Darynda Jones – Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet

The fourth book in the Charley Davidson series, published October 30, 2012.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: great color



Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley's last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she's insane. The more they refute the woman's story, the more Charley believes it.
In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley's life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.


I am sure that I am the last one to read this book, as everyone seems to have read book 6 already.
After her torture in the previous book, Charley has been holed up in her apartment for two months, and her friends and family are worrying over her. Cookie finally intervenes by cancelling Charley’s credit cards, so she can’t buy any more worthless stuff from the shopping networks. Charley’s apartment is already filled with boxes floor to ceiling, as she doesn’t even unpack them.
Her sister wants her to get some therapy, and Charley still refuses to see her father, even when her evil stepmother begs her to. But when Charley sees her old offices above her fathers bar being repainted and a moving van shows up, she is furious. He cannot just rent her office space to someone else! But it was all a ploy to get her to see her father, and he tries to prove his point to her, by trying to shoot her! And so Charley learns about a new power she has.

When a new client needs her help desperately, Charley finally leaves her house again, and starts investigating. To the big relief of Cookie, as she needs her paycheck, and Charley is broke. While investigating, Charley also finds out that Reyes is still around, fighting illegal underground fights, and still keeping her safe from demons, and getting hurt badly while doing that. He is still angry with her from trapping him in his body, but he will always protect her from the other demons that want to use her as a portal to invade earth.

Charley’s favourite biker club is also up to no good, but they have no choice, and are very glad that Charley caught them in the act. Now they will have to leave town, and Charley will surely miss them, and they her. Charley finally gets to meet Rocket’s ghostly sister.

The care Charley is working on is sure more complicated than she could have foreseen, and of course I jumped to the wrong conclusion as well. It does have a lot of similarities to her own personal situation, and that makes her look at her own past a little differently, but she still won’t forgive her father and stepmother for what they have done to her.

And finally, finally, real sex with Reyes instead of only in her dreams. The demon had warned her against that, and I admit it sounded really believable, but did not happen. Finally some happy times for Charley.

The ending was action filled as well, when all the cases came together.


I really enjoyed the story, the sarcasm, the action and the plot. I love Darynda Jones’ sense of humor and her writing style a lot. Yes, it is a bit over the top at times, but why not? I really like Cookie as a secondary character, and she sticks to Charlie’s side, no matter what. I love her research skills, and how she keeps Charley on track.
I do hope the motor club can come back home, as I always enjoy those scenes.

Looking forward to book 5 already.

8 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian