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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Ninth in the Charley Davidson urban fantasy series and revolving around a grim reaper who has lost her memory and completely forgotten that she's married to the Son of Satan. This story is set in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
My Take
This was fun, if a bit frustrating. I appreciated Jones slipping Charley's friends into town, but I wish she'd played this a bit more, more interaction between Charley and the others and have her become more confused about who these people are. The bits between Charley and Cookie and Reyes were good, and I do wish we'd had more like that between the others.
That, however, is minor, although her wishy-washyness about breaking up with Ian drove me nuts. Just do it!
I hadn't thought about how Charley would react to seeing ghosts after she'd lost her memory. Jones' take on it was good, but what made it better was Charley's crazy sense of humor. It's there, but…weak — a great bit of show that helped us "get" how lost Charley is. I am not sure about why she had Charley sound so stupid, though. Cookie has told "Janey" that Robert is a detective in New Mexico, and Janey thinks Robert speaks English really well for a detective from a Latin American country *eye roll*.
Okay, the stunt Janey cooked up to bring Lewis to Francie's attention was a trademark Charley, lol.
That crazy stalker who's after Janey…whew… I'm surprised he still has his job! As for the being-held-prisoner scene… Crack. Me. Up. Between Charley complimenting her successive killers and nagging the ghost who wants to save her…you'll break up, too. Well, until Walker reveals what he intends to do to Charley.
Breaking, entering, exorcising, a great T-shirt ("Save a Virgin. Do Me Instead!"), an archangel with a bad deal… It may be a bridge novel, but what a bridge!
The Story
With no memory of her previous life, Jane Doerr is taken aback by the ghosts who show up and the amazing colors and places she can see that no one else can. Yet her own plight doesn't blind her to that of others as she helps a woman cursed to lose her babies, a storekeeper whose family is held hostage, lonely neighbors, a cop who doesn't understand that line he shouldn't cross — and a peeping tom who likes her undies.
Meanwhile, new regulars keep showing up at the diner, especially that gorgeous man Janey is too attracted to. The heat that man gives off… A heat that terrifies her even as it pulls her in.
And perhaps gods can only be killed by other gods, but they can be trapped…
The Characters
Janey Doerr, a.k.a., Charley or Dutch, woke up in Sleepy Hollow, in an alley. Her real name is Elle-Ryn-Ahleethia, a Val-Eth. Artemis is the ghost of a Rottweiler who showed up after Janey woke up.
The gorgeous Reyes Farrow, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is one of the new regulars, eating at the diner three times a day and later gets hired as a cook. Some of the other "new" regulars include the ripped Garrett and Osh, a very young man who wears a top hat. Angel is a young Hispanic and the first ghost Janey hears. Beep, Elwyn Alexandra, is the baby Charley and Reyes had — the Ravager. Gemma is on vacation in Sleepy Hollow. Aunt Lil is hanging about.
Sleepy Hollow is…
…where Charley ended up. Officer Ian Jeffries feels a proprietary air towards Janey. Mable is Janey's neighbor with the car; Stan is her great-nephew. James is the homeless guy who lives across the street from Janey. Irma is a ghost who was there when Janey rented her apartment.
The Firelight Grill is…
…where Janey works as a waitress. Dixie is the boss. Sumi, Thiago, Reyes, and Frazier are line cooks; Lewis is a busboy (he plays bass in a metal band, Something Like a Dude, and is in love with Francie); Francie, Brenda, Shayla (who loves Lewis), and Erin (she HATES Janey) have been waitresses there for a while; and, Cookie Kowalski-Davidson just started working as a waitress a couple days ago, providing lots of comic relief. (Robert, a.k.a., Bobert, is her new husband.)
One of the regulars, Bernard Pettigrew is a decorated war veteran and a retired NYPD detective. The dead stripper sitting next to him is Helen Bedd, a woman whose life he'd saved a year ago.
A terrific artist, Erin has lost two babies: Hailey and Carrie, and she's worried about baby Hannah. Billy is Erin's worried husband. Great-aunt Novalee Smeets died in the thirties or forties after spending most of her life in a nuthouse. Delbert Smeets, the mayor, had been her husband who had gotten her locked up.
William Vandenberg, a.k.a., Mr. V, runs an antiques shop across the street from the diner. Nathalie is his wife; Joseph and Jasmine are their kids. Ellen is one of his customers. Mrs. Udesky. Jeremiah Kubrick is Dixie's ex-father-in-law and likes to peek into windows with his telescope. Herb Wassermann is the best handyman in town. Doc Emmett has a place in Lake Oscawana. Hershel is a jerk and came to the diner with Mark. Klava Pajari and Ilya Zolnerowich are retired FSB agents who work a drycleaning shop. Kit Carson is an FBI special agent.
Ana Matias died of breast cancer but hasn't yet passed on. Benito Matias is, was, her husband, a famous cavaleiro. Henry had been an actor re-creating a scene from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Gale Force has been the horse he was riding. Creepy Decomposing Lady looks like Erin's daughter. Dead Guy tries to help Charley in the warehouse.
Some guy named Rocket is freaking out. Janet was the first. Tamala Dreyer was another. Elaine Oak is a blogger who claims she's married to Reyes Farrow. Michael is an archangel sent by Father Jehovah.
Earl James Walker is still alive. Kuur, an expert assassin and emissary from Lucifer's army, is the demon. God glass is a jewel-like pendant that allows a god to see a dimension only accessible through that glass.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a radial gradient background with a toasty deep brown on top and bottom merging into a brighter orange center. Quite appropriate for a diner, there are two white diner cups of cocoa with white skulls floating on a background of cocoa powder — the cup on the right has a lipstick print. I reckon it's Charley's cup, *grin* The title is in an embossed yellow with the author's name in white.
The title tells us where we are in the series, The Dirt on Ninth Grave.
My Take
This was fun, if a bit frustrating. I appreciated Jones slipping Charley's friends into town, but I wish she'd played this a bit more, more interaction between Charley and the others and have her become more confused about who these people are. The bits between Charley and Cookie and Reyes were good, and I do wish we'd had more like that between the others.
That, however, is minor, although her wishy-washyness about breaking up with Ian drove me nuts. Just do it!
I hadn't thought about how Charley would react to seeing ghosts after she'd lost her memory. Jones' take on it was good, but what made it better was Charley's crazy sense of humor. It's there, but…weak — a great bit of show that helped us "get" how lost Charley is. I am not sure about why she had Charley sound so stupid, though. Cookie has told "Janey" that Robert is a detective in New Mexico, and Janey thinks Robert speaks English really well for a detective from a Latin American country *eye roll*.
Okay, the stunt Janey cooked up to bring Lewis to Francie's attention was a trademark Charley, lol.
That crazy stalker who's after Janey…whew… I'm surprised he still has his job! As for the being-held-prisoner scene… Crack. Me. Up. Between Charley complimenting her successive killers and nagging the ghost who wants to save her…you'll break up, too. Well, until Walker reveals what he intends to do to Charley.
Breaking, entering, exorcising, a great T-shirt ("Save a Virgin. Do Me Instead!"), an archangel with a bad deal… It may be a bridge novel, but what a bridge!
The Story
With no memory of her previous life, Jane Doerr is taken aback by the ghosts who show up and the amazing colors and places she can see that no one else can. Yet her own plight doesn't blind her to that of others as she helps a woman cursed to lose her babies, a storekeeper whose family is held hostage, lonely neighbors, a cop who doesn't understand that line he shouldn't cross — and a peeping tom who likes her undies.
Meanwhile, new regulars keep showing up at the diner, especially that gorgeous man Janey is too attracted to. The heat that man gives off… A heat that terrifies her even as it pulls her in.
And perhaps gods can only be killed by other gods, but they can be trapped…
The Characters
Janey Doerr, a.k.a., Charley or Dutch, woke up in Sleepy Hollow, in an alley. Her real name is Elle-Ryn-Ahleethia, a Val-Eth. Artemis is the ghost of a Rottweiler who showed up after Janey woke up.
The gorgeous Reyes Farrow, a.k.a., Rey'aziel, is one of the new regulars, eating at the diner three times a day and later gets hired as a cook. Some of the other "new" regulars include the ripped Garrett and Osh, a very young man who wears a top hat. Angel is a young Hispanic and the first ghost Janey hears. Beep, Elwyn Alexandra, is the baby Charley and Reyes had — the Ravager. Gemma is on vacation in Sleepy Hollow. Aunt Lil is hanging about.
Sleepy Hollow is…
…where Charley ended up. Officer Ian Jeffries feels a proprietary air towards Janey. Mable is Janey's neighbor with the car; Stan is her great-nephew. James is the homeless guy who lives across the street from Janey. Irma is a ghost who was there when Janey rented her apartment.
The Firelight Grill is…
…where Janey works as a waitress. Dixie is the boss. Sumi, Thiago, Reyes, and Frazier are line cooks; Lewis is a busboy (he plays bass in a metal band, Something Like a Dude, and is in love with Francie); Francie, Brenda, Shayla (who loves Lewis), and Erin (she HATES Janey) have been waitresses there for a while; and, Cookie Kowalski-Davidson just started working as a waitress a couple days ago, providing lots of comic relief. (Robert, a.k.a., Bobert, is her new husband.)
