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Grave Talker #1
Dead to Me
Meet Darby. Coffee addict. Homicide detective. Oh, and she can see ghosts, too...
There are only three rules in Darby Adler's life.
One: Don't talk to the dead in front of the living.
Two: Stay off the Arcane Bureau of Investigation's radar.
Three: Don't forget rules one and two.
With a murderer desperate for Darby's attention and an ABI agent in town, things are about to get mighty interesting in Haunted Peak, TN.
There are only three rules in Darby Adler's life.
One: Don't talk to the dead in front of the living.
Two: Stay off the Arcane Bureau of Investigation's radar.
Three: Don't forget rules one and two.
With a murderer desperate for Darby's attention and an ABI agent in town, things are about to get mighty interesting in Haunted Peak, TN.
Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
2351 people are currently reading
4989 people want to read
About the author
Annie Anderson
55 books2,394 followersAnnie Anderson is the author of the international bestselling Rogue Ethereal series. A United States Air Force veteran, Annie pens fast-paced Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy novels filled with strong, snarky heroines and a boatload of magic. When she takes a break from writing, she can be found binge-watching The Magicians, flirting with her husband, wrangling children, or bribing her cantankerous dogs to go on a walk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews
October 25, 2021
I picked up this book by mistake... but it's a mistake I was more than happy to have made. The story grabbed my attention right from the start with Darby’s sense of humor and wit. I was immediately invested and the more I read, the more drawn in I became. Darby’s supernatural abilities and the circumstances surrounding the murder were intriguing. The deeper the reader goes, the more they uncover. When you add in the fascinating Bishop LaRue you have a concrete story that you just know you are going to want more of. Annie Anderson creates an exciting read with a great mix of humor and mystery. Her characters are complex and bold and I know that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface. I can’t wait to find the next one and learn more about these characters. This was a fantastic first installment in a great new series with a great deal of promise.
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November 21, 2021
This was overall a pretty fun and interesting read, but it frustrated me to no end how pretty much every conflict was caused by people refusing to communicate with each other :)
February 22, 2021
I don't think this is a bad read by any stretch of the imagination I just think maybe I picked this one up at the wrong time and I couldn't get into it. I would definitely be open to trying book two some other time though and giving this series another go!
September 22, 2020
Just when I think I've read everything, Annie blows my mind. Hiding her ability to speak with the dead, Darby has built up a rather huge chip on her shoulder. She keeps few close but cares fiercely for them.
This story jumps straight into the fire and does not stop. Twists, turns and ripe with secrets, we watch Darby not only work out the mystery, but also the secrets that shroud her own past.
Annie has created some very creative and quirky characters. Her friendship with J is friendship goals. Her relationship with her dad made me laugh- she's just so fiesty! The ending was dramatic and unexpected. I can't wait to see where this story goes next!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story jumps straight into the fire and does not stop. Twists, turns and ripe with secrets, we watch Darby not only work out the mystery, but also the secrets that shroud her own past.
Annie has created some very creative and quirky characters. Her friendship with J is friendship goals. Her relationship with her dad made me laugh- she's just so fiesty! The ending was dramatic and unexpected. I can't wait to see where this story goes next!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2021
First book I've read by this author and it's the first book in the series… only it doesn't feel like that. Reads as if some of the minor characters (Shiloh, Sarina) starred in their own series and this is a spin-off - and as none of this author's other series sound enticing, it'd have been good to know this going into the book.
Book itself is fairly readable, though gets worse as it progresses. Our heroine is supposedly a badass detective and has spent around 15 years pretending she can't see ghosts so people don't think she's crazy - well, I don't know how she pulled that off, because she certainly doesn't do a good job of keeping her cool in this book. And then heroine becomes a cold-blooded murderer- sorry, doesn't work for me. Finally ends on a cliff-hanger - almost dinged it another star out of principle but 1 star seemed a tad unfair for a book I did actually finish.
Book itself is fairly readable, though gets worse as it progresses. Our heroine is supposedly a badass detective and has spent around 15 years pretending she can't see ghosts so people don't think she's crazy - well, I don't know how she pulled that off, because she certainly doesn't do a good job of keeping her cool in this book. And then heroine becomes a cold-blooded murderer- sorry, doesn't work for me. Finally ends on a cliff-hanger - almost dinged it another star out of principle but 1 star seemed a tad unfair for a book I did actually finish.
December 7, 2023
Ummmm, I think I'm in love!
