Review - First Grave on the Right

Title - First Grave on the Right

Author - Darynda Jones

Series - Charley Davidson

Genre - Urban Fantasy Ghosts

Format - Paperback

Published - February 1st 2011

Publisher - St Martin's Press

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis 

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

Review

Charley isn't normal since she was born she’s been a beacon for the dead a way for them to pass on through the light. She’s used her gift to help people move on as well as help her dad and uncle who are cops solve crimes that others aren't able to. With her ability to talk to the dead life is anything but boring. From having a ghost who doesn’t move floating in the corner of her apartment to working with a 13 year old dead kid who she sends his share to his mom anonymously.

When a recently murdered ghost seeks out Charley to help him find out his killer she has no idea she will have two more clients before the morning is over. Charley’s uncle Bob is the lead detective working the case so when the bodies are piling up it’s no surprise he enlists her help. However it’s not a clean cut case none of the victims saw their killer so Charley sets out to solve the case finding the killer before she loses anyone else.

Charley’s dreams have been haunting her for about a month super steamy with filled with a man that is constantly in her waking thoughts. With the help of her assistant Cookie she learns that he’s not just a dream but a living breathing man who happens to be in prison. When she learns his fate doesn't look good she sets out to save his life, will she be too late.

Love Charley she’s a fantastic character, I was able to instantly connect with her. She’s one of those characters you would be stupid not to love, she stole my heart. I feel like the author created an amazing character who feels like a real person because she’s not perfect she has her own issues. I love kick-ass characters and Charley takes the hits and keeps on fighting. I just love everything about her even her stranger from her dreams. She has some fantastic support characters which just enhance her story like, Cookie, Angel, Mr. Wong (makes me giggle) Uncle Bob, and who could forget Garrett.

I've had First Grave on the Right on reading list for a long while but I just didn't get around to picking up a copy. As a spur of the moment I decided to read it today. Wow a thrilling fly by the seat of your pants story, filled with dead people, bad guys, cops, and one hot guy from Charley’s dreams. The story is filled with action, humor, steamy romance, and yup dead people. I loved the concept of Charley being a grim reaper while not a new concept I think the author does a fantastic job of putting her own unique spin on it. With engaging characters it’s easy to get lost in the story; I know I lost all track of time finishing in just an afternoon.  A brilliantly written debut novel that I can’t believe I waited so long to read. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series I love Charley. 

5 out of 5 stars