The Dirt on Ninth Grave

Jones's fast-paced ninth Charley Davidson novel (after 2015's Eighth Grave after Dark) alternates between the comical and the mystical. Charley, who's suffering from amnesia and is known as Janey, has been working as a waitress at the Firelight Grill in the Hudson River town of Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. Unaware of her paranormal powers, Charley is perplexed by her ability to see dead people and understand multiple languages. Charley attempts to see the humor in her everyday life even as she feels the otherworldly forces around her. Meanwhile, she's attracted to customer Reyes Farrow and seeks to solve the mystery of the disappearance of the family of Mr. Vandenberg, a nearby shop owner. Fortunately, Charley's unexplained supernatural abilities prove beneficial to her amateur sleuthing efforts. Charley's adventures build to an apocalyptic conclusion that uncovers the true meaning of her life. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners. (Jan.)