Second Grave on the Left

So, I needed a book to listen to while I worked out and saw this one was available through my library. Guess I'm going ahead with the series sooner rather than later.

I still enjoyed this one, and it seemed even shorter than the first, or at least to go by faster, even though I think they're about the same length. The mystery was engaging, and it did not work out like I expected. I'm still enjoying the secondary characters, and the grim reaper aspect continues to intrigue me. 

However, there were a few things that bugged me. Though I kind of get why Charley is the way she is, her flippant attitude occasionally comes across as frustrating or even cold-hearted. I also don't get why she was so dead-set on ignoring Reyes' decision with regards to his body; I get that she didn't want him to “die” but he'd still be around, they'd still have the relationship that they do now, and it seems like the danger would be (at least temporarily) averted. I'm also not sure I get why they like? Love? each other. There hasn't been much of an actual relationship. And I get that Charley wants one, but how is that going to work with him potentially incarcerated for the next who-knows-how-many years? 

I'm definitely continuing with the next book soon because I want to know how things will work out and because my library happens to have the complete series. And in audiobook no less. I love it when that happens. Fingers crossed the books don't decline in quality/readability. 

Think this is end of line for me.  I remember getting to book 8 or so ten years ago.  Now this just doesn't  appeal to me anymore.  Too much sarcasm and not enough character growth. And the insta love with Reyes doesn't work for me.  Also he's kind of an a**.  

Very good follow-up to the first

This book did not suffer from “second book slump”. It was engaging and fun. Exciting and entertaining. Cannot wait for Book 3.

Charlotte aka Charley Davison is a grim reaper. She helps souls cross over. So is her boyfriend Reyes who comes to her usually in ghost form. In this installment her friend Cookie is looking for another friend Mimi who has disappeared. It seems there are other disappearances related to this one. Charley of course gets into PI mode and then people are trying to kill her. I love that she is snarky and doesn't take most stuff too seriously. Sometimes she annoys me though with going off half-cocked and not thinking some things through before acting. But I guess that's what makes it seem so real. At the same time she is trying to find Reyes body as he is being attacked by demons. Reyes doesn't want her to find him as he is trying to keep her away from these demons.

Charley and her bestie, Cookie are trying to find Mimi, Cookie's friend. Lots of other people are looking for her too, some with very bad intentions. Meanwhile, Reyes, son of Satan is trying to kill his corporeal body, and Charley can't let that happen. Busy, busy, busy! Also, did I mention that it seems to be Kill Charley week? This is such a fun series. I love books like these with humor, action, grim reapers and coffee!!

Much better than the first one! I dont remember what it was about the first book that even rubbed me the wrong way. Charley was a bad ass in this book. She didnt take no for an answer, even when Reyes was being an ass, and he was an ass a lot. And holy moly, was Cookie annoying for the first 30% of this book. She calmed down after that thankfully.

Unfortunately, it had been such a long time since I read the first one that I was a little unclear about who some people were, so as I read it took some time for things to come back to me. That is my own fault. There were a few parts of this book that were a little slow, and the binding Charley did to Reyes at the end kind of confused me. But hopefully that will be discussed in the next book! Looks like she and Reyes wont be seeing each other for a while.

No sophomore slump with this one. Character wise, I may have liked it more than the first book because the supporting characters (especially Cookie) felt more involved, better drawn. The main investigative mystery itself felt a little meh - especially the let down of a conclusion the one guy's mom did it? Seriously? A character who wasn't even in the same state as everyone else?. I do wish we'd had more conversation between Charley and her dad and him realizing she's “special”. But all the chaos and action and chatting with the dearly departed (Angel cracks me up every time) was well done.

Okay, so.... wow. I've already recommended this series to a few of my friends. I'm in love.

Compared to the first book this one didn't focus on her talking to dead people as much but, it was still there. (Shout out to Angel & Mr. Wong.)

The plot moved forward at a good steady pace even though I wasn't always aware it was. Things add up though and we see where it is going. I also thought it was cool how this happened a week after the last book. With all her injuries I would have had a problem but, that's cleared because of how fast she heals.

Cheesy? A little yeah

Predictable? Kinda

But, I love cheesy and it wasn't SO predictable that I knew exactly what would happen and how. I also thought the dialogue was a little more cheesy or meh than the first –not too much! There were moments were I did think ...really? Other than those, I loved it. I absolutely loved it.

I listened to the interview with the author and I feel like Darynda Jones is a cool chick. Props for the Buffy shoutout (cause she's the best), but I will not be continuing this series.

The humor thing that everyone complains about finally got me to be angry at it when during a SHOOT OUT SCENE that was dramatic, the MC spent more time making wisecracks than being in the moment. It really took me away from the gravity of the situation and made me not care as much. This type of thing happened a lot throughout the novel and just made everything a lot less emotionally pulling.

Further, I find the relationship with her and Reyes super creepy and the sexual stuff almost rapey. So, I definitely didn't dig it. Also, she is a whiner. So, it was a decently fun ride but I'm done. Peace.

First Grave on the right and this book are the first two books in Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series. There are five so far, the next three being Third Grave Dead Ahead (2012), Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (2012), and Fifth Grave Past the Light (2013). I'll check and see if the library has the other three. If so, I might pick them up, but I'm not too concerned.

