Book 04: Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
Where the first book focused on how Harper Collins dealt with the emotional disruption caused by her abilities, the second book focuses on how her abilities affect the people around her. The narrative is tightly focused and brilliantly executed. Yet again the Harris is able to create another moving scene where the characters are fully revealed to the reader. The premise is dark and chilling, much like the weather in the novel. The more we experience Harper’s connection with the dead, the further we see into the darkness in the human condition. Rating: A.
Book 05: Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson
As I suspected, book two in the series exists to create the back story necessary for this novel. I found it to have far fewer moments of true hilarity than the previous two. The plot was not necessarily obvious. You knew who the “bad guys” were but you weren’t really certain what it was they were doing until the very end. Ironically, for someone trying to mess around with the Disney mermaid motif we ended with a happily ever after scene. That being said the series did portray Fred as a decidedly different Mermaid, sorry, Undersea Folk. A fun read but only if you’ve finished your other fun stuff. Rating: C
Book 06: An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris
Despite being the darkest of all the plots thus far, the third book in the series begins the process of displaying the light that can be created through Harper’s abilities. We see the characters involved moving past resentment and anger. The clients are grateful despite the horrors that are found. The human condition has both sides, good and evil. I will admit that I preferred the previous two books but that is more due to the poignant moment revolving around romantic rather than emotional revelations. I still feel that the series is a very worthwhile read and I am looking forward to the next installment. Once again I am impressed by the tight focus and narrative style. It continues the interesting weather motifs that have been building throughout the series yet momentarily juxtaposes the light and dark emotional moments of the human condition with the dark and light weather moments [Aside: This sounds clunky because I’m trying to write spoiler free. I’m seriously debating creating a literary essay for the first time in years, a shocking development seeing as I feel wretched about my abilities in that regard, based on the weather motifs in the novel]. Rating: A