Monday, February 23, 2009

Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris


Give a brief summary of the book:

Harper and Tolliver are back and this time Harper is showing her skills off to a college professor and his class. While it is obvious that the professor believes that Harper is a fraud, as only he has seen the secret records of how every person in the cemetary has died there isn't much he can say to discredit her especially when she finds an unexpected body. Before Harper and Tolliver know it they are caught up in the midst of another mystery with some clients from their past.

Likes?

Hmm...I liked everything about this book. It was nice to get back to Harper and Tolliver and once again I found myself caught up in the mystery. Their relationship shifted a bit in this book which has made me more interested in seeing how the rest of the series turns out. I enjoy Harper's character and can't help but root for her. Charlaine Harris writes with such fluidity that I find myself carried on in her stories and before I know it the book is already finished. Seriously, I flew through this one :)

Dislikes?

I can't say that I have any serious qualms with this series so far. I'm still a little bit weirded out by Tolliver and Harper's relationship but I think that is more from the fact that they haven't figured it out yet. I'll be interested in seeing the direction that Harris takes with this and personally I'm not sure which way I want it to go. LOL! I'm a bit wishy-washy on it.

Additional Thoughts:

The only thing that I want to add is that I obviously need to get going on the Sookie series if I am enjoying this one so much. I will definitely be picking up the 3rd book in this series and am planning on reading Harris' other mystery series as well.

My Rating/Recommendations: 4 out of 5; Recommended to mystery lovers but start with the 1st in this series
Challenges: Support Library Challenge, 100+ Book Challenge, A-Z Challenge ("G" Title)

**I've decided to use this format for books in series...I find it is hard to review them without giving away spoilers and this makes it easier :)

16 comments:

  1. yes, that's a good way of putting it - they haven't figured out their relationship. But I love this series!

    I need to get book 3 in this series, too - I was waiting for it to go paperback, and I think it did in September.

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  2. That's a great idea - it is hard to review books that are later in a series without giving away too much. People who haven't read the series won't care that much about the 5th one in a series, other than a general idea of if you enjoy it.

    And this is a series I'd like to read as well, I really loved her Shakespeare series. I'm not sure I 'get' vampires as I tried to start a Sookie book, but it 'didn't take' that time.

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  3. I read this one! This is a good series but the realtionship icks me out a little. I much prefer her Sookie books, even her Aurora Teagarden books are a smidge better.

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  4. Carolyn Jean- I'm really looking forward to the next one after reading this so hope to hear that you enjoy it as well :)

    Raidergirl- Isn't that the truth? I haven't tried her Shakespeare series yet but am planning on it.

    Ladytink- I had more of a problem with their relationship in the first book. Now I am just curious as to see how the author will or won't make it work. It is different to say the least.

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  5. I've had this series on my radar for a while but just haven't gotten to it. I think I've read two or three in the Sookie series and those were fun. So hope you'll enjoy that one if you check it out.

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  6. Iliana- I read the 1st Sookie book and enjoyed it but haven't continued on with the series yet. I'm not sure why and it has been long enough that I should probably reread the 1st book before I moved on.

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  7. Great review, glad you are enjoying the series.
    I still need to read Charlaine Harris, i'm the last one left who hasnt read her :)

    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  8. Naida- LOL! I doubt that you are the last one but...just kidding. I think you'll like her when you get to her.

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  9. I was icked out by the relationship in this one. I have the 3rd but I'm not in a hurry to start it for that reason. I much prefer Sookie.

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  10. I like the way you've decided to review series books. I've found it difficult to review whose too without giving anything away. I'm currently working my way through the Sookie Stackhouse series. I agree with you about Harris' fluid writing style. I greatly admire her writing, but some of the violence and sex (sometimes inseparable) in the Sookie series is quite disturbing. I would only recommend that series to someone I knew very well.

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  11. Lisa- I can understand that completely. I have a feeling that you aren't the only one that feels this way about Harper and Tolliver's relationship or lack thereof.

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  12. Terri- I've enjoyed this series so far but I've only read the 1st in the Sookie series. I did like it but just haven't continued on yet. Harris is a very talented writer.

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  13. Hi Samantha - saw your blog at the 100 Challenge. I haven't gotten to post yet but should be soon. Just wanted to comment that I like how you handled this review. This was the first Harris book I read and I enjoyed it. Then I started listening to the Sookie series Audible - I think they are great fun and the narrator does a really super job. I just finished reading#5. It was the first that I read in PB format. Though there were things that made me sad in this one it is still a great series and I have a hard time waiting to get the next one. I hope you enjoy them when you start again!

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  14. Martha- Thanks for stopping by. I have the next two books for the Sookie series on my bookshelves but I just haven't picked them up...too many other good reads calling my name. After realizing how much I enjoy this series though, I am going to be reading them soon!

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  15. I still can't believe I haven't read any Charlaine Harris yet. There are so many different series and everyone raves about each one it's hard to know where to start...

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  16. Rhinoa- I was the same way. I've just barely begun the Sookie series and like it too. She is a very prolific writer!

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