The last book in the series; the one meant to wrap up all the loose ends, and it does so admirably.

When I read the first book, I liked it for the mysteries and the humor, though the humor was a little over-played (her penchant for naming everything grated on my nerves, and though she never stops doing it, it plays a much smaller part in the narratives of future books).  As the series progressed, I still read them for the mysteries and I enjoyed the humor more because it became more balanced, but I also got stuck into the mythology Jones was using for the overall series arc.  And I genuinely became attached to the wacky cast of characters that surrounded Charley.

This final book winds up the arc concerning the prophecies involving Charley and Reyes - and keeps the possibilities open for a future series featuring their daughter and her prophesied battle against Lucifer.  Since the 13th book was meant to be the finale, there are no loose ends or questions - though there were a couple of didn't-see-that-coming twists, one full-blown M. Night Shyamalan shocker, and a single misty-eyed moment I'm wiling to admit to.

The only bit that left me disappointed was the end-end; the part where we find out what Charley and Reyes do.  It's not anything short of a happy ending, but I didn't like it.  I get it, and I get why it was the perfect ending, but I still didn't like it, and mostly for juvenile reasons.

While I'm sad to see the story end, and sad I won't see the gang anymore, I'm happy with the series ending now rather than past its prime, and Darynda Jones has a new series coming out next year that sounds like it might be fun, so perhaps I'll have a new series to love and look forward to.

I read this book for Halloween Bingo's 13 square.  13 in the title, and 13th in the series.

Charley Davidson has been freed from the dimension she was trapped in… but only to find the real world is under a new threat: a hell dimension is spreading over the city… perhaps the world

A Hell dimension unleashed by Charley and Reyes… and only answering the hidden question of what happened to Charley’s mother may help them save the world and their daughter..

This is the final chapter in the story of Charley Davidson…. Which means I always am going to be quite bleak about all this. I am never happy about a series ending, especially not a series I’ve come to love. I will always be grumpy about this.

And that means I need to do an obligatory bias check - it’s ending and I am unhappy and I hates it I hates it I hates it!

But I do have some issues beyond my utter unwillingness to say goodbye

As I’ve said with this series, the balance of zaniness is a little off kilter. I always liked Charley and her silly habit of naming things (like her breasts: Danger and Will Robinson, or her car, Misery) but then she took it too far and started naming all the things. We still had the humour but it started trying too hard to be silly. This book we pulled that back a lot and got a lot more serious… perhaps even too serious. But it was focused on the plot… but lost some fun along the way

That plot is something I’m torn over. Like previous books towards the latter half of this series there’s a weird split between EPIC WORLD DESTROYING MASSIVENESS with gods and angels and demons and Charley being this incredible epic thing beyond comprehension with massive stakes beyond knowing while also being super super fun…. And then there’s a fairly mundane crime drama. And it feels… odd? Especially because in this book it feels especially strong because while we’re talking about the whole world ending in the not very distant future, neither Charley nor Reyes seem to make this a priority? I think part of this is the way it pans out: this shadowy hell dimension is consuming the city and will expand to consume the world with a side order of dangerous violent possessions. But Charley gets a rather dubious cryptic advice that she basically has to find out something from her past to get the answer. There’s no obvious connection so while the world is ending it feels like Charley is involved in something completely unrelated. While we have a much more focused and excellent classic Charley Davidson storyline of finding some missing people and using magic and investigative shenanigans to great effect - with the added bonus of Charley’s development with her new thread of ruthlessness. It was a great storyline which totally eclipsed the world ending and the actual finale of the series.

This book was also a little light on Cookie and Charley being their amazing, fun selves. A lot of the book had many of the characters we’ve grown to know and love - but they’re kind of… there? And it feels like because it’s the last book we need to give everyone a nod but at the same time they’re not actually doing a whole lot. Especially Cookie. We love Cookie, where is Cookie? There’s a nice moment with Rocket and a really really really REALLY epic moment with Uncle Bob. But both of them (especially Uncle Bob) had me virtually yelling at the book. You spring this in the last book?! YOU WAIT UNTIL NOW?! HOW?! YOU CAN’T STOP HERE! More book appropriate was her scene with her sister which was truly powerful and noteworthy which i have nothing but praise for.

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Charlie, Reyes, Cookie and Co. They have become a favorite book family over the years. I voted Charlie as the one I most want to sit and have coffee with. This was a bittersweet read, I couldn't wait to read it and never wanted it to end. It is one long series that didn't burn out before it ended and I will miss my Charley Davidson friends.
Okay so Charlie has been gone a long long long time, but she's back know and there is a twisted twist. She finds nothing is as she thought and her finds floored me a few times along with her. There was one twist no two twists or was there three ? with relatives that totally shocked me. I'll need to re-read/listen to it I was in shock remember. Oh, please I'm not going to spoil it so don't ask. Charlie did what she does she went way off course and Holy Shitake was an ending. I was happy, sad, blubbering like a baby, cheering like a wild donkey and then just in shock. I'm not sure I liked how it ended, but I loved the book. I may have wanted them (Charlie/Reyes) to go another way but it wasn't my book to write they went where they should have. Bravo Ms. Jones I'll be waiting on that next book, so get to writing ; D

Book source ~ NetGalley (for tour in 2018)

Charley Davidson broke the only rule she was supposed to follow and God (yes, Him) flicked her like a bug into a Hell dimension as punishment. Ok, maybe he didn’t actually flick her. He may have whisked her. Or scooted? Anyway, after 100+ years of exile she’s back and she’s not sure what she’s missed more: Reyes, her daughter, her friends or coffee. But just because she’s been gone doesn’t mean shit hasn’t hit the fan and now she has to roll up her sleeves, assuming she has sleeves, and get to work.

I finished this epic final installment of an even bigger epic series and all I could hear is the Doors playing The End. That was a stupid ringtone I picked for my phone, but anyway, I’m sad to say it is The End for Charley’s adventures. However, I left the last page behind with hope in my heart that there will, at some point, be a book/trilogy/series featuring the ever adorable Beep and her army facing off with Lucifer.

I laughed, I cried, I snorted, I drooled, so it was a typical Charley book in that respect. But I was also floored by a certain revelation. Woo doggie! I totally did not see that coming. And that thing, at the end? I never would have thought of that! So, goodbye for now, my friends. I hope to see you again soon in another dimension. Or installment. Or whatever. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m totally going to re-read this entire series and soon, so get some cookies and put on the tea!