Review: Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson, #5)

Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson, #5
Release date: July 11th 2013
Publisher: Piatkus
Paperback, 304 pages
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: The Book Depository

The fifth in this fun and sexy New York Times bestselling paranormal series...

Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she has vowed to stay away from him until she can find out the truth.

However, when dead women start appearing in her apartment—lost, confused and terrified beyond reason—Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes' help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister, Gemma, is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who orwhat came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her—body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she might be willing to pay...

BREAKING NEWS:
Reyes Alexander Farrow, the prodigal son of Satan and self-appointed protector of the grim reaper, one Ms. Charlotte Jean Davidson, has been seen laughing in public and showing all signs of an actual sense of humor. This unexpected display of real human emotions has caused an uproar in all of New Mexico. Female residents of Albuquerque have stopped all their activities and rushed to witness this miracle. Traffic has yet to return to normal.

Darlings, if you liked Reyes before now, by the time you finish Fifth Grave Past the Light, you are going to be hopelessly in love, but don’t worry your pretty little heads over it. You won’t be alone in your misery. I always thought Reyes was too otherworldly and untouchable to serve as a proper book boyfriend, but in Fifth Grave, Darynda really took him a step further. She took him well past his usual glowering and threatening and added humor and just a touch of vulnerability. The end result is a more human, approachable Reyes, finally Charley’s match not just in otherworldly matters (and, ummm, in bed), but in day to day things as well.

He quirked a brow. “How would you like your eggs?”I tried. I really did. But I glanced at his crotch and it came out anyway. “Fertlized?”

I dare say that Fifth Grave represents a turning point for this series, and I’m very hopeful Darynda will keep threading the road she took. We are finally offered some real answers about the nature of Charley’s powers, a progress has been made between her and Reyes, and things are coming together exactly as they should. That’s not to say life with Charley is about to become boring, though. She is still a huge magnet for trouble, and she still handles things in her usual hilarious manner, but under slightly different circumstances.

The old gang is still in full swing, but some new characters are introduced as well, two of them very promising and I hope we’ll see more of them in future installments. I’m not a fan of love triangles, but I love the situation that is slowly forming between Cookie, Garrett and Uncle Bob. Cookie deserves all the male attention she can get.

Darynda and Charley have warmed my heart and forced me to laugh myself into stitches more times than I can count. Both of them deserve their extremely loyal fanbase, of which I am a proud member. Wherever we go from here, I have no doubt it will be endlessly entertaining.