Darby is such a cool character, she is sassy, in charge, takes no sh*t, and an all around badass.
Oh, and she can talk to ghosts.
I've been looking for more psychic type of books since the Charley Davidson series ended.
First book in this series has me excited.
A little crappy I only bought the first book and will have to wait till I can get my hands on the others.
Whatcha gonna do.
Darby is such a cool character, she is sassy, in charge, takes no sh*t, and an all around badass.
Oh, and she can talk to ghosts.
I've been looking for more psychic type of books since the Charley Davidson series ended.
First book in this series has me excited.
A little crappy I only bought the first book and will have to wait till I can get my hands on the others.
Whatcha gonna do.
November 10, 2022
3.5/5.0
It’s not rocket science, but it is an awfully lot of fun.
It’s not rocket science, but it is an awfully lot of fun.
September 29, 2020
Original review
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Annie Anderson!
Dead To Me is the first book in the Grave Talker series and tells the story of Darby and her friends.
I loved the Rogue Ethereal series by Annie Anderson and when I found out she was writing another Fantasy series, I was so excited! I was such a big fan of Max and the Rogue Ethereal world and when I started reading Dead To Me it felt like reading about Max again. Darby is so much like Max and I LOVE it!
Darby is such a funny character. I couldn’t stop laughing and she reminded me of Max from the Rogue Ethereal series as I mentioned above. She’s just as snarky as Max and I enjoy reading about her. I also really liked reading about J and Bishop. I want to know more about them and about Darby.
Dead To Me was way too short for me. I NEED MORE! I really liked the story, it was really interesting and original. I really liked the characters, the pacing was good and I definitely would’ve finished Dead To Me in one sitting if I didn’t have my adult responsibilities! I really enjoyed reading Dead To Me and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
November 8, 2021
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dead to Me is the first installment in author Annie Anderson's Grave Talker series. Detective Darby Adler works for the Haunted Peak, Tennessee police department. For the past 3 weeks, she's been involved in solving a trio of murderers. What makes her so good? She can see and speak to the dead. Her partner, Jeremiah Cooper, has no ideas of her talents. Until Darby's former high school nemesis, Blair Simpkins, ends up dead, holding Darby's business card.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Dead to Me is the first installment in author Annie Anderson's Grave Talker series. Detective Darby Adler works for the Haunted Peak, Tennessee police department. For the past 3 weeks, she's been involved in solving a trio of murderers. What makes her so good? She can see and speak to the dead. Her partner, Jeremiah Cooper, has no ideas of her talents. Until Darby's former high school nemesis, Blair Simpkins, ends up dead, holding Darby's business card.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 29, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and definitely will NOT be the last. This book was just wow. Firstly, it’s written beautifully. It flows perfectly like a song or poem. I flew right through it. Couldn’t put it down. Super easy to rad and follow along with.
This book was super captivating. Darby, our heroine, is sarcastic, brave, smart, and can talk to ghosts. She’s a kicka** woman that makes this whole story super enjoyable. With her unlikely group of allies they must come together to stop whatever is going on in the small city of Haunted Peaks. With witches, psychic, death mages, and so many more creatures, how can you not get sucked into this amazing and scary new world. This new world is full of secrets, and lies leaving you unsure of what you know and what you think is true.
Auctioned packed from the very beginning and only getting more so throughout the story. Will they be able to figure out what’s going on and who is causing it? Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for? This is a definite MUST read and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!
This book was super captivating. Darby, our heroine, is sarcastic, brave, smart, and can talk to ghosts. She’s a kicka** woman that makes this whole story super enjoyable. With her unlikely group of allies they must come together to stop whatever is going on in the small city of Haunted Peaks. With witches, psychic, death mages, and so many more creatures, how can you not get sucked into this amazing and scary new world. This new world is full of secrets, and lies leaving you unsure of what you know and what you think is true.
Auctioned packed from the very beginning and only getting more so throughout the story. Will they be able to figure out what’s going on and who is causing it? Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for? This is a definite MUST read and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!!
May 18, 2021
You really need to suspend your disbelief for this one.
The heroine is a police detective that is supposedly a total hot-shot, case closing wonderkid...but the author did not put much research time in prior to writing. There is nothing in the first 17% of the book that resembles actual police procedure.
Add in numerous typos and weird flow (dialogue piece - full half page description- remainder of dialogue left feeling like a non sequitur) and you get a DNF.
