CJ Bailey

So, I needed a book to listen to while I worked out and saw this one was available through my library. Guess I'm going ahead with the series sooner rather than later.

I still enjoyed this one, and it seemed even shorter than the first, or at least to go by faster, even though I think they're about the same length. The mystery was engaging, and it did not work out like I expected. I'm still enjoying the secondary characters, and the grim reaper aspect continues to intrigue me. 

However, there were a few things that bugged me. Though I kind of get why Charley is the way she is, her flippant attitude occasionally comes across as frustrating or even cold-hearted. I also don't get why she was so dead-set on ignoring Reyes' decision with regards to his body; I get that she didn't want him to “die” but he'd still be around, they'd still have the relationship that they do now, and it seems like the danger would be (at least temporarily) averted. I'm also not sure I get why they like? Love? each other. There hasn't been much of an actual relationship. And I get that Charley wants one, but how is that going to work with him potentially incarcerated for the next who-knows-how-many years? 

I'm definitely continuing with the next book soon because I want to know how things will work out and because my library happens to have the complete series. And in audiobook no less. I love it when that happens. Fingers crossed the books don't decline in quality/readability. 

This was a nicely atmospheric book with a hint of spookiness, which I'll admit almost got me once or twice. The main character annoyed me to begin with, but I warmed up to her by the end, and I appreciated that she was older than your typical heroine. The mystery, however, was predictable and evident halfway through the book, which made it irritating that the characters were so oblivious. 

After thoroughly enjoying the last two, I was pretty disappointed by this one. Let's just say I have mixed feelings about it. There were several things I found charming, but Anne herself frustrated and even horrified me a little. The cat scene, need I say more? Actually, I will - if they had actually killed the cat, I would have put the book down and not picked up another one. Why do most of the characters seem to hate cats?! What did poor Rusty do, besides having the misfortune of liking Anne and being “disreputable looking.” As is, the fact that Anne went along with the cat-murder plot left me feeling betrayed. Oh! And the same goes for Mr. Harrison who killed his dog (twice) simply because he was tired of him. What. The. Hell? Also, her refusal to examine her feelings for Gilbert at first felt adorably naïve and true to life but quickly became tiresome, especially her borderline catty commentary about Christine. The side-story with Mr. Douglas, his mother, and Janet, whom he'd loved for over twenty years, just irked me. I don't know if his mother's two-faced cruelty or the man's lack of backbone bothered me more. And Janet was way too forgiving in my opinion. I know the series was written for kids and has lessons and morals, but they just feel a little too heavy-handed sometimes. However, all that aside, it was mostly an enjoyable read and a little bittersweet to see everyone growing up, and I'm glad Anne stopped being such a dolt about her feelings for Gilbert, even if that part felt needlessly rushed, but I guess it makes sense considering the target audience. 

Anyone who knows anything about this series knows the books are forever long. Just finishing one feels like a major accomplishment. That said, I do mostly enjoy this series... this installment maybe more than the last two. There were certainly sections where I had to force myself to continue reading (having already seen the series, I already knew, at least in the broadest sketches, what was coming), other stretches where nothing much seemed to happen, and still others where I lost myself for hours in the story and hardly came up for air. After plodding through the first half over the course of a month, I read the last half in about four days.