Grave Surprise

By: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

Twenty-something Harper Connelly has a gift. After being struck by lighting as a child, she discovered an eerie ability to locate the deceased.

In Memphis, skeptical Professor Nunley wants her to demonstrate her skill at an ancient cemetery. There, Harper stands atop a grave and says there are two bodies entombed: one centuries old, but the other, a young girl named Tabitha.

Her assertion holds water. Tabitha has been missing for two years - and now the police are suspicious of Harper. So with her loyal stepbrother, Tolliver, Harper begins to amass clues that will solve the case.

©2006 Charlaine Harris Inc (P)2007 Recorded Books

Amazingly different

I loved the narrator, so I disagree with the previous reviewer - but then everyone looks for something different when hearing a story.

The premise of this story was so odd - but it held me from the beginning. I liked it so much, I went back and downloaded the first one in the series - Grave Sight - and loved that one, too.

The third book, An Ice Cold Grave, is supposed to be released on September 25th- I sure hope Audible gets it right away.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Good Plot. Involving story line.

This was the first Harper Connolly book I have "read". Since I so loved the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, I was excited about starting this series. It took me just a bit to get into the story, but the storyline was good, the characters well developed and I had a hard time stopping the listen. I wanted to listen to it until it was over! The narration was not bad, but I felt it was too unemotional and made the main character seem very bland. There were some humorous remarks in the story, but they came across bland and no emotion due to the narration. All in all, I would recommend this book and the series.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Fascinated

I recently discovered the Sookie Stackhouse series and went through them so fast I was happy the author has other books. Oddly enough, I find Harper Connolly much more serious and much darker than the series where vampires are running around.
I encounter the same problem as a previous reviewer; I want to finish the entire narration at once. While I was listening to this book about 3:00 am, I hugged my dogs out of fear. I would not say the plot kept me in suspense because it is apparent, to me, whom is guilty from early in the story. It is more an ambient psychological fear that I do not have the talent to describe.
I have not been hit by lightening but I have another condition that makes me feel a connection to Harper. The example Harper Connolly provides me is a positive one - that maybe we can't all mask our oddities and blend in with the crowd but we can survive and make choices to be healthy...
I am fascinated with the author and intrigued by what background and knowledge provides the author with the talent to write such series as Sookie Stackhouse and Harper Connolly.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Cannot recommend

Although I'm a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, I can't recommend this one. First, I really didn't care for the narrator, I found her voice unpleasant and her inflections monotonous. I would never buy another book by the same narrator. The novel itself was so-so, the characters weren't very fully developed and you can see the answer to the mystery a long way off.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A nice surprise.

I really liked this story, it has interesting and likeable characters, kept me guessing and the narrator was easy to listen to. I will definately read the other books in the series and even added a Sookie Stackhous book to my wish list. I am not a paranormal fan so don't let that scare you away.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

fun

I enjoyed this story. The protagonist is unusual with her gift--it is such a novel premise. It is not extremely suspenseful but it does keep you guessing for a good portion of the novel and the characters are interesting. As an aside, it does illuminate what ANY individual faces from the general population when they are perceived as "different"--be it her gift or something more common place.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great mystery, weak main character, wonderful performance

This really is a great mystery/supernatural series. I have read the whole series in like a little appearance of man food from the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and midnight crossroad is well. But the main character really comes across as such a scared little mouse constantly. I understand the trauma that's taken place in her life but I just wish she was stronger. It's a rare time when Harris writes a weak character. And the last two books in the series really do have way too much back-and-forth with her and her stepbrother, and less mystery. But the audio performance is still wonderful. The narrator does a really great job and trying not to give away the story.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good sequel

Thoroughly pleasing sequel although I think it's capable of standing alone. It fleshes out the characters and their backgrounds and furthers their relationship. I look forward to the sequel.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Engaging mystery / easy listen.

Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a child and survived with a special ‘gift’. She can locate the dead by feel of the ground or burial spot and she can identify the cause of death – natural or unnatural. She might be able to say how a victim died but that doesn’t tell her who perpetrated the murder. Although it isn’t easy, her skills provide a career in which she is aided by her loyal stepbrother Tolliver.

Harper is challenged by a jeering college professor to show her skills to his special class. The professor becomes angry and the class is surprised as Harper successfully identifies one death after another in the old Memphis cemetery. Then Harper is shocked when she stands on a grave that reveals a child she was seeking a year before. Harper had been engaged by the parents to find the missing little girl but with few clues she was unsuccessful.

Harper and Tolliver have to deal with local and FBI authorities who look suspect at them. They also have to meet with the family members who have a range of reactions to the discovery of the body. Harper has to dig through the clues to find out how the child was buried in a different city and why events were manipulated so that she would find the body.

I liked the thought processes shared for Harper who is a well-developed, engaging character. Her relationship with her stepbrother, already an important element which affects them both, appears to be poised for a change. The skeptics are fully represented and the suspects are lined up as Ms. Harris skillfully lays out the clues to the mystery. This is different than the Sookie Stackhouse series but enjoyable for the mystery and psychic elements.

This was an easy, fairly quick listen. I would read more in this series. It was very enjoyable and I recommend it to mystery lovers who enjoy a touch of psychic with their clues.

Audio Notes: It took me a little time to get used to the narration by Alyssa Bresnahan. It seemed rather low-key initially but as it proceeded I felt the voices and subdued tone fit the spooky elements of the story. I was glad to have this in audio format for quick reading/listening.

From my TBR. My rating 4.25.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Just what one hopes for, spooky and a total joy!

I guess I am surprised on how much I have enjoyed this book and the author's writing. The characters are real and I have found myself wanting to know them even more. This is the second book, I enjoyed the first so much I went and bought this one right away. Surely the narration was a good part of why I enjoyed this book, it is excellent, and one that I look forward to with each of her books now! It is truly not light listening, but it isn't my usual book of science and mathematics, so it was a great break from my normal interest, one that I enjoyed.

Unfortunately I have attempted to either listen or read books like this, and found them just a disappointment, so when I found this such a well written book, great characters and such wonderful narration, I was very pleased with myself for trying the first one.

So if you like murder, ghosts, psychic and the paranormal, though the main character doesn't like the term "psychic", a story that weaves in and out of people lives, their motivations, their emotions and fears, then this is a good book to listen to, I believe. I am surely looking for more.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful