4 of the Harper Connelly series out of the library at once. I've gone through 3 in the last 4 days. Charlaine Harris has a gift for unusual heroines, and this series is no exception. I think that "An Ice Cold Grave" is my favorite so far. Yes, it's dark, and creepy, and disturbing. But, like the first two in this series, you just can't put it down.

There may be authors out there who are more sophisticated, or more consistent, or less prone to have their heroines beat up with every novel. However, there are few authors that are more likely to make 3:00 a.m. seem like a reasonable time to finally turn out the light and go to sleep.

I've been a fan of Harper Connelly and Tolliver Lang since "Grave Secret." To date, Charlaine Harris has not disappointed me. "An Ice Cold Grave" is, in my opinion, the best book of the series. For those of you new to the series, Harper Connelly was struck by lightning at 15. That incident left her with a set of strange illnesses and the ability to find dead bodies and discover their cause of death from reading them. She travels around the country with Tolliver, who was raised as a brother, but is not related by blood working to help find lost people or determine the cause of death.

Doraville, NC--winter's coming. With six missing persons, all of them male and under 20, the grieving townsfolk have nothing to lose when they take up a collection to bring Harper Connelly in to find the young boys.

She finds all six of them pretty quickly at an abandoned property near where one of the boys was lost. All six of the boys from the town are there--as well as two boys missing from other nearby communities. Details Harper gets from reading the remains make her sicker and sadder than any other case she's ever worked--in no small part probably due to her losing her own older sister to an abuductor during high school.

Harper and Tolliver want nothing more than to leave town just as soon as the check for their services is cut. Unfortunately, the Sheriff and the State Bureau of Investigation aren't going to allow that--and an attack on Harper ties them further to the town.

An ice storm is closing in Knott County, NC and a serial killer is on the loose. He's got a particular interest in Harper since she was the one who found his cache of bodies.

"An Ice Cold Grave" is the strongest of Harper Connelly books so far. There's a lot more at stake here--both for the families of the decedents and Harper herself. There's not just implied but actual violence.

In my opinion, this is the best-written of the series. Both Harper and Tolliver have come into their own as characters. We've known them and liked them for a long time, but they now know themselves and what they want as individuals and as a team.

Ms. Harris also does a great job setting the scene. Her writing really does take you there to the NC mountains and a town laid open by grief. She understands this kind of situation and treats it with grace.

The plot kept me reading page after page til the book was done. "An Ice Cold Grave" is a satisfying read that I'd recommend to fans of mysteries, thrillers and paranormal fiction. While you don't have to read "Grave Secret" and "Grave Surprise" to understand this book, it's definitely not a waste of your time to do so.

I kind of liked the first 2 books and I was excited to start reading this book since it's about a serial killer (it made it much more interesting). After a couple of chapters, I noticed my enthusiasm started to dwindle. This book is more about Harper's romance with her non biological brother Tolliver (a bit disturbing) rather than the serial killer. I understand that they are not brother and sister by blood, but they grew up in the same house since they were teenagers, and have been referring to people in the towns they travel to as brother and sister. Upon my initial impression of them, I thought how nice that a brother and sister are so close, and how Tolliver's brotherly love for Harper was so sweet (I was wishing my brother was like that). Then Harper starts getting jealous about the women Tolliver is with, and I'm thinking why the heck would she care, I don't care who my brother dates. Then it comes out in this book that they both secretly are romantically in love with each other, and how he always wanted to know what her boobs looked like. Ugh....gross, and I find myself skipping the intimate moments to avoid getting an uncomfortable feeling of a situation just not right. Sorry, but once I consider someone family, I don't find myself wanting to sleep with them. There goes that uncomfortable feeling again :( The Sookie Stackhouse books are much more entertaining. Not sure if I will read the book after this one.

The third book in the Harper Connelly series, it was a fun, quick read. Harper was struck by lightening & now can find dead people. She can tell how they died, but that's it. This time she runs into a serial killing & a lot of trouble. Kind of predictable overall, the details were fun to read. There are some added twists & turns to the plot that were fun.

