Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson Series) by Darynda Jones

Sixth Grave on the Edge

By Darynda Jones

Well, I’ve been in heaven the past week. First, Darynda Jones released her latest novel in the Charley Davidson series, Sixth Grave on the Edge, and I inhaled that in about two and a half days. As a side note, I would like to say how much I appreciate the Amazon Kindle’s ability to dim the screen so I could read while my sick child dozed on my lap.

Then Jim Butcher released the latest in the Harry Dresden Chronicles, Skin Game, and I am currently enjoying that tremendously. It was a particularly welcome distraction yesterday while I was waiting for two new tires to be put on my car because I got a roofing nail in the sidewall of one.  How does that even happen?

Anyway, the thing that I love about both of these characters is that even though the series is ongoing, the main characters continue to grow and change. There are plenty of surprises! I’m going to try not to give anything away, but the last surprise in Sixth Grave on the Edge rocked my socks. I absolutely LOVED it!

This was a bit lighter and more fun than some have been, though there are some pretty scary bits. Lots of time with Reyes with this one, some more background on him, and some interesting subterfuge with her father. There is definitely something going on with her dad.

I can never decide if Charley is really good at self-delusion or if her ADHD just makes it easier for her to skip over some things. I don’t think it will be really giving anything away to say that her Jeep, Misery, didn’t make it through the last novel.

“But at least Misery was okay. Like, really okay. It was weird. Her cough was gone. Her sluggish response time was no longer an issue. Her reluctance to wake up in the mornings as she sputtered in protest every time I tried to fire all engines was nonexistent.”

Hmmm… I wonder why?

Lots of interesting dead people popping up, like naked dead guy. I particularly enjoyed it when his wife showed up looking for him. Aunt Lil, of the blue hair and floral muumuu, is always a joy.  I love her idea of becoming a partner with Charley in the investigation business, though it didn’t seem to go anywhere in this book. Of course, young Angel is summoned up to help, though there is a big surprise waiting there!

Remember the old saying, “It’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye?” Yeah, that seems to apply to Charley’s scheme to get Uncle Bob to finally ask Cookie out on a date.

One of the things I like about Darynda Jones writing is that there’s a balance. One minute you’re galloping along at a good clip, laughing joyously, then she hits you with the serious and you feel the character’s pain. That’s life. Then you have a mission and some humor to lighten the load. Well done.

I’d recommend these books to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, can go with the supernatural angle, and doesn’t blush too terribly easily. As always, you can get this at the library, but I couldn’t wait. I got it through Amazon Kindle and then added the audio, which is perfectly read by Lorelei King.

Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein

Job: A Comedy of Justice

By Robert A. Heinlein

         

I guess you could say I’m going back to my roots by choosing a science fiction title today. I grew up in a small town with a small library.  I certainly can’t claim to have read everything in the library and my interests shifted over time.  As a teen, mysteries became my main focus, with authors like Agatha Christie and Phyllis Whitney. Then I was introduced to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and it became my mainstay for many years.  

I still admire Madeleine L’Engle’s writing tremendously. I distinctly remember my father giving me a copy of Dune by Frank Herbert when I was a teenager and I discovered many more wonderful authors on the shelves of the public library in the town where I went to college. I think I read most of the books by Robert A. Heinlein over time and this was a favorite.

         

(All right, I have to share this one - as I sat here at the Reference desk writing this review, a patron asked me about the book and asked to be put on the waiting list for it so I gave it to her. Apparently she had read and enjoyed many of his books and this sounded interesting to her. Ha!)

         

Anyway, Job: A Comedy of Justice is a modern retelling of the story of Job. Job, in the person of Alexander Hergensheimer, seems to be a shining of example of faith. As in the original story of Job, Satan argues with God, who agrees to test Job.

         

Suddenly Alex finds himself living someone else's life, with a mistress, not the sort of thing a fundamentalist minister was brought up to. Then he falls in love with her.

Heinlein had a way of telling a great adventure story that is easy to read, told in the first person with a rollicking pace.

"His automobile was a triumph of baling wire and faith. We went roaring back to the dock at full throttle, frightening chickens and easily outrunning baby goats."

He also offers a tremendous amount of food for thought that is subtly inserted to this great adventure story. In my lifetime, Science Fiction has been a bastion of such thought provoking writing. Heinlein was truly a Grand Master of the genre. I highly recommend it.

The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot (Part of the Heather Wells mystery series)

The Bride Wore Size 12

By Meg Cabot

This past fall author Meg Cabot came out with the culminating volume of her Heather Wells Mystery series, The Bride Wore Size 12.

As with most modern mystery series, it’s amazing the number of bodies and murder investigations Heather gets caught up in and solves, mostly on her own, but sometimes with some help from her hunky P.I. landlord and future husband, Cooper.

The book opens with a copy of Cooper and Heather’s wedding invitation then a list of items that Heather should be doing, or have already done, with only four weeks to her wedding.

She and Cooper are eating Chinese takeout and discussing the viability of having all the students of New York College, where Heather is an assistant dorm director, bubble wrapped in order to keep them safe this year.

Ah, the helicopter parents that Heather has to deal with as students are moving in for the semester are very funny. That’s what makes these stories wonderful, the humor and the colorful characters, like Magda, the cafeteria worker who once had a bit part in a movie and comes to work every day dressed ready for her big break, but takes excellent care of Heather and all of her other “little movie stars.”

Of course, it isn’t long before we find out that one of the RAs is dead in her bed and the mystery begins.  Heather keeps promising not to get involved but she simply can’t help thinking about who might have done it and asking questions.

Along with Heather’s impending nuptials and the dead body, there’s a crown prince of a Middle Eastern country in residence this year, along with his body guards, and Heather’s boss gives all the signs of being pregnant. So starts another roller coaster ride of a year.

I highly recommend reading these books in order.  The other titles in the series include - Size 12 is Not Fat, Size 14 is Not Fat Either, Big Boned, and Size 12 and Ready to Rock. You might guess from the titles that this mystery series is a little quirky and pretty funny.

These are light books and a fun read, falling into the cozy category. Don’t expect big issues or incredibly deep thinking. It’s a puzzle with a bit of romance, and I enjoyed every one. The good news is that if you like them, there are five in the series and you know the last book is already out.