Richard M. (algernon99) -
Helpful Score: 12
I was so far down on the wish list for this book that I decided I'd just have to buy a copy--you know, pay actual money to read it. What a concept! (Luckily I had a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.)
So I bought it and read it the day after it arrived, since I didn't get to open the mail until after 10 pm that night. It reads quickly and is a lot of fun. Not funny, but entertaining in a thoughtful sort of way.
First, read #1 in the series. You absolutely must, before you tackle this one.
The thing that makes Charlaine Harris books so interesting and so believable is that she just adds one little fantasy element and then makes sure the rest of the story follows logically and inevitably from that one surreal premise. As we follow Harper Connelly around as she "reads" graves to discern who the occupant is how and how the unfortunate corpse died, everything seems normal. The woo-woo element is workaday routine rather than something to be held up and wondered at. I like that.
This story proceeds logically to its end. There was one side plot element introduced near the end that disturbed both me and my wife (she read the book the day after I did), but it is certainly a fair complication to enter the ongoing series story line. We just don't like it!
Anyway, if you can wait through the wish list, give this one a read. It's quite enjoyable.
And, yes, we put our copy into the mail to another PBSer on the third day after it arrived.
So I bought it and read it the day after it arrived, since I didn't get to open the mail until after 10 pm that night. It reads quickly and is a lot of fun. Not funny, but entertaining in a thoughtful sort of way.
First, read #1 in the series. You absolutely must, before you tackle this one.
The thing that makes Charlaine Harris books so interesting and so believable is that she just adds one little fantasy element and then makes sure the rest of the story follows logically and inevitably from that one surreal premise. As we follow Harper Connelly around as she "reads" graves to discern who the occupant is how and how the unfortunate corpse died, everything seems normal. The woo-woo element is workaday routine rather than something to be held up and wondered at. I like that.
This story proceeds logically to its end. There was one side plot element introduced near the end that disturbed both me and my wife (she read the book the day after I did), but it is certainly a fair complication to enter the ongoing series story line. We just don't like it!
Anyway, if you can wait through the wish list, give this one a read. It's quite enjoyable.
And, yes, we put our copy into the mail to another PBSer on the third day after it arrived.
Helpful Score: 5
I ate this book up in a few days! Which was surprising because I'd been wondering why my reading pace had slowed down somewhat with my last few books. It's become obvious to me that I chew through the ones I really enjoy while the other stuff that's just okay kind of drags at a steadier pace. Hmmm....
Grave Surprise continues the story of Harper and Tolliver started in Grave Sight. Harper has an unusual talent for being able to find the dead, and discover their last living moments including how they died. She's often called upon by distressed parents or various law enforcement officials to help in missing persons cases, to see if a body can be located... for Harper can only find the dead, not the living.
Harper and Tolliver are called to Memphis by anthropology professor Dr. Clyde Nunley to "read" a graveyard, the records for which were only recently discovered. Little do they realize that Dr. Nunley is hoping to expose Harper as a fraud since no one else has had access to these records besides himself. But the entire class gets more than they bargained for when, besides being spot on for each person buried in the centuries-old cemetery, Harper discovers the body of 11-year-old Tabitha Morganstern, abducted from Nashville 2 years prior, in one of the existing grave sites. Harper had been called in on Tabitha's case back then but had failed to produce results when she couldn't locate the body. So her and Tolliver begin to wonder if this is too much of a coincidence and that perhaps they were set up to find this body. Unfortunately, the police and FBI aren't too pleased with the coincidences either...
The action keeps going nonstop right up until the very end. I anxiously await the next book in the wonderful new Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris.
Grave Surprise continues the story of Harper and Tolliver started in Grave Sight. Harper has an unusual talent for being able to find the dead, and discover their last living moments including how they died. She's often called upon by distressed parents or various law enforcement officials to help in missing persons cases, to see if a body can be located... for Harper can only find the dead, not the living.