I'd give this book 4 stars, just because it was such a fun, quick & relaxing read, but Harris just annoys me by constantly bringing up Harper's past. Yes, I know it defines her, but quit beating me over the head with it! There are entire paragraphs of self-pity that I continually have to skip over. She could reference it in a few words, a sentence at the most, but no! She has to recap it again & again. Not only have we read it in previous books, but also in this one! Enough already!!!

Still, I want to read the next one. <sigh> Her works are like chips. They're not all that filling & I can't seem to put them down. I have to read just one more....

I came to Charlaine Harris via the hugely successful Sookie Stackhouse series, and I remain firm in my belief that those books are her best work. I have read her Aurora Teagarden series and her Lily Bard series, as well as the series from which this book - An Ice Cold Grace - is the third installment, and Sookie is her best work.

Harper Connelly and her "brother" Tolliver Lang travel the US hiring out Harper's services as someone who can find dead bodies. She came by this skill after being struck by lightning as a child. She is hired by griefstricken families or the local law enforcement. She finds bodies (which give off a "hum" depending on age) and knows how they died. I find the concept to be interesting, but the execution is always a little off. Harper and Tolliver have no spark, nothing of the sweet comic edge that some characters in the Sookie Stackhouse series have, or the gravity of Lily Bard or the sweet fluffiness of Aurora Teagarden. This makes it hard to warm to them, and even harder to stick with them. The mystery angle of the book is usually well written, but this one was telegraphed from miles away. Harris is a gifted writer, though, and despite my misgivings about the characters and the storyline, it is still quite a readable book.

SPOILER: I was thrilled that Harper and Tolliver finally got it on, although I'm not sure how you transition from telling everyone that he is your brother to telling everyone he is your lover. Confused much? Harper and Tolliver are no blood relation, and their lawyer parents married when they were teenagers and had two more children. Their parents became drug addicts and Harper and Tolliver raised their two younger siblings until Harper's sister Cameron went missing one day, their parents were in jail or dead (can't remember which) and they embark on this travelling lifestyle. The overall question of the books is "Where is Cameron?" and she is mentioned in every book and I imagine there will be one whole book that focuses on finding Cameron.

In any case, if you're looking for a great vampire story with a mystery edge, go with the Sookie Stackhouse books. If you're looking for a great mystery (all of Harris' books are mysteries, some are just more obvious mysteries than others) then read the Lily Bard or Aurora Teagarden series. Harper Connelly is a very distant fourth in regards to Harris' best work.

Charlaine Harris has some fluffy books (in the best sense), but this is not one of them. This novel is tense, real, and completely impossible to put down.

One of my favorite things about the series - and this book especially - is that the main character's powers to sense the dead are so very limited. Harper can only do a rather simple thing - exactly the same thing a great detective plus a perfect autopsy would do - but Harris makes it clear how this power is disturbing, important, and disruptive to Harper's life. Those very limits are what make her story compelling and feel real, fantasy genre not withstanding. A wonderful read, and the best of the series.

Since being struck by lightning, corpses talk to Harper Connelly. The talent was disturbing at first, but now she makes a living finding bodies--and determining what happened to them. When she's called into a small North Carolina town missing a series of boys, she fears she'll discover something unpleasant--but she has no idea how unpleasant it will be. The boys were tortured, sexually abused, and left to die--and whoever did it is still at large.

Finding the bodies is Harper's job, but when she's attacked, the case gets more complicated for her. Since the police won't let her leave the town, she decides to investigate a bit more.

Being hospitalized does serve one additional purpose, though. Harper has been in love with her step-brother for years but has been afraid to tell him for fear that it will destroy their relationship. There's no way that truth can avoid coming out this time--although Harper worries that she'll lose everything by making the gamble.

