Dead Case in Deadwood

Deadwood #3

by Ann Charles

"Nothing good ever happens at the butt-crack of dawn. No doubt, the headless corpse on the autopsy table in front of me would agree."-Violet Parker Real estate agent.

Violet "Spooky" Parker stumbles upon a body-part theft ring at the local funeral parlor and suspects her caustic coworker has a hand in it or maybe a foot.

Can Violet discover what's in the crates the crooks are sneaking out of the mortuary in the dark of night? Or will she end up in one of them herself ... in pieces?

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Cozy Mystery, Humor, Fiction, Audiobook

402 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

About the author

Ann Charles—Author
Nearly Departed in Deadwood, the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award Winner and a 2011 RWA Golden Heart Award Winner.
*USA Today Best Selling Author,
*Amazon Top 100 Bestselling Author
*Barnes & Noble Top 100 Bestselling Author
*Winner Suspense Magazine Best of 2012, 2015. 2016
*Winner of Paranormal Grand Prize from Chanticleer Book Reviews and Media,
*Winner of Southern Writers Best Covers Contest
You'll laugh. You'll cringe. You'll want more.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet Parker once again finds herself in the middle of a whole world of misadventure in Deadwood. She needs to sell a hotel to a Ghost Whisperer or lose her job; figure out what Ray is up to at the funeral home; find out who the the headless corpse is and why he's headless; and if she has a little time take her relationship with Doc to the next level.

There are books that are a lot like this series and in nearly every case I liked them for one or two books before the glow faded. But these books are saved by Ann Charles' humour. That's what's keeping me interested and the reason I've just bought book #4.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC!

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Real Estate agent Violet stumbles upon an organ theft ring in her local mortuary and tries to break it up. This leads to all kinds of shenanigans.

Pretty meh.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Case in Deadwood bk 3 [Deadwood series]
This is a Paranormal Romance series following the same couple and their group of friends.. You see how much the hero watches out for the heroine and how all their friends look out for each other..

This book was pack with so much mystery and had you on the edge of your seat with murder plots, running away from a mad man and amazing strong characters. This series is a fun, sweet, cute and awesome mystery but there is some dark plot lines in each book that will make you sad or have you on the edge of your seat wanting to keep reading to make sure the characters are ok.. I think Natalie is over acting when she found out about Doc and Violet..

Wow i love this series so much so far and when i started book 3 i was so happy to get back to all the amazing characters and what's happening in their Life's.. I feel sorry Violet because she has a lot of bad nightmares because of the bad guys she has to face..

My Fav characters:
⦁ Doc
⦁ Violet
⦁ Old man Harvey
⦁ Aunt Zoe
⦁ Natalie
⦁ detective cooper
⦁ Abe Lincoln look a-like

The author does amazing job writing this series because she really made it fun to read but also put a lot of plot twists that make you want to keep reading and she put a lot of thought into each character in each book and her books have real plots from the town this is based from..

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves mystery's or even cozy mysteries because this is amazing book and very addictive because you will want to keep reading..

Characters i disliked:
⦁ Ray
⦁ Jeff Wymonds
⦁ Bad guys [Are not human]

The deadwood mystery series is awesome and one of my favorite series because everytime you read each book you get pulled into the story and it makes you happy to see the characters again..

This Series is packed full of:
⦁ Paranormal Romance
⦁ Single Mum
⦁ Mystery
⦁ Content: Ghosts, talks of Murders, Drama, Harassments, Ghost channeling and gets more Nightmares, Fighting Monsters and more
⦁ Friends to Lovers
⦁ Hot & Steamy
⦁ Heroine nearly gets attacked will trying to save her best friend but does not go down without a fight
⦁ Both the hero & heroine save each other
⦁ Heroine still has her sort off bodyguard called Old man Harvey when things are not safe for her
⦁ Heroine's best friend Natalie finds out that Violet & Doc are dating which makes Natalie stop talking to Violet for a while [Natalie had a crush on Doc that's why she feels hurt]
⦁ Forced Proximity
⦁ Protective Hero
⦁ Possessive Hero/Touch her and die trope
⦁ True facts throughout this series about the Town Deadwood these books are set in
⦁ Spooky Vibes
⦁ Small Town
⦁ Follows the same couple and their friends
⦁ Strong friendships
⦁ Strong family relationships between the heroine and her aunt
⦁ Heroine's friends would do anything to keep her safe
⦁ Hero will do anything for his woman
⦁ Each book gets darker and more creatures come out to play like monsters, demons, evil ghosts and more

I really liked the relationship between Doc and Violet because its so sweet and they are made for each other.. I really liked all the characters that are in Violets friend group..

