First Grave on the Right

Review posted here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-first-grave-on-right.htm...

First Grave on the Right is about a woman who is a private investigator and consultant for the police. A very effective one because of her power. She is not a but THE grim reaper. She sees dead people and she helps them crossover. But when someone is killed, they don't want to leave until the murderer(s) have been caught. So she comes across three dead people whose cases are very well connected, but they don't know who shot them. It is to Charley to figure out the why. Charley also has to find out who the sexy being that has been following her all her life might be. She thinks he is a ghost, but it goes much much deeper than that.

Sweet show more baby Jesus! Not only is this going on my Favorites list, it is going on my Best Reads EVER list. This is one of the funniest and most thoroughly entertaining books I have ever read. We get a little bit of everything wrapped up in a 300 paged book. Thank you Jones for coming up with such story. And thank you Heidi @ RainyDayRamblings for telling me to read it immediately.

This story was to die for. The plot was this amazing crime mystery involving ghosts of three murdered people. I love the build up and how everything connected. There is also Charley getting visits from the *Big Bad*. She doesn't know who or what it is, but it truly saves her life a lot. I loved the mystery behind it. Man, it is hard not to spoil this, but it is so exciting.

I think if Charley were a real person, we would be the best of friends. Her sassiness and sense of humor is worth raving about and makes her an exceptional character. I loved Charley's actual best friend Cookie. They clicked so well in this book and it added a lot to the book for me. I was so on board for Reyes. He was such an enigma, a very delicious enigma. I love the story Jones gave for him and how he ties to Charley. At first, you think he is just some bad boy, but there is so much more to uncover. It was exciting trying to decipher it all. Truly not what I expected. I am also quite curious about Garrett. He doesn't believe in Charley's powers, but you can tell he has a thing for her. I really enjoyed the dynamics between them. She really knows how to push his buttons.

It is always hard to write about something you absolutely love and I love the hell out of this. Truly one of the greatest books I read. No wonder this book has awards under its belt. Even more incredible, this was Jones very first book. I am flabbergasted. If you have not started this, I urge you to immediately. First Grave on the Right is original, laugh-until-you-piss-yourself funny, and full of action. I love Romantic Suspense and the Paranormal and Jones managed to blend them together perfectly. Do not miss out on this. show less

'First Grave On The Right' (2011) is my sixth Darynda Jones novel. Normally, I'm one of those folks who has to start at the first book that an author wrote and then read the rest in sequence but Darynda Jones didn't catch my eye until she launched her Sunshine Vicram trilogy with 'A Bad Day For Sunshine' in 2020 which made me an instant fan. Since then, I've read the rest of the Sunshine Vicram books (all of which I recommend) and the first two of the Betwixt and Between trilogy which I have to be in the mood for but which are fun light-hearted supernatural rom-coms.

I picked up 'First Grave On The Right' because it was a perfect fit for the Halloween Bingo Grave 0r Graveyard square and because I knew that a lot of people love Charley show more Davidson, the main character of the series. I hesitated a little because I didn't want to go back twelve years and find that I couldn't get into Darynda Jones' earlier writing style.

I needn't have worried. 'First Grave On The Right' was a debut novel but WHAT a debut novel! I could immediately see why it made such a splash when it was launched. The writing is confident and energetic, not so much defying genre conventions as reinventing them with a smile. That familiar mix of sassy humour, spicy but not to be taken too seriously sex wrapped around a mystery that I want to see unravelled, that keeps me coming back to her books was already there in her first book.

O.K. this one is a little heavier on the paranormal romance/'I so want to have sex with this demon' element than I'd expected but it was mostly well done. Charley feels younger (is younger) than Sunshine Vicram, which made me smile because I didn't know how intentional it was.

I loved the easy humour and wit. I liked the affection in Charley's relationships. Her 'I'm too aroused to think straight' moments with the demon hottie didn't do much for me but then, as a sixty-six-year-old man, I'm not the target demographic.

I was impressed by how well the book laid the foundations for an intriguing series. Charley is charismatic, chaotic, brave and passionate. It also helps that she's not actually human. She has a family link to the local police which lets her get involved as a 'consultant' with a fairly vague brief. She's a best friend/teammate with research skills, a sense of humour and a teen daughter who somehow helps to make things feel real. She has a hot (of course) bounty hunter competing for her attention in an over-protective but not very effective alpha male way and then she has her demon hottie who, of course, has secrets.

'First Grave On The Right' exceeded my expectations and has given me a new series to read when I'm in the mood to read a fast, fun, snarky, spooky mystery. show less

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones is a 2011 St. Martin’s Press publication.

