Third Grave Dead Ahead

I love the Charley Davidson series. Each book I think the 2 main characters can't develop any further and then I am surprised. These books are mystery/thriller with just the right amount of humor and a dash of romance. Third Grave Dead Ahead is my favorite so far.
A fast, can't put it down read.

I finished this book in record time. I absolutely love Charley and Reyes and theiir hot attraction to each other and sex life. My mom was a Medium so I absolutely relate to Charley's gift and the power of the Light and Dark side. All the characters are so real and interesting. I'm hooked to this series and will read them all.

I have read all of the Charlie Davidson books and enjoyed them all. The author has created a great character in Charlie and I find her amusing, and with good dialogue. At times I find myself laughing out loud (LOL). The supernatural things, made light of by the author, I would have found scary when I was younger. The price of these books was good too.

Despite guessing some stuff along the way and getting some of them wrong, having assumed she was having a few slow days from not sleeping for a fortnight...i laughed as usual and I wept a little near the end but it was worth it. An excellent read...I didn't want to put it down...especially as I got closer to the end.

Tumultuous! Intense! Third Grave Dead Ahead is a caffeine laced journey into a world only Charley can lay claim to. Non stop intrigue and detective work drives Charley as she tries to unravel the multitude of cases before her, in order to save lives. As always you will find her trusted friend, Cookie, by her side, doing what she does best. Once again we are gifted the with the presence of Reyes. His anger and need for Charley to set him free will send this ongoing story into a completely different direction. We will finally be able to place a face to those elusive characters we've only heard about and could not wait to meet. Warnings of an impending war and torture will be foretold by the unexpected. As events unfold, Charley will unearth secrets long ago buried, yet still powerful enough to destroy lives. Yet, to make matters worse Charley will face a predator, a monster, that must be vanquished.

Just when thought you knew all there was, TGDA throws you for a loop!

Darynda's power in manifesting Charley's grief was superbly done. We watched in dismal awe as Charley experienced anger, guilt, helplessness, sadness, shock, numbing, yearning, and self-blame. Betrayal will violate Charley, and it will wear many names. All I could do was shout, "Reyes, do something, make her see reason, she didn't trust you either, fix this!" The writing was so well done, the anguish was palpable. We've been on this caffeine induced madness with her since the beginning, we went from 100 to 0 and were left reeling. Third Grave Dead Ahead was brilliant, and at the same traumatizing. It has left us marked, by way of questions and fear. Will we see Reyes and Charley unite, or will their suffering and pain be for not?

My Rating: 3.5 stars: Liked it - recommend (B+)
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About

The third outing in the wonderful Charley Davidson series kicks off about two weeks after the conclusion of Second Grave on the Left. Things ended pretty crazily the last time around when Charley bound Reyes to his mortal body to prevent him from killing himself. In addition, Charley reconnected with her estranged sister while bonding over the fact that her father basically set Charley up to be killed by a murderous stalker (honestly, it wasn't as bad as it seems!). This time around, Charley is being haunted by Reyes every time she falls asleep. Reyes visits her, seduces her, but doesn't want to be there. It's making Charley miserable.

Things go from bad to worse as Charley's dad continues to act weird - asking her... no demanding that she quit her work as a private eye solving crimes. In addition, Reyes is being, well... pardon my French - a total ass. Plus, Charley has taken on a missing persons case, with the likely culprit the husband that hired her; Reyes demands that she find his supposedly dead father; she's got trouble with some gang members; and well... seriously, could more happen to her?!

The first thing I noticed while reading Third Grave Dead Ahead is that Charley is evolving. She's gotten over her fears of being hurt by those she loves when she reveals the truth that she is more than a "ghost whisperer," but the Grim Reaper herself. Right from the get go, Charley confides in her sister, the same one she only started talking to about 2 weeks ago. She also begins to expand her trust in Garrett, the hunky freelance skiptracer. In addition, she opens up to some of the biker gang members who own the creepy asylum where Charley talks to Rocket and learns if missing persons are dead or alive.

We finally get to meet the mysterious "Madame Marigold" who has been emailing around looking for "the Grim Reaper." She is a delightful character and provides clues as to where things are headed with Charley, Reyes and an apparently looming battle between Heaven and Hell. She is a true prophet and I enjoy how her character interacts with her surroundings and Charley.

Reyes, on the other hand, is a huge disappointment for me this go around. Sure he's upset with Charley, but his actions in this book are beyond awful. His constant anger weighs down the story. In addition, he is continually telling Charley that she has to learn "what she is capable of," and the repetition of this vague message got on my nerves. I am not going to give away spoilers here, but Reyes broke my heart more than once. I could go on and on, but you'll just have to read the book yourself (and then come back so we can chat)!

I also noticed a few continuity errors in the story, which were mildly distracting. There were only a handful, but it was enough for me to take note. Additionally, there were other repetitious thoughts and/or phrases that after a while, annoyed me - like the constant reminder that "Reyes is the Son of Satan." I know... move on.