One of the regulars, Bernard Pettigrew is a decorated war veteran and a retired NYPD detective. The dead stripper sitting next to him is Helen Bedd, a woman whose life he'd saved a year ago.
A terrific artist, Erin has lost two babies: Hailey and Carrie, and she's worried about baby Hannah. Billy is Erin's worried husband. Great-aunt Novalee Smeets died in the thirties or forties after spending most of her life in a nuthouse. Delbert Smeets, the mayor, had been her husband who had gotten her locked up.
William Vandenberg, a.k.a., Mr. V, runs an antiques shop across the street from the diner. Nathalie is his wife; Joseph and Jasmine are their kids. Ellen is one of his customers. Mrs. Udesky. Jeremiah Kubrick is Dixie's ex-father-in-law and likes to peek into windows with his telescope. Herb Wassermann is the best handyman in town. Doc Emmett has a place in Lake Oscawana. Hershel is a jerk and came to the diner with Mark. Klava Pajari and Ilya Zolnerowich are retired FSB agents who work a drycleaning shop. Kit Carson is an FBI special agent.
Ana Matias died of breast cancer but hasn't yet passed on. Benito Matias is, was, her husband, a famous cavaleiro. Henry had been an actor re-creating a scene from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Gale Force has been the horse he was riding. Creepy Decomposing Lady looks like Erin's daughter. Dead Guy tries to help Charley in the warehouse.
Some guy named Rocket is freaking out. Janet was the first. Tamala Dreyer was another. Elaine Oak is a blogger who claims she's married to Reyes Farrow. Michael is an archangel sent by Father Jehovah.
Earl James Walker is still alive. Kuur, an expert assassin and emissary from Lucifer's army, is the demon. God glass is a jewel-like pendant that allows a god to see a dimension only accessible through that glass.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a radial gradient background with a toasty deep brown on top and bottom merging into a brighter orange center. Quite appropriate for a diner, there are two white diner cups of cocoa with white skulls floating on a background of cocoa powder — the cup on the right has a lipstick print. I reckon it's Charley's cup, *grin* The title is in an embossed yellow with the author's name in white.
The title tells us where we are in the series, The Dirt on Ninth Grave.
lakea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yodamom's review against another edition
5.0
Felling silent for now, waiting for # 10
Bittersweet.
Charlie, was so lost in this book, but still held her sense of humor and care for others. In the last book she lost so much, it is amazing that she is still alive. She feels alone but the strangers around her are not who she thinks they are. She is never truly alone. My heart broke for her, Reyes, Cookie and her family. Charlie is one of my favorite characters it's hard watching her suffer. it had to be done, she had to walk through the dark to continue walking in this realm.
OMG what a cliffhanger ! Where is book 10 ? I need it. NEED
Bittersweet.
Charlie, was so lost in this book, but still held her sense of humor and care for others. In the last book she lost so much, it is amazing that she is still alive. She feels alone but the strangers around her are not who she thinks they are. She is never truly alone. My heart broke for her, Reyes, Cookie and her family. Charlie is one of my favorite characters it's hard watching her suffer. it had to be done, she had to walk through the dark to continue walking in this realm.
OMG what a cliffhanger ! Where is book 10 ? I need it. NEED
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
The Dirt on Ninth Grave by Darynda Jones is the ninth book in the Charley Davidson series. It Sleepy Hollow, New York the Firelight Grill has a new employee named Janey Doerr (aka Charlotte “Charley” Davidson). Jane Doe was too boring and normal so she changed it up a little. Charley has amnesia and does not remember who she is. She woke up behind the diner four weeks ago with memory. Charley has special abilities (she can see the dead, see aura, and can tell if someone is lying are a few of them), but she does not understand how they work. She is also afraid to tell anyone (for fear of what they will think). Charley is lucky to have made a good friend in fellow worker Cookie (and her husband, Bob). The diner gets a new cook. One of the regulars, Reyes Alexander Farrow has just been hired, and Charley is very attracted to him. Charley is not sure she should act on the attraction (he also infuriates her). Then Charley notices something strange going on at Mr. Vandenberg’s antique store. Charley discovers that some Middle Eastern men are holding Mr. Vandenberg and his family hostage so they can use his storeroom (to drill a tunnel into a dry cleaners). Charley sets out to help him. Will Charley be able to help the Vandenberg’s? Will she ever get her memory back (and why did she lose it) and what happens when she does?
