A Grave discussion of another sleeper series. . .

. . . in which Carolyn, (The Thrillionth Page) and I have much fun discussing  An Ice Cold Grave, the third installment of Charlaine Harris’ (other!) series, contrast it with two other favorite series of ours, and get ready for the series conclusion, Grave Secret, released last month.

Here’s why we think you would like the Harper Connelly series as much as we do!

A little about An Ice Cold Grave:

Hired to find a boy gone missing in Doraville, North Carolina, Harper Connelly and her brother Tolliver head there, only to discover that the boy was the only one left of several who had disappeared over the previous five years. All of them teenagers. All unlikely runaways. All calling for Harper. Harper soon finds them—eight victims, buried in the half-frozen ground, all come to an unspeakable end. Afterward, what she most wants to do is collect her fee and get out of town ahead of the media storm that’s soon to descend. But when she’s attacked and prevented from leaving, she reluctantly becomes a part of the investigation as she learns more than she cares to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville—knowledge that makes her the next person likely to rest in an ice-cold grave.

Carolyn: So Renee, how do you characterize the difference between the Sookie series and this one?

Renee: There are actually quite a few differences between the series, but I guess I’ll start with the difference of genre. While the Southern Vampire series always has that element of mystery, the Harper Connelly is much more of a traditional mystery, though still with a bit of a paranormal element.

Each book so far has started with a case on which Harper has been asked to consult, and use her abilities to find and communicate with the dead about their cause of death. The mystery really drives the action, and over the course of each book, we learn a little bit more about Harper and Tolliver, her stepbrother. Really, Harper’s kind of abilities are the only paranormal elements in the story. No weres, fae or vamps in this series!

Carolyn: I never thought about that, but yes, she is the only one in this world with any sort of paranormal ability. I was going to say that for me, a lot of the fun—and the darkness—comes from the mystery as well as from Harper’s interaction with the rest of the world. People want her help, but they resent and mistrust her.

I can’t think of any other series where a paranormal person is so isolated, or where the story comes from human/paranormal friction, instead of paranormal/paranormal friction. What about you?  You’ve read way more UF and paranormal than I have.

Renee: You know, I think you’re right. I actually went through my lists of books I read this year and last to check but no one really stood out as being so unique in their abilities.

As far as the human/paranormal tension, the series that comes closest, actually, is the Southern Vampire series, also by Charlaine Harris. Until Sookie meets Barry the Bellboy, she’s the only one with her abilities, and it’s only recently that she’s discovered why she has them.

However, in that series there are racial elements (the human race vs the paranormal races) where with Harper it is much more of a personal/individual issue people have with her. Even the only other people with paranormal abilities, Xylda and her grandson, Manfred are often written off (at least by the “normal” people) as complete shams.

Another difference I see from the Sookie series is the much darker tone. Sookie’s voice is so upbeat most of the time, and her self deprecating sense of humor as well as the quirky characters in Bon Temps really make for a light read, even when murders, vampire coups and bombings are happening. (Of course, Dead and Gone really did take a much darker turn, but that was the exception in the series.)

What do you think about the mood in this series, and in An Ice Cold Grave, in particular?

Carolyn: I find it darker, but in a good way. I wonder if you could say the worldview of this series, regarding whether humans overall are essentially good or bad, makes it that way. I mean, when you look at the Southern Vampire (SV) series, everyday humans are generally good, but just quirky, unless you count the ones in those anti-paranormal churches. But in AICG, everyday humans are generally less good, less trustworthy. I actually love that dark worldview—I find it challenging and juicy, and it makes more underdoggy characters.

And in An Ice Cold Grave, because one of the humans is a heinous murderer, it seemed like Harper and Tolliver were always in great unseen danger from any human at any time. I had a number of suspects in mind for the murder. And Harper and Tolliver would stay over in that isolated lake house, and I’d be like, get away from the lake house!

Renee: There does often seem to be a serious element of personal threat against Harper and Tolliver.

I think for the Southern Vampire series, the humans are just as capable of violence as the supernaturals (the Fellowship of the Sun, the human anti-vampire group is just as likely to be violent as the vamps or weres.) But, in the Harper Connolly series, the humans are always the source of the violent deaths that Harper investigates. And, in An Ice Cold Grave in particular, the murders are especially gruesome . . .

Stay tuned for part 2 of this discussion of An Ice Cold Grave, in which Carolyn observes, “How did it take us this long to come around to the sex?”

Drop by The Thrillionth Page tomorrow!

Also, you can check out our other Sleeper Series discussion, Carolyn and Renee chat about . . . The Bride of Casa Dracula.