Harper and Tolliver are called to Memphis by anthropology professor Dr. Clyde Nunley to "read" a graveyard, the records for which were only recently discovered. Little do they realize that Dr. Nunley is hoping to expose Harper as a fraud since no one else has had access to these records besides himself. But the entire class gets more than they bargained for when, besides being spot on for each person buried in the centuries-old cemetery, Harper discovers the body of 11-year-old Tabitha Morganstern, abducted from Nashville 2 years prior, in one of the existing grave sites. Harper had been called in on Tabitha's case back then but had failed to produce results when she couldn't locate the body. So her and Tolliver begin to wonder if this is too much of a coincidence and that perhaps they were set up to find this body. Unfortunately, the police and FBI aren't too pleased with the coincidences either...
The action keeps going nonstop right up until the very end. I anxiously await the next book in the wonderful new Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris.
Helpful Score: 3
This is the second book in another great series by Harris, this one a little darker with a little less humor but no less a read than the Sookie Stackhouse books. This series is about A woman who sees the dead's last moments on earth when near their bodies, obviously this leads to a valuable mystery solving tool....and Danger;-)
Helpful Score: 2
Definitely need to read "Grave Sight" first; this one doesn't stand on its own. Story developed nicely ... until the end. Read as though the author had stopped short, put away the manuscript, and returned close to the contract deadline to tack on a thrown-together ending.
Richard M. (algernon99) -
Helpful Score: 2
I was so far down on the wish list for this book that I decided I'd just have to buy a copy--you know, pay actual money to read it. What a concept! (Luckily I had a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com.)
So I bought it and read it the day after it arrived, since I didn't get to open the mail until after 10 pm that night. It reads quickly and is a lot of fun. Not funny, but entertaining in a thoughtful sort of way.
First, read #1 in the series. You absolutely must, before you tackle this one.
The thing that makes Charlaine Harris books so interesting and so believable is that she just adds one little fantasy element and then makes sure the rest of the story follows logically and inevitably from that one surreal premise. As we follow Harper Connelly around as she "reads" graves to discern who the occupant is how and how the unfortunate corpse died, everything seems normal. The woo-woo element is workaday routine rather than something to be held up and wondered at. I like that.
This story proceeds logically to its end. There was one side plot element introduced near the end that disturbed both me and my wife (she read the book the day after I did), but it is certainly a fair complication to enter the ongoing series story line. We just don't like it!
Anyway, if you can wait through the wish list, give this one a read. It's quite enjoyable.
And, yes, we put our copy into the mail to another PBSer on the third day after it arrived.
So I bought it and read it the day after it arrived, since I didn't get to open the mail until after 10 pm that night. It reads quickly and is a lot of fun. Not funny, but entertaining in a thoughtful sort of way.
First, read #1 in the series. You absolutely must, before you tackle this one.
The thing that makes Charlaine Harris books so interesting and so believable is that she just adds one little fantasy element and then makes sure the rest of the story follows logically and inevitably from that one surreal premise. As we follow Harper Connelly around as she "reads" graves to discern who the occupant is how and how the unfortunate corpse died, everything seems normal. The woo-woo element is workaday routine rather than something to be held up and wondered at. I like that.
This story proceeds logically to its end. There was one side plot element introduced near the end that disturbed both me and my wife (she read the book the day after I did), but it is certainly a fair complication to enter the ongoing series story line. We just don't like it!
Anyway, if you can wait through the wish list, give this one a read. It's quite enjoyable.
And, yes, we put our copy into the mail to another PBSer on the third day after it arrived.
Helpful Score: 2
Another great book by Charlaine Harris! Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver are on another great adventure to find the dead. The twist and turns of this book keep me on my toes and made me wonder who-done-it throughout the whole book. That is why I love these books, you never know until the end.
Helpful Score: 2
Grave Surprise Charlaine Harris
The second in the series, followed the first well. Harper Connelly is asked to show her powers at a college cemetery, the records had been recently found and there was no way her or her brother Tolliver could have accessed them. Clyde Nunley, the professor who invited Harper is startled to see her flawlessly describe the graves contents and the manner of the deaths of the occupants until the last grave in which Harper tells the class that there are two bodies. The century old body of a man and a young girl, recently deceased, whom Harper had once tried and failed to find.
