Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
New York : Berkley Prime Crime, 2009.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Mystery. HTML:Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver must face their family�??s troubled past in this gripping mystery from #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris. Taking a break from looking for the dead, Harper and Tolliver decide to visit the two little girls they both think of as sisters. But as they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface... To make matters worse, Tolliver learns his father is out of jail and trying to reestablish contact with other family members. Tolliver wants no part of the man�??but he may not have a choice in the matter. Soon, family secrets ensnare them both, as Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister, Cameron, so many years before. And what she finds out will change her world fo… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member eljabo
Thank goodness this is the last book in this series because Harper's relationship with her stepbrother was creeping me out. I know they're not blood relatives, but I just don't think it's a good idea to get it on with your stepbrother.
Call me crazy.
Call me crazy.
LibraryThing member BeckyJG
Grave Secret is the fourth Harper Connelly paranormal mystery from Charlaine Harris. For the uninitiated, Harper Connelly, after suffering a lightning strike at the age of 15, has the ability to sense the dead and to know how they died. She and her brother--that is to say, her stepbrother,
At the end of last installment, An Ice Cold Grave, Harper and her brother--um, stepbrother--had finally acknowledged the nature of their love for one another, overcome the ick factor, and become partners in all senses of the word. In this latest, everything they do is informed by this development in their lives--they're telling everyone they know, and most everyone is as skeeved and intrigued by the situation as I was. Some are downright disgusted, and it doesn't help matters that Harper frequently still refers to Tolliver as "my brother." And, although Harper and Tolliver don't share any blood, they do share two half sisters, the children of his father and her mother. Why, it's a regular old Southern Gothic!
Grave Secret neatly dovetails the current case, that of a wealthy Texas family that wants to learn the details of their grandfather's cause of death eight years earlier, with the trauma that drives them, the disappearance of their--rather, Harper's--sister Cameron nearly a decade before. Tolliver's father, Matthew, has been released from prison, and although his desire to connect with the son he abandoned for drugs many years earlier is both obnoxious and suspect, it helps steer the lovers closer to an understanding of the truth.
Charlaine Harris is a master craftsman, and endlessly creative (although she juggles four different series, each is distinct in tone, voice, and story from the others). She brings together the paranormal, the Gothic, and the crime aspects of her story neatly, and in a most satisfying way.
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Tolliver, who is also her manager and business partner--make a living by traveling around the country consulting for local police departments and people who want to learn the truth about the death of their loved ones.At the end of last installment, An Ice Cold Grave, Harper and her brother--um, stepbrother--had finally acknowledged the nature of their love for one another, overcome the ick factor, and become partners in all senses of the word. In this latest, everything they do is informed by this development in their lives--they're telling everyone they know, and most everyone is as skeeved and intrigued by the situation as I was. Some are downright disgusted, and it doesn't help matters that Harper frequently still refers to Tolliver as "my brother." And, although Harper and Tolliver don't share any blood, they do share two half sisters, the children of his father and her mother. Why, it's a regular old Southern Gothic!
Grave Secret neatly dovetails the current case, that of a wealthy Texas family that wants to learn the details of their grandfather's cause of death eight years earlier, with the trauma that drives them, the disappearance of their--rather, Harper's--sister Cameron nearly a decade before. Tolliver's father, Matthew, has been released from prison, and although his desire to connect with the son he abandoned for drugs many years earlier is both obnoxious and suspect, it helps steer the lovers closer to an understanding of the truth.
Charlaine Harris is a master craftsman, and endlessly creative (although she juggles four different series, each is distinct in tone, voice, and story from the others). She brings together the paranormal, the Gothic, and the crime aspects of her story neatly, and in a most satisfying way.
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LibraryThing member Violeten
Completely amazing ending to a wonderful series. Charlaine Harris is at the top of her game. The twists and turns to this book just came on coming and the reader was left, wanting more, but knowing everything there was today. This book is definitely Harris' Fur Elise.
