Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones

Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson, #8)

by Darynda Jones

Charley Davidson has enough to be getting on with. She is, after all, incredibly pregnant and feeling like she could pop at any moment. But, just her luck, twelve deadly beasts from hell have chosen this time to escape, and they've made Charley their target. She takes refuge at the only place they can't get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. Before long, Charley also has a new case to hold her attention: the decades-old murder of a newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows of the convent.

Add to that the still unsolved murder of her father, the strange behavior of her husband, and Charley's tendency to attract the, shall we say, undead, and she has her hands full . . . but also tied. While the angry hellhounds can't traverse the consecrated soil, they lurk beyond its borders like evil sentries, so Charley has been forbidden from leaving the sacred grounds and is powerless to get the answers she wants.

Luckily, she has her loyal team with her, and they're a scrappy bunch. They scour the prophesies, searching for clues on the Twelve, and their presence is comforting - it's almost as though they've all been drawn to her as part of a bigger picture . . . But the good feelings don't last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life.

'Hilarious and heartfelt, sexy and surprising...I'm begging for the next one!!' - J.R. Ward

'If you enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum, you will certainly enjoy Charley Davidson.' - Suspense Magazine

'I am furiously envious of Darynda Jones and rue the day she came up with this concept, damn her eyes. First Grave on the Right kidnapped me from the first paragraph.' - Mary Janice Davidson

'Rollicking humor, sizzling sexual tension and a spine-tingling mystery.' - Kresley Cole

Reviewed by EBookObsessed on

5 of 5 stars

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The grim reaper and the son of Satan are having a baby. This book is the beginning of big changes to the series. Although I truly love the series, I did grumble a bit about the ending. I don’t know where the series will be going in the future novels, but I can’t wait to see what’s next.
WARNING #1: There is no way to discuss this book without talking giving away some slight spoilers. If you are not up to date with the series turn away and come back later.

WARNING #2: Do not, do not, DO NOT read the Goodreads preview of Book #9 until you finish Eighth Grave After Dark. Stop right there! Don’t do it! Don’t!

Ok. I’ve warned you.

Charley Davidson and Reyes Alexander Farrow are having a baby, and to protect Charley and their unborn daughter, they have spent the last eight months living in a former convent. The sacred ground has been keeping the twelve hellhounds, which someone has summoned from hell, at bay, but they haven’t gone away. They patrol the property waiting for an opportunity to attack.

They have been surrounded by their loved ones, and not so loved ones, ALL…THE…TIME. While Charley can’t leave the grounds, everyone else seems to be coming by to watch her. Everyone they know has moved in with them. Cookie and Uncle Bob have been planning their wedding. Amber is there hanging with Quenton. Osh and Garret are still pouring over the writings of Cleosaurius, trying to come up with some way to kill the Hellhounds before the baby arrives. Charley’s sister Gemma has been stopping by along her evil stepmother, Denise.

Even the Vatican have their binoculars pointed at the convent, and speaking of the church, the old convent even comes with it’s own deceased nun haunting the place. She’s trying to tell Charley something but first Charley has to catch her.

FBI Agent Carson shows up wanted Charley’s help finding a missing girl but Charley is having a hard time investigating when she can’t leave the safety of the property.

And it is not just the living who are harassing Charley and Reyes. Rocket has left the asylum to moved into the attic along with Blue and Strawberry. Even Mr. Wong has filed a change of address. There are deceased everywhere. They are hanging out in the closets, in the bathroom and they are all over the lawn. They are all watching Charley and waiting. And more come each day.

Her lead (read: only) investigator, Angel, has been meeting secretly with Reyes and they are keeping Charley in the dark. Ubie has been investigating her Dad’s death without Charley. Even Leland Davidson has even been staying around and doing what he has always done best–investigating. He makes sure that Charley is aware that there are spies hanging around and she needs to watch who she trusts.

The convent is filled to capacity. The baby is on the way, and Charley needs a mocha latte in the worst way. How much more can Charley take before she rains down a little hell fire of her own?

THOUGHTS:
This book is a different from the other books and will bring some big changes to the series. Because of that I am trying to be as vague as possible about the goings on and I will come back at a later date to talk about this novel a little more in depth after more fans have had a chance to read it and enjoy the “oooo’s” “ahhh’s” and “OMG’s” on their own. Right now I will say I had some issues at the very end but I am willing to see where we will be going in the next few novels before making any final judgments.

Charley is as quirky and funny as always and the story doesn’t slow down. I missed Charley’s usual investigating since she was stuck at the convent, and nine months pregnant, but there was plenty going on to keep us going.

Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 20 April, 2015: Finished reading
  • 20 April, 2015: Reviewed