Another thing I feel I need to mention is that Third Grave Dead Ahead contains some pretty horrific and violent torture scenes. Charley is tough, but this went above and beyond the normal "action scene" of the first couple of books.

Overall, Third Grave Dead Ahead was a gripping tale; however, I didn't like it as much as the first two books. There was just too much pain and suffering for Charley without much of an upbeat ending. I was riding this series based on a couple of set perimeters ... and neither of these things held true in this book. It really brought me down.

With that said, it is a good tale, although there was too much going on during parts of the book. I liked the missing wife mystery and trying to solve the crime. Finding Reyes' dad was also a good story--one needed in order to progress Reyes' story forward. In addition, I liked the plot involving the biker gang, especially because good things came from it; however, I'm a little leery of where it is headed.

In the end, even with the "negatives" I had with Third Grave Dead Ahead, it was still a captivating book and I look forward to seeing what will happen to Charley. There are a lot of loose ends this time around, and I need some closure!

I'm enjoying this series so much.Darynda Jones is a writer who I've come to really like her style of writing.From some of the humor to the plots,there is always something new and different she brings to the table.I'm already reading book four and also am enjoying that one just as much as the other ones.You should really give this writer a chance.

Darynda Jones is my hero. Not only does she write a great story about characters that you wish lived next door, but she every line she writes grabs you and most of them make you laugh out loud. She's a genius. If you're thinking of buying this book, stop thinking, just buy it. You won't regret it.

Charley Davidson is a wonderful character, saucy and spunky. This installment didn’t disappoint. It was fast paced and full of hot steamy sex with Reyes in the leading role. I thought the guardian was perfect! Way to go!

I just cannot say enough about this series ~ another great addition! I read the first three books in this series in three days - I could not put them down! If you are a fan of the paranormal, you have to try these out! The main character is strong, funny and so likable! And Reyes - well..... Highly recommend this series! :)

This is the third book in the Charley Davidson series (as the title plainly says lol) I'm just loving the characters...each one is fascinating. The dialogue between characters and the internal dialogue of Charley is laugh out loud hilarious. It's a whole lot of fun.

I have come to love this author. she mixes suspence and humor and just a touch of erotica. I laughed and cried and now cannot wait for the next book to be released! Hopefully this author won't go like the rest and after a few books in the series, lose her momentum and become repatitious. I can always hope.

I've been on an urban fantasy rampage lately, and boy, does this series totally fit the bill. My biggest gripe is how the heroine isn't giving in to her urges more. I mean really, the H is so HOT. Yeah, he's tough and bad ass but damn, he's always there for her, putting himself at risk to save her. So sexy.

The Third installment to the laugh out loud Charley Davidson was even better then the first two! Darynda Jones sure knows how to combine the perfect blend of humor, passion, mystery and fun loving characters that will keep you begging for the next book. I hope these books go on for a LONG time.

So glad there are several more books on the series because I am flying through these. Can't get enough. The only thing better than finding a great author is when there's a lot of books to be read. I love her sense of humor and the characters she has created.

Generally I'm guessing what's next and finishing a series cuz I'm ODD and have to at this point. But this series is different. I'm still laughing, finding I don't know what's next, and annoyed when I have to shut down the kindle and come back to it later. This is such a great set of books!

It doesn't get any better than Charley Davidson. Truly my most favorite female character of any book I've read, she is strong, sarcastic, witty, with just enough imperfection to be plausible. I live this series and waiting for the next in the series is like waiting for a drug fix!

Darynda is such a fantastic writer! I laugh out loud throughout her books. They are fast-paced and packed full of witty comebacks, sometimes I have to reread items just because they were so clever. Fantastic series!

The Third installment to the laugh out loud Charley Davidson was even better then the first two! Darynda Jones sure knows how to combine the perfect blend of humor, passion, mystery and fun loving characters that will keep you begging for the next book. I hope these books go on for a LONG time.

So glad there are several more books on the series because I am flying through these. Can't get enough. The only thing better than finding a great author is when there's a lot of books to be read. I love her sense of humor and the characters she has created.

Generally I'm guessing what's next and finishing a series cuz I'm ODD and have to at this point. But this series is different. I'm still laughing, finding I don't know what's next, and annoyed when I have to shut down the kindle and come back to it later. This is such a great set of books!

It doesn't get any better than Charley Davidson. Truly my most favorite female character of any book I've read, she is strong, sarcastic, witty, with just enough imperfection to be plausible. I live this series and waiting for the next in the series is like waiting for a drug fix!

Darynda is such a fantastic writer! I laugh out loud throughout her books. They are fast-paced and packed full of witty comebacks, sometimes I have to reread items just because they were so clever. Fantastic series!

Charlie's life is full of complications. All of them male. Dad wants her to quit. Uncle Bob wants her to be more careful. Reyes needs Charley to stop the war between heaven and hell...who needs sleep anyway.

Highly entertaining, had me laughing out loud. Our heroine, Charlotte Davidson, goes by the nickname Charley, I'll just let that sink in a moment, shall I, is a grim reaper. Ghosts pass through her on their way to the other side, the good one. Usually, dead people pass on to their reward or punishment without needing to use her as a portal, but there are those with unfinished business and she assists them,

Charley is also a private investigator with ADD, an evil stepmother, an almost estranged sister, a father she adores. She also have a best friend, Cookie, and this friendship is rock solid. These women would do anything for each other and I appreciate that. They accept each other 100%.

Charley names things. Her cherry red Jeep Wrangler is Misery, "but not like the book."Her sofa is named Sophie. She has named her skull Fred, her brain Barbara, her right breast Danger, her left breast, Will Robinson, her right ovary Beam Me Up, and her left ovary Scotty. She has named another body part Virginia and I'll let that soak in a minute, shall I.

In a corner of her living room, there is a ghost she has named Mr. Wong who never moves out of the corner and is levitating a few inches off the floor. Mr. Wong never speaks, never leaves the corner.

There are several intriguing men in these books, her father and his brother, her Uncle Bob, Garret, a skip tracer/bonds enforcement, agent, Donavan, a biker and his group, Osh, a soul-eating demon, and our hero, Reyes, and I'll him surprise you, shall I.

Gotta tell you there is a series and I have only read the first eight before the remainder became too expensive for me. I think there are twelve out now. I'd love to read volumes nine through twelve. I obtained the first six for ninety-nine cents and because I was hooked paid a bit more for number seven and eight but I think this series is very popular and number twelve now costs $12.99. Yikes.

None of these are standalones. They must be read in order and it does get a bit tedious when the author repeats certain aspects of the back story in each of the volumes.

So much humor, so much loving friendship, tantalizing mysteries, pathos, these novels run a huge emotional gamut and I stayed with it through eight volumes because I just had to know what comes next.

The eighth volume ends this particular story arc and introduces a new one. Most annoyingly it ends on a cliffhanger.

The eight volumes are First Grave on the Right, Second Grave to the Left, Third Grave Dead Ahead, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, Fifth Grave Past the Light, Sixth Grave on the Edge, Seventh Grave and No Body, and Eighth Grave After Dark.

Ms. Jones hilarious sense of humor keeps this book skipping along at a delightful pace. It is rather confusing if one hasn't read the first two books but once things start to flow, the fun is inescapable!

I liked this book, I like the building storyline between Reyes and Charlie and by this book I am used to the sarcasm and sass of the main character... now it's expected and endearing. I also really enjoyed the family dynamic. The characters feel real and vibrant.

Okay Charley is the female Fletch. Sarcastic, brave, deliciously ridiculous. I love the guardian angle and the bikers. A lot of layers are added with every book. Solid and entertaining. love it. I am Darynda Jones fan for life.

I count myself lucky that I discovered Darynda Jones. I have read all three books in her series and one short story, namely First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on the Left, and Third Grave Dead Ahead, and the short story For I Have Sinned. This series started out 5 star and has only gotten better with each book. I wish there were more stars I could give it. Charley Davidson is a new and interesting take on the grim reaper. She is smart, and snarky and has a hilarious case of ADD. I highly recommend all these. You will not be disappointed. I want to be Charley when I grow up.

Loved this book!!!
Love this series couldn't out it down!!! I hope she has another one come out soon!!!
I wish I could give this book 10 stars and I wish I could find more to read like this book! Love charley she's my favorite character

I am really enjoying this series. These books are well written, you don't want to put them down. You easily get invested into the characters lives and find yourself laughing out loud with the exchange of quick wit.

Over all I would say this book and the entire series is a mixture of murder mystery, supernatural occult, risqué romance and cheeky humor novel. They are very enjoyable reads.

The third part of the series is still intriguing and exciting. I chose this series by accident and it is still fresh with ideas and plot twists. As far, I was never dissapointed with this series. I am looking forward to reading the fourth part. I totally recommend it to anyone who likes dark fantasy. It is dark, but the humour of the protagonist is one of a kind.

Love this series. She makes me laugh and cringe. Fun for this genre. I haven't shared this with my young adult kids yet as it has some 'adult' situations....but great fun for me! Read from the first one and enjoy!

This series should come with a warning label: contents of this book are hot enough to scorch. Wow. I am hooked on all of the characters, Charley, Reyes, all of them. Laugh out loud funny, steamy, what more could you want?

Love these books! The Charley Davidson character is the type of girl that most of us knew in school that was different but turned out to be more thany we thougth she would. I am on book 5 in the series and will get #6 soon. Will also look for the other series to start them.

A yummy literary treat. I enjoyed this series very much and look forward to more. I love the characters and the gradual reveal of who Charley really is. I refuse to say more because spoilers are everywhere.