LibraryThing member elnice
My thoughts...Let me start by saying if you have not read any books in the series, you need to go back and read Grave Sight. This series is different from the Sookie books. I would describe it as a mystery with a hint of paranormal. You may want to cover your eyes here, while I will not give away
Grave Secret picks right up where Ice Cold Grave left off. They start off on a usual job assignment that lands them in a graveyard. Where as the other books mentioned it, this last installment really got deep into Harper and Toliver's past. We learn the full extent of the abuse, neglect, and poverty they and their siblings lived through. Harper and Tolliver's quest to find their missing sister Cameron continues and they find themselves where it all began, their hometown. Charlaine Harris writes incredible strong characters. Harper shows tremendous growth in this book. She is much more dependent on herself, partially because Tolliver is unable to help her, and she changes for the better. I was satisfied at the end of the story with the characters situations and their relationships with each other.
The storyline in this book was OK. Although I was not on the edge of my seat, I was intrigued enough to keep reading. The ending came very quickly and left me shocked. It took a twist I was not expecting. The ending did feel a little abrupt and the current mystery wound up so conveniently. But overall, it was a great read and I am satisfied with the way the series ended.
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any Grave Secret spoilers, previous events may be disclosed. Grave Secret picks right up where Ice Cold Grave left off. They start off on a usual job assignment that lands them in a graveyard. Where as the other books mentioned it, this last installment really got deep into Harper and Toliver's past. We learn the full extent of the abuse, neglect, and poverty they and their siblings lived through. Harper and Tolliver's quest to find their missing sister Cameron continues and they find themselves where it all began, their hometown. Charlaine Harris writes incredible strong characters. Harper shows tremendous growth in this book. She is much more dependent on herself, partially because Tolliver is unable to help her, and she changes for the better. I was satisfied at the end of the story with the characters situations and their relationships with each other.
The storyline in this book was OK. Although I was not on the edge of my seat, I was intrigued enough to keep reading. The ending came very quickly and left me shocked. It took a twist I was not expecting. The ending did feel a little abrupt and the current mystery wound up so conveniently. But overall, it was a great read and I am satisfied with the way the series ended.
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LibraryThing member allthesedarnbooks
This is the fourth book in Harris's Harper Connelly series. It's very good, but I do suggest reading the series in order, so that the development of the characters is clear. Harper, who was hit by lightning as a teenager, has the unique ability to find and "hear" dead bodies. She travels around the
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country with her stepbrother and now lover, Tolliver. This book really delves into their troubled pasts, especially the disappearance of Harper's sister, Cameron. If you've followed the series, this book is very rewarding. Harper becomes more and more real as the book goes on, and it's a testament to Harris's abilities at an author that although I, like many of the people Harper and Tolliver meet, would normally be weirded out by the fact that they were raised as brother and sister but are now "together", for them it makes perfect sense and you really feel the need they have for one another. A great entry in what is, IMHO, tied with the Lily Bard books for Harris's best series. Four stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member teharhynn
I like that this one had a bit more conclusion for the series, but I wonder where she's going to go from here.
LibraryThing member TadAD
It was a pleasant-enough story but this is another series that it may be time to lay aside. I find that the individual stories are blurring in my mind and, a few days after I finish one, most of the details are gone...a Chinese food type of book, where I'm hungry an hour later. This is true of most
It's a good spot to pause—some of the ongoing plot lines such as the relationship between Harper and Tolliver, Harper's missing sister, as well as the as-yet-unmet family members are woven into this story and, upon reaching the final page, there are no cliff-hangers forcing you to wait for the next book.
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"formula" mystery series but seems particularly true of some, including (for me), this one.It's a good spot to pause—some of the ongoing plot lines such as the relationship between Harper and Tolliver, Harper's missing sister, as well as the as-yet-unmet family members are woven into this story and, upon reaching the final page, there are no cliff-hangers forcing you to wait for the next book.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the fourth (and surmised last) novel in the Harper Connelly mysteries series. This was a pretty good book and it tied up a lot of the mystery surrounding Harper and Tolliver's family.
In this book Harper and Tolliver are doing a job near the area they were raised in as children. During
This was a great mystery. I was a bit concerned when the beginning of the book read more like a complex soap opera than anything else. But to Harris's credit there are a lot of entangling relationships to set up at the beginning of the book. Maybe a third way through the book things really start to pick up pace as the mystery grabs hold and Harper is constantly fearing for her life.
I have always liked Tolliver and Harper's characters. They are believable and vulnerable; and yet, they do their best to be good people. I loved how Harris dealt with their evolving relationship. Harris does a good job with all of the characters in this series.
