Charley Davidson, Book 9
Synopsis: In a small village in New York lives Jane Doe, a girl with no memory of who she is or where she came from. So when she is working at a diner and slowly begins to realize she can see dead people, she’s more than a little taken aback. Stranger still are the people entering her life. They seem to know things about her. Things they hide with lies and half-truths. Soon, she senses something far darker. A force that wants to cause her harm, she is sure of it. Her saving grace comes in the form of a new friend she feels she can confide in and the fry cook, a devastatingly handsome man whose smile is breathtaking and touch is scalding. He stays close, and she almost feels safe with him around.
But no one can outrun their past, and the more lies that swirl around her—even from her new and trusted friends—the more disoriented she becomes, until she is confronted by a man who claims to have been sent to kill her. Sent by the darkest force in the universe. A force that absolutely will not stop until she is dead. Thankfully, she has a Rottweiler. But that doesn’t help in her quest to find her identity and recover what she’s lost. That will take all her courage and a touch of the power she feels flowing like electricity through her veins. She almost feels sorry for him. The devil in blue jeans. The disarming fry cook who lies with every breath he takes. She will get to the bottom of what he knows if it kills her. Or him. Either way.
Review: How not to look forward to each new Charley Davidson book when I’ve already read and devoured the first 8 volumes of the saga. The author manages to wherever propel us into her world and to keep us in suspense from beginning to end. Of course, this time, the story is somewhat different from what we usually read, but it does not change the pleasure to find again the characters of the story.
As we knew it at the end of the previous book, Charley is now amnesia and we find her here under the name of Janey. Janey is working in a restaurant as a waitress and somehow tries to discover who she really is and to understand what happened to her (something very difficult elsewhere). Despite her condition, she is always surrounded by her present family or friends evolving around her but never telling her the truth, hoping that she will manage alone to remember what has been taken from her. It is understandable that this is a very frustrating situation for our heroine, especially when she has the ability to determine whether a person is lying or not. So of course, as a new person in this world, we follow Janey and her discovery of the existence of the ghosts (which is pretty funny), but my favorites are the assumptions of our heroine regarding all the capabilities she has now (savant, traveler in time …). And then there’s Reyes … how not to mention him? How can she forget him? We feel that there is an interest from both parties and I admit that I was impressed by the patience of our man in this situation. Yes, he will leave Charley her free arbitrator, whether she chooses him once again or not. It’s not easy but he holds good and wait for her to do a first step towards him. It’s also pretty impressive that despite her lack of memories to see that Charley remains Charley. Without knowing more about the ghosts, or her skills, she does not hesitate to help those who aren’t really nice with her. This is also why we follow a ghost story where babies die strangely before their one year old, or a pretty terrible kidnapping in which the young woman will be involved much more than expected.
It was a nice novel and I think it’s perfect for the fans of the series. Besides, I think we can speak of it as a volume of transition and I’m curious now to be able to get into the next one. Indeed, the plot itself does not advance greatly but it is fun to see everyone again and as well as seeing them evolve together in the hope that the girl will remember them. The end takes an unexpected detour and it’s true that I’m curious to see how such a decision will impact the lives of our little couple.
You will therefore understand that it’s a novel that we follow with pleasure and it makes us wait for the next one!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I’ve only read the first book in this series so far, Melliane, so I quickly skimmed your review so I won’t be spoiled 🙂 I’m glad it’s still going strong 🙂
Melliane
You need to try more, it’s a really great series!
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons
I’m so glad to see that you enjoyed this one. I’m getting it very soon on audio. I know that a lot of people were worried after the ending of 8th Grave. I had faith that Darynda Jones would pull it off. Glad to see that she did. It is a good thing we don’t have to wait too long for 10th Grave either. Yay!
Melliane
I hope the audio will be well done. Yes it was a complicated end there.
kindlemom1
I absolutely loved this! So much happens and I love her friends even more now because of it.
Melliane
Right? I agree!
Lekeisha
This is a series I plan to devour this year as well. I’ve read great things about it, so I’m excited. Great review!
Melliane
yes it’s so much fun!
blodeuedd
I have it to read from NG..but the formatting sucked so I have been waiting
Melliane
really? I didn’t have any problems with it
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Oh I didn’t know there was a new one out! She’s an author I’ve always wanted to try. 🙂
Melliane
you should! I love this series!
Aurian
Not reading this review! I am only at book 7 🙂
Melliane
soon!
kimbacaffeinate
I read this over the weekend and thought it unfolded brilliantly. Now we wait for book ten…gads!! Brilliant review 🙂
Melliane
always difficult to wait…
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
I have so much catching up to do on this series Melliane! I’ve only read the first book. Charley Davidson fail. I need to work on remedying that this year:)
Melliane
lol I hope you’ll, you won’t be disappointed!
LilyElement
I enjoyed this one too! 🙂 I skipped a few books since I had this one and saw she had amnesia so I need to catch up lol
Melliane
yes it’s a bit different in this one
Heidi
I read this during the holiday break, and I liked the laid back tone to it, and I liked watching Charley and Reyes fall in love all over again. I am eager for the next book as always.
Melliane
yes it was nice tosee all over again
Lupdilup (Loupe Duffy)
Great review Mellanie! I also love this series and looking forward to listening 🙂
melliane
I hope you’ll enjoy it as well!
ShootingStarsMag
I WILL start this series soon. Glad you really liked the latest!
melliane
you really need to!
Kim { Book Swoon }
Oh Melliane – this sounds so fun and, yet, heart touching as well as Charley must slowly recover all those lost memories. So glad you enjoyed this latest!! 🙂
melliane
yes it was really well done
Lily B
gah can’t wait /flails i need to start reading this, need to make some time recently.
Carole Rae
I didn’t notice what pattern is in the coffee cup until now. LOL Love that cover
Joy // Joyousreads
I agree, Melliane. It doesn’t make great strides towards the series’ plot, but it’s the perfect bridge for the next one!
Melliane
yes!
kara-karina
I really enjoyed it too, D.! Lovely review 🙂