Book Review: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Review: Halfway to the Grave
Series: Night Huntress - Book 1

Author: Jeaniene Frost

No. Of Pages: 358

Release Date: 30 October 2007

FLIRTING WITH THE GRAVE...

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father – the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner – are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that been half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as a kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side...and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

My thoughts:

Unbelievable! I related to this book so much it’s like Frost has been watching my life unfold and written it down. Although I will admit I’m not a half vampire with bad ass fighting skills...and I’m missing a Bones (which by the way can contact me any time he wishes...I’m just sitting here waiting to be swept off my feet).

Cat has been told her whole life that vampires are evil demons, not to be trusted and must be killed on sight. Then along comes Bones, who is powerful, sexy and dangerous, a perfect mix.

Cat has to deal with fighting her growing feelings for him while he leers at her, rolls her around on the floor and spends every day with in the name of training and vampire hunting. Inevitably they grow close.

The calibre of writing is incredible, Frost draws you in straightaway, no beating around the bush with “Hi my name is Cat, I’m a vampire hunter and such and such” droning on for three chapters while nothing happens. Literally on the first page she’s pulled up by the cops, and she’s sweating because she has the dead body of a vampire in her boot.

Within the first chapter she makes another kill and meets Bones, and the story takes you on a rollercoaster the entire time. Cat is a wonderful character, she’s not perfect and she knows it, she makes mistakes and pays for them and she isn’t treated like a hero which is refreshing.

Bones is wonderful, he’s a complete pig and you instantly love him for it. Bones is cunning, smart, absolutely gorgeous, and for being so big and bad remarkably down to earth.

This book had me laughing out loud half the time and when I wasn’t laughing my heart was racing. The story unfolds beautifully and is expertly told. Something is always going on, and even when you think they might have the upper hand something else happens.

The fight scenes were incredible, the writing wasn’t rushed and is detailed enough to give you a mental picture and yet moved at a pace that has you flipping pages faster than you realise.

I will mention now that this is an adult book, meaning that little eyes shouldn’t be reading certain scenes or certain dialogues. The sexual references in this book are tastefully graphic, they play more with Cats emotions and what she feels rather than the mechanics but the details of the physical are very much there. It adds a new level to the book that is absolutely fantastic.

The only thing that takes away from this book for me personally is the reference to “South Wales”. Bones was sent to Australia just before he was turned and constantly refers to his time in South Wales. Being Aussie and actually living in New South Wales it irked me with the wrong reference, and before you say well that’s now we’re talking about then...New South Wales has always been New South Wales, never just South Wales.

Although it raked on my nerves a little, it doesn’t take away from the book. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone who wants a laugh and to watch the steam rise from the page. Once again though if you know your mum wouldn’t want you reading this and you are young I suggest you wait a couple of years.

5 stars (if I could give it more I would)

Other Books in this series:
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
This Side of the Grave
One Grave at a Time