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Book Review: First Grave on the Right – Darynda Jones

First Grave on the Right
Author: Darynda Jones
Series: Charley Davidson #1
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
My Rating:

Summary:

This whole grim reaper thing should have come with a manual.
Or a diagram of some kind.
A flowchart would have been nice.
Charley Davison is a part-time private investigator and full-time grim reaper. Meaning, she sees dead people. Really. 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 (like 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. But what does he want with Charley? And why can’t she seem to resist him? And what does she have to lose by giving in?

 
First Sentence: I’d been having the same dream for the past month – the one where a dark stranger materialized out of smoke and shadows to play doctor with me.

My Review:

The first time I ever tried out one of Darynda Jones’ book was her young adult novel, Death and the Girl Next Door. I absolutely hated it for several reasons. However, I heard that Darynda Jones’ adult series, Charley Davidson, was so much better than Death and the Girl Next Door, and trusting my bookish instincts, I decided to give the first book in the series, First Grave on the Right, a try and I’m so glad I did.

I absolutely, 110% love Charley Davidson. I seriously love that girl. I was reading in class (yes, yes, I know, that’s bad) and she literally had me bursting out laughing in the middle of the lesson. Yes, the teacher turned around to glare at me in disgust and all heads swirled around towards my direction to see what was so funny, but seriously, Charley Davidson is the master of sarcasm and comebacks. I was laughing at least ten times during the book, and it’s no easy feat to make me laugh when I read. Charley lighted the whole book up.

I don’t know how I feel about Reyes exactly. When Charley first meets him, he was downright harassing her, for a good reason, but still. However, many things then started changing which just leaves me there, not able to decide whether I actually like him or don’t like him. I’ll like to argue that the only good thing about Reyes is that he’s beyond hot, but there is also another appeal – Reyes is violent – but only when he needs to protect Charley’s life. Maybe I’ll learn more about him in the next book and then I’ll make a decision of whether I like him or not.

The one character I absolutely hated was Denise, Charley’s step-mother. I understood her position – imagine gaining a step-daughter who claimed that she can see the dead – but the way she treated Charley was absolutely wrong on so many levels. Who slaps a four-year-old in public? Is that even legal? And when Charley was proven that she was indeed right, what did Denise do? That’s right, she took away Charley’s reward. Denise is like one of those people who can never admit that they are wrong. I hope that woman learns a lesson sometime soon, preferably in the next book. She has it coming for her.

Looking back at First Grave on the Right now, I wonder how Darynda Jones managed to drag out the mystery part of the book for so long, without making the entire book draggy and slow. Maybe it was the hot scenes with Reyes. Maybe it was Charley’s terrific humor. Or maybe Darynda Jones just has some major talent.

I can’t wait to get my hands on the second, third, and fourth book in the Charley Davidson series. I want to see more of Charley’s humor, find out if she and Reyes could ever work their weird relationship out, and see if anything could come out of Charley and Garrett.

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-Kelly

Posted by Kelly on 1-27-13 · 26 Comments
Categories: 2011 book, book review Tagged: 4 star

« Stacking the Shelves [17]
Book Review: Crazy Thing Called Love – Molly O’ Keefe »

Speak Your Mind

  1. FourDivergent says

    1-28-13 at 4:25 AM

    I too love Charley! It’s been a little while since I’ve read this book so me thinks I need to re-read it soon. I haven’t read this author’s YA book yet but I think I’m going to pass on it anyway. Happy reading!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      3-26-13 at 2:08 PM

      You should definitely past on her young adult series. The Charley Davidson series is whole lot better.

      Reply
  2. Nicole says

    1-30-13 at 8:37 PM

    OMG this sounds right up my ally. I’ve heard other great things about it but I am so happy that this is a book that will make me laugh on top of everything else. Charley seems like my kind of girl. Great review, thanks!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      3-26-13 at 2:08 PM

      You should definitely check this book out. You’ll fall in love with Charley Davidson too. ;D

      Reply
  3. Farah K says

    4-29-13 at 1:28 AM

    Great review! Now the problem with reading books like this is that I keep wanting more and it’s so hard to find something just as good or at least something that doesn’t make you pull your hair. Charley has definitely earned herself a place as one of my favorite characters now:)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      4-29-13 at 11:59 AM

      Yeah, it would be awesome if the entire series came out all at once so there’s no wait and we get to enjoy the books longer.
      And boy, Charley Davidson is SO awesome.
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: The Carrier of the Mark – Leigh FallonMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Alyssa says

    5-27-13 at 1:17 PM

    I really like Charley and her sarcasm. But that’s it. That’s the only thing I like about this book. I was a bit disappointed that I didn’t end up loving this book.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      5-27-13 at 2:36 PM

