Harris, Charlaine: An Ice Cold Grave

Harris, Charlaine: An Ice Cold Grave
Book Cover excerpt:

"Since the lightning snaked through the window of the trailer in Texarkana when I was fifteen, I've been able to locate corpses. Think about it. Caveman corpses, Native American corpses, the early settlers, the more recently deceased-- that's a lot of dead people, and they all let me know where their earthly remains are interred..."

Hired to find a boy gone missing in Doraville, North Carolina, Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver head there---only to discover that the boy was only one of several who had disappeared over the previous five years. All of them teenagers. All unlikely runaways.

All calling for Harper.

Harper soon finds them---eight victims, buried in the half-frozen ground, all come to an unspeakable end. Afterwards, what she most wants to do is collect her fee and get out of town ahead of the media storm that's about to descend. But when she's attacked and prevented from leaving, she reluctantly becomes a part of the investigation as she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville---knowledge that makes her the next person likely to rest in an ice cold grave...


This is the third book in this series of Harper Connelly. Ms. Harris has several other series and books out, several of which I have read and collected. The first book in this series I wasn't sure I was going to like, but rapidly did. It is refreshing to read a book where the main character finally seems to be gaining some semblance (sp) of happiness.

Harper is an intelligent young woman, who despite so many setbacks in her life (lousy parents!, separation from her younger two sisters, a missing older sister-presumed dead, probably only a high school education-can't remember exactly if she even had a college attempt, struck by lightning at 15, and the dead constantly murmuring in her head anytime she gets near where a corpse might be, no matter how long dead. With the help and support of her step-brother, she is able to stay sane and grounded. And not completely fall apart. I also like that the relationship with Tolliver grew in this book into something she needed.

This series isn't humorous like her Sookie Stackhouse books can be. This is more like her Lily Bard series (which is complete and finished as far as I know, as is the Aurora Teagarden books).

Ms. Harris is a writer to delve into. Her stand alone books I haven't tackled yet, but might. I have only read one or two of the Aurora Teagarden books, and liked them. They aren't by far my favorite, but that means nothing, as I would recommend them. The Lily Bard books are rather good too. I do wish that she would write some more in these two series, but unless sales demand it, it probably won't happen. But she is most known for her Sookie Stackhouse books, the telepath who associates with vampires, weres, and others, and has her own "fairy godmother". This series has sarcasm and wit all in it.

The Harper Connelly books are, while also "paranormal" are more about human interaction and such. Especially how the "normal" people react before and after her gift "helps" them. People want her to help them locate the dead, but look down on her and dismiss her, and sometimes out and out attack her (physically and verbally) about her "gift". Especially amongst a southern christian backdrop, where if you don't fit the accepted standards, you can be branded a "witch" or a "consort of the devil". Or some other such backwards thinking, idiotic nonsense.

I live in the south. I have seen and heard and sometimes have had personal experience with such attitudes. It doesn't impress me, nor makes me likely to come around to their way of thinking. Just the opposite, makes me go further away.

Anyway, enough of my soapbox. Read Ms Harris' books! Unless you are brain dead, you'll find something to like.