The heroine is a police detective that is supposedly a total hot-shot, case closing wonderkid...but the author did not put much research time in prior to writing. There is nothing in the first 17% of the book that resembles actual police procedure.
Add in numerous typos and weird flow (dialogue piece - full half page description- remainder of dialogue left feeling like a non sequitur) and you get a DNF.
December 9, 2021
I felt off with this one from the start. It feels like I’ve missed a prequel or something. Got through it pretty quickly. A little mystery but more chain of need to know. Lost me with the quick reveal of the bad guy and the sudden pop up cliffhanger. Not sure I’m ready for another book with mommy issues at the moment. I am curious about Sarina and being able to hear the demon, but not one for right now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2020
Huge plot twist/sorta cliffhanger ending. h is a very cranky/grumpy character, but the story was mildly interesting
May 25, 2025
Not bad, but Darby is no Sloan
September 16, 2020
This is an interesting book. Darby can see and talk to ghosts . As a cop she has to be careful so she isn’t locked away due to the stresses of her job. She has an amazing partner, J, who has bee her best friend forever. A woman they went to high school with wasmurdered and things get really weir at the scene. And just keeps getting stranger as the book progresses. Well written, good story line, delves into the supernatural, kept my attention so much so that I couldn’t put it down! I have read several of Annie Anderson’s books and have enjoyed everyone of them. Now to wait patiently for book too.
November 8, 2024
Je découvre la plume d’Annie Anderson ainsi que son univers. J’ai bien aimé ce premier tome qui nous présente une héroïne pleine de peps et de saveur. J’ai adoré sa relation avec le fantôme qui vit chez elle (je ne vous en dis pas plus pour ne pas vous spoiler).
Darby, puisque c’est son nom, est flic et elle enquête sur la mort d’une de ses anciennes camarades de classe. Cette intrigue est surtout l’occasion pour de présenter tous les personnages, dont le héros, Bishop ainsi que le plan plus important de l’histoire.
Il y a un fort potentiel que j’ai hâte de découvrir même si j’avoue que je suis restée sur ma faim, car ce premier tome se termine en queue de poisson. Mon plus gros bémol, j’avoue.
Les points forts de ce roman d’urban fantasy, c’est l’humour et l’ambiance générale. Mais aussi Darby elle-même. La romance est pour l’instant inexistante, on est donc sur une série Slow Burn.
Vu certains rebondissements, je suis très curieuse de savoir comment tout va se dégoupiller par la suite. Bref, un premier tome plutôt pas mal. Même si, cette nouvelle série ne révolutionnera pas le genre, elle se lit très bien.
Darby, puisque c’est son nom, est flic et elle enquête sur la mort d’une de ses anciennes camarades de classe. Cette intrigue est surtout l’occasion pour de présenter tous les personnages, dont le héros, Bishop ainsi que le plan plus important de l’histoire.
Il y a un fort potentiel que j’ai hâte de découvrir même si j’avoue que je suis restée sur ma faim, car ce premier tome se termine en queue de poisson. Mon plus gros bémol, j’avoue.
Les points forts de ce roman d’urban fantasy, c’est l’humour et l’ambiance générale. Mais aussi Darby elle-même. La romance est pour l’instant inexistante, on est donc sur une série Slow Burn.
Vu certains rebondissements, je suis très curieuse de savoir comment tout va se dégoupiller par la suite. Bref, un premier tome plutôt pas mal. Même si, cette nouvelle série ne révolutionnera pas le genre, elle se lit très bien.
October 18, 2022
Urban fantasy with a detective who talks to ghosts. Ah yes, my favorite trope of all.
December 10, 2020
What a freaking ride this book is. I was enthralled from the first sentence to the very last. I am so excited to start book two I can barely get through this review. These characters are so real and I love each of them. Amazing story and so well written. I would give this book ten stars if possible.
February 14, 2023
Wow! Action packed! I got a kick out of Darby, the grave talker! Liked her ghostly Grandfather Hildy too!
August 21, 2021
Cliffhanger ending?????
If I’d said it once I’ll say it again in a different way, ending a book on a cliffhanger is a bad cliche in which to garner a following. The trope of great human to the top of the food chain super heroine is the basis of this book. Darby is a great cop who came into her powers as a teen and only knows one skill. Bad guy gang shows up and all the fly she becomes super ghost talker. The story is riveting and well written. Darby is so real it’s refreshing. She is more than the average chick of lit. Although her straightforward responses and thoughts can be hilarious to me is because I’ve said something very similar. She has ‘girly’ moments that hit home for me.
