People often bring work home, but what if your father is a mortician? This trilogy follows Riley, a 17-year-old girl with the unique ability to see spirits.
Title: The Mortician’s Daughter
Author: C.C. Hunter
Genres: Fantasy > Paranormal > Ghost
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 774
Reading Date: 25th October 2024 – 31st October
The reading order – How to Read The Mortician’s Daughter Series by C.C. Hunter
- 1 One Foot in the Grave
- 2 Two Feet Under
- 3 Three Heartbeats Away
One Foot in the Grave
Her dad’s job is with the dead… and he’s bringing his work home with him.
Once again, seventeen-year-old Riley Smith is the new kid in school and her dad’s career has her back to being dubbed a freak. Truth is, she’s a much bigger freak than her classmates think. The only company she keeps these days is the dead who follow Dad home from work. She can see them. She can speak to them. And Fate seems to think she can help them solve their last problems so that they can move on to the other side. Which is odd, because with the loss of her mother and her father’s alcoholism, she’s got enough problems of her own.
But nothing could prepare her for the next tormented young spirit who darkens Riley’s door. The young woman’s death wasn’t the accident everyone believed. Soon Riley finds herself face-to-face with the killer and her only protection comes in the form of another spirit, Hayden, a boy her age with a heart-melting smile and understanding eyes that make her feel safe. If she can escape becoming the killer’s next victim, Riley knows she’ll have to help Hayden move on too, but what if she can’t let him go?
My thoughts…
People often take their work home with them. But what if your father is a mortician? In this story, we meet Riley, a seventeen-year-old girl with the unique ability to see spirits. Fortunately, her gift has only recently emerged, so she is still very new to the “helping spirits” scene.
One Foot in the Grave, the first instalment in The Mortician’s Daughter series, offers a thoroughly satisfying story that will leave you eager to dive into the second book right away, and with Halloween just around the corner, this book is an ideal choice for a quick and enjoyable read!
I thoroughly enjoyed C.C. Hunter’s Shadow Falls series a few years back, and this book has the same engaging style that I appreciate. The smooth storytelling and well-developed characters make the reading experience delightful.
I like how C.C. Hunter interweaves teenage drama, parental conflicts, boy troubles, and themes of friendship alongside mysterious elements in the plot. However, the revelation doesn’t catch me off guard, as I have accurately predicted it concerning Hayden.
Nevertheless, I’m eager to see how Riley will address her boys’ problem and which other ghosts she will assist in crossing over. Additionally, I’m interested in learning more about her school cashier with the talent of seeing aura. Finally, I can’t wait to see Kelsey’s reaction when Riley reveals the truth about her abilities!
Two Feet Under
Riley has accepted that her special gift is to help dead people with their unfinished business. But she never thought she’d be tasked with helping the spirit of a convicted criminal who died in prison. He may lead her on the scariest mission yet, but helping him could mean saving the life of a child. The convict’s daughter needs a liver transplant and the one person who could still be a match is his brother…who also happens to be a gang leader.
Hayden’s not happy that Riley’s discovered who he is and is seeing him sick and unconscious in his hospital bed. This feels like as good a time as ever to cross over and put all of them out of their misery….but Riley is in danger. She’s visiting some of the most dangerous spots and confronting some of the creepiest low-lifes in town. For her, he’ll need to regain his strength and fight to keep her safe.
But dealing with other people’s problems still can’t keep Riley from her own. Her dad’s drinking has gotten worse. And she’ll soon learn it’s because he’s been keeping a huge, horrible secret that will change everything she believes about her family and her mother’s death.
My thoughts…
The second instalment in the series features more intensity than the first, with escalating levels of danger, desperation, and conflict. Assisting the ghost may jeopardize Riley’s safety, her problems with her father are escalating, and her growing feelings for Hayden are likely to lead to heartbreak by this second book’s conclusion.
This instalment is yet another captivating read and makes this book hard to put down. As always, C.C. Hunter weaves a thrilling story featuring a likeable protagonist, an intriguing mission, and a seamless blend of fantasy, mystery, and romance!
However, Kelsey still hasn’t been privy to Riley’s biggest secret, which leaves me slightly disappointed. That said, it is what it is, and it’s simply a matter of personal preference. I look forward to reading the conclusion and uncovering the mystery surrounding Riley’s mother.
Three Heartbeats Away
The dead carry their secrets with them…
At least until they end up at Riley Smith’s door. Her latest spectral visitor is a murdered bride with a need for revenge, and not necessarily for the person who killed her. Never mind that killer is about to strike again. Riley’s determined to help, but is missing Hayden, the hot, ghostly boy who’s always had her back.
Living, breathing Hayden is awake, which means his spirit isn’t around to flirt with Riley anymore. Worse yet, the “real” Hayden doesn’t remember her. Their connection had been so strong. Did his feelings for Riley just disappear into the ether?
As Riley gets closer to finding the bride’s killer, other secrets are revealed: secrets that change everything Riley thought she knew about her parents. But before she can completely unravel the mystery of her past, Riley will need to escape the murderer that threatens her future.
My thoughts…
I’m giving the Mortician’s Daughter series a big, hearty five stars!
In this final instalment, we find ourselves spending more time in the hospital than at school. The stakes have never been higher as Riley grapples with her father’s ongoing struggle with alcoholism and a long-hidden secret that has finally come to light.
On the romance front, Riley’s heart breaks as the boy she likes doesn’t remember their past and the bond they once shared. To complicate matters, he also has a girlfriend! Meanwhile, the ghost of a murdered bride, complete with a knife in her chest, continues to haunt Riley.
C.C. Hunter’s storytelling always strikes a chord with me. The plot unfolds in ways I hope for, filled with drama among friends and family, a sweet romance, and most importantly, the story intertwined with paranormal elements—just the perfect mix for my taste!
The characters feel incredibly realistic, and the world-building immerses you so completely that you feel like you’re living the main character’s journey and experiencing every moment of the story.
I like the development of both friendship and love within the story. C.C. Hunter has crafted a strong bond between Riley and Kelsey, who face numerous challenges together. Their connection is something I wish I could have in my friendships.
The conclusion of this series leaves me with bittersweet feelings. I’m saddened that it has come to an end and disappointed that C.C. Hunter no longer writes paranormal books. I have fond memories of her Shadow Falls series, which I read a few years ago. I might just pick it up again, as I love her writing so much!