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Case in Deadwood (Deadwood Mystery Series #3) I try not to give away too many 5 Star reviews because I don't want them to become commonplace BUT this series has been so overwhelmingly entertaining I cannot do anything else. Violet is settling in and getting more laugh out load funny, the romance is picking up a lot AND the paranormal aspects of these books takes a huge leap forward. You need these books to read between whatever your usual reading choices are because they are like a treat for the readers. I don't reprint the summaries or cover hints just to make my reviews longer so take my word for it and grab this series, you are gonna thanks me :) Ann Charles, you have my heartfelt thanks for writing such fine entertainment. This is not Pulitzer prize stuff, it is laugh out loud funny to break the dangerous and heartfelt moments up and it works wonderfully.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was all over the place. The romance was silly and off putting. The charming "will they or won't they" from the first two books was just tedious by book three.The fact that they are still sneaking around was corny. The mystery was strange and confusing. I find her constant inability to learn from her mistakes stupid.She prattles on and on about "doing what is best for her children" then jumps head first into dangerous situations that could get her killed over and over. This book just didn't really work for me. I already bought the next one so I will read it and hope it is better.

[Jaime Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLIFFHANGER!! R u freakin kiddin me? I'd punch Doc in the Adam's Apple. He runnin 'round talkin 'bout Violet not tellin Natalie, when he did the same damn thing. He never once said, out right, to Natalie "yeah, I'm just not that into u." Lil miss Namby Pamby, coulda forced this issue by tellin Doc, "this is not my problem, u want me, u tell her," after the very 1st time he kissed her. Instead, we get bush beatin, pussy footin & all around foolishness, that could've well been avoided.

Next, FORESHADOWING, that sister of hers is bad news & I'd have stomped her till my boots got sticky a long time ago. She'd be afraid to lay eyes on my kids, much less drive'em somewhere.

Lastly, really? I mean for real? Was Violet sittin on a pile a money before she had the twins? Did I miss that part? We find out she's doing all this poor me, poor me, pour me another, when she wrote the twin's father out of the picture. She would at least be able to get her boy shoes & her girl glasses if she was getting child support. If he didn't pay at least u'd have the knowledge that he was rottin' away in jail.
Hurtin' the kids, herself & her best friend, was all of her own making. The silly twit.

One last thing, y didn't she take the opportunity to cut Ray's throat when she had it? He's strapped down, sharp tools r about & she didn't grab 1 & say "U fucked w/ me the last 3 months, now I'm finna fuck u." & plunge somethin into his throat. I'm done!

[jenna williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you turned supernatural into a cozy mystery series with a female lead, it’s this.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Deadwood fans, you're going to be amazed!

The Deadwood Mystery series is one of my favorite series. When it comes to mysteries, it is my favorite. Every time I pick up an instalment in this series, I know I'm in for a treat. You get pulled in pretty quickly and Ann takes you for a ride where you'll be guessing the outcome until the very end. I love it.

The characters are some of my favorite cast of characters. Old man Harvey is completely original. He may be sour and a womaniser, but he's got Violet's back when she needs it most and if not, betsy will be happy to help out. *winks*
Violet is a cool chick. Trouble seems to follow her no matter where she goes. Everyone knows if Violet's around, something's gonna go down. *laughs* As a heroine, she's fun, witty, tough and a great mom. What more can you ask for?
I've loved Doc since the start. He's a mysterious hunk and with each instalment we find out more about him. Maybe one day we'll figure out what his past is hiding and what he really is... :)
My new favorite character is Cooper. He's tough and rough on the outside and most likely in as well, but I know there's something we're not seeing with him. Although I love Violet and Doc together, I sometimes wonder what would happen with her and Coop.

