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

by Jeaniene Frost (Author)
Key Phrases: Tate Bradley, Danny Milton, Catherine Crawfield (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Jeaniene Frost lives with her husband and their very spoiled dog in Florida. Although not a vampire herself, she confesses to having pale skin, wearing a lot of black, and sleeping in late whenever possible. And while she can't see ghosts, she loves to walk through old cemeteries. Jeaniene also loves poetry and animals, but fears children and hates to cook. She is currently at work on the next novel in her bestselling Night Huntress series.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061245089
• ISBN-13: 978-0061245084
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (143 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,782 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Urban
  #27 in	Books > Romance > Gothic
  #28 in	Books > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

• This is item 1 in The Night Huntress Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 92 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 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

78 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	mlle. x (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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.

32 of 39 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

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.