A Wild Fright in Deadwood

Deadwood #7

by Ann Charles

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned ... especially a dead one holding a grudge.


Back on Deadwood's list of Usual Suspects, Violet Parker is hip deep in wild frights and fired-up females. After juggling bitter threats, haunted buildings, and vengeful ghosts, the last thing she needs is a pair of bullheaded detectives trying to pin another murder on her tail.


Can Violet find the real killer before she ends up behind bars? Or worse, on a slab at the morgue.

Genres: Paranormal, Mystery, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Ghosts, Humor

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2016

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

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

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

Okay, I don't have time to write one of my wonderfully amazing, downright astounding non reviews for this little book here, so I decided to do the subcontracting thing. I didn't know who to turn to so I searched the Yellow Pages and found a firm called RonaldTroopers Inc. Anyone heard of them? Didn't think so. Apparently they're pretty new in the Crappy Non Review Business (CNRB™). They seem kind of weird and pretty useless, so I'm sure they'll be perfect for the job. That's their task force on the pic here ↓↓ They look quite professional, don't they? Yeah, I think so, too.



What the shrimp is that guy in white doing here?! Looks like an illegal immigrant, if you ask me. Wasn't there supposed to be a Barbaric Country Visa Ban (BCVB™) or something? Where the fish are GIF immigration services when you need them?!

By the way, things have been a bit tough for me financially these past few months, so I could only afford RonaldTroopers Inc's Basic Crappy Non Review Package (BCNRP™), aka Ze Crappy Non Check List (ZCNCL™). I'm pretty sure it doesn't get crappier than that. But you've never heard of this obscure series, don't plan on ever reading it and think this book cover looks like it was designed by my 13-year-old niece, so who gives a shrimp?

☠ The pathetic contents of this Crappy Non review Check List are the sole property of RonaldTroopers Inc. No part of this Crappy Non review Check List may be reprinted, reproduced or published without the express written consent of the guys with the funny red hair. All those hopeless enough to plagiarize said contents will suffer a slow, painful, horrible, possibly excruciating death ☠

» Ze Wild Fright in Deadwood Crappy Non Check List «

Aka: all the slightly enjoyable stuff that make this series in general and this instalment in particular slightly enjoyable despite the utter lack of quantum physics and super deep stuff yeah yeah yeah I know this is kinda sorta light and decaf and non fat and yes there is a little *whispers* romance so what this is most excellent in a mindless fun it's so good not to think slaughter once in a while kind of way and I don't care what you think anyway so there.

✔ Violet Parker. A heroine who is over 30 no fainting allowed . And the single mother of twins. And not a harebrained nitwit. And actually works for a living. And cannot keep her big mouth shut. And therefore has a natural gift for irritating the fish out of, well, you know, everyone lots of people. She's got purple boots with kinky powers, too. And slightly executes things that go bump in the night. When said things don't scare the shrimp out of her and/or kick her ass, that is.

✔ HAHAHAHA dialogues. Meaning it's pretty funny stuff. In case you were wondering.

✔ A sexy Doc who doesn't cure but will rock Violet's panties for sure ← complimentary crappy rhyme courtesy of RonaldTroopers Inc..

➽ We interrupt this Crappy Non Check List to bring you this very important public service announcement:



Bloody hell. These illegal immigrants really are everywhere!

✔ Aggravating, judgemental, self-righteous non-boring ghosts *gasps*

✔ An Abe Lincoln lookalike who should have his own paranormal reality tv show. And wants to murder things.

✔ Creepy stuff, freaky kids, scary clowns. And tequila.

✔ Assholish pricks, bitches from hell, kinky ex-suitors. And auto parts.

✔ A pet chicken named Elvis that will end up as next Sunday's lunch if he keeps this shit up doesn't behave.

✔ A non-nun on a nun-worthy sabbatical who will not be able to stick to the I'm a non-nun pretending to be a nun plan much longer. Thank you, Mr Stuck Up Cop.