The plot was twisted and somewhat complicated. I enjoyed it. The pace of the book is definitely relentless and griping once you get past the first third. Poor Harper goes through so much over and over again. It was a well put together book, with a good pace, and a good plot.
I also enjoyed how everything was wrapped up. You get answers to most of your questions, there are a couple small unknowns left, but the book sums up everything nicely and leaves the characters in good spots. This has been a fun series to read all around and this book was no exception to that.
In this book Harper and Tolliver are doing a job near the area they were raised in as children. During
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Harper's reading she unintentionally upsets her client by revealing some unknown information about death of one of the people in the cemetery. She thinks nothing of it until someone shoots Tolliver through the window of their motel. During a visit with Tolliver's brother, Mark, they find out that their dad (Tolliver's dad, Harper's step-dad) just got let out of jail. All of these things start piling on top of each other; someone's out to kill Harper, Tolliver's dad won't leave them alone, there is a spotting of Harper's sister who went missing twelve years earlier, and Harper's most recent client is out to get some answers. Could it all be coincidence? Or is everything that is happening related?This was a great mystery. I was a bit concerned when the beginning of the book read more like a complex soap opera than anything else. But to Harris's credit there are a lot of entangling relationships to set up at the beginning of the book. Maybe a third way through the book things really start to pick up pace as the mystery grabs hold and Harper is constantly fearing for her life.
I have always liked Tolliver and Harper's characters. They are believable and vulnerable; and yet, they do their best to be good people. I loved how Harris dealt with their evolving relationship. Harris does a good job with all of the characters in this series.
The plot was twisted and somewhat complicated. I enjoyed it. The pace of the book is definitely relentless and griping once you get past the first third. Poor Harper goes through so much over and over again. It was a well put together book, with a good pace, and a good plot.
I also enjoyed how everything was wrapped up. You get answers to most of your questions, there are a couple small unknowns left, but the book sums up everything nicely and leaves the characters in good spots. This has been a fun series to read all around and this book was no exception to that.
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LibraryThing member LarissaBookGirl
Harper and Tolliver were heading to Dallas. This was not a business trip, it was personal. A visit to their sisters, and Tolliver's brother. However if making a quick stop off was going to make a very rich Lizzie Joyce very happy and also put some money in their hands then what is the harm in
Just as things had started to come together for Harper and Tolliver, their past comes back to haunt them. Although they live with the scares of their past everyday, this time their past has appeared in the form of Matthew, Toliver's father. Matthew is desperate for reconciliation with his sons; he is also stalking his daughters.
However Tolliver has just been shot and others have been murdered, although Harper maybe the real one in danger. And after all these years there is also sudden news of Cameron, Harpers missing sister. Harper is left to figure out what role if any Matthew plays in all this, or is everything that's going wrong all to do with the job they did for Lizzie Joyce?
The fourth and final book in the Harper Connelly series, Grave Secret brings Harper's story to a close tying up all the loose ends in a neat package. Harpers life while not conventional in any sense of the word is a source of mystery and intrigue. A fitting end to a short but ever so intriguing whodunit series.
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that?Just as things had started to come together for Harper and Tolliver, their past comes back to haunt them. Although they live with the scares of their past everyday, this time their past has appeared in the form of Matthew, Toliver's father. Matthew is desperate for reconciliation with his sons; he is also stalking his daughters.
However Tolliver has just been shot and others have been murdered, although Harper maybe the real one in danger. And after all these years there is also sudden news of Cameron, Harpers missing sister. Harper is left to figure out what role if any Matthew plays in all this, or is everything that's going wrong all to do with the job they did for Lizzie Joyce?
The fourth and final book in the Harper Connelly series, Grave Secret brings Harper's story to a close tying up all the loose ends in a neat package. Harpers life while not conventional in any sense of the word is a source of mystery and intrigue. A fitting end to a short but ever so intriguing whodunit series.
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LibraryThing member C.Ibarra
Grave Secret is the finale for the Harper Connelly series. Charlaine Harris did an excellent job of tying up all loose ends and taking care of unanswered questions. It was an excellent way to end the series.
LibraryThing member kayceel
In Grave Secrets, Harper and Tolliver finally learn what happened to Harper's sister (and Tolliver's stepsister), Cameron, when she disappeared eight years ago.
The two are now together as a couple, and are trying to navigate this new relationship amidst people who don't quite understand their
This one is very bleak. There are quite a few deaths, and the revelation of what happened to Cameron is startling, to say the least.
