Graveyard Dog: A Charley Davidson Novella

A 1001 Dark Nights Standalone

De: Darynda Jones

Narrado por: Traci Odom

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Darynda Jones comes a new story in her Charley Davidson series.

Michael Cavalcante has one thing on his mind when he knocks on Izzabel Walsh's door at two in the morning, half-dressed and a bit toasted: fix the woman's heater and get back to bed. He vows never to cover for his maintenance tech again, especially after he gets tased and knocked out with a frying pan for his efforts.

Izzy thought she was safe. She'd dyed her hair, changed her name, and moved 1,500 miles away, and still, they found her. When a member of her ex's motorcycle club knocks on her door in the middle of the night, supposedly to fix a perfectly good heater, Izzy panics. Not only have they found her, but they would soon discover she has a daughter. AKA a weakness. AKA leverage. She needs time to think. To plan. To figure out how to keep the sexy Neanderthal quiet. But she has no idea how short of murder. Can she win him over to her side? Or will he be just like all the others once he finds out what she is capable of?

Michael has one chance to convince Izzy he doesn't want to harm her or her daughter, but more than that, he wants to know who does. And why. And where he can find them. After all, how else is he going to make sure the two sprites, who have wound their way into his heart, are safe?

Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new listeners, it's an introduction to an author's world. For fans, it's a bonus book in the author's series.

©2024 Darynda Jones (P)2025 Podium Audio

If only this was longer.....:(

4.5 Stars 🌟

While this is a standalone novella, it is really part of an overarching storyline in the world created by Ms. Darynda Jones. I still think that you can read it on its own and it will make sense, but you will be missing SO MUCH in the grand scheme of things and honestly, there is so much more to the story if you truly understand the world and the characters involved.

With that being said - Beep, otherwise known as the daughter of Charley and Reyes ( let's just say that they are not your normal every day parents, or for that matter, let's call them parents who are each in their own right "Extremely powerful" in the supernatural world - no spoilers) Anyway, Beep, who is now 14 years old going on 40, is beginning to exert some of those powers that she was born with. It appears that she is beginning to find and recruit her "army" for the war to come (SEE, this is why the back stories are so important). Anyway, unbeknownst to anyone else, one of her friends/protectors Michael Cavalcante was manipulated into knocking on the door of one of his tenants at 2:00 in the morning. Granted, he was not really a landlord, but Beep had persuaded him that he needed to buy a building because of....taxes, investments...I don't really remember. Either does he- but he bought the building. So, he's this new landlord, and knocks on the door to a tenant supposedly needing emergency help, only to discover that the call was a farce. BUT, in the course of their meeting, he discovers that Izzabel Walsh is in some kind of trouble.

Izzy also has a 5 year old daughter Emma and something about the two of them immediately provokes his protective instincts. Things then explode when an event occurs with little Emma and she is rushed to the hospital. Michael can feel himself becoming completely invested when things take another awful turn. That is only the beginning. It becomes apparent that both Emma and her mother both have "special skills" and it just so happens that Michael is fully aware that such things exist in the world - heck, he was recruited to fight in Beep's army and has been by her side since she was a baby so nothing suprises him.

Izzy, on the other hand, has lost the ability to trust because she has been used by people who were supposed to love her for her entire life - all because of her ability. Her only goal in life is to protect and hide her daughter from those who would take them and use them - and not for the side of good. She is shocked when Michael believes her immediately, with no qualms or doubts. The story takes off from there.

First of all, I LOVE this world that Ms. Jones has created and while we really didn't get to see Charley or Reyes in this one, there was a brief fly by with Beep (well, actually a couple). I absolutely LOVED this story and the introduction of these new people. It is also exciting to add two more people (three I guess if you count the other being sharing Emma's life with her) who will be joining our wonderful and crazy motley crew.

As usual, I listened to this on audio and the one thing that kept this from being perfect for me was the change in narrators. To me, Lorelei King has just been the voice for this series since the beginning. She is the voice I hear in my head. This time this novella was narrated by Traci Odom. While Ms. Odom didn't do a terrible job (she did fine) it just wasn't the same. Even silly things like reading the funny memes at the beginning of each chapter- which happens to be one of my ABSOLUTE favorite things - IYKYK - they were just..... well,..... flat. I can't think of another way to explain it. Those chapter beginnings are usually hilarious and definitely meant to be read with the snark and dry wit that Ms. Jones definitely intended,

Other than that, I was sorry when this story it ended. Yes, it was only a novella, but boy, I would have loved another 100 pages or so as they always fly by so fast (That is a complement)

Now the wait begins for the next book. Things are definitely heating up and oh my goodness, Beep is growing up WAY too fast.

character chemistry

Is a good short story and left you wanting more. . Hopefully there will be more Charle stories.

So nice to visit with some of the gang

It was so nice to visit with the boys again I’m hopping the next will be with everyone and it’s very long and all the fun the whole series has been!

Glimpse of Charley Davison

I enjoyed this tiny glimpse into the world of much missed Charley Davison. Always wanting more, and waiting for this war that is still to happen. I enjoyed the audio narration. I highly recommend all things Darynda Jones.

Another great Charlie Davidson

I am really enjoying the little snippets of lives of those around Beep. Can’t wait to see the army fully assembled.