*Gizmos Book Reviews* Sixth Grave on the Edge (Charley Davidson #6) by Darynda Jones

Few things in life can come between a grim reaper and her coffee, but the sexy, sultry son of Satan is one of them. Now that Reyes Farrow has asked for her hand, Charley Davidson feels it's time to learn more about his past, but Reyes is reluctant to open up. When the official FBI file of his childhood abduction lands in her lap, Charley decides to go behind her mysterious beau’s back and conduct her own investigation. Because what could go wrong?

*MY Thoughts*

"That was kind of my specialty, though. Causing ulcers. Everyone has to be good at something." pg 112
Charley Davidson's Sixth Adventure, Sixth Grave on the Edge, is filled with one hairy situation, after the next hairy situation. It's mixed with a little sex here and there, twisted around a prophecy that surrounds both Charley and the man of the hour, Reyes Farrow who dropped the bomb on Charley by asking her to marry him. As we wait for Charley's pensive and nail biting answer to the Reyes question, Jones tosses Charley once again into so many different situations that you need a freaking blackboard to keep track of what is going on.

So, as I am sure you know, I adore the snarky, mouthy, clueless to a fault private investigator/grim reaper who has absolutely no idea what she is doing, or how she has able to last as long as she has without a little help from her friends, and Reyes. I love the snark filled chapter comments, and really do wish I had several T-shirts with those sayings. I like Quentin, and Amber, and Charley's friendship with Cookie, and now the addition of Garrett Swopes to her inner circle. I like that we now know more about Angel, Charley's ghost investigator. I like that Garrett is no longer a newbie when it comes to Charley's strangeness, and the paranormal, and actually works hard to find answers that Charley can't find herself.

As we are slowly gleaming from reading this series, and the events that are thrown at us like rapid fire, Charley is apparently from another galaxy, and her family is the bomb diggity, which makes her princess bomb-diggity. But, there is also the prophecy that links her as the daughter of light, to Reyes as the son of darkness, and the fate of the world. No pressure! We know that Reyes has spent many years looking for and finding Charley, and he continues to hold plenty of secrets from her, which hopefully will come out sooner, rather than later. 

Right from the start of Sixth Grave on the Edge, Charley finds a naked man in her car she calls "Destiny" and tries to discover his identity. Concurrently, she's also working on a cold case with FBI Agent Carson, who has become her BFF, in finding out if a couple called the Fosters are really Reyes's parents or not. 

If that weren't enough to keep Charley busy, her father is acting very strange, and her annoying stepmother is throwing out hints that she knows what's going on, but refuses to say anything. This leads to a huge hole in the story/plot, and one that remains hanging over the story itself. There is the whole Cookie and Uncle Ubie and will they or won't they angle that lingers around with silliness, and ends with perhaps a good place for both characters. We shall see. 

There is the mystery surrounding Charley's ghost roommate Mr. Wong, who has been in her apartment right from the very start of this series. Apparently, we haven't even touched the surface of who or what Mr. Wong is, or why Peri, Charley's friend, is so creeped out by his presence. One would hope that answer doesn't also linger until the lights go out for the series. 

"“When it comes to humans, Dutch, you are blind. You do things for them that no other person alive would do." Reyes 

Next! Charley is later approached by a grieving parent who apparently sold his sold to the devil after his daughter died. Little Charley doesn't have a clue about the paranormal world or how it works. So, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Jones tosses in the escape of 12 hellhounds from Hell, or the appearance of a new character called the Dealer who knows more about Charley, than Charley knows about herself. Hell, Angel knows more about Charley's abilities than Charley does!

Are we finished with what happens? Not even close! Let's add in mobsters who are looking for a witness, and demanding that Charley turn her over, or someone will end up dead. Let's talk about Rocket's shocking revelation without spoiling it shall we? Let's talk about how Charley bumbles and stumbles around but remains somehow attached to Cookie, Angel, Garrett, and a host of other characters that Charley remains connected and sympathetic to instead of trying to understand her Reaper abilities, and her own prophecy.

For those who continue to drool, and demand more of Reyes, well, hold onto your panties dearies. Reyes is all over this story. He pretty much sticks to Charley like glue. He is the glue that holds Charley from being torn apart, and left facing Satan alone. He’s the deep, dark kind of beauty that you’d sell your soul to have. (Direct quote from Peri). He's spent tons of money to not only keep Charley safe, but to also give her other avenues besides being a Private Investigator.

Sixth Grave on the Edge is such a crazy, mixed up story that if feels as though you are walking through a maze with no easy way to escape. Any path you take, leads you to another crazy, perhaps life threatening situation for Charley and her friends. If you haven't already started this series, you definitely should! But, please take my world when I say, read them in order, and DO NOT SKIP a novel or you will be scratching your eyes out by the time you are finished.

Author - Darynda Jones
Title - Sixth Grave on the Edge
Series - Charley Davidson # 6
Published by St. Martin's Press
Released: May 20, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Library Hardcover 326 pages