I felt like the story was a bit rushed - at least the resolution - and I get the sense that Harris is ending this series. Haven't checked into that hunch, but I'd be disappointed it that were the case. Harper and Tolliver are appealing as reluctant heroes. Having lived through hellish childhoods, neither of them are the chipper type, and the nature of Harper's job - standing over graves to experience the dead's last moments - doesn't lend itself to cheerful stories, but they're practical and caring in their own way.
I recommend the series.
The two are now together as a couple, and are trying to navigate this new relationship amidst people who don't quite understand their
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not-siblings-but-step-siblings history. When Harper's services are requested in Texas, very near their hometown, this new case coincides with Tolliver's dad'release from prison and he begins pushing Tolliver to let him back into his life, much to Tolliver's and Harper's disgust.This one is very bleak. There are quite a few deaths, and the revelation of what happened to Cameron is startling, to say the least.
I felt like the story was a bit rushed - at least the resolution - and I get the sense that Harris is ending this series. Haven't checked into that hunch, but I'd be disappointed it that were the case. Harper and Tolliver are appealing as reluctant heroes. Having lived through hellish childhoods, neither of them are the chipper type, and the nature of Harper's job - standing over graves to experience the dead's last moments - doesn't lend itself to cheerful stories, but they're practical and caring in their own way.
I recommend the series.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Love, love, loved it. Shot right through it. Lots of surprises and resolution of issues that have run through all of the books. Further development of the chief characters. Couldn't put it down once I started it, which is a contrast to the other book I'm reading, which I'm forcing myself to finish
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because I got it through the Early reviewers program. Show Less
LibraryThing member flemmily
Such a weird book with the incest factor - not really incest but Harper still calls him her brother...But enjoyable. Harper is not quite as charming as Sookie, but there is still this great southern housewife tone that I am surprised I like.
LibraryThing member rexrobotreviews
Grave Secret is the fourth and final installment of the Harper Connolly series by Charlaine Harris. This is a short and sweet series about a young woman that can sense the dead after being struck by lightning. 'Grave Secret' is a very solid conclusion to the Harper Connelly saga. We have all the
Throughout the first three books Harper struggles with the loss of her sister. She can sense the dead but has never been able to sense her sister. Is she still alive? Who killed her? Where is her body? Well, we finally learn the questions to all these answers and even unveil a few other family skeletons. I do feel a little cheated with the story Harris provided for Harper's sister Cameron... but it did wrap things up nicely and covered all aspects of the plot.
Harper and Tolliver are hired to work for the Joyce family. They have money to play with and find Harper intriguing so decide to have her read the old family cemetery plot. (Their grandfather has recently passed away and they want to know if Harper is the real thing.) She discovers that their beloved gramps has kicked the bucket in a less than natural way- and so has his caretaker. The murderer gets nervous that Harper is closer than she should be and becomes obsessed with stopping her from finding the truth. Yikes- we've got kidnappings, shootings and murders... poor Tolliver even takes a shot to the arm. As if they don't have enough going on in their lives, Tolliver's creepo dad is released from jail. They have to revisit their past in all sorts of new, painful ways. Apparently he wants to mend the fences and make things right.... but Harper assumes he has other motives. And as we know *this is a small world after all* and Harper may have found an unlikely link between her own family and the Joyces...
Now that Harper and Tolliver have finished up a job for the loaded Joyce family, they have to face their biggest challenge yet. That's right, they're coming out as a couple. This was hard for me to swallow in each novel because Harper and Tolliver used to be step-siblings. This would not have been as hard for me to swallow if Harper would not have kept accidentally referring to Tolliver as her brother. I wasn't really into where Harris took Harper's personality. I felt as if she became stranger in the previous novel as well as this one- doing things that did not fit her personality.
SO. It is completely obvious that we're seeing the last of Harper Connelly for now. We have Cameron's murder wrapped up, the situation and rifts within the Connelly/Lang family somewhat settled and last but not least- Harper and Tolliver's romantic subplot. The interconnected clues and lies are fun to play with, although some things a little far-fetched. Wait, what am I saying, this is a book where someone can sense dead people! Just like in the previous Harper books, we have some light humor and a gruesome edge. That's right, Harris likes keeping her murders gory!
