An Ice Cold Grave

July 16, 2007
Bestseller Harris’s exciting third Harper Connelly mystery (after 2006’s Grave Surprise
) finds the psychic sleuth faced with her most challenging and heartbreaking job to date: locating the bodies of “runaway” boys who the people of Doraville, N.C., suspect have become victims of a serial killer. After Harper locates eight long-dead bodies, much to the surprise of skeptical Sheriff Sandra Rockwell, a mysterious figure attacks Harper. Though all Harper wants is to go home and recover from her injuries, the local authorities and State Bureau of Investigation agents demand that she stay in town to help with their investigation. The cold case heats up fast, attracting media attention as well as Harper’s friends, ailing psychic Xylda Bernardo and her doting grandson, Manfred, who make another gruesome discovery. Harper’s changing relationship with her stepbrother, manager and confidant, Tolliver Lang, lends personal interest. Harris dependably delivers fear with charming down-home finesse.

Harper Connelly's supernatural ability to locate where people have died leads her to a small Southern county, where she discovers eight bodies. Believing her job finished, Connelly plans to go home, but events keep her from leaving town before a harsh ice storm hits. Meanwhile, her confused emotions regarding her stepbrother and assistant, Tolliver, continue to plague her. Alyssa Bresnahan's sprightly voice embodies the casual and spirited demeanor of Connelly. Bresnahan's subdued delivery during Connelly's weaker moments produces a subtle intimacy with listeners. While the voices of her male characters lack consistency, particularly that of Tolliver, overall her timing and inflection make listening easy, even enjoyable. L.E. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from May 1, 2008
Since Harper Connelly was struck by lightning as a teenager, she has been able to sense the whereabouts of dead people and how they died. On her third case (after Grave Sight and Grave Surprise) in the family business with her stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, she avails herself of this psychic sense to find a missing teenage grandson in Doraville, NC. In fact, she finds the bodies of six boys victimized by a serial killer and is attacked and injured as well. Alyssa Bresnahan's narration aptly portrays these Southern characters, clearly identifying genders and scoping personalities. Harris, a New York Times best-selling author, also pens the paranormal experiences of Sookie Stackhouse (All Together Dead). Highly recommended. [Also available as downloadable audio from Audible.comSandy Glover, Camas P.L., WA

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