✔ Not one but TWO non-stupid, non-exasperating pretty cool kids *slightly hyperventilates*

✔ Plain fun, entertaining, oft-hilarious, cool, mindless stuff.

» Ze End of Ze Wild Fright in Deadwood Crappy Non Check List «

Damn. I was expecting this to be severely crappy, but this really is SEVERELY CRAPPY. No wonder RonaldTroopers Inc's basic package was so cheap. A dull as ink blotter dishwater list, one pathetic rhyme and one lousy gif? That's all I get? Seriously? What a complete, total rip-off. I can't say I'm surprised that you people have to resort to illegal immigrants to do your dirty job. Pretty sure they're way better at this than you are, you silly guys of the funny red hair.





• Book 1: Nearly Departed in Deadwood ★★
• Book 2: Optical Delusions in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 3: Dead Case in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 4: Better Off Dead in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 5: An Ex to Grind in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 6: Meanwhile Back In Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 8: Rattling the Heat in Deadwood ★★★★
• Book 9: Gone Haunting in Deadwood ★★★
• Book 10: Don't Let it Snow in Deadwood ★★



[February 27, 2017]

I thought that this book wasn't out yet, but it turns out it was published last August. Which leads me conclude that:

1/ I clearly need to get my little head checked ASAP.
2/ I clearly need to stop working 24/7 every August.
3/ I clearly need to follow the author's blog to make sure I don't miss the next release in this series. Wait. I already do. Okaayyyy, I guess this leads me to conclude that:
4/ I clearly need to get my little head checked ASAP.

Oh, and by the way, I am absolutely not excited at the prospect of reading this book. Oh no, not me. I couldn't care less about it. Seriously.

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

I absolutely adore this series and can't get enough of it. I love everything that transpired in this series and everything that was revealed. I love these characters more than I can say and Ms. Charles continues to stun with her witty one liners, lovable characters and hair raising goose bump inducing mysteries. It will be a long wait until the next book.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet is once again at the centre of a murder investigation. Together with her rag-tag band she has to solve the murder before Detective Hawke decides it's easier to just throw her in jail for the crime.

Ann Charles always manages to please. A Wild Fright in Deadwood was entertaining and good fun. That said it didn't really end well. Things are just left unresolved and unexplained. So 4 Stars for the book reduced to 3 Stars because of how it ended.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My yearly must read series on our trip to the Black Hills, South Dakota. I love reading about Deadwood and Lead while driving around in the area. Unfortunately we are always a few days early or late for Ann Charles' yearly visit in Deadwood. I would love to meet her and hopefully get her autograph :)
The characters are so much fun and as always there are several opportunities for a good laugh but also some very creepy experiences. The smartypants remark fights between Violet and Inspector Hawke are hilarious.
Each ghost/creep/monster mystery is solved within the book but there is so much background story and connections that keep evolving from book to book that I recommend to start with the first book in the series and to read in order. (The first one is still my absolute favourite...)

[Heather Chargualaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this book I was- hahaha silly Harvey. Oh crap what's Prudence doing again. Oh my Doc you are Violets dream guy for doing that. Really Detective Cooper hauling Violet off to question again can't you trust her, wait it's Hawke that's the big jerk. Hahaha I'm gonna pee my pants that they are doing that. Gotta love aunt Zoe but she really needs to go for Reid again he so has the hots for her. Why is Rex here and why is he still standing. Oh crap that scared me. Coop you need to tell Natalie how you feel. Hahaha I loved that book so much when is book 8 coming out. Ahhh gotta love the series

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet is at it again! Her and Doc are getting to learn more about each other skills. Violet finally admits to Doc she loves him, about time! Natalie wrecks havoc on Rex's car, way to go. Zoe and Reid are moving along nicely in the romance department. She won't admit it but the signs are all there. Coop is moving too slow with Natalie but I have hopes for them working it out. Harvey is active but no one person in particular. Romance is blooming!
Now the mystery is moving along nicely! I love the addition of the boomerang war hammer, lol! If you do not read some of the previous books some information is missing and you have gaps. Ann Charles is and excellent yet humorous writer! The return of Dominick Materson should prove interesting. How much further is he going to help Violet? What part is the pig/ tattoo cult going to play in the future? Another albino is terminated what will show up next? So many questions and hopefully many more books to come. How developed will Coop's new talent be? Will him, Violet and Doc work together psychically? I look forward to the next mystery with the gang!

