Seventh Grave and No Body

If you are not already reading this series, you should get in gear and get going. This book is one wild ride for Charley, a grim reaper, who is engaged to Reyes, the son of Satan. She has just found out she is pregnant and the prophesies say that their child will raise an army and defeat Satan and that there will be peace for a thousand years. So, much to Charley's irritation, Reyes is not letting her out of his sight, especially since someone has let loose the twelve hounds of hell in order to kill her and Reyes, and their possible ally, The Dealer, a demon who escaped hell, where he was known as the warrior for the many fights he won, can not make a dent in these creatures, it's up to Charley to figure something out.On top of this, a ghost who actually hangs out in the cemetery in order to watch her body slowly decay finds not only her body but that of others missing and asks Charley to help. She's also helping an FBI agent she's helped in the past that knows there's something different about Charlie and that she knows things somehow, asks her to look at a cold case where some camp councilors and a few kids are killed at a camp that is just opening up for the summer. When Charlie goes there, she finds more kids there than should be. This is a dumping ground for a serial killer who likely killed the others because they stumbled across what he was doing. Also, she is haunted by a dead enemy from her high school years and her uncle, a cop, is dealing with a rash of people leaving nearly identical suicide notes and then disappearing. There seems to be no connection between these people.Charley worries about being a mother since she cannot even manage to keep a goldfish alive. She is beginning to realize how vast her powers can be. She's been told many times by Angel, her gangster ghost who works for her, and Reyes that she can literally do anything she wants. In previous books, she has discovered the ability to stop time and exist outside of it and keep a bullet from hitting someone and the ability to rip someone's heart out of their chest, which scares her. Her bright light can destroy demons, but she is capable of so much more, including getting the drop on Reyes with a few words of Latin. The bounty hunter, Garrett, has discovered from ancient texts that she came from another plane where she was to ascend to the throne as a god but chose instead to be born on earth as a grim reaper where she could do the most good. Names have power and if you know the true name of a being, you can have control over them. Charley does not know her true name, though Reyes does. He is afraid that if she knows it, she will cease to be human and become a permanent grim reaper, losing her forever.It's a busy time for Charley and her father has disappeared, off on his own investigation of her, but she still has her partner and best friend, Cookie, who gives up coffee with her to show her support. The world has become a dangerous place for Charley with lots of beings out to kill her and an unknown future. This is one of the best books in the series. Charley is more than her usual sarcastic self without her daily gallons of coffee. She is also worried that she will not be able to keep her baby alive or raise her if she does. This is a unique series that is both humorous and action packed, as well as being filled with a very sexy Reyes who you would never turn away from your door.QuotesI often question my sanity. Occasionally, it replies.--Darynda Jones (Seventh Grave and No Body p1)I don’t think I get enough credit for the fact that I do all of this unmedicated.--Darynda Jones (Seventh Grave and No Body p 51)My life is just like a soap opera filmed in a psychiatric ward.--Darynda Jones (Seventh Grave and No Body p 92)

When I finished reading this book, I thought to myself, how did this book get even better than the last? I'll leave the credit all to Ms. Darynda Jones who clearly has one Hell of a plan for this series, pun intended. If you've never read the series before, you do not want to start here, and there's no reason for it. You'll start at the beginning and won't come up for air until you're all caught up in no time. The Charley Davidson series is easily the most unique story around, that is also clever, funny, engaging, entertaining, fast paced, and simply magical which rides on the fringes of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and mystery. If you haven't read previous stories, then this book will have spoilers of previous installments, so if you don't want to know, stop here.Book 7 picks up right where we left off with Sixth Grave from the Edge and Ms. Jones does not drag this story out but moves full steam ahead in her usual fashion to progress the story forward. Charley is now engaged, expecting a baby girl who's prophesized to be the fall of Satan, and is being hunted by the Hounds of Hell, but she still has a job to do and it seems more and more people keep getting in the way of her living her life. There are several mysteries taking place once again, but Charley manages to clear some up early on, while others take place throughout the story. Most prominent is that there are a string of "suicides" where no bodies can actually be found and Charley hasn't received any visits from the dearly departed to truly know what's going on. As she tries to investigate, she has Reyes on her heels at every step, and although they are constantly clashing wills, I still find the relationship between the Son of Satan and the Grim Reaper to be the most compelling couple in fiction, and that's saying something for you Kate and Curran or Cat and Bones fans.The story is written in its typical Attention Deficit fashion where Charley is easily distracted by caffeine withdrawal, practicing motherhood on a goldfish, and other stray thoughts that constantly pop into her head, that always keep me chuckling and with the deeper than usual revelations, sacrifices, and, yes, losses, the style of writing was very helpful in keeping me from weeping. Charley learns alot more about her abilities and we as readers, learn alot more about the other characters from Amber to The Dealer that are clearly in Charley's life as part of a much bigger picture. As the events unfold, we're left with a very different Charley Davidson and I cannot wait to see how her vengeance will unfold.

Love this series, fun reading

The 7th book in the Charley Davidson series does not fail to entertain. I can only hope I would show the same irreverence and joy if I was born the Grim Reaper. Passion, murder and mayhem are the elements of this series and the author manipulates these elements to produce exciting events steeped in emotions.

Darynda Jones has created one of the funniest, quirkiest, characters I've ever come across. It's a true delight when these books pop into my kindle and I devour them with a smile on my face. Charley is such a loveable character and keeping up with her thought processes is entertaining. Her relationship with Reyes is really touching and I particularly enjoy the fact that they have simply got it together without too much too'ing and fro'ing which is refreshing. I feel there are little holes in the plot and I'm still not sure where the story is heading but for some bizarre reason this doesn't matter - even though it really should! I would highly recommend this series but would advise you read them in order.

Totally worth every second and more. I'm going trough these books one after the other and couldn't get enough. Thank you Mrs Jones for your wonderful books.

Well I downloaded this one month ago and it was so good I read all 12 books to date in one month. They were epic! without giving any spoilers away, let me just say, this series was refreshingly different. A grim reaper who is funny, empathetic and has a gorgeous sexy counterpart. Both main characters and main sub characters progress throughout the series to the point that I felt I knew these people. I miss them - waiting on the final book to be released in a couple of weeks - and then I'll be despondent without them. Each book progressed not only the characters but the story without too much repetition - just the right amount that it kept new readers in the loop and didn't bore the pants of serial readers. It was laugh out loud funny in places -you don't get much of that in books - and I really empathised and felt in tune with Charley. It had it all - romance, naughty bits (just the right amount), suspense, complex storyline, and storyline progression throughout the series. These books would make an excellent transition to TV or film. A good director and producer could make these great on this medium. They are also well written. Written from Charley's POV, you get the inside view of what it's like to be Charley and you get her reactions to her circumstances, relationships both normal and paranormal and how she feels about what she does. You love Reyes as much as she does, what's not to love? And the suspense is a page turner. A series not to be missed and one to ensure you put aside time to enjoy.