I have not read any of the books in this series before, and I discovered that is a detriment. You really do need to read the other books in the Charley Davidson series in order to understand everything going on in The Dirt on Ninth Grave (or just to understand the book). I thought the book was okay. There is a lot of foul language and sex (talk and act) with very little mystery. The first twenty percent of the book is basically Charley admiring Reyes (how handsome, sexy, hot, etc.) and the other guys that are regulars at the diner. There is no action (the book does not move forward at all). The book picks up pace in the last forty percent (if you make it that far). I give Dirt on Ninth Grave 3 out of 5 stars. The idea is good, but I was just not a fan (I think I will have to go back and read the other books in the series—at least the first book). The Dirt on Ninth Grave reads more like an erotic novel than a paranormal mystery book.
I received a complimentary copy of Dirt on Ninth Grave from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-dirt-on-ninth-grave.html
I have not read any of the books in this series before, and I discovered that is a detriment. You really do need to read the other books in the Charley Davidson series in order to understand everything going on in The Dirt on Ninth Grave (or just to understand the book). I thought the book was okay. There is a lot of foul language and sex (talk and act) with very little mystery. The first twenty percent of the book is basically Charley admiring Reyes (how handsome, sexy, hot, etc.) and the other guys that are regulars at the diner. There is no action (the book does not move forward at all). The book picks up pace in the last forty percent (if you make it that far). I give Dirt on Ninth Grave 3 out of 5 stars. The idea is good, but I was just not a fan (I think I will have to go back and read the other books in the series—at least the first book). The Dirt on Ninth Grave reads more like an erotic novel than a paranormal mystery book.
I received a complimentary copy of Dirt on Ninth Grave from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-dirt-on-ninth-grave.html
zaza_bdp's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 ⭐
Wahou quel tome ! Vu la façon dont se terminait le tome 8, j'appréhendais un peu de lire celui-ci, je me demandais vraiment comment Darynda Jones (et Charley !) allait s'en sortir après un tel retournement de scénario ...
Eh bien le résultat est largement à la hauteur du choc de ce cliffhanger de malheur ! Je me suis tout bonnement régalée avec ce tome, j'ai souri, j'ai ri, j'ai eu les larmes aux yeux, j'ai flippé comme c'est pas possible à un moment donné, et Reyes a encore une fois fait battre mon coeur très fort.
C'est marrant parce que Charley, même amnésique, reste Charley. Tout ce qui fait l'essence de sa personnalité reste intact. Sous l'identité de Janey, on retrouve la même générosité, le même sens de l'humour, la même obsession pour le café, la même manie de donner des noms aux objets qui l'entourent ... et le même côté casse-cou/tête brûlée qui m'a parfois tant agacée dans les tomes précédents.
Aux côtés de Charley, toute la bande est là (à quelques exceptions près) et c'est très touchant de les voir la guider tout en douceur, être toujours là pour elle. Et elle, alors qu'elle ne les "connaît" pas, va se lier d'amitié avec eux, se rapprocher d'eux exactement de la même manière que lorsqu'elle était Charley. Les autres personnages secondaires nouvellement introduits sont tout aussi sympathiques que ceux que l'on connaît déjà, j'ai notamment bien apprécié le mari d'Erin (lol, la touche avec sa serviette et sa poêle !), et tous les gens qui travaillent au café. Oh et puis bon, ce décor de Sleepy Hollow et ce cameo d'un célèbre cavalier vaut aussi des points !
Côté intrigue et action, on peut dire que ça déménage (même si j'ai trouvé que l'intrigue liée aux Vanderberg était un peu confuse), et fait même parfois carrément flipper !! Et côté romance, snif ... que c'était beau et touchant ...
Wahou quel tome ! Vu la façon dont se terminait le tome 8, j'appréhendais un peu de lire celui-ci, je me demandais vraiment comment Darynda Jones (et Charley !) allait s'en sortir après un tel retournement de scénario ...
Eh bien le résultat est largement à la hauteur du choc de ce cliffhanger de malheur ! Je me suis tout bonnement régalée avec ce tome, j'ai souri, j'ai ri, j'ai eu les larmes aux yeux, j'ai flippé comme c'est pas possible à un moment donné, et Reyes a encore une fois fait battre mon coeur très fort.
C'est marrant parce que Charley, même amnésique, reste Charley. Tout ce qui fait l'essence de sa personnalité reste intact. Sous l'identité de Janey, on retrouve la même générosité, le même sens de l'humour, la même obsession pour le café, la même manie de donner des noms aux objets qui l'entourent ... et le même côté casse-cou/tête brûlée qui m'a parfois tant agacée dans les tomes précédents.