Uproarious funny and Unique!!
This is the first book in the Charley Davidson series. I’ve noticed these books were quite popular over the past several years, but I was not sure about diving into a paranormal/ urban fantasy series after burning out on the genre during the ‘Twilight’ craze.
But, I am craving something otherworldly right now, so when I noticed a new book in the series picking up a little chatter, I decided to see if this one would be a good fit for me.
If this first book is any indication, then I’d say I could fall completely under the Charley Davidson’s scathing, testy, snappy, spell.
Charley is a private investigator and a grim show more reaper. By grim reaper I mean she is able to see dead people and her job is to lure them into the light. To convince them, she often has to help them find peace by discovering who murdered them or finally getting justice on their behalf.
With the help of her Uncle, a deceased former gang member named, Angel, and her best friend, Cookie, Charley solves crimes, and helps the dead pass over. But, in her personal life, she’s coping with an unseen entity that visits her dreams in super- hot sensual way. Finding who and what this entity is that has followed her around her entire life is her most fervent wish. But, as they say- Be careful what you wish for!
I’ve read urban fantasy stories that were light and funny, some that were serious and super dark, but I’ve never read one that mixed such sharp wit, gallows humor and sharp wit, with action, adventure, dark fantasy, and a genuine murder mystery before. But, that’s not all! Capping it all off is a dangerous forbidden romance.
I’m sold! I need to start another series like I need a hole in head, and I loathe the idea of binge reading, but I’m signing on for this one all the way.
Can’t wait to read the next book!! show less

This was a great start to a fun urban fantasy series. I really enjoyed the humor, the characters, and the world.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. The narrator is exactly how I imagine Charley would sound and does a great job with other character voices as well.

Charley is a grim reaper; meaning that she serves as a doorway to the dead and also..unfortunately...as a ghost problem solver when ghosts aren’t ready to move on . Charley is incredibly snarky, off-beat, and funny. I enjoyed her as a character a lot.

I also really enjoyed the surrounding characters. Charley’s best friend Cookie is a lot of fun. Then there is the sexy skip tracer Garrett who has a sort of love/hate relationship with show more Charley. Of course there is the dark and literally dreamy Reyes who has an incredibly mysterious history and past that seems to involve Charley. There is also the funny ghost boy Angel who helps Charley out when he can. Also her wonderful uncle who knows Charley is different and trusts her completely. There are just so many fun and wonderful character in here.

Jones’ writing style reminds me a lot of Molly Harper’s. The humor in this story is incredibly funny (sometimes almost slapstickish) and very offbeat and silly.

The story is well done and engaging. This is definitely a blend of investigative urban fantasy with some paranormal romance as well. The romance isn’t the focus of the story but there are some very explicit and steamy scenes which were well done.

I enjoyed the whole story but absolutely loved some of the twists that happen at the end. These really hooked me on this series. I like that there was a main mystery that was solved in this book but that there is also a bigger story that will continue in book 2.

Overall I really enjoyed this series and I plan to continue reading this series in the future. It’s a hilarious series with some creative world-building, a great mystery, and wonderful characters. I would recommend to those who enjoy lighter urban fantasy and don’t mind some romance in their story. show less

Charley is a young PI. She is beautiful, smart and very snarky--her internal dialogue made me laugh all the time. I LOVED her! Oh, and she has a slight advantage when trying to solve her cases--she can talk to the dead. Now, you might think that would mean her work would be easy, but, no. Lot of wrinkles happen. Including a sinister dark cloud that mysteriously appears now and again. But it also saves her life more than once. So why is she so afraid of it? And let's not forget the super hot and sexy ghost Reyes. I also really enjoyed her Uncle Bob, the cop, AKA U.B. A very fun, light read. The audio, read by Lorelei King, is fantastic. I finished book one and I am already on number two: [Second Grave on the Left].

Stephanie Plum in urban fantasy land, that's how I pictured the sarcastic heroine Charley. Thanks to my new goodreads friend for the recommendation, laughs along with a decent story. Terry Pratchett's character Death is a favorite of mine along with Valkyrie in most any fiction so I really enjoyed this tale of a new grim reaper.
One of scene that tells you alot about Charlie
“Ms. Davidson, you have done an outstanding job here today. Outstanding.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said, choosing not to mention that my outstanding work involved falling through a skylight and making a ham-and-turkey sandwich.

This series is unexpectedly addictive. Charley is a nicely messed-up character, mostly due to the fact that she has grown up with the unavoidable task of helping ghosts to 'cross over'. One of her flaws is the way she uses humour as a coping mechanism. Darynda Jones has very cleverly used this flaw to spin a tale that is action packed, laugh-out-loud funny, and free from sappyness - and yet has underlying depth to each and every character we meet. I understand from reading other reviews that many people never got past the scene where Reyes threatens her, and that is understandable. It is easy for readers to be lulled into thinking this book is purely light entertainment. Personally, I was impressed that it turned out to be something show more more. Charley is afraid of very little. She needed to meet a character that challenged that, or she would have had no room to grow. Reyes is dark, damaged and complex. Not just 'poor-Edward-feels-bad-about-feeling-tempted-to-slaughter-his-fellow-students damaged', but actually abused-damaged. That scene is the one underpinning event that never gets joked about. It adds a depth that I didn't see coming, and I have become addicted to finding out how they will resove those issues. If they do, their attachment will be anything but sappy. Clever lady, that Darynda Jones. show less