It is an amazing story but if the novellas weren’t free to me under Kindle, I wouldn’t buy the next book just because of the cliffhanger.
If I’d said it once I’ll say it again in a different way, ending a book on a cliffhanger is a bad cliche in which to garner a following. The trope of great human to the top of the food chain super heroine is the basis of this book. Darby is a great cop who came into her powers as a teen and only knows one skill. Bad guy gang shows up and all the fly she becomes super ghost talker. The story is riveting and well written. Darby is so real it’s refreshing. She is more than the average chick of lit. Although her straightforward responses and thoughts can be hilarious to me is because I’ve said something very similar. She has ‘girly’ moments that hit home for me.
It is an amazing story but if the novellas weren’t free to me under Kindle, I wouldn’t buy the next book just because of the cliffhanger.
March 28, 2023
1 Star: Felt rushed… not connected
RATING SYSTEM:
5 – Absolute love, will read again, and will buy a physical or electronic copy
4 – Enjoyed it
3 – Liked it, but could be better
2 – Forced myself to finish
1 – I couldn't finish it
What I disliked:
Overall:
I enjoyed the book mostly but it felt rushed the whole time and I stopped reading before the final battle because it was too much at that point.
RATING SYSTEM:
5 – Absolute love, will read again, and will buy a physical or electronic copy
4 – Enjoyed it
3 – Liked it, but could be better
2 – Forced myself to finish
1 – I couldn't finish it
What I disliked:
Overall:
I enjoyed the book mostly but it felt rushed the whole time and I stopped reading before the final battle because it was too much at that point.
October 24, 2020
I am always looking for new urban fantasy series to read and I have found another one I can't wait to continue. The reader was thrown right into the action with Darby from the first page and the fast pacing and world building, never getting a moment to stop right up to the shocking cliffhanger ending! And I would not change anything about the experience. Just know that I will be here for all the adventures with Darby to come.
This lady deserves an award for the level of expletives that she is capable of throwing around. She cusses like a sailor and I was highly entertained by her verbiage. That being said, I actually adore Darby and her no nonsense behavior and attitude. She was in over her head multiple times yet never backed down or gave up and rooted for her. The side characters were all super fantastic and well detailed too, be it her totally human and clueless best friend/partner, the attractive and mysterious FBI agent, the shady ghost mentor or the quirky psychic.
I have to know what will happen next to Darby (as well as who her birth father is!) and I am super into this complicated paranormal world the author is just beginning to create. This is the perfect story to jump into if you love all things paranormal, police investigations and huge bombshells!
This lady deserves an award for the level of expletives that she is capable of throwing around. She cusses like a sailor and I was highly entertained by her verbiage. That being said, I actually adore Darby and her no nonsense behavior and attitude. She was in over her head multiple times yet never backed down or gave up and rooted for her. The side characters were all super fantastic and well detailed too, be it her totally human and clueless best friend/partner, the attractive and mysterious FBI agent, the shady ghost mentor or the quirky psychic.
I have to know what will happen next to Darby (as well as who her birth father is!) and I am super into this complicated paranormal world the author is just beginning to create. This is the perfect story to jump into if you love all things paranormal, police investigations and huge bombshells!
September 22, 2023
2.5 stars. Something between "this was okay" and "I liked it".
****MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW (but I'm not going to get too specific outside of spoiler tags)****
This is my second Annie Anderson that I'm just not wild about. The thing is, it wasn't all bad, but you could see the bad guy coming a million miles away (and actually I kept thinking it had to be someone else because it was so obvious), and it honestly felt like the FMC wasn't really solving the mystery, so much as being lead in its wake. I also did not understand all the secrecy, especially coming from Hildy. It absolutely did not make sense to not tell her a lot of the stuff he didn't tell her. All his unneeded lying and secrecy did was cause further chaos .
I kind of wanna keep going with the series -- once again, I like this author's world-building and her heroines, but no one other than Darcy seems all that fleshed out and it also seems like another spin-off series where I should have started with another set of books, although I didn't feel like this one relied as heavily on the predecessor books as Woman of Blood & Bone did.
I admit, I'm curious as hell where this heroine's powers will go (I'm a sucker for fictional characters who can talk to ghosts), just like I was with Max, and where the book will go next, just like I was with Max, but at the same time, it looks like there might be a love triangle in future books and... ugh. Who has the energy... Maybe someday.
****MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW (but I'm not going to get too specific outside of spoiler tags)****
This is my second Annie Anderson that I'm just not wild about. The thing is, it wasn't all bad, but you could see the bad guy coming a million miles away (and actually I kept thinking it had to be someone else because it was so obvious), and it honestly felt like the FMC wasn't really solving the mystery, so much as being lead in its wake. I also did not understand all the secrecy, especially coming from Hildy. It absolutely did not make sense to not tell her a lot of the stuff he didn't tell her. All his unneeded lying and secrecy did was cause further chaos .
I kind of wanna keep going with the series -- once again, I like this author's world-building and her heroines, but no one other than Darcy seems all that fleshed out and it also seems like another spin-off series where I should have started with another set of books, although I didn't feel like this one relied as heavily on the predecessor books as Woman of Blood & Bone did.
I admit, I'm curious as hell where this heroine's powers will go (I'm a sucker for fictional characters who can talk to ghosts), just like I was with Max, and where the book will go next, just like I was with Max, but at the same time, it looks like there might be a love triangle in future books and... ugh. Who has the energy... Maybe someday.
February 10, 2021
Not quite what I was expecting...
... And I'm not quite sure how I feel about it
Admittedly, I was put off by the unnecessary language - including something like 80 f-bombs - & especially using the Lord's Name in vain
The premise was interesting & my favorite aspect of the story. Darby has a tough but snarky persona that's frequently amusing. The story was darker than I expected. It's a mystery with some horror level stuff - though thankfully it wasn't especially graphic, cuz that's definitely not my kinda thing.
There's a few mentions of secondary characters having sex but nothing particularly graphic there, either.
The story resolves the initial plotline, but ends on a cliffhanger after hinting at a more complex plot. I still haven't decided if I want to read on or not. I generally prefer more lighthearted brushes with the apocalyptic.
... And I'm not quite sure how I feel about it
Admittedly, I was put off by the unnecessary language - including something like 80 f-bombs - & especially using the Lord's Name in vain
The premise was interesting & my favorite aspect of the story. Darby has a tough but snarky persona that's frequently amusing. The story was darker than I expected. It's a mystery with some horror level stuff - though thankfully it wasn't especially graphic, cuz that's definitely not my kinda thing.
There's a few mentions of secondary characters having sex but nothing particularly graphic there, either.
The story resolves the initial plotline, but ends on a cliffhanger after hinting at a more complex plot. I still haven't decided if I want to read on or not. I generally prefer more lighthearted brushes with the apocalyptic.
March 1, 2021
I love Annie Anderson’s writing, her characters are amazing, she injects just the right amount of humor into each book, every story is action packed and perfectly complicated. I loved this story, the small town cop with a secret that isn’t so secret, being jerked along a path she doesn’t want anything to do with but embraces fully. The partner best friend that’s happy to keep himself as much in the dark as possible and the sexy man from out of town that shakes it all up. Like I said perfectly complicated, completely original, action packed, full of magic, snark and emotion, and 100% amazing. The audiobook narrator had the perfect voice and inflection for all the snark and sarcasm our FMC has to offer, so it made listening a pleasure. Can’t wait to keep reading this series!
October 18, 2020
Very entertaining
This was a very entertaining book. I love PNR but this one was a bit too short. I understand that it’s a series, but now I have to wait for next year for the next one! I really liked the characters and cannot wait to unravel all these secrets and see how Darby’s powers develop.
This was a very entertaining book. I love PNR but this one was a bit too short. I understand that it’s a series, but now I have to wait for next year for the next one! I really liked the characters and cannot wait to unravel all these secrets and see how Darby’s powers develop.
February 6, 2023
Hoopla Audiobook.
At first, I thought I didn’t like this because the narrator sounded perpetually unimpressed. Then I realized that it wasn’t just the narration. The main character is sort of awful. I never warmed to her. She was vulgar and bratty and not sympathetic.
The story didn’t redeem anything. It was rushed and ended in a cliffhanger.
At first, I thought I didn’t like this because the narrator sounded perpetually unimpressed. Then I realized that it wasn’t just the narration. The main character is sort of awful. I never warmed to her. She was vulgar and bratty and not sympathetic.
The story didn’t redeem anything. It was rushed and ended in a cliffhanger.
November 16, 2020
Love this authors work! Thrilled there’s a brand new series. This fmc kicks butt! Love it can’t wait for the next instalment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 427 reviews