This story was the mother load. I was completely engrossed from page one. Lots of mystery and action. Great villains and a fantastic plot. I really hate to wait another year to read the next instalment.. *sighs* Ah well, as long as you keep writing Ann. *winks*

So, if you've been under a rock and haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend you check it out!

Oh! I also want to shout some praise for Ann because Dead Case is #2 on Bestseller list for Ghost Horror on Amazon. And #1 on Hot New Releases for Ghost Horror!!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 3rd in the Deadwood series continues the adventures of Violet, bad realtor with a spooky reputation whose curiosity puts her in the middle of some criminal cases along with a big cast of secondary characters. As per my earlier reviews, I still think Violet is a narcissistic Mary Sue who doesn't suffer the consequences of her actions in any real or realistic way. I don't really like her at all. There was some much needed character development in this one, so I still have hopes I'll grow to like her more in the future. But, I still really enjoy the story/mystery due to the well developed secondary characters and light-hearted, zany plots. As a fan of Deadwood (the real place), I also enjoy the setting.

Don't start with this one. It doesn't work as a stand-alone as it completes a story arch began in book 1, and there are some character relationships and traits that need to be understood in context of the books up until now.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can never quite give these more than a 3 star review because I want to strangle Violet about half the time. But if I could give 3 and 1/2 stars I definitely would. Overall, I like the quirky characters and I enjoy the story line. Worth the read, for sure, if you just want something fun and light.

[Marion Over · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are fun books. Very slow burning romance, hilarious characters, lots of suspense and drama. Still light on the supernatural but steadily getting weirder. Great read.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm so this was probably a 3.5.
Question, are we supposed to believe that Violet is a functioning thirty+ woman as opposed to a teenager because I have issues there. I get that she is imperfect, and don't want her to be, she has problems, we all do, she doesn't have a perfect life, wouldn't want her to, she makes mistakes, we all do! HOWEVER! Its just getting old and frustrating that she makes zero progress in the character development department after three books. The characters are all just so one dimensional, well except for Harvey who's just funny. Violet is still putting up with Ray's misogynistic, sexist, highly illegal sexual harassment, she can't tell her best friend about her relationship with Doc; Ghosts are abound and she's still snooping and endangering herself and others with her reckless behaviors. I mean does she have any high grounds to tell her children to behave when she can't listen to reason and common sense herself? i think not. Anyway, the only forward momentum i see in this story, is the ghosts, Deadwood seems to be a hotbed for ghosts 👻👻 and supernatural beings and its getting downright spooky. If only Violet wasn't a non-believer despite the evidence in front of her and inhabiting her 👀👻👻

[Aղցela W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was book 3 in the "Deadwood" series. This series is getting better and better. Violet Parker meets a new potential client Cornelius, who is interested in purchasing the "haunted" Deadwood Hotel. The new client says that he is able to speak with ghosts and will pay cash if she can prove the hotel is haunted. Cornelius rents a suite for a week and asks Violet to join his group in a seance. Doc also joins her in the sniffing out ghosts of his own but the seance. During the seance we learn something about Violet that she didn't even know. This book had a lot going on in it. Ray who wants to get rid of Violet he gets Jane to agree that if Violet doesn't sell the hotel that she will be fired. So he tries to outbid her and lets her know that he wants her gone. In retaliation, Violet taunts Ray with knowing what is going on with the containers that him and George Mudder of Mudder Funeral Homes are smuggling. Ray gets extremely nasty and threatens Violet. This just drives her even more to figure out what is going on. This was a good read with a cast of weird secondary characters that are as kooky as Violet is. I also loved the narrators of this series. I am looking forward to listening to the next book in this series.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... Things have certainly not settled down for our favorite realtor... When Violet is paid a visit by a seemingly eccentric ghost whisperer in search of purchasing a "real" haunted hotel, she finds herself the conduit for some disturbing seances... To close the deal, she must face her past and possibly embrace her ghostly future... In other news, the mystery surrounding her "pig" of a co-worker is heating up and Violet's curiosity might just be the thing that gets her killed... Add in a spicy yet confounding and complicated romance with Doc, and Violet's cup is truly overflowing... Never a dull moment in Deadwood for Violet Parker and the gang... Another hysterically funny and intensely frightening read in the Deadwood series; loved every minute of it:)

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in this cozy mystery series did not disappoint again!!
The main character is a realtor, forgot to mention that in my pre ious review and it brings new plot twists and scenario’s to this series. We’ve all read about too many mystery solving cats and bakers so this is a great change. Violet remains strong and hilarious as she wiggles herself out of some tight situations again that had me laughing and biting my nails at the same time. Romance is a teaser keeping me turning the page as well and the detective in town has a personality that is dug out more now too. Harvey is very funny character as well. Going to start the next book now I can’t wait!
Read these on my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! I always get excited about a good new series!

[Malissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addicted

When I first start one of Ann Charles' books, I'm always taken aback by all th sexual banter. However, after I get used to it, I appreciate her humor. I have already purchased another book in this series. I have also read the whole Jackrabbit Junction series.

[Kimberly #Audiofile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh guys this fmc is ridiculous.
I’m struggling to like her.

BUT the world building aspect of this book is good enough to continue.

Honestly tho she’s a crap friend and does some really stupid things. I found myself thinking of her as a child numerous times.

Gosh I hope she grows up or I don’t know how long I’ll be able to continue to read this series.

Narration was good tho.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ann says she is a mystery, paranormal, and romance writer I always think, huh? But Violet struck again with her crazy adventures she stumbles into.

[Marion Driessen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in the series, and it just makes me want to read more and more. Laughing out loud, holding my breath - you name it and Ann Charles gives it. Romance, humor, suspense, all in one package. Try it!

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is becoming seriously addictive! To think I didn't like the first instalment and almost never got to reading the second one!

In Dead Case in Deadwood the story is fun and there are several sub-plots which make the book an entertaining read. The dialogues (especially those with Harvey involved) are seriously funny and Ann Charles doesn't go over the top with the paranormal part of the story which is nice.

I have to say that what I particularly enjoyed in this instalment is the development of the characters. No matter how crazy/wacky the situations they find themselves in, their evolution rings true and feels quite real. I like Violet's character because she is very lifelike: she has problems with her kids and with money, has body issues... I think that this is why I like Violet better than Stephanie Plum (whom she is often compared to), she feels more like a real person to me.

A very enjoyable read, I'll dive into Better Off Dead in Deadwood right away! :)

• Book 1: Nearly Departed in Deadwood ★★
• Book 2: Optical Delusions in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 4: Better Off Dead in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 5: An Ex to Grind in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 6: Meanwhile Back In Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 7: A Wild Fright in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 8: Rattling the Heat in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 9: Gone Haunting in Deadwood ★★★
· Book 10: Don't Let it Snow in Deadwood ★★

[Your Need To Read]

Check out our review here:
http://www.yourneedtoread.blogspot.co...

Notice the cover..C.S. Kunkle illustrated. Again, for those who have been living under a rock, the cover is everything. I actually bought Ann's first book in the series because of the fantastic cover. I loved it! I can't begin to tell you how many books I have turned down due to the hideous covers..spend the money if ,unlike Ann, you don't have a professional artist in your family. Who probably charged her- but let's hope she got a great deal..brothers, you never know.

This is #3 in the series. The same characters are back..vile Ray, and I mean VILE. Her best friend Natalie (ohhhh....I can't say anything...aaaak), the family and of course Doc...

This book was just as great as the last two. It doesn't feel like three separate stories, but a continuing story. I can't decide which of the three is my favorite. I'll just say, questions are answered.

Violet is involved in a whole new mess. I don't think the woman will ever attract a normal client; this one makes the last two from previous books look tame. Money is money, and it is hysterical to see how far she is willing to go in order to earn a commission. She and Doc are doing well, though she continues to drive everyone insane by keeping the relationship a secret from Natalie. Natalie is still on the hunt for Doc and is clueless about what is really going on. Maddening! I can say no more, except do begin with,' Nearly Departed in Deadwood', the first in the series; otherwise you'll be lost.

