Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson, #4) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Feb 16, 2012 Steph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: series-ended, author-favorite, series-i-love, author-웃, year-read-2012, sos-games-bsb-r6, series-completed

Fourth Grave picks up two months following the events in Third Grave Dead Ahead and Charley is battling some PTSD. And, by battling, I mean she's rackin' up a serious stash of midnight home shopping network purchases, hasn't left her apartment in that time and is wondering why she's never named her sofa. She does have a strong penchant for naming things ~ body parts, cars, and such, so the sofa bit isn't too far off the norm for her. But, she's lost her mojo and her new eau de toilette, fear sce Fourth Grave picks up two months following the events in Third Grave Dead Ahead and Charley is battling some PTSD. And, by battling, I mean she's rackin' up a serious stash of midnight home shopping network purchases, hasn't left her apartment in that time and is wondering why she's never named her sofa. She does have a strong penchant for naming things ~ body parts, cars, and such, so the sofa bit isn't too far off the norm for her. But, she's lost her mojo and her new eau de toilette, fear scent, is making the demons drool. Her BFF, Cookie and her family are determined to help her stop hoarding and get back out there. A new case, or two or three, help motivate her as well.

The previous installments' build-up toward a hell-on-earth all-out-war with demons was slightly touched on throughout the book. Things are happening that shouldn't be and Charley meets 'the Englishman', someone Reyes knows all too well. Fans of the series will be delighted to know that Reyes opens up a bit and shares some of what he knows about Charley and her ancestry. And, speaking of Reyes ~ you'll wanna go into slomo around Chapter 17 when Reyes helps Charley overcome her fear of 'Area 51'. No matter what seems to happen between these two - good or bad - they cannot stay away from each other. Their powerful attraction is highly combustible; I hope they can both survive it.

As always, the t-shirt and bumper sticker quotes had me laughin'. Charley's ADD was a bit contagious in this installment. The story, maybe because we spend so much time in her head, tended to be a bit all over the place, but was never hard to follow along. We reunite briefly with some fan-favorites: Rocket, Artemis, Donovan and other Bandits. We also get to meet a cutie clairvoyant, Quentin, who I hope will appear in future installments.

Darynda LOVES cliffhangers, but this one was a bit more of a confirmation for me instead of a surprise. I was very relieved to learn I'd guessed correctly and cannot wait to find out what happens next. As with every book in this series, I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book, which in this case is Fifth Grave Past the Light due on 11 July 2013. ...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Deidre rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-contemporary, series, fantasy-paranormal

I have loved this series from the start. Probably because it makes me laugh out loud, and that will give it at least 3 stars no matter what the book is (unless I am laughing in disbelief...)

Charley is a bit more of a mess, still suffering from the torture in the last book, being betrayed by her father and ending up in jail. Although that isn't really explained in this one. She is very different but still Charley. If Cookie wasn't around, not sure what would have happened to Charley.

But leave it I have loved this series from the start. Probably because it makes me laugh out loud, and that will give it at least 3 stars no matter what the book is (unless I am laughing in disbelief...)

Charley is a bit more of a mess, still suffering from the torture in the last book, being betrayed by her father and ending up in jail. Although that isn't really explained in this one. She is very different but still Charley. If Cookie wasn't around, not sure what would have happened to Charley.

But leave it to Charley, she is miserable, in pain, depressed etc, so she instead of getting drunk or getting in fights like so many kick-ass women do, she goes on an endless tv shopping channel spree, spending money she doesn't even have on things she doesn't want (or even remember getting). Cookie has to cancel all her cars and bring her back from woo-woo land, with the help of Charley's normal coterie of "interesting" friends.

Her love life? Let's just say it would be a spoiler, although beautiful Reyes is around.

I know some don't like this series, but it takes me away and makes me laugh so I can't wait till book 5!

For those of you who don't know, Charley is the Grim Reaper. And for those that do, I am sticking the first paragraph of the book here, because it is so damn funny.

PS I got this off Ms. Jones website and I don't think it's a spoiler at all, just encouragement for you to get this book and read it!!

"Only two things in life are certain. Guess which one I am."
—Charley Davidson, grim reaper

"I sat watching the Buy From Home Channel with my dead Aunt Lillian and wondered what my life would've been like had I not just eaten an entire carton of Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Therapy with a mocha latte chaser. Probably about the same, but it was something to think about.

"A midmorning sun ﬁltered through the blinds and cut hard streaks of light across my body, casting me in an ultra-cool ﬁlm noir effect. Since my life had deﬁnitely taken a turn toward the dark side, ﬁlm noir ﬁt. It would have ﬁt even better if I weren't wearing Star Wars pajama bottoms and a sparkly tank top that proudly proclaimed EARTH GIRLS ARE EASY. But I just didn't have the energy that morning to change into something less inappropriate. I’d been having lethargy issues for a few weeks now. And I was suddenly a tad agoraphobic. Ever since a man named Earl tortured me.

"It sucked.

"The torture. Not his name."
...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Nicole Cary rated it it was amazing

If you haven't read any of this author's book....you need to save them for a shitty day. A day that really makes you want to burn the world down. Because NO matter how shitacular your day was...she will alleviate your bad mood. She has a special talent for humor. Not the forced cheesy kind that you know you're supposed to cue the canned laughter to, but instead, you end up skimming through without pausing. It's like reading a novel written by your best friend that just simply understands your hu ...more

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Mar 05, 2014 Sarah Dizon rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, acquired-in-2014, 5-stars, urban-fantasy, read-in-2016

I'm getting past Charley's sense of humor and I have to admit that some of her snarky-ness is starting to rub off on me. I'm not so annoyed with it anymore. Charley is trying to help a woman named Harper who says she is being stalked and has been for most of her life. Someone keeps leaving dead white rabbits in her house. No one in her family believes her and she has been seeking therapy at her family's request. However, something doesn't feel right so she decides to hire Charley. Charley has be ...more

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May 11, 2018 ☘KathyD☘ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-kindle, character-kickass-heroine, genre-romance, pages-300-399, genre-romance-series, genre-paranormal, audio-audible, genre-funny-funny, genre-fantasy, character-ghosts

Holy cr*p! There was A LOT going on in this installment! I love that we now know quite a bit more about Charley and her origins. Hopefully the information she received was true and not a lie! The case Charley was working on was interesting and had some unexpected twists I did not see coming...at...all! Charley, herself, is a complex character, but I am very much appreciating how layered the other characters in this series are, as well.

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Apr 18, 2012 Jenny rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr, series, immortals, magic-paranormal, aphla-males, ebook, action-adventure, bikers, cop-security-pi, kick-ass-heroines

Really enjoying this series. The writing is engaging as are the characters. Charley was struggling in this one after everything that happened in the last one.
I hope to god that Daryanda brings back Donovan and crew love the interaction between Charley and Donovan, almost more than Reyes.

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