Saturday, May 21, 2011

Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris


3rd in the series featuring Harper Connelly (who finds dead bodies) and her stepbrother Tolliver

For the past several years six boys of a similar age have gone missing in the town of Doraville, North Carolina. The previous Sheriff seemed to turn a blind eye or even investigate their disappearances, claiming they were probably runaways or suicides. The new sheriff, who was deputy under the old sheriff, has always thought something was wrong. But she has run out of leads and ideas on how to locate the boys. 

Harper is brought into the picture by Twyla, the grandmother of one of the missing boys and is willing to try anything at this point. She convinces the sheriff and the other townspeople to hire and give Harper a chance. It isn't long before Harpers gifts are proven right but instead of one body - 8 total are discovered - all missing boys from the town and local areas.  Now the town has a serial killer on their hands and the truth is even more horrifying than anyone ever imagined.

The story gets even more complicated when Harper is attacked and has to be hospitilized.  Both only want to leave town but are unable to do so until Harper is stable enough to travel.  This is by far the best book of the series.  We see more development between Harper & Tolliver and see how complicated their familiy life is for them.

I've really enjoyed Charlaine Harris' books over the years and this series has been a lot of fun to read.  I find myself liking her non-Sookie Stackhouse books better and hope she continues to write more.