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Spoilers as part of a book rant!

Up until the last 3 books of this series (#'s 5, 6, and 7) each book worked as a cozy mystery with paranormal elements, a little romance, and lots of sarcastic humor centered on a too nosy single mom realtor named Violet living in Deadwood, SD. There were plot threads that carried over between all books, but books 1-4 had actual endings to the main plot arc in each. This changed with book 5 when neither it or book 6 had any significant closure. I'm not talking cliffhanger endings. I literally mean non-endings where the books simply ended mid-scene. This book, book 7, does have an ending. Sort of. With each of the last 3 coming in at almost 500 pages each, I'm not sure 20 pages of ending out of almost 1500 including one wrap up conversation really constitutes an ending and so many HUGE questions are still left unanswered. For instance, in book 5 the photo of Violet's son, Layne, is found framed on the dresser of a murdered woman. There is no reason this woman should have this photo. It leads the police to suspect Violet, of course, but it also drives every single action by Violet for the rest of the book. Every single one- her snooping, her investigating, most conversations, etc. There isn't a single resolution on this in book 5, it only gets one (about 2 sentence) mention in book 6, and it isn't even mentioned in book 7. This is only 1 of many plot points that just never go anywhere, at all, not even a little. Yet I'm not supposed to believe all the murders are resolved? Ugh! I have no idea if this series continues after this one. At this point I have no desire to find out.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This as book 7 in the "Deadwood" series. Back in Deadwood Violet "Sparky" Parker and the gang are on the hunt for a pissed off female. Violet is dealing with a lot the dead continue to show up her ex Rex is a real piece of work but her bff Natalie has got her back and I really liked how she deals with Rex. I did not like her sister she is selfish and self centered. I love the back and fourth between her and Cooper and Harvey is a hoot. I loved to see her grow and her relationship with Doc is getting stronger and stronger. I also like how Aunt Zoe holds back and encourages Violet. I love that the author uses humor along chasing ghost and demons. Violet must still find time to juggle work, her family and her romance with Doc trying to keep thinks as normal as possible at home which isn't helped by Det. Hawke threatening to arrest her every time he sees her and Cooper is starting to realize something a lot stranger than a few unsolved murders is happening and that Violet is somehow mixed up in it all the way up to her neck. I love listening to this series and I am looking forward to listening to the next book.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars... Things are heating up in Deadwood!!!

[RachelW (BamaGal) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Good entry in the series, if a little long and uneven. Appropriately creepy, and a few laugh out loud moments. There is finally some headway in Violet's personal life, also.

I'm enjoying these books, and the Deadwood setting, but this is probably not a series you can pick up in the middle. The books all have a murder/ghost/mystery case that has a tied-up ending; but there are several ongoing plot threads from previous books.

Fun, guilty pleasure series...

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet, Doc, and the gang are back and up to their eyeballs in spooky stuff. Once again, Ann Charles has blown me away. Love is such an inadequate word to describe this series. So many laughs that you'll lose count. I can't get enough of it!

[Raelene Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down right fantastic!

I just love the books by Ann Charles! She adds whit and charm to her characters in this book. She keeps you laughing in the middle of a mystery!!! Would love to meet this character Violet who is a bit kooky and yet love able !!!
~Raelene~

[Barbara ★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favoritest series! I simply love Violet (and the whole gang really). Harvey always cracks me up. I love the dynamic between Cooper and Violet and even Hawke. These encounters usually have me rolling on the floor laughing. And the twins and that damn chicken are hilarious. Oh and lets not forget Doc, a hottie extraordinaire.

