“An Ice Cold Grave,” by Charlaine Harris

Kolby MacLennan’s ratings:

1.      Premise 8

2.      Prose 6

3.      Plot 7

4.      Characters 7

5.      Overall 7

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The third book in the Harper Connelly series brings our protagonist on the case of a serial killer.  It keeps the flow of the previous novels but increases the suspense.  The prose is short and simple and easy to read, which is perfect for these fast reads.  The characters are interesting and Harper’s and Tolliver’s relationship continues to grow throughout this novel.  Harper’s self-pity helps define her character but does become grating during flashbacks, though the flashbacks help define the story over the course of the four novels.

FM’s ratings:

1.      Premise 9

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 10

5.      Overall 9

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Each series by Charlaine Harris is wonderful (though I have to admit, I haven’t read any of the Aurora Teagarden books yet – saving them for last!) but I have a special affinity for her darker ones, the Lily Bard Mysteries and the Harper Connelly Mysteries, of which this book is the third.  Interesting is the timing in this series of the first sex scene; a little more than halfway through third book out of four.  I usually dislike sex scenes in novels.  Not because I’m prudish – far from it – but because they seem like unnecessary baggage that doesn’t add anything to the plot.  The magnificent J. D. Robb novels about Eve Dallas always include a sex scene or two or three with her husband, and although they don’t detract, they certainly don’t add much.  A play-by-play of who sticks what where is about as interesting as a play-by-play of a golf tournament.  I can sort of see why some people might like to watch – but reading about it??  I just don’t get it.  (And the fact that there is an entire genre dedicated to it is absolutely absurd to me!)  But here, we have a situation where the couple have been raised as brother and sister – even though there is no common blood line, both having two completely different parents – and have been traveling together for years around the country, working together, each afraid that the other might be weirded out if they discover they love the other one.  The breakthrough scene is beautifully rendered, and the resulting sex scene is beautiful as a result.  I find myself so drawn in by this series that I might actually re-read them all someday.  I don’t think any other series can make that claim on me – this one just really hits a nerve.