Eighth Grave After Dark
By Darynda Jones
Narrated By Lorelei King
Series: Charley Davidson, Book 8
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-19-15
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0
Publisher's Summary
With 12 hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can't get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally, since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.
Charley's been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can't traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn't know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he's near, but naturally he swears he's fine. Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life.
©2015 Darynda Jones (P)2015 Macmillan Audio
Review:
Charley, the grim reaper, and Reyes, the son of Satan, and friends are settled - or more like ‘locked’ in - at an abandoned convent where they believe the 12 hellhounds can’t venture. Charley is glad to have the diversion and excitement of helping the wedding plans for Uncle Bob and her assistant, best friend, Cookie. Everyone is a bit on edge looking for activity. Charley is happy to get a last minute call for help from her FBI friend and even Cookie has her own reasons to delay her honeymoon.
Charley doesn’t realize at first what is happening to Reyes, she just knows he is scorching hot - even more than usual. She is also concerned when she realizes he keeps sneaking off to meet with her ghostly investigator, 13 year old Angel.
Charley is dealing with other problems as her step-mother, Denise, who is far from her favorite person, is trying to build a new relationship so she can be part of little ‘beep’s life. Charley’s old house ghost, Mr. Wong, has moved into the convent and there are ghosts multiplying on the lawn while Charley’s dead father slips in to tell her there are spies in the household.
Charley is plenty restless. Since Reyes is keeping secrets she decides to keep her own secrets and ‘slip out’ to interview a kidnapper. That causes friction but things really heat up when Charley races out of the convent thinking that Cookie and Amber are in danger. Charley runs into some old friends who rein her back to the convent when they realize there is trouble at home.
This episode is a little quieter at first as the story focuses on the wedding and the birth of 'beep'. There is the usual snappy humor is full force but at times I wondered where the story was going. Finally the action picks up and I liked the twists and surprises when the enemies and allies face off. The ending takes an unexpected leap to leave us hanging till book nine.
Audio Notes: After eight listens there is not much more to say about the wonderfully entertaining narration by Lorelei King. She makes it an easy, enjoyable listening experience.
I picked this up at Audible with one of my monthly credits. This is part of my audio challenge.