Author Charlaine Harris continues her Harper Connelly series with a mystery that stretches Harper's talents to the limit and also brings back psychic Xylda and her grandson, Manfred--a young man who happens to have a crush on Harper. With a strong start and an action-packed conclusion, there's a lot to like about AN ICE COLD GRAVE. Harris's writing is engaging, and the first person narrative brings us into Harper's thoughts and dangers.

I would have liked to see a bit less of the romance between Harper and her step-brother. To me, this element slowed down the story. While it's perhaps understandable to be afraid of change, Harper's inability to see Tolliver's jealousy and desire as anything other than what it really is makes her seem less intelligent than we know her to be. On the other hand, Harris's handling of the animal-torturing youth, Chuck, is strong and compelling.

This was the first C. Harris book that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and have started on another of her books. Most of the time I read at nighttime for relaxation, therefore, many of my selections are easy to read.

I hate taking the time to write reviews BUT this book deserves one. It was the best in the series so far. I love that Harris didn't string us along endlessly with Harper & Tolliver's relationship. That really gets frustrating for me as a reader. In my opinion, the advancement of their relationship made their characters more vivid for me. In addition, the sex scenes were done perfectly. This story line really wouldn't work for me if the sex was "hidden" and left vague. Harper's 1st person narration has allowed us into the majority of her thoughts and feelings, censoring the sex scenes would have implied shame on her part.

Yes, this book was more graphic, but it wasn't gratuitous. In fact, I know that I enjoyed this book more than the others BECAUSE of the details. I hope that Harris continues writing this series with this level of detail. This style really seems to suit her. This book contains her best writing by far.

I'm really enjoying the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris. The heroine is unusual, the story-lines are fresh (and a great departure from the talking pet formula). I can't wait to see what is coming next!

I would have given this book 5 stars, but frankly, the whole nad-licking scene was off-putting. I'm not a prude, but gratuitous crap like that is jarring and in my opinion added nothing to an otherwise gripping and exciting storyline.

Harris is a talented author when she uses her own voice and isn't trying to channel authors like Bertrice Small. Somebody should give her editor a slap upside the head.

Hopefully after this book she'll continue with the series cause I just loved this one. It's like the stories just get better as she goes. This is one of the worst cases Harper has ever come across but she'll have a little help from her friends from Grave Surprise. Even though this is the most gruesome it'll turn out to be the best for her personally and professionally! You gotta get it, you won't be disappointed I swear.

I enjoyed this book up to a point. The mystery part of it was excellent. However, the "romance" between the stepbrother and stepsister was too distracting and distasteful. The sex scenes were needless. If it wasn't for that, I would have given the book 5 stars.

I read this book in about 4 hours. I tore through it lusting after the details and relationship between Harper and Tolliver. The body turns out to be a bunch and Harper's first mass murder. The unspoken love between Tolliver and Harper comes to a head and you are left breathless at the climax of the mystery. I hope that this series continues for many years to come.

This is my favorite of the three in the Harper Connelly series that I've read so far. I really enjoy Harper's character and I like her explanation of things.

She does feel a lot like Sookie Stackhouse, which may be another reason I like these books so much.

After the previous two books, I knew where the two lead characters were heading. (Unfortunately)

However, the writing which got them to that predictable spot was REALLY good. And the character development after that point seemed fresh and fully explored.

The crime which serves as the reason for the book is disturbing.

But I didn't know exactly where the story was leading, and the last major plot point was a surprise. So this is the best of the three Harper books to date.

The lead characters have much more depth than was apparent in the first book.

Chaplains Harris wrote a story about a serial killer and the woman who caught him, a mystery mixed with a bit of paranormal. She is able to hold your interest and keep you guessing until the very end, while including a lot of action and a dab of romance.

I have loved every book I've read by Harris and this one was no exception. Actually, I think this is one of the best ones! It was a little graphic at times, but I, unlike other reviewers, don't think it took away from the book at all. I mean, these are adult books. I can't wait to read the 4th book in the series!

I love this author's style. This book is the 3rd in the Harper Connelly series and was the best of the three at developing the complexity of the main characters along with providing a suspenseful and engaging mystery. I found it to be deliciously satisfying and can't say more without giving away spoliers.

