Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeaniene Frost (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2007

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Take one half-human/half-vampire female with serious anger and parental issues, add in a sexy ancient vampire with his own agenda, and you have the makings for a truly combustible series. Sign me up for the sequel! --Romantic Times

Jeaniene Frost is dynamite. Halfway to the Grave is dark, sexy, and supernatural, blended with a touch of humor. I dare you to disagree--Cat will have you staked in five seconds flat. --Cheyenne McCray, New York Times best-selling author

Jeaniene Frost takes Urban Fantasy head on and makes the genre her own with a winning blend of humor, sex, and real emotion that will leave readers eager for more.--Kathryn Smith, USA Today best-selling author

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE has breathless action, a roller-coaster plot, flashes of dark humor, and a love story that will leave you screaming for more. I devoured it in a single sitting and I can't wait for the sequel. Sign me up for Jeaniene Frost's fan list! --Ilona Andrews, New York Times Bestselling Author --This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.

About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling - by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061245089
• ISBN-13: 978-0061245084
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (355 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Vampires
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost
  • #73 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Contemporary > General

More About the Author

Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of the Night Huntress series and the Night Huntress World novels. To date, foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. Jeaniene lives in Florida with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, Jeaniene enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling - by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

For more information on Jeaniene's books, including reading the first 20% of her novels, deleted scenes, creature mythology, and more, go to: http://www.jeanienefrost.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

165 of 174 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all urban fantasy fans...., November 6, 2007

By 

Deborah Wiley (Winter Haven, FL) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

No one believes in vampires... but Cat Crawfield knows better. She's been hunting them for the last 6 years, ever since learning her father is a vampire, a monster who raped her mother. Cat hunts partially to appease her mother, who fears Cat's unusual abilities. But then Cat meets Bones....

Bones isn't like the other vampires. Although he is a master vampire, he doesn't want to kill Cat or even stop her from killing other vampires. Instead, he has a proposition for Cat: work with him to kill specific vampires and he'll teach her all he knows. Will Cat be able to overcome her prejudices long enough to work with Bones?

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE is the first book in a series from Jeaniene Frost, and it is incredible! Jeaniene Frost has put a new spin on the vampire hunter theme with this spectacular urban fantasy. While there are shades of Buffy, HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE is by no means a carbon copy.

Cat is a spunky heroine, dedicated to avenging her mother. She doesn't want to like Bones, or any other vampire for that matter. After all, her mother has drilled into her head just how evil vampires are... and just how evil the vampire half of Cat is. Killing vampires is the only way she can redeem herself, or is it?

Cat's desire to do the right thing is admirable. Her feisty attitude is fun but it is her dedication to her mom that makes her so likeable. Bones is the perfect vampire to team her up with. His calm and patient demeanor contrasts well with Cat's impulsive nature.

Readers should note that while there is some romance in the tale, HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE is not a paranormal romance nor is the ending necessarily complete. Instead, HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE is the first book in a series and thus there are some issues, even major ones, that are left as cliffhangers for the next book.

Jeaniene Frost has vaulted to the top ranks of the ever growing urban fantasy field with HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE. I can't rave enough about this tale as it kept me positively spellbound. HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE is a must read for all urban fantasy fans!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

162 of 176 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars trashy goodness, March 31, 2008

By 

mlle. x (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is like a box of movie-theater candy: no nutritional value, probably not what you would choose if you could have whatever you wanted, but at the right time and the right place, it really hits the spot.

Honestly, I'm not sure why I liked this book. When I remember it, all I can think of are plotholes big enough to drive a truck through (Cat the blushing-virgin-cum-practiced-seductress' relationship with Bones the altruistic-bad-boy-vampire is high on the list; also anything to do with law enforcement), characters that never seemed real and were rarely likable (see above; then add everyone else in the book), and a splashy, utterly ridiculous conclusion. The vampires have glowing green eyes and some of them fly and Cat runs around in skanky dresses throwing silver knives. It's not just trashy, it's campy.

But...I did like it. For all the bad things I could say about it, it was still good escapist fun. It's full of drama and silliness and sexual tension. Bones is enough of a bad boy that it makes your heart go pitter-pat when he goes soft for a girl, and it goes pitter-pat when he's not so nice, too.

This is heavily qualified praise, but if you are on the lookout for the kind of zoning-out, guilty pleasure read I've described, this will do just fine.

53 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, November 5, 2007

By 

suzatm (PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

When I started this book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it but after a couple of pages I was totally hooked. The author found her stride and took off running delivering a story that was interesting, exciting, funny and just totally enjoyable. I hope she has planned on a long series. Her name has most definitely been put on my list of favorite authors.

Just a little advice - when you plan to read this book make sure you set aside time to read it from start to finish without stopping. I wish now I had started reading it on the weekend instead of having to snatch moments to read a little bit at a time. The book definitely deserves your full, undivided attention. You won't be disappointed.