Now, hurry up and write #4, Ann!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy smokes! I haven't been this enamored of a series since... umm, well, it hasn't been all that long BUT STILL! I am so enjoying the shenanigans these characters get into. I mean... Harvey and his love gel (fruit flavored because that's what his lady friends like), best friend Natalie and her determination to see Violet paired up with the Detective despite Violet's insistence that she wasn't into him and he wasn't into her (something I'm not too sure of), Doc's ghostly visitations (not to mention his ... stamina in the stairwell. And the bedroom. And the bean bag chair.) ... all of it just makes me giddy. It's fast-paced and sometimes silly and I'M HAVING SO MUCH FUN WITH IT!

Oh. OH! I can't forget to talk about some speculations about Violet that were tossed around. Well, I won't ACTUALLY talk about them because they're the sort of thing that I think you have to experience for yourself but I will say that if Doc's ideas are true, it'll open a whole new world for Violet. And since what he's saying makes sense... the next book should be VERY interesting. *smiles maniacally at everyone* Very.Interesting.

Once again, we have some nice setup for the next book/mystery. Violet helped the Deadwood PD tie up one investigation but a lot of questions were left unanswered and the ending... oh, the ending. Nothing comes easy in Violet's world and things just look like they're going to get even hairier in book 4.

*excited grin* Can't wait!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

Dead case in Deadwood was a free Kindle book I downloaded on 10/04/12 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books would be a lot better if our main character didn't persistently act so stupid. There are very few circumstances where she doesn't make the exact opposite decision that any sane, reasonable, intelligent, responsible person would. But I could handle that if the author would just explain why the character acted like such an idiot all the time. We really have no idea why she is a mid 30's mom of twins who still acts like a college kid. She's still sponging off family but makes decisions like nothing has any ramifications. Her aunt is an enabler and her "best friend" is a bigger ditz than she is. Would any grownup who REALLY needs a job to support their family put up with the crap Ray has shoveled? And Harvey's nephew or not, Coop's behavior is insulting and borders on harassment. Real estate agents have no legal obligation to pry into the backgrounds of their clients beyond their credit worthiness. Even convicted felons have the right to buy property in this country and real estate people can and do sell it to them. In fact, they could probably be sued if they refuse to. A lawyer on retainer for Violet could make a fortune just suing the people she has to deal with.

Really, I think she can be smart AND funny. Read a Molly Harper book. She does it with all of her characters.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. My least favorite so far - but I still really liked it. I think what put me off that half star was the funeral home center of the plot. Funeral Homes just aren't even a little bit interesting to me.

Still, a very good story, and the character development in this book was much stronger than the first two books: Doc and Violet actually have conversations in this book (although, thank goodness, not too many) and the shit hits the fan in a relationship or two. Cooper intrigues the hell out of me and I'm eager to see what Ms. Charles does with his character.

The plot line had a few twists I didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to seeing whether anything will come of Violet and her possible new talents. I'm not sure how I feel about the new bad guy - it feels just a little too out there and going forward with it might reduce the series premise into silliness. We'll have to see. To me, demons and humour just don't mix. At all. Ever. And I'd much rather keep the humour and ditch the demons.

I can't wait to dive into the fourth book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was even better than the first two. If you enjoy a story with romance,ghosts,mystery, and humor, I urge you to read this absolutely terrific book. I laughed out loud several times. How could I not,when there are characters like Safari Scooter or Big Lip Lolly?! The ending had me clamoring for more...

[Dorsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite things about Ann Charles' books are the wit and humor. The main character always gets herself into ridiculous situations and her life is a comedy of errors.

The character development is fantastic. The plot was good. I would actually rate this book 3.75 stars. I liked it but not quite as much as I did the first one.

[Pernette]

I enjoy Ann Charles Deadwood series. It is funny, mysterious and there are always some kind of "high jinks" going on. Violet Parker is always getting herself into some kind of trouble and Dead Case in Deadwood is no exception. This book starts off with a headless corpse and ends with disappearing albinos. Lots of fun.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third of the series. As I have totally enjoyed both book 1 & 2 I looked forward to reading this book. In my opinion this was a whole book of middle. Nothing definitive really happens. It was good enough to try book 4 but was a little disappointed overall. Hope book 4 is better.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven't read this series now is the time to start.
It's fun, witty, a wee bit sexy, there is intrigue, parenting, real estate selling...and romance.
How fun could that be?
Violet's client in this book looks like Abe Lincoln and wants to buy a haunted hotel, because he is a Ghost Whisper.