I liked the first two Harper Connelly books, but I didn't like this one because I don't like books with serial killers, they creep me out too much, especially when served up with gruesome details. I really can't stomach that stuff, so this caught me off-guard. Just a warning to those who care.

Charlaine Harris never fails to not disappoint when putting pen to paper. This 3rd in the series brings a new demension and layers to the characters. They grow in this story and we get travel along for the ride. I have read all of Charlaine's books/series and short stories and there is just never a one that, at the end of the story, I did not wish ....was just longer. Always delivers a great story filled with great character both the good and bad and evil!!

I was so happy with this book! It was by far the best in the series and I am absolutly in love with Tolliver & Harper. I cannot wait to read more about their relationship, how it will affect them now that they have finally made that leap that I am sure almost all of us were hoping/waiting for. This was also by far the scariest one. It kept me up the night I got to the part where she described the victims in detail. Whoo! WOW!!! I love her Sookie Story line also! My only complaint is that I am at the end of both series and have to wait for new ones to come out! WRITE FASTER PLEASE CHARLAINE!!! I'm hurting here! :)

This is the third book in the series and I can't wait for the fourth. Harper and Tolliver seem to always find trouble where ever they go and they keep you guessing right
to the end. Good read, I highly recommend it.

Harris is losing me again. This series is taking a weird turn, just like her Lily Bard series, which I abandoned after book 2. I like Harris for her stories set in small towns, with colorful characters, with families full of dark secrets and back stories. "An Ice Cold Grave" is just too dark for my taste - mass graves, serial killers... That's not what I care for. Plus the relationship between Tolliver and Harper - not comfortable with it. Too quick of a transition from brother/sister (even though biologically they aren't) to lovers. Too ewww for my taste. I might have been OK with the entire thing if their relationship was portrayed as tender and romantic, but no - it is too lustful and outright gross at times. As for the sex scenes - ew again. Harris definitely pushes the envelope here - she makes these scenes risque and rather unsavory and dirty.

I am planning to read the 4th (last) book in the series just to get done with it, but without much excitement.

Very interesting mystery. Much different than I'm use to reading. It kept my interest right up to the end. Usually I can guess the perpetrator toward the last of the book, but not this one. Enjoyable.

Once again Harper Connelly just can't stay out of trouble! All she wants to do is her job, get paid and move on! Of course there is nothing wrong with that, except she finds more than she's originally hired for! I can't tell you how much I love Charlaine Harris's books! I started with the Southern Vampire Novels (and I still continue to read them) and then just happen to pick up a new genre. Not since Lily Bard and Sookie Stackhouse can you ever find a female character like Harper. She has such courage, wit , immense passion and compassion (not to mention has strange talent when it comes to earning a living!) You'll not be dissapointed with this book, especially when it comes to Harper's brother/manager Tolliver!

I love Charlaine Harris but this series was a disappointment.

Harper was struck by lightening when she was 15 and since then she has been able to locate dead people and tell how they died.

The concept is great, fun and a great mystery. However, the characters are not great. Harper's character is whiny, self centered, and far too needy. A large part of the series is spent on Harper worrying about Tolliver, her step brother, not being there for her. This character is not strong at all and has no back bone. If you like strong characters, I highly recommend Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels. Great character there.

Then my other big complaint is the relationship between Harper and Tolliver. They finally become lovers, I knew they would because of all the hints so I thought I would be ok with it but when it actually happened, there was a really big "ick" factor. I think if the author had not put so much emphasis on the fact that they were step brother and sister, it might have been ok. She should have just said they were raised in the same house.

At this point, I don't know if I will continue the series. But I am anxiously looking forward to the next Sookie Stackhouse novel.

I don't know how she does it, but Charlaine Harris just keeps getting better. I've read all the Sookie , and Harper books and I absolutely love them. Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what happens next. If your looking for something fun, witty, and sexy to read then this book is for you. ENJOY!!!