As expected the find leads to an investigation, and a twist. The next morning another body is found in the same grave, that of Clyde Nunley.
This book actually was better than the first, I didnt figure out who done it till the end, and I had a few guesses along the way. There also was a little more on the sexual tension in this book with a realization on Harpers part that make me wonder where the author will take it next. Thankfully An Ice Cold Grave arrived in my mail box today thanks to PaperbackSwap so I can read away!
The second in the series, followed the first well. Harper Connelly is asked to show her powers at a college cemetery, the records had been recently found and there was no way her or her brother Tolliver could have accessed them. Clyde Nunley, the professor who invited Harper is startled to see her flawlessly describe the graves contents and the manner of the deaths of the occupants until the last grave in which Harper tells the class that there are two bodies. The century old body of a man and a young girl, recently deceased, whom Harper had once tried and failed to find.
As expected the find leads to an investigation, and a twist. The next morning another body is found in the same grave, that of Clyde Nunley.
This book actually was better than the first, I didnt figure out who done it till the end, and I had a few guesses along the way. There also was a little more on the sexual tension in this book with a realization on Harpers part that make me wonder where the author will take it next. Thankfully An Ice Cold Grave arrived in my mail box today thanks to PaperbackSwap so I can read away!
Irene L H. (NonExistence) -
Helpful Score: 2
Grave Surprise, is a surprise. Just when you think you have the
culprit it changes again. Charged with plenty of plot. Love the
deadpan wit and dry graveyard humor, along with amazingly real
characters. A fast-track read.
culprit it changes again. Charged with plenty of plot. Love the
deadpan wit and dry graveyard humor, along with amazingly real
characters. A fast-track read.
Helpful Score: 2
I like Charlaine Harris' Sookie novels, but this series leaves me cold. I don't like the characters, I think the suspense isn't very suspenseful or mysterious, and it always gets wrapped up so neatly. I just don't enjoy this series much. I felt the same way about her Shakespeare series too, but eventually she wrote more background about the main character and made her more emotional, so the books became more interesting. Harper just never seems very likeable, and her "romantic revelation" just about made my eyeballs roll up into my head.
Lisa B. (momof3boysandagirl) reviewed Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly, Bk 2) on + 58 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this book very much. I am becoming a true fan of charlaine Harris. This series is darker than the sookie series but its a great read. I didn't like harper very much in the first book but she grew on me. You must read these books in order though or you will be alittle lost. I look forward to the next one. I am going to start on her other books next.
Helpful Score: 1
A good second book in the Harper Connelly series. I sometimes get exasperated with Harper for seeming to always need taking care, but I'm still interested in the premise of the books.
As another reviewer said, there is a complication in the plot near the end of the book that I am not liking. I hope that isn't the direction the series is going in.
As another reviewer said, there is a complication in the plot near the end of the book that I am not liking. I hope that isn't the direction the series is going in.
Another excellent series from author Harris, fresh and fast read. The main character, Harper Connelly, is a damaged but forthright person, and her special (paranormal) ability is the driving force of the series. Harris writes in such a great straightforward style, no superfluous writing. Though not quite as engaging as the Sookie Stackhouse series because Harper is a darker personality, I liked this 2nd book of the series as well as the 1st, also liked the 3rd, and am eagerly looking forward to the 4th and last.
I really enjoyed it.
Kristi L. (mommybarbie) - , reviewed Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly, Bk 2) on + 26 more book reviews
2nd book in the series of a step brother and sister who travel the country finding dead bodies for a living. Sound interesting? It is! Love Charlaine Harris!
This was a solid read. Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyable. I suspected the killer pretty early on, as I did with the last book, which was kind of disappointing. But there were enough red herrings that I couldn't say who it was with 100% certainty, so it kept me curious until the end. As for that, I did think it seemed a bit rushed, though. Maybe that was just me, but after all the build up, the climax and the resolution felt more like a summary because it all happened within less than 20 pages.
