Book Review: Beyond the Grave (Past Midnight #3) by Mara Purnhagen

***SPOILER FREE***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: August 2011
Pages: 256
Series: 3rd and final
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:
Goodreads

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved book 1 of this series and book 2 was equally awesome. Sorry to say, I was a little disappointed with Beyond the Grave, book 3. I still really enjoyed it but I didn't love it as much as books 1 and 2.

The main reason I didn't love Beyond the Grave was the fact that it wasn't really a ghost story anymore. Too much random paranormal elements for my tastes. The basics that made books 1 and 2 great were still there - the same characters and some of the same types of situations but, there was a lot of 'other' paranormal stuff that just didn't seem to fit.

We met a new character, Michael and at first I was very skeptical because my 'oh no not another love triangle' radar was on full alert. But, thankfully, I was wrong. Michael isn't a love interest but there was a still a problem with him for me. I never got a firm grasp on exactly what he was. He plays this role - again - sort of just thrown into the story and I never saw the point of him being there.

Another issue I had was with the character Bliss. In books 1 and 2 she is the stereotypical bitchy snooty know it all and her and Charlotte never become friends. She isn't even really important to the stories. But in Beyond the Grave, all of a sudden, she is important. First as a confidant of Charlotte - which makes no sense at all and then as a player in the weird paranormal stuff going on - which again, didn't seem to fit - at least to me.

What did I like? Charlotte and her family and friends and everyone I grew to love in books 1 and 2. And even though I didn't like the paranormal elements throw in, I did like the overall story. I liked how everything played out and I liked the tidy ending.

Final verdict:
As the final book to the series, I think Mara did an excellent job tying up loose ends without tying things up too tightly. When I walk away from beloved characters, I want to feel as if they are continuing on without me watching over them and that's exactly how I felt reading the last page of Beyond the Grave.

Is this series worth the read? Defiantly. Especially if you like ghost stories with a few twists. I'm sad to say goodbye to Charlotte and her family and friends but overall, the entire series was a big win for me.

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in The Past Midnight Series:
#1 Past Midnight
#1.5 Raising The Dead ebook
#2 One Hundred Candles
#2.5 Haunting the Night ebook
#3 Beyond the Grave

Linkage Love:
Harlequin Teen
Author's Website

Book Review: One Hundred Candles (Past Midnight #2) by Mara Purnhagen

*** Spoiler Free***

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: February 15, 2011
Pages: 240
Series: 2nd in a series
Acquisition: NetGalley

Summary:
(highlight to read if you've read book 1)

It's taken a long time for me to feel like a normal teenager. But now that I'm settled in a new school, where people know me as more than Charlotte Silver of the infamous Silver family paranormal investigators, it feels like everything is falling into place. And what better way to be normal than to go on a date with a popular football star like Harris Abbott? After all, it's not as if Noah is anything more than a friend….

But my new life takes a disturbing turn when Harris brings me to a party and we play a game called One Hundred Candles. It seems like harmless, ghostly fun. Until spirits unleashed by the game start showing up at school. Now my friends and family are in very real danger, and the door that I've opened into another realm may yield deadly consequences. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Oh man!  I know I shouldn't start talking about a book by talking about the ending but seriously! Really not what I was expecting at all! So much darker and bleak then the rest of the book. It worked with the story and it was a little hard to take in but I liked it. As for what came before this heart retching ending -- I liked really liked those parts too.

Even when I thought I knew what was coming, I enjoyed the journey to get there AND I was surprised a few times. I love Mara Purnhagen's writing . It's very easy to get immersed in her style and I loved feeling like I was experiencing the story instead of just reading about it.

Not a whole lot I can say without giving too much away. BUT if you like ghosts stories like I do, you should really pick up this series.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Past Midnight Series:
Past Midnight (#1) -- My Review
Raising The Dead (#1.5) -- My Review
One Hundred Candles (#2)
Beyond The Grave (#3) -- September 2011

Linkage Love:
Harlequin Teen
Author's Website
Goodreads

Short Story Review: Raising the Dead by Mara Purnhagen

I loved Past Midnight, so I was excited to read Raising the Dead. A 84 pages (approx) short tale that fits perfectly between books 1 and 2. It was really a condensed, mini mystery. I love the characters of this series so this short story was a real treat.

All the same characters we were introduced to in Past Midnight - a twist or 2 and a neat happy ending.

Available as an ebook for around $3.00 - well worth it in my opinion and a must read for fans of the series.

5 / 5 Stars

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The Series:
Past Midnight - Goodreads / My review
Raising the Dead - Goodreads
One Hundred Candles - Goodreads
Beyond the Grave - Goodreads (September 2011)