Charley Davidson is a reaper. Well, she's “the” Reaper. There's only one at a time. (“And to each generation, a slayer is born...” well, not quite like that, heh.) As the Reaper, she sees dead people, can talk to them, and can touch them. They can pass through her into the beyond - what she realizes at some point is, actually, heaven. She appears like a bright light to ghosts all over the place, so they usually show up at her door, or out in the street, or in her bathroom, looking to pass to the great beyond. She has a few other minor powers, like understanding every language, to help her with this task.

The books largely revolve around her solving murders (her father and uncle are both with the Albuquerque Police Department and often ask her help, since being able to ask the deceased “so hey, who killed you?” is actually quite helpful.)

There are complications, as there always are. Charley's comes in the form of Reyes Alexander Farrow. Reyes is a smoking hot convict (who may or may not be guilty of killing his own father) but who is DEFINITELY more than he seems.

The books are decent, for fluffy paranormal romance. My main beef with them comes from two glaring editorial errors. The police station is almost certainly not a “melting potty.” I'm pretty sure the author meant “melting pot,” unless they were going with some really weird imagery! That error could be chalked up to a typo, but the one that actually made me yell at the book was the quote heading up Chapter Two of Second Grave on the Left:

“Don't cross the streams. Never cross the streams.” - Bumper Sticker. 

...bumper Sticker? BUMPER STICKER?! That's from Ghostbusters! Misattributing a rather famous quote (it is rather famous, right? It's not just because I'm a geek?) is a cardinal sin in my book.

So I'm not sure how to feel about these books. My strongest emotion is the indignation at not properly attributing the Ghostbusters quote. Other than that, the story flows well, and fast (I read both books in one afternoon). The characters are interesting and the concept is interesting. The sex is pretty hot, and I like that Charley is portrayed as promiscuous but without slut-shaming her for being so. (Though for her always saying she likes sex, and talking about guys and SAYING she's promiscuous, we only ever see her have sex with one dude in the first two books.)

I think my final verdict is they're worth reading if you're looking for something fluffy, but I wouldn't go out of my way to pick them up.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

El Extraño Gato del Cuento


Darynda Jones ya me había gustado en Primera tumba a la derecha. La ironía y frescura con la que escribe sobre Charley es sumamente entretenida. Si tuviera que poner citas, pues tendría que transcribir todo el libro. En serio, es demasiado divertido.

Quizá contenga spoiler, trataré de que no sea así, pero si quieres saber de qué va debes leer Primera Tumba a la Derecha. La trama se desarrolla dos semanas después de dónde quedó el primer libro. Charley no ha tenido noticias de su sexy tormento, Reyes, y va por la vida lo más tranquila posible. Solo que al ser La Parca y una magnífica detective, el caos siempre la busca cual testigo de Jehová cuando estas en el baño. Una amiga de Cookie ha desaparecido, y Charley armada con Peligro y Will Robinson, irán tras el misterio que esconde su desaparición. Si los misterios, lo paranormal y el sarcasmo es lo tuyo, vas amar el libro. Me gusta Charley, no solo por todas sus cualidades ya nombradas, sino también por como se ve ella misma. Ella es muy, muy torpe, un poco tonta, pero no es mencionada ni “llorado” por ella en ningún momento.

Charley se ha vuelto junto con...

Reseña Completa: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Only a week after the exciting and hilarious happenings in First Grave on the Right, Jones throws Charley Davidson into another tantalizing case with an aspiring U.S Senate candidate, a dated missing-persons file, and each person who could have known what happened dropping dead like flies. Knowing that she has to find Reyes soon before he decides it's too dangerous to keep his corporeal body alive, Charley takes on both cases and does everything in her PI-and-Grim-Reaper-Power to solve both before it's too late to help either.

Famous for her one-liners, funny in an catch-you-off-guard kind of way, Second Grave on the Left left me laughing with a splash of tears that made the renown Charley Davidson more of an endearing and confident character all-around. More of an insight was shown of Charley's character, demonstrating how she's not really human just by her reactions whenever she's in danger or feels threatened. A calmness sort of takes over her that she subconsciously realizes has to do with the fact that, though she may currently be in a dangerous situation, the best thing to do is think analytically of what she should do to avoid the worst possible outcome–or her death, whichever.

The re-introduction to all of the old characters was something I enjoyed reading immensely. If there were ever a cast of characters I enjoyed reading more about, they're definitely the ones. Cookie was as auspicious and helpful as ever, Garret flirting and determined, Reyes the hottest of all man- and hell-kind, and as for Charley's family....I could never get enough of her Uncle Bob–Ubie to Charley–and her father made a rather significant appearance that, in the end, was quite tearful.

While the writing style was absolutely engaging and characters a thrill to read, the first look we have into the more sinister world that Reyes promised would soon come in the last book was a bit of an understatement but it was also the first development of Charley's true powers. Darynda Jones nailed it again with this audacious sequel that promises more development of the main character and more action in general. I am thoroughly ecstatic for the third book in the series to release and more PI-and-Grim-Reaper-Power.

Grade: B+/A-