      Yeah, as I continued to read the rest of the series, I saw that the only thing that stands out is Charley, that’s it. The plot and the writing is really nothing special. :l
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Bloodfever – Karen Marie MoningMy Profile

      Reply
  5. Gayatri says

    7-02-13 at 9:47 AM

    I happen have this book in ebook format but didn’t know it was this good . Yeah, I love heroine who can dish out sarcasm like no other’s business! SO I guess this will be next on my read list!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-02-13 at 1:38 PM

      Yay! You’ll be sure to enjoy reading this Gayatri! :D
      Charley Davidson is hilarious, sarcastic, and has brains. You’ll love her too.
      Kelly recently posted…Top Ten Most Intimidating BooksMy Profile

      Reply
  6. Jaime Lester says

    7-11-13 at 11:04 PM

    I really don’t read a lot of adult fiction stories. I am 30 and that is pathetic, but it is what it is. Anyway, last year I happened to run across a book in the YA section at the library and brought it home and LOVED IT. It was God Save the Queen (Immortal Empire 1) by Kate Locke and apparently it was shelved wrong, because it was most definitely NOT YA. But I did not care. I LOVE this series in a huge way. It is one that I will reread over and over. So, I decided to start checking out more adult UF, but I haven’t found one yet to try. I think after reading your review, that this series might just be the way to go. It sounds so very good, and I could use some good laugh out loud books!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      7-12-13 at 8:57 PM

      I usually don’t read adult books either (I don’t count historical romances in that genre okay :P), but I’m making a HUGE exception for the Charley Davidson series.
      I think you’ll definitely love it Jaime! :D
      Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: How Setting Causes A Reading SlumpMy Profile

      Reply
  7. Fatma Shahin says

    9-10-13 at 5:36 PM

    I haven’t heard of this book before but the title totally piques my curiousity! sounds like a really cool book. :)

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      9-25-13 at 1:01 PM

      Ha ha, the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost has similar titles to this one. :P
      Kelly recently posted…Teen Thrill Book SigningMy Profile

      Reply
  8. CassandraG says

    9-22-13 at 8:22 PM

    Have heard of this series but haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, but it’s definitely on the TBR pile. Great review.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      9-25-13 at 1:07 PM

      Yay! You’ll love this one! :D<3
      Kelly recently posted…Teen Thrill Book SigningMy Profile

      Reply
  9. HIllary R. says

    10-05-13 at 8:27 PM

    The title of this book really caught my attention. I also think the cover doesn’t really fit the title name but it’s still interesting :]

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-05-13 at 8:49 PM

      Yeah, shoes plus dressed in white definitely don’t fit this book. The scythe does though. :P
      Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [52]My Profile

      Reply
  10. sarah c. says

    10-06-13 at 6:46 PM

    This is my first book that i have read from the author. I loved this book to and it kept me on the edge of my seat!! I still got to get the next book to read–i have a long list of never ending books to read..Great review!!!.
    I love the shoes on the cover!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-06-13 at 7:14 PM

      It’s the first book I’ve read by Darynda Jones too!
      And yeah, I totally get you, so many books and so little time, BUT the rest of the series is even better than the first book, just to let you know. ;D
      Kelly recently posted…ARC Book Review: Wild Cards – Simone ElkelesMy Profile

      Reply
  11. dimka says

    10-09-13 at 4:01 AM

    looking forward reading this, i already have them all but have no time to start :(

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      10-09-13 at 11:27 AM

      I want them all! You’re so lucky to have every one of the books in the series. o:
      And yeah, so many books and so little time. ):
      Kelly recently posted…Book Review: Defiance – C.J. RedwineMy Profile

      Reply
  12. Bube says

    10-20-13 at 9:36 PM

    I read this book :)
    It’s very funny,Charley is positive crazy,it’s legend :D
    And Reyes,ah,I love him :)
    This is funny,interesting,very good read :)

    Reply
  13. Maricris Patrimonio Dimla says

    10-21-13 at 1:58 AM

    I love Charley Davidson Series!! Ive been a big fan of it ever since the first book comes out and now I can’t wait to read Sixth Grave Past the Light11 Thank you for the great review!! ^_^

    Reply
  14. Jaime Lester says

    12-25-13 at 2:38 AM

    I finally read this first book, and I am officially hooked. I read your review for it a while back and it finally pushed me to give this a shot. I am so glad that I read your review. I can’t wait to continue this series!

    Reply
  15. Vivien says

    12-26-13 at 10:37 PM

    I don’t know what it is about this book. I was so scared to give a try for the longest time. Then I finally got a raving recommendation. I’m so glad I gave it a chance. One of my new favorite series!

    Reply

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