I would suggest that a person read the first book in this series and decide from there whether or not to move on with these books. I don't think, by any means, that you could read this book and enjoy it much without reading the previous books first. This is a good series for those who love mystery and Charlaine Harris.
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mysteries solved and the plots wrapped up.Throughout the first three books Harper struggles with the loss of her sister. She can sense the dead but has never been able to sense her sister. Is she still alive? Who killed her? Where is her body? Well, we finally learn the questions to all these answers and even unveil a few other family skeletons. I do feel a little cheated with the story Harris provided for Harper's sister Cameron... but it did wrap things up nicely and covered all aspects of the plot.
Harper and Tolliver are hired to work for the Joyce family. They have money to play with and find Harper intriguing so decide to have her read the old family cemetery plot. (Their grandfather has recently passed away and they want to know if Harper is the real thing.) She discovers that their beloved gramps has kicked the bucket in a less than natural way- and so has his caretaker. The murderer gets nervous that Harper is closer than she should be and becomes obsessed with stopping her from finding the truth. Yikes- we've got kidnappings, shootings and murders... poor Tolliver even takes a shot to the arm. As if they don't have enough going on in their lives, Tolliver's creepo dad is released from jail. They have to revisit their past in all sorts of new, painful ways. Apparently he wants to mend the fences and make things right.... but Harper assumes he has other motives. And as we know *this is a small world after all* and Harper may have found an unlikely link between her own family and the Joyces...
Now that Harper and Tolliver have finished up a job for the loaded Joyce family, they have to face their biggest challenge yet. That's right, they're coming out as a couple. This was hard for me to swallow in each novel because Harper and Tolliver used to be step-siblings. This would not have been as hard for me to swallow if Harper would not have kept accidentally referring to Tolliver as her brother. I wasn't really into where Harris took Harper's personality. I felt as if she became stranger in the previous novel as well as this one- doing things that did not fit her personality.
SO. It is completely obvious that we're seeing the last of Harper Connelly for now. We have Cameron's murder wrapped up, the situation and rifts within the Connelly/Lang family somewhat settled and last but not least- Harper and Tolliver's romantic subplot. The interconnected clues and lies are fun to play with, although some things a little far-fetched. Wait, what am I saying, this is a book where someone can sense dead people! Just like in the previous Harper books, we have some light humor and a gruesome edge. That's right, Harris likes keeping her murders gory!
I would suggest that a person read the first book in this series and decide from there whether or not to move on with these books. I don't think, by any means, that you could read this book and enjoy it much without reading the previous books first. This is a good series for those who love mystery and Charlaine Harris.
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LibraryThing member BunnyCates
Good book. I cant believe I cried at the end, but it felt so good to have a "complete" ending to the story. This was a really good series, and I would recommend it to anyone who like mysteries, thrillers, and/or paranormal schtuff. Loved the characters and Im going to miss them.
LibraryThing member leperdbunny
Title: Grave Secret
Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
# of pages: 306
Start date:4/18
End date:4/21
Borrowed/bought: borrowed
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: A
Description of the book: In the fourth installment of the Harper Connelly series, Harper helps the Joyce
Review: Harper finally finds out what happens to her sister Cameron. There are lots of revelations about her family in this book. If you were interested in that storyline this is the book for you. I am afraid it was so well wrapped up that the author may have been trying to wrap up the series.
Author: Charlaine Harris
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
# of pages: 306
Start date:4/18
End date:4/21
Borrowed/bought: borrowed
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: A
Description of the book: In the fourth installment of the Harper Connelly series, Harper helps the Joyce
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family find out what happened to their patriarch.Review: Harper finally finds out what happens to her sister Cameron. There are lots of revelations about her family in this book. If you were interested in that storyline this is the book for you. I am afraid it was so well wrapped up that the author may have been trying to wrap up the series.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
First Line: "All right," said the straw-haired woman in the denim jacket.
Harper Connelly was struck by lightning at the age of fifteen. She survived... with an extra "gift". She can locate dead bodies and deduce the cause of death. She and her stepbrother, Tolliver, make a living from this
Harper is hired by the wealthy Joyce family to find some answers behind the death of their patriarch, Rich, but they're shocked at what Harper sees. When Harper's life is threatened, she realizes that the death of Rich Joyce may tie into her own family history. To further complicate matters, Tolliver's drug addict father is out of jail and wants a reunion. All this dredges up the pain of Harper's sister's disappearance eight years ago. Will she be able to find all the answers?
Perhaps because it has so much to do with tying up loose ends in her own past, Grave Secret is a rather somber book. Harper and Tolliver had horrible childhoods, and they've worked hard to overcome it all. Having Tolliver's father show up and bring back memories of her sister makes Harper determined to find the answers she's been looking for for over eight years.
Although I am trying to keep this review spoiler free for those who may want to read earlier books in the series, I like how Harris addresses the uneasiness readers may feel at the relationship between Harper and Tolliver by showing how other characters react.
The uneasiness I feel has nothing to do with Harper and Tolliver. It has everything to do with the continuation of the series. In another favorite series of mine written by Harris, once she said what she wanted to say about the main character, the series was finished after only five books. Harris tied up a lot of loose ends in Harper's story, but I'd still love to see a few more books about her. Let's hope Harris has more to say about this very interesting character.
Harper Connelly was struck by lightning at the age of fifteen. She survived... with an extra "gift". She can locate dead bodies and deduce the cause of death. She and her stepbrother, Tolliver, make a living from this
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gift.Harper is hired by the wealthy Joyce family to find some answers behind the death of their patriarch, Rich, but they're shocked at what Harper sees. When Harper's life is threatened, she realizes that the death of Rich Joyce may tie into her own family history. To further complicate matters, Tolliver's drug addict father is out of jail and wants a reunion. All this dredges up the pain of Harper's sister's disappearance eight years ago. Will she be able to find all the answers?
Perhaps because it has so much to do with tying up loose ends in her own past, Grave Secret is a rather somber book. Harper and Tolliver had horrible childhoods, and they've worked hard to overcome it all. Having Tolliver's father show up and bring back memories of her sister makes Harper determined to find the answers she's been looking for for over eight years.
Although I am trying to keep this review spoiler free for those who may want to read earlier books in the series, I like how Harris addresses the uneasiness readers may feel at the relationship between Harper and Tolliver by showing how other characters react.
The uneasiness I feel has nothing to do with Harper and Tolliver. It has everything to do with the continuation of the series. In another favorite series of mine written by Harris, once she said what she wanted to say about the main character, the series was finished after only five books. Harris tied up a lot of loose ends in Harper's story, but I'd still love to see a few more books about her. Let's hope Harris has more to say about this very interesting character.
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LibraryThing member samantha.1020
Books in series are SO hard to review sometimes. How about I start off with the warning that it is VERY likely that there will be spoilers for previous books within this review...I'll try not to let anything slip but no guarantees. Now that I got that off of my chest, let's begin!
Harper and
What can I say about these books besides that they are addicting? I've always loved the premise that Harper can find dead bodies and tell their cause of death due to being struck by lightning when she was a teenager. The mystery in this book tied up all of the loose threads from the previous three books which was satisfying for me. I flew through this one as I really wanted to see what had happened to Cameron from so long ago. And parts of it I had guessed but other parts I didn't see coming at all. So it was a good ending for me and a quick read. Still a bit of an ick factor with Harper and Tolliver's relationship but other than that I really liked this book. In fact, I'm wishing that this wasn't the end and that Charlaine Harris was planning on writing more of these books. Which means that it looks like I'll be checking out some of her other series sometime soon!
Bottom line: A great ending to an interesting series....but I would start from the beginning of this series if I were you :)
Harper and
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Tolliver are back in the latest and final (I believe) book of this series doing what they always do...finding the dead. Harper gets asked to read the grave of a dead Texas rancher and once again gets caught up in the mystery surrounding the death of the deceased. Except this time family secrets are starting to swirl around for Harper and Tolliver especially since Tolliver's father is out of jail and trying to make contact with him. With Harper being back in Texas, her sister's mysterious disapprearance from years back begins to raise more questions and it looks like Harper is in over her head this time with bodies starting to pile up.What can I say about these books besides that they are addicting? I've always loved the premise that Harper can find dead bodies and tell their cause of death due to being struck by lightning when she was a teenager. The mystery in this book tied up all of the loose threads from the previous three books which was satisfying for me. I flew through this one as I really wanted to see what had happened to Cameron from so long ago. And parts of it I had guessed but other parts I didn't see coming at all. So it was a good ending for me and a quick read. Still a bit of an ick factor with Harper and Tolliver's relationship but other than that I really liked this book. In fact, I'm wishing that this wasn't the end and that Charlaine Harris was planning on writing more of these books. Which means that it looks like I'll be checking out some of her other series sometime soon!
Bottom line: A great ending to an interesting series....but I would start from the beginning of this series if I were you :)
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LibraryThing member lesleydawn
Tied up all of the loose ends nicely. Maybe a little too nicely. It was almost as if Harris knew she need to give Harper and Tolliver another story to end the series, but couldn't come up with a really strong plot. I almost expected her to end it on the last page with "and they lived happily ever
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after." Show Less
LibraryThing member Squeex
This defnitely is the best of the series.There isn't as much of the searching for bodies with Harper's ability. I missed this aspect a lot, but what this reader/listener got in return is a heavy duty look at Harper's background. The poverty, the drug addicted parents, the kids all trying to keep
This had the feel like it could be the last of the series. A lot of issues are addressed, but it could also clear the way for Harper and Tolliver to move on, so there could be more books. I hope so, cause this one was a humdingah.
Harper is hired by a wealthy family in Texas and the trouble begins. Someone is shooting at Harper and people around her are getting hurt.
GRAVE SECRETS has some serious twists and turns and many "Holey McCrappes!" left my lips.
Five if this the end it's a humdingah way to go beans.......
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the family together as best they can. There is also a look at the time of the disappearance of Cameron, the oldest sister. This had the feel like it could be the last of the series. A lot of issues are addressed, but it could also clear the way for Harper and Tolliver to move on, so there could be more books. I hope so, cause this one was a humdingah.
Harper is hired by a wealthy family in Texas and the trouble begins. Someone is shooting at Harper and people around her are getting hurt.
GRAVE SECRETS has some serious twists and turns and many "Holey McCrappes!" left my lips.
Five if this the end it's a humdingah way to go beans.......
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LibraryThing member Krista23
Lightning Struck Harper Connelly can now feel the energy of the dead, and the newer the stronger. Great new idea for a series by Charlaine Harris. I found this book refreshing with a great new storyline and entertaining characters.
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Harper Connolly can find and read the bones of dead people. She can ever since she was lightning-struck. She travels with her step-brother (well, they're from a blended family, and are not actually related to each other by blood) and over the last couple of books they have developed a relationship,
Harper is called to investigate the death of a Rancher near her home town and finds her step father is out of jail and he wants back into their lives. This story also explores the truth of her sister, Cameron's disappearance.
It is apparently the final currently planned book in the series, but with a tv series in the pipeline that may change, many of the loose ends are tied up here and there would have to be a new story arc to move it on from here. I found it an interesting, and somewhat compelling read but I was left wanting more.
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which does make me a little uneasy.Harper is called to investigate the death of a Rancher near her home town and finds her step father is out of jail and he wants back into their lives. This story also explores the truth of her sister, Cameron's disappearance.
It is apparently the final currently planned book in the series, but with a tv series in the pipeline that may change, many of the loose ends are tied up here and there would have to be a new story arc to move it on from here. I found it an interesting, and somewhat compelling read but I was left wanting more.
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LibraryThing member pacey1927
I was shocked to find out this is the concluding novel in the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris. There are only four books and I had no clue it was wrapping up! Harris has created an excellent and unique series here and it could've gone on much longer before overexposure set it. I adore
This series features Harper Connelly, a woman who ca find dead bodies and see how they died. She and her step-brother Tolliver travel the country using her unique talent to earn a living. Harper would also like to locate the body of Cameron, her sister who has been missing and presumed dead for eight years.
"Grave Secret" answers the questions about Cameron's disappearance and wraps everything up to my satisfaction. We learn more about Harper's past and we end up having a good idea about where her life goes in the future.
The writing is engaging and enjoyable as always. I had such sympathy for Harper and the young girl she used to be. She had to deal with such awful things growing up....it teared me up a few times. The mystery certainly played second fiddle to the characters in "Grave Secret". Their lives, future and past, were the most important tale to be told. However there was still a good twist or two that I never saw coming.
I am happy with the way the series concluded but I am heartbroken to find out it is over so very prematurely.
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Harris' Southern Vampire series as much as anyone else, but I hope Harper wasn't ended early because of that series. This series features Harper Connelly, a woman who ca find dead bodies and see how they died. She and her step-brother Tolliver travel the country using her unique talent to earn a living. Harper would also like to locate the body of Cameron, her sister who has been missing and presumed dead for eight years.