Even the tertiary characters are great - Mona, Prudence, Cornelius (Abe Lincoln lock-a-like). Heck even the bad guys/gals are fun to be around.

This is a series that I hope Ms. Charles continues to write forever as I could never tire of Violet and her loony adventures in Deadwood.

[Malissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting more exciting now
Dig in and get ready for some more excitement and more executioner duties. Violet is learning quickly now and has friends by her side in the process. Who doesn't want "henchmen"?

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time, a certain interrogation involving a poncho had me laughing so hard that I scared my dog. And a seance had me looking over my shoulder. Great!

[jenna williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

heading into buffy the vampire slayer territory now

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery.

[Shanon Millman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn! The worst part of this book is that it ended. All the key players are back in Charles's longest book in the series. There are no huge surprises...Violet and Doc are still hot and heavy, while Violet still struggles with self-doubt, Coop and Violet are still at each other throats and Harvey,as Violet's bodyguard, is funny as hell. This book is laugh-out-loud funny, the humor and hilarity makes it feel like an old friend. I felt like a wild horse being held back by the reigns, so I didn't finish the book in one sitting. I needed by old friend to stick around for awhile longer, but alas all good things must come to an end, now I am anxiously awaiting the next installment. If this is the first time hearing about Ann Charles and the Deadwood series, I envy you, as you get to start this fun ride from the beginning.

[Denise Keef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Ann takes us on a wild time in the Deadwood Mystery series! All of our old friends are there to help Violet on her way to some crazy times. There was a big surprise (to me anyways) thrown in but I’m not one to spoil things so you will have to read the story and see for yourself what it is! Any whoo…If you love a great story…if you love getting lost in the antics and lives of great characters…then this book and series is definitely for you! Ann Charles, with her magical way of weaving a story, with many laugh out loud moments and seriously funny situations that had my stomach hurting from laughing so hard is definitely an author that you should be reading! I can recommend this book to friends, family and everyone without hesitation because it is amazing!

[Gail Mathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild fright

Good story building on previous book. Now I have to wait for next one to see what happens. She needs to write faster. Enjoyable as always.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I kind of feel sorry for Violet. I mean, she gets blamed for A LOT of things that she ultimately has no control over. Like the dead people who keep popping up around town.

It isn't her fault she stumbles over them with alarming regularity.

Well, wait. Maybe it kind of is her fault. I mean, she does go chasing trouble more often than not. Which I get because she's pathologically unable to walk away from something when it puts others in danger and her bloodline makes her better suited than most to hunt these baddies down, BUT STILL! Poor Violet gets blamed for a lot of things.

That said, she is assembling a solid team of people who have her back. A solid team who have skills that complement hers, even. She might be (slowly) learning the ins and outs of her heritage, but she's getting the job done. Mostly.

Anyway.. Violet, Doc, and the crew have their work cut out for them as they move deeper into the gritty world of ghosts, demons, and the creepers who want to set the world on fire. Metaphorically. Those guys are kind of jerks, but they're still not as jerky as Violet's ex. Which says a lot, doesn't it?

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Jess B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish I could get past disliking Violet. She is probably the most unlikable main character I've ever read. If not for an extremely enjoyable supporting cast & a good story, i probably wouldn't continue these. She's just terrible - from the way she treats Cooper to how horribly she thinks about her kids.

But I digress. The book itself was a little on the long side. The author's acknowledgements even state its long. Could have been shortened. The beginning is slow, with too much build up, too much wishy washy between Violet & Doc (her relationship woes are really annoying by now, too much fluff. Then, suddenly it gets GOOD. Like drew me in & I couldn't stop reading good. Maybe around the page 160-ish range.

I gave it a 4. If it had 100 fewer pages & a more likeable protagonist (don't have to love the MC, but this one is off the Richter Scale unlikable) it has potential for a much higher rating.

On the story alone, its quite good and had me holding my breath a few times.