Like The two previous book Mrs Charlaine has writen,this won't dissapoint. Great characters,great mystery. I couldn't put the book down until I as well was trying to solve the murders along with Harper. if you are a sookie stackhouse series this series is for you as well. I cant wait to buy the next book to see what happens.

This is the third installment in the Harper mystery series and it really keeps getting better. The only beef i had about it the language was stronger in this installment as were some of the described sex scenes, but other than that, it was excellant.
The book alludes to Harper finding her missing sister also in another book possably forthcoming.

I know CH likes to push it in her writing, but really?! The whole sexual relationship is too much for me. I enjoyed this book for its content mostly, and the writing is getting better as the series goes on. However, the serial killer aspect of this book made me have nightmares, which is rare for me. So, there is a darkness in this series, especially this book.

It really was creepy. I even got the creeps from the ending. I won't give anything away but I'm not sure I liked how it ended. It has been something that keeps coming up in my mind even after I finished the book.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS...I chose this series because I am a huge Sookie Stackhouse fan. I have read 7 of the Sookie books so far and look forward to reading the next 2. I thought the storyline in the Harper Connelly series was interesting in the beginning, but it was not really developed going forward. All it seems I read from one book to the next was about Tolliver and Harper staying in motels/hotels, eating McD's, and dealing with people that hated them. It was a little repetitive and I was looking for more excitement and twists and turns throughout the series, and to my disappoint not finding it. I did not really connect with the characters or found myself liking any in particular. It was also awkward how the relationship between Harper and Tolliver progressed. I am not really looking forward to any upcoming books in this series and will try my luck with the Aurora Teagarden series.

The book has a solid story line and is taut and well-written. She definitely set her mark and hit it squarely. I read all the time about books you can't put down and books that have twists and turns, but this is the first time in a long time that I actually experienced such a thing. All that said, I will be a bit careful when the next one comes out. The graphic details of torture were a bit much for me and I will be glad when they fade from my memory. I tried to skip, but her writing is so tight that the descriptions appeared quickly. I also did not like the development of some personal relationships and I think the series would have been better without it. I like the ability the main character has to communicate with dead people and that alone makes for some interesting reading and presents endless story lines. I hope Ms. Harris has gone as low as she intends and will find other interesting story lines. Of course, one story line is set in stone and rather upsetting. I was so hoping that she was not going to "go there." I am dying to say more but it would spoil the end for you. It was an unnecessary deviation that serves to limit future story lines. It will be hard to find an author whose writing I enjoy as much as I have her's, but I will not be able to read another book if the series continues in this vein. I am rethinking the five stars, but the author did what she did extremely well. A good writer and a compelling story. Still, I don't like the sexual abuse and torture. I read to escape not to be reminded of the vile nature of people. Sexual abuse, torture, and incest cross the line for me. For example, I like Law & Order, but not SVU. Ms. Harris has demonstrated in other books in this series that she can portray Harper's unusual talent without exploring such depraved sociopathic behavior in vivid detail. Okay, I knocked off a star for content unacceptable to me.

I got this book after reading the many good reviews, but I have to say I was a little disappointed with it. I was more than halfway thru the book and all I could think was "when is something going to happen?" It's an okay story, but just too slow and repetitive to keep you hooked. I like to read a book I can't stand to put down -- this definitely wasn't one, in my opinion.

I have recently become acquainted with Charlene Harris' works. I have enjoyed each and every one and hope she writes many more. The seller provided it as promised and well within the shipment window promised.

I find Mrs. Harris one of the best authors I read regularly. She is excellent in her descriptions of her characters and their dialogue suites the situation perfectly. An Ice Cold Grave is one of her best efforts. Her first novel she wrote in the mystery series was a bit weak but she has improved to the point of equaling her previous vampire series or even surpassed those books - which are excellent imight add.

I swear this book makes Criminal Minds look like Blues Clues.. I couldnt put it down and it gave me bad dreams. A book hasnt done that to me in a long time. Not sure if I like the relationship between Harper and Tolliver though. Great read!

