Book Review: Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris

Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in this series featuring Harper Connelly and her step-brother, Tolliver Lang.  After being struck by lightening as a teenager, Harper has the ability to find dead bodies and to determine how they die.  She’s sees their last moments, but not who did them in if it’s murder.

The books are told from Harper’s point of view and she comes across as cold and almost non-emotional.  It’s almost as if she’s just existing and not living.  Aside from jogging, everything she details from movies they watch to the books they read or listen to (when driving) there is no excitement; no sense for who Harper is as a person.  We learn even less about Tolliver.  The relationship with Tolliver, as others have mentioned, is just odd.  She almost relies on him too much.  As the book went on, I actually think the dependence is due to their less than ideal childhood.  They relied on each other then and still do.  But, you have to wonder if they should find a way to separate a bit or if Harper should be a bit more independent.  Though, I can’t say I’d recommend she travel around doing what she does alone, so that’s a little catch-22.

The mystery is good and had a twist I didn’t see coming.  However, it is set in the South and it’s almost like the author, who lives in the South, catered to every stereotype that exists for the South and I found that slightly annoying.  This is from the Sheriff to the families involved and in some respects to the resolution.

Given all of that, by the end of the book, I was wanting to know more about Harper and Tolliver.  And, after reading an excerpt from the second book, I think I’ll read and see what I think about where this series is headed.  Basically, recommended.


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