"Grave Sight" by Charlaine Harris

Here's my fourth and final book review for today. I have not read a single review of ANY of this series, so this is completely new to me and I have no idea what is in store for me in this series, but I got a lot of first impressions.

The book is "Grave Sight" by Charlaine Harris and is book #1 of her "Harper Connelly Mysteries" series. This series is about Harper the heroine who was struck by lightning during her childhood (dead her step brother Tolliver did CPR and brought her back). The lightning strike gave Harper the ability to local dead people and know how they died - it also gave her a weird spiderwebish scar on her leg that sometimes aches her. Harper Connelly is a no nonsense young woman who uses her unusual gift for a profit. She figures why should she work for free when people will pay for her ability like they'd pay anyone else for a service. Unfortunately, most people don't share Harper's view, and while they use her for her 'gift' they also don't like her and treat her like the plague or some evil creature from the pits of hell. Some even try to kill her, while others just want to beat her up or stone her.

Tolliver travels with Harper as her sort of manager. He locates the jobs and makes sure Harper is protected. I have only read book one, and while these two have their own dating and sex lives, I have to say I was getting a VC Andrews 'Flowers in the Attic' feeling ALL through this book. My guess is step brother Tolliver and step sister Harper are going to end up in bed together. They met as teens when their parents (attorneys) married so there is no blood relation between them, but they tell people they are simply brother and sister. There is no sexual tension between them, no flirting or anything like that, but there is an unbeliebable bond there that no outsiders can break or get between. These two (I think) are destined to be with each other - just my hunch.

Now that said, they both have sex with other people in this book, and Harper even developes feelings for a local cop who helps her solve a twisted numerous murder mystery. Tolliver on the other hand, doesn't get into feelings. He's the wham-bam-thank-you-Mame guy looking only for a few hours pleasure with no strings attached. While it's not said or really indicated, I get the idea his heart was taken long ago by his step sister Harper - just a hunch here.

In book #1, Harper and Tolliver are paid to come to a small town and help locate a missing teen some believe was murdered by her boyfriend - a boyfriend who is also dead believed to be by suicide. Harper quickly locates the dead teen and another dead body no one knew about. She wants to leave but can't. Her and Tolliver become wrapped up in this towns dirty secrets of murder, lies and numerous sexual affairs and pregnancies. There are twists and turns and anyone who likes a small town mystery setting where everyone knows everyone and "good old boys" cover for each other, you'll like this one.

This is not a romance, but a mystery book and its a good one. I happen to be one of those people who LIKE cemeteries and spend free time walking around in them and photographing headstones (is that weird?), so this was a particular pleasant read for me because when Harper walks in cemeteries she can identify every buried there and their cause of death just by walking over their grave. I think that's neat - my teenager thinks it's twisted. lol

I give this 4 stars out of 5 stars and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series.