I am a huge fan of this author but this book was easy to forget. Stick with the Sookie Stackhouse series if you like her and either put this one on the summer reading list or leave it be altogether. It just didn't give me a lasting impression.

I have read all of the Sookie Stackhouse series and so I started the Harper Connelly. Loved the whole Idea of her having a special talent different from other psychics. But I was disappointed on how in the middle of this book it turns into a very graphic porno it seems. I am ok with the relationship between the two charaters but would have like it to be more special and romantic than it was. Charlaine seems to use a inconsistent style in her books and at times can be frustrating. Although because I have started the series I will probable finish.

Mrs. Harris can not write fast enough. All her books are great. She sucks you in by her wonderful characters. They all have a great sense of humor. The book is a very fast read. Can't wait for the next one.

For those who were faithful to this series, I really think this is the best book. Without any spoilers, I believe that the character development of the first two books lends itself to why this was so great. Little foresight necessary to understand where this story was going, but I was still happy with the results.

The book did not disappoint. I have read all the books in the series and enjoy the character development and the unusual story twists. The author features a heroine with an unusual talent. Very engrossing and the combination of mystery, romance and fantasy cannot help but enthrall the reader. I want to read more of the series.

This could have been an excellent book in a very good series. The idea of the dead communicating from the grave has enormous potential. This author demonstrates both the ability to write well and the capacity for unique story lines, but...

Here comes the big BUT. The incestuous relationship between the two step siblings is just too off putting to tolerate. A few may argue that a sexual relationship between step children is not illegal however; it is beyond normal moral values.

It would seem that for whatever reason, Charlain Harris set this series up for failure. Since the majority of the mystery genre reading public is female and most have children this series may be considered distasteful in the extreme.

This series had a really nice Southern Gothic feel to it, partly due to the "uncertain" quality of the relationship between Harper and Tolliver. I stopped reading the book after the affair began. The tension between the two, the complexity of the wounds each received growing up, only added to the dark, somewhat "noir" edge of this series. With their relationship in the open, I no longer really care about them. Harris has domesticated them and robbed them of some of their mystery. Where Flannery O'Connor shows us how imperfect people cling to each other in a dark, mysterious world one step removed from eternity, Harris has really cut the legs out from under the series. I do recommend the first two books, however.

**SPOILER ALERT** i had read the entire sookie stackhouse series, which introduced me to charlaine harris as a writer. while waiting for the release of the next sookie book in october 2009 i dived into her harper connelly series. the first 2 books showed great promise and the idea of a survivor of a lightening strike having the ability to locate dead people. i like the dysfunctional family situation and how the series outlines how tolliver and harper triumphed over their rough upbringing. harper introduces tolliver as her brother and he always refer to her as his sister...when in reality they are step-siblings. his father married her mother. this doesn't make it any less disturbing when they start having sex. graphic (in comparison to the stackhouse books) sex scenes in this book proved just to creepy. i will not be reading any further books in this series. its sad that ms. harris took this intriguing series and made it into something cheap and horrible.

Although I loved the first two Harper Connelly books, this one disappointed me. I liked the first two because they weren't too graphic, but still told a good story. The details of the murders in this one were too disgusting. I think that anyone who reads the word "torture" can get the idea of what happened without all the gruesome details. It seems Ms. Harris thinks she has to shock to tell a story (like in the Sookie Stackhouse books) but she is an excellent storyteller and should rely more on that.

This is UNACCEPTABLE!!!! I have a Kindle for almost a year now, and I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse books through it, and I just started the Harper Connely Mysteries, but book #3 is not available for the Caribbean and Latin America!!! THIS IS ABSURD! Why did they release the first, the second AND the fourth book (Kindle Edition), but not the third??? How the hell am I supposed to read them out of order?!?!?! I won't do it!!!
I EXPECT the store IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. REALLY. THIS IS A REAL LET DOWN! COME ON!!! DO SOMETHING!!! An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 3)