Reviews

Gravedigger by Joseph Hansen

laurannie's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

seamuscoon's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love this series, don’t get me wrong, but it’s really Dave’s batshit habits that make it worthwhile. like there’s a scene in this book where he’s cold so he goes to bed wearing nothing but a sweater. there is so much wrong with him <3

bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Reading through this series, I'm discovering some patterns. Dave loves seeking trouble without backup, inevitably leading to him getting bruised up. He eats lots of scrambled eggs and gets to make lots of whopee in between interrogating shady characters. He has a high tolerance for stress and a great physique for an old guy (climbing out of hospital windows and what not). Not a bad routine.

avsdhpn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

fihman's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Not his best. Riding that Charlie Manson train, I guess...

octothorpetopus's review

Go to review page

adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

henrismum's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
#6 in series (I have been committed to this series since April of 2022.) Hansen's works are easy to listen to with a healthy balance of action and personal development to make a good story.
Comparison to others in series: Not as good About the same Better This one had slightly more personal development than most of the other books. It worked out okay.
The narrator was Keith Szarabajka. In the last book, I was getting a little annoyed with some of his voices. That wasn't an issue in this installment.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

claudia_is_reading's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

An insane cult's leader, a missing girl, a disbarred lawyer in need of money who filed a death claim and now can't be found... this is how it begins.

Soon, Dave will find himself immersed in a web of insanity and old secrets. And, of course, danger.

Also, now that he is 21, Cecil is back. I'm not sure about how much of a chance this relationship has. Dave is a workaholic and the difference in age is reaaaaaaaally big. We'll have to wait and see how it goes :P

Edwards is an absolute cad, though and deserves to burn in Hell for the way he was willing to treat Amanda.

And I have a new complain to add to the narration: Cecil's voice. I'm not an ace when it comes to USA accents, but I'm sure that that is not how a Detroit-native sound :/

And I think that Dave acted a little bit... stupid at the end. Let's blame the concussion :P

But issues aside, I really enjoyed the story :D

maya56's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

This is the darkest one yet.

manwithanagenda's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

That was dark. Brandstetter becomes involved in a case that puts him face to face with real evil. America was rapidly changing due to the upheaval of the '60s and '70s and the reactions of people to that have been a core theme of the series. Even in the face of simple corruption of officials and institutions, lying opportunists, and lost souls there was a general sense that good will out from Brandstetter. He had faith in himself if no one else. 'Gravedigger' shakes that faith and reveals a cynical world dead set on harm. Those last pages. Wow.

Brandstetter

Next: 'Nightwork'

Previous: 'Skinflick'