Anyway, I'm still looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
Another thing that bothered me was the amount of discrepancies I noticed. In the first book, it was clearly stated that Iona was Tolliver's aunt. She even says it when she calls them at one point, something like, "This is Iona. Tolliver's aunt." In the second book, however, Harper says that Iona is her aunt, her mom's sister. In the first book, Mariella was said to be 11, in this one she was 9 and Gracie was 11. In the first book, Iona's husband was named Will and I even think he was called Will in the beginning of this book, but toward the end his name was suddenly Hank. All of the differences, and the other typos I noticed, make it obvious how careless the editing was on these books. In the very least, you would think that as the author and the editor, you would make sure that character names and relationships stay consistent. It's distracting and I hope the trend doesn't continue in the next two books. Did anyone else notice this? Maybe they just assume that people won't read the books back-to-back and won't notice, but it's off-putting for the people who do because it seems so sloppy.
Anyway, I'm still looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.
Another thing that bothered me was the amount of discrepancies I noticed. In the first book, it was clearly stated that Iona was Tolliver's aunt. She even says it when she calls them at one point, something like, "This is Iona. Tolliver's aunt." In the second book, however, Harper says that Iona is her aunt, her mom's sister. In the first book, Mariella was said to be 11, in this one she was 9 and Gracie was 11. In the first book, Iona's husband was named Will and I even think he was called Will in the beginning of this book, but toward the end his name was suddenly Hank. All of the differences, and the other typos I noticed, make it obvious how careless the editing was on these books. In the very least, you would think that as the author and the editor, you would make sure that character names and relationships stay consistent. It's distracting and I hope the trend doesn't continue in the next two books. Did anyone else notice this? Maybe they just assume that people won't read the books back-to-back and won't notice, but it's off-putting for the people who do because it seems so sloppy.
Excellent series. I recommend it.
Debora B. (latenightbookclub) reviewed Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly, Bk 2) on + 26 more book reviews
I love Charlaine! These campy books are so relaxing to read. This was good for the series, I didn't see the ending coming, which was great!
I love this series and this book is no exception. I am anxiously waiting to see if she will come out with book 5.
Have to say, this book was better than the first, Grave Sight. At least for me it was. After the first book, it took me a while to get into this one, again forcing myself to get through this. Once I got into it, it started getting better and was easier to get through and it makes me want to get to the next book.
A definite good 2nd book in the series. I enjoy the main characters and the stories aren't predictable. I am going for the 3rd!
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
What a dumb photo on the cover! Geez like something popped up from a grave in this story.
Ok Well, actually something in the grave did surprise main character Harper. When Harper is doing a demonstration at an old grave yard, she finds feels the bones of Tabitha, a girl whose body Harper failed to find 18 months ago. The body was planted. It is obvious someone is setting up Harper and Tolliver.
I really enjoy these 2 main characters. I like that Harper is closed to the living, in so many ways, but open to helping the dead be found. I think the characters are so unique, and they dont fit the stereotype we often find in cozy paranormal mysteries of this sort.
I felt right away that I the suspect and motive was obvious. But even near the end I was still guessing.
I think this series is worth reading.
Ok Well, actually something in the grave did surprise main character Harper. When Harper is doing a demonstration at an old grave yard, she finds feels the bones of Tabitha, a girl whose body Harper failed to find 18 months ago. The body was planted. It is obvious someone is setting up Harper and Tolliver.
I really enjoy these 2 main characters. I like that Harper is closed to the living, in so many ways, but open to helping the dead be found. I think the characters are so unique, and they dont fit the stereotype we often find in cozy paranormal mysteries of this sort.
I felt right away that I the suspect and motive was obvious. But even near the end I was still guessing.
I think this series is worth reading.
Great book, most sets that have more then two books to it kind of get redundent well this set dose not. It just gets better and better. This is my Second Set i have read by her.
I loved this book! The entire series is great but this is my favorite in the series. It is nonstop! Couldn't put it down.
Wonderful book. Fast read. Great characters.