"Grave Secret" answers the questions about Cameron's disappearance and wraps everything up to my satisfaction. We learn more about Harper's past and we end up having a good idea about where her life goes in the future.
The writing is engaging and enjoyable as always. I had such sympathy for Harper and the young girl she used to be. She had to deal with such awful things growing up....it teared me up a few times. The mystery certainly played second fiddle to the characters in "Grave Secret". Their lives, future and past, were the most important tale to be told. However there was still a good twist or two that I never saw coming.
I am happy with the way the series concluded but I am heartbroken to find out it is over so very prematurely.
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LibraryThing member Jaie22
Not the best introduction to the Harper Connelly series. Wish I hadn't bought it new. Then went back and read the preceding book in the series and liked it (and this one) a lot better. So the lesson is, if you read the Harper Connelly books, read them in order. Thank you.
LibraryThing member MsMoonlight
In a word: Riveting
I just LOVE this mystery series. Harper was struck by lightning when she was a teenager. Her stepbrother, Tolliver did CPR and saved her life. After that event, Harper has been able to "read bones". When she walks over a grave, the dead cry out to her telling her who they are and
When their latest job takes them back to Texas, they decided to spend some time there visiting with their siblings who were adopted by their aunt. Harper's childhood had started off wonderful, with two loving parents. Then her parents fell into heavy drugs, split up and tore the children's world apart. Harper's mother hooked up with Tolliver's father when the kids were teens and they become very close. It was their job to look after the younger children because their parents wouldn't in their doped up states.
But one day, Harper's sister Cameron just disappears and now it's eight years later and Harper still hasn't given up on finding her sister- dead or alive. With Tolliver at her side, they dig into their families ugly past and find things they never dreamed of. Betrayal, deceit, hatred, murder and lies.
This mystery was wonderful and heartbreaking. After reading the first books in the series I knew what finding Cameron meant to Harper and reading as it all unravelled was both heartbreaking and refreshing in that it was over now. Harper could finally find some sort of peace and move on with her life. She needed that and deserved that, so I was happy for her.
While some people were icked out by Harper and Tolliver being together as a couple (this occured in the 3rd book), I loved it. They were perfect for each other. While they were raised as siblings, they were not blood related at all. So there was no 'ick' factor for me. I liked this part of the story because these two were like soul mates, no one else could be better for them than each other are.
A wonderful mystery/crime series with a paranormal twist. I highly recommend this series. These books really should be read in order.
I just LOVE this mystery series. Harper was struck by lightning when she was a teenager. Her stepbrother, Tolliver did CPR and saved her life. After that event, Harper has been able to "read bones". When she walks over a grave, the dead cry out to her telling her who they are and
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how they died. Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver have made a living off her abilities, travelling all around the country locating dead/missing people for a fee.When their latest job takes them back to Texas, they decided to spend some time there visiting with their siblings who were adopted by their aunt. Harper's childhood had started off wonderful, with two loving parents. Then her parents fell into heavy drugs, split up and tore the children's world apart. Harper's mother hooked up with Tolliver's father when the kids were teens and they become very close. It was their job to look after the younger children because their parents wouldn't in their doped up states.
But one day, Harper's sister Cameron just disappears and now it's eight years later and Harper still hasn't given up on finding her sister- dead or alive. With Tolliver at her side, they dig into their families ugly past and find things they never dreamed of. Betrayal, deceit, hatred, murder and lies.
This mystery was wonderful and heartbreaking. After reading the first books in the series I knew what finding Cameron meant to Harper and reading as it all unravelled was both heartbreaking and refreshing in that it was over now. Harper could finally find some sort of peace and move on with her life. She needed that and deserved that, so I was happy for her.
While some people were icked out by Harper and Tolliver being together as a couple (this occured in the 3rd book), I loved it. They were perfect for each other. While they were raised as siblings, they were not blood related at all. So there was no 'ick' factor for me. I liked this part of the story because these two were like soul mates, no one else could be better for them than each other are.
A wonderful mystery/crime series with a paranormal twist. I highly recommend this series. These books really should be read in order.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2009-10-27
Physical description
287 p.; 24 inches
ISBN
0425230155 / 9780425230152