Oh...and Cornelius literally has some of the best lines ever!

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like these no-brainer mystery/horror (very light on the horror) books by Ann Charles. After reading the first two Dune books this was a welcomed vacation from books that require extra brain powerlifting. I think this is the best in the Deadwood Mysteries series that I have read to date.

This is another Violet Parker book, full-time real estate salesperson and part-time Scharfrichter, or executioner of the dead. I don't really think on a literary sense that it is a 4 star but this series pretty good. It sort of goes against my judgment but I really liked the book. It's fairly predictable with the romance and spookiness but Ann Charles does come up with some good twists that make this book enjoyable.

I think Ill binge read what I have in this series. I have too many aches and pains to read anything serious right now.

A Wild Fright in Deadwood by Ann Charles
Book 7 in the Deadwood Mysteries Series

[Katie Storer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Binge reading any book series can make the small things that irritate a reader seem like big things. I’m happy to report that my biggest gripe about the content of this series was cleverly resolved by the author. Well done!

As always, the narrator did a splendid job acting out the characters. Her sense of timing is great. More importantly, she takes this multiple cast story and used voices that allowed me to easily identify the character who is speaking. It is full of laugh-out-loud humor, action and a bit of spice.

I really cannot say too much about the book without giving spoilers. Opening each new book is like the anticipation you have when you are meeting up with dear friends. You cannot wait to see them and you are sad when their visit ends.

Just know that I’m glad I listened to this book and I look forward to the next installment!

[Lauretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! Violet Parker's role of Executioner gets more challenging all the time. In this installment of her adventures with her new found identity, she confronts and defeats some very bad "other" creatures, including the spikey little albino Calypso who has been trying to get to her first. In the personal realm, she and Doc continue to grow closer and finally express their love for one another. Doc is becoming a real member of the family, as her children grow to accept and include him. While some loose ends are tied up in this book, there are plenty of challenges for Violet and her team to face in the future.

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better! Violet has come to grips with the fact that she is an Executioner, and learns more about her paranormal powers...with a little help from Doc, her beau! Love all the characters....and the tribute to The Good, The Bad And The Ugly just cracked me up! I cannot wait to find out what happens next...Can Cooper really see ghosts now? And what does Natalie do to torment Rex next? Thanks for this series, Ms. Charles...I hope you keep adding to it for a long. long time!

[Becky Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this series is developing as Violet gradually finds out more about her place in the world and realises that she has a great support network who are willing to help with her paranormal obligations. Ann Charles is a writer that I enjoy reading. I like her wit, her writing style and the pace of her story. There are no moments that you feel bored and want to flick ahead, rather you simply don't want the book to end.
If you enjoy paranormal tales that involve normal, everyday people and are told with humour, then you'll love the Deadwood series.

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet is once again embroiled in murder, mystery, ghosts, and ghouls! The paranormal aspects in the stories are the main focus as Violet continues to discover more about her lineage and what that could potentially mean. Def Hawke has it out for her, her ex-Rex is determined to ruin her dad, everyday, but I love the way Natalie deals with him 🤣🤣 #Teamnatalie all the way. Violet’s relationship with the people in her life keep evolving, but the one thing I keep hoping for is that her self esteem will improve.

[Toni Tellez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alive thru Deadwood

I am So in love with his series! I am on pins and needles awaiting the next book. Violet is da bomb. She is my new hero. Please, keep this series alive with the off the cuff wit and sarcastic barbs. The author's ability to make the dialogue real and not forced just adds to the humor. Not only am I waiting for the next book, I'm also looking out for the movie (hint, hint).

[Cathy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what the heck is going on in and around Deadwood? Body after body keep popping up in Violet's space, and Detective Cooper, and Detective Hawke are once again trying to pin the murder on Violet, why? Could it be because her battle axe was found buried in the woman's chest. Once again Violet and Doc have to figure this out with their combined paranormal powers. Will she finally say the 3 words she wants to say to Doc.. will he respond in kind?