Aux côtés de Charley, toute la bande est là (à quelques exceptions près) et c'est très touchant de les voir la guider tout en douceur, être toujours là pour elle. Et elle, alors qu'elle ne les "connaît" pas, va se lier d'amitié avec eux, se rapprocher d'eux exactement de la même manière que lorsqu'elle était Charley. Les autres personnages secondaires nouvellement introduits sont tout aussi sympathiques que ceux que l'on connaît déjà, j'ai notamment bien apprécié le mari d'Erin (lol, la touche avec sa serviette et sa poêle !), et tous les gens qui travaillent au café. Oh et puis bon, ce décor de Sleepy Hollow et ce cameo d'un célèbre cavalier vaut aussi des points !
Côté intrigue et action, on peut dire que ça déménage (même si j'ai trouvé que l'intrigue liée aux Vanderberg était un peu confuse), et fait même parfois carrément flipper !! Et côté romance, snif ... que c'était beau et touchant ...
mimikins34's review against another edition
4.0
I’m just committed to finishing this series at this point.
missnatalieann's review against another edition
5.0
Had some love/hate with this one (mostly love).
Loved: The love.
"I’ve loved you for a thousand years," I said, because it seemed true.
“There, written in French, were the words Je t’ai aimée pendant mille et un. –R. I stilled. Read it again. And again. Je t’ai aimée pendant mille et un. –R. I’ve loved you for a thousand and one. –R.”
“No offense, but what on earth could I ask of you that would be a great hardship?” His gaze rested on my mouth before making its way to my eyes again. “You could ask for the world, and then where would civilization be when I conquered it and laid it at your feet?”
Loved: The humorous chapter headings.
"Alex, I’ll take The Slightly Less Traumatic Life for $400.—JEOPARDY! CONTESTANT"
"I have seen things. Awful things. Empty coffee cup things.—T-SHIRT"
Also loved: The narrator, Lorelei King. I've listened to this entire series on audio, Lorelei is fantastic!
Hated: Janey and her damn amnesia. I don't like amnesia story lines. I hate knowing all the things the character used to know and no longer does. But it didn't stop me from loving this book.
After Eighth Grave After Dark I had to take a break from this series to recoup and gather up my strength to carry on. Eight was intense. Nine was a restart. As much as I didn't like the Amnesia storyline it did change things up a bit. It was a new setting with new rules. Thankfully all our favorite characters moved about 2,000 miles (give or take a few) to remain part of Charley's new life. Charley was still herself in the basic sense: her need to help others, her delightfully crude sense of humor, and of course her ability to see the departed. I felt this was more of an internal journey for her to figure out who she was instead of trying to figure out who (or what) Reyes was. It was a nice change of pace, but I am happy (minor spoiler, but not really) she gets her memories back. Can't wait to start The Curse of Tenth Grave and see what trouble Charley gets into next!
Loved: The love.
"I’ve loved you for a thousand years," I said, because it seemed true.
“There, written in French, were the words Je t’ai aimée pendant mille et un. –R. I stilled. Read it again. And again. Je t’ai aimée pendant mille et un. –R. I’ve loved you for a thousand and one. –R.”
“No offense, but what on earth could I ask of you that would be a great hardship?” His gaze rested on my mouth before making its way to my eyes again. “You could ask for the world, and then where would civilization be when I conquered it and laid it at your feet?”
Loved: The humorous chapter headings.
"Alex, I’ll take The Slightly Less Traumatic Life for $400.—JEOPARDY! CONTESTANT"
"I have seen things. Awful things. Empty coffee cup things.—T-SHIRT"
Also loved: The narrator, Lorelei King. I've listened to this entire series on audio, Lorelei is fantastic!
Hated: Janey and her damn amnesia. I don't like amnesia story lines. I hate knowing all the things the character used to know and no longer does. But it didn't stop me from loving this book.
After Eighth Grave After Dark I had to take a break from this series to recoup and gather up my strength to carry on. Eight was intense. Nine was a restart. As much as I didn't like the Amnesia storyline it did change things up a bit. It was a new setting with new rules. Thankfully all our favorite characters moved about 2,000 miles (give or take a few) to remain part of Charley's new life. Charley was still herself in the basic sense: her need to help others, her delightfully crude sense of humor, and of course her ability to see the departed. I felt this was more of an internal journey for her to figure out who she was instead of trying to figure out who (or what) Reyes was. It was a nice change of pace, but I am happy (minor spoiler, but not really) she gets her memories back. Can't wait to start The Curse of Tenth Grave and see what trouble Charley gets into next!
april_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75