Even better than the first one. This is a very good series with interesting characters. Way different from her Sookie Stackhouse series. I think it is great. I will be looking forward to reading the next book in the series and any other new series she develops in the future. Highly recommend this series.
When Harper Connolly was fifteen she was struck by lightening, died and came back to life and was never the same. She discovered that she could find dead people and sense how they died. Now she and her stepbrother Tolliver travel around from job to job demonstrating her weird talent and getting paid for it.
In this book she senses and finds two bodies in the same grave, one a man centuries dead and the other a young girl, recently deceased.
The author has created a terrific series in the same vein as her Stookie Stackhouse series. Deadpan wit, terrific characters. A must read.
In this book she senses and finds two bodies in the same grave, one a man centuries dead and the other a young girl, recently deceased.
The author has created a terrific series in the same vein as her Stookie Stackhouse series. Deadpan wit, terrific characters. A must read.
After being struck by lightning when she was fifteen, Harper Connelly gained the ability to find dead people and perceive just how they died. Now Harper and her manager/stepbrother/best friend Tolliver use her talent to make a living. At the request of Professor Clyde Nunley, Harper and Tolliver travel to Memphis to St. Margaret's Cemetery where Harper begins to tell his class how each person died. But when she steps onto one of the graves, she realizes there are two bodies inside. One is the original inhabitant from 150 years ago. The second is a murder victim who was buried on top of him. Eleven-year-old Tabith Morganstern disappeared from Nashville almost two years ago. Harper was hired to find her, but was unsuccessful. Now Tabitha has been discovered buried in an old cemetery miles away from her home. It's up to Harper and Tolliver to figure out who put her there.
This paranormal mystery is the second book in the series. The mystery was well done with several suspects to pick from. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
This paranormal mystery is the second book in the series. The mystery was well done with several suspects to pick from. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. My rating: 4 Stars.
I enjoyed this book very much.
In th opening of the second book, Harper and Tolliver find themselves in Memphis, TN to do a demonstation at a graveyard for a college professor and his class.
They discover the body of a long missing child, Tabitha Morgenstern, of whom theyd been paid to search for and find her body well over a year ago.
The police now belive that Harper is behind the murder, So she and Tolliver get tangled up in the families' affairs until they uncover the true murderer.
Great story, and great series.
In th opening of the second book, Harper and Tolliver find themselves in Memphis, TN to do a demonstation at a graveyard for a college professor and his class.
They discover the body of a long missing child, Tabitha Morgenstern, of whom theyd been paid to search for and find her body well over a year ago.
The police now belive that Harper is behind the murder, So she and Tolliver get tangled up in the families' affairs until they uncover the true murderer.
Great story, and great series.
I enjoyed the first book a bit more but the story here was compelling and interesting. Planning to read the third book to see how it goes.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly, Bk 2) on + 724 more book reviews
After I read Grave Sight ,I waited for this to come out so I could by it. I am never disappointed with this author.
Fast read. For fans of paranormal mysteries and/or Charlaine Harris. Deeply plotted, the murderer isn't revealed until the very end. I wasn't able to figure it out ahead of time.
I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the series and I'm pretty sure I'll be rereading it in the future. If the other 2 books in the series are as good as the first 2 were then, I'll probably reread the series every so often. I like Harper and Tolliver (even though the reader doesn't get a look inside his head, his devotion to her is pretty cool) and want good things for them.
I liked this story about siblings who AREN"T really sibs and who are making a living finding the dead. Cute and from small places like Memphis and Nashville.
I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, but I did. I had read the first book in the set and was not impressed. I only read this one because I had got the set as a gift, but I'm glad I did.
Kind of typical, and I had a feeling I knew where her and her brothers relationship was going too.
Another fun book from Charlaine Harris.
I really enjoyed this book, I like it even better than the Sookie Stackhouse series. There are only three so far and I still need the first one, plan to pass them on to family members and friends to read, then I might repost them. I plan to try her other books too.
Better than Grave Sight, this series is really good!
Book 2 in the Harper Connelly series
