I keep seeing this book lately so I was excited when I saw I could read it on netgalley. It didn't dissappoint. I know I will have to read the other books now. The story move along at a good pace and has lots of action. Honestly even if it were a terrible story,which it's not,I think I would come back for Charley. She is a feisty woman in need of anger management and she's awesome!

4.5

Charley, Reyes, and Cookie are amazing. I loved this spin on the Grim Reaper.

My only complaint is the timeline/timeframe. I don't think all that driving around could happen in a short amount of time. Even a week would have been too short, but beyond that it's a great story with many follow up cases to work on.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Darynda Jones. This first book gives us Charley Davidson. She's my favorite private investigator and ends up discovering she is also the grim reaper. There is a touch of comedy throughout it all, and the paranormal romance makes this one great book with even more great stories to tell. This is one of my favorite series, and one of my favorite authors.

In this first book of the series you are introduced to Charley Davidson, a private investigator who also happens to be the Grim Reaper. When she isn't investigating you'll find her helping those who have been killed in bad ways cross over to the other side. She also helps them deal with their deaths by finding out who killed them. While dealing with this she has also been having dreams about someone or something that has always been a part of her life. Is it a figment of her imagination or is it someone or something real? This is a fun and inventive series that once you get started you won't be able to put down. The characters are masterfully written and you just want to get to know more about them as you read. Charlie is a witty and lovable character that will have you laughing out loud. I look forward to each new book and would definitely recommend this series to someone who loves the paranormal.

The non-erotic version of Anita Blake - grim yet witty humor in a can-do-no-wrong anti-heroine Charley. I laughed along the way, but am not interested in a 10+ series with little conclusion book to book.

Wow! Hard to put this one down. This is the first in the series, and the first I've read by this author, but will not be my last. So fun! Charley, is snarky and such a great character, and just so happens to be the Grim Reaper. She has dead people coming to her, since she is a beacon, and she talks to them and helps the cops solve their murders. Luckily her dad and then her uncle were the main cops she dealt with. She keeps seeing something on the side of her vision, and having erotic dreams, and Reyes' face keeps coming up. yum. I don't want to give to much away, but so good! Highly recommend this book and author, and eagerly want to read more in the series.

I absolutely love this book. It is laugh out love funny!

Charley is a private investigator/grim reaper/part-time bartender. If you love steamy, hilarious, mysteries you will definitely enjoy this.

This is a book I have re-read more times than I can count.

Coming into book 1 of an established series always leaves me with such glee. Because I have SO MUCH REAPER-Y GOODNESS WAITING FOR ME NOW! So much. I'm giddy with it.

*rubs hands together*

Okay. Charley. She's sassy. Sarcastic. Prone to walking into danger. Oh, and she can take a punch. Or a fall. Or, well, anything along those lines. She also has a mysterious presence shadowing her and a hunky guy invading her dreams. As one often does.

The whole "can see dead people" thing comes in handy when she works with the police. Of course, half the force thinks she's a kook, but what can you do? When you talk to empty spaces and can pull important informational nuggets out of thin air, people give you the side eye.

Great set up to what looks to be a highly entertaining series. Reyes was...well, is there anything that can compare to Reyes? He's just himself. Insanely hot and hell-bent on doing what he has to do. I have a slew of books waiting for me to get to know both him and Charley better. I have to say this kinda excites me.

I really enjoyed tagging along Charley Davidson's adventures in this wonderfully written book. I found the protagonist a very complex yet reliable character in spite of her unique set of skills. From the trying relationships with her family members and friends to how she deals with working with the police department, the author has been able to bring to life a well rounded cast of characters that make this book hard to put down. If you enjoy the paranormal with a side of sass you're going to love this book as much as I did. Thank you to Darynda Jones, St. Martin's Press, and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would recommend this book to almost anyone who wants a funny addictive book to read. I love the series and can't wait for the next one to be out!

This is the first book in the series. If you like quirky, funny intelligent characters you will enjoy this book. Charley is a woman of many talents, she is a private investigator, a part-time bartender (ish) and she talks to the dead. Charley's life is helping the police department solve murders, keeping her cherry red Jeep running and helping the dead get closure. All while dealing with a dark entity that has plagued her whole life. The story is a continuous ride of thrills and chills with truly loveable characters. Great as a stand alone, but you will want to read the next book as soon as you close this one.

I love this series like Charley loves brown edibles.

I don't really have anything to add to the bajillions of reviews that have come before mine. Just read the books. You'll love the Charleyverse.

First Grave on the Right is an addicting, good time read. A PI that just happens to be a Grim Reaper and an unforgettable cast that include a bevy of ghosts move the plot quickly and humorously along. A love interest that screams sexy and scary at the same time adds all the spice that's needed. I NEED to sit and read the whole series after reading this first one. My voluntary review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

This is the first book in a series featuring P.I. Charley Davidson aka the Grim Reaper. I have to say I was thrilled with it. The entire series is amazing! Unfortunately, the Grim Reaper gig didn’t come with an instruction manual, so Charley does the best she can to juggle her paying job of private investigator, her consulting work with the police (her uncle is the chief), and her responsibilities of helping the dead cross over. She sees, hears and converses with ghosts of the departed. And Reyes.....oh Reyes! I listened to the audiobook and Lorelei King really brings the characters to life. She has that snark that I think is really important for Charley’s character. The audiobook takes this book and series to a whole new level.

I'm not sure what I expected, to be honest. As a whole, I really liked it: the writing style, plot, character dynamics. What drew me to First Grave on the Right was the entire concept. Charley the Reaper helping people get their unfinished business sorted through and helping them "see the light" with solving murders as an added bonus. Can't say I was completely satisfied, though, because although I absolutely adored the lawyers and their overarching plotline, I feel like the book was missing something, and a pretty significant something, too.

Now that I'm thinking about it, it was really Charley that kind of got on my nerves. She was just so inconsistent, being confident and sassy-ish one minute and oddly nearly the complete opposite the next, which gave off some weird vibes.

What REALLY REALLY REALLY BOTHERED ME AND MADE ME INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE, though, was the whole flashback scene with Reyes. (insert spoiler that isn't here) No offense to the author, but I'd really like to know why things played out the way they did because wOW.

Excluding said high school scene, I liked their backstory. Their emotional connection, his hero status, and his willingness to do what he did for her, although props to Charley for holding him in at times too. Very vague, but I'm trying to keep spoilers to a minimum. And I swear I almost melted each time he showed up because whew, that's too much supernatural lust going on.

The ending was mediocre. I was sort of boredly interested, which probably doesn't make any sense but still. Better phrasing: I'd like to know what happens but I'd also probably forget all that happened before I'd find the next book. The extremely long series, in general, is definitely a turn-off since I can't imagine how Charley and friends' story would drag on for so long.

Other than that, I'm afraid I don't have too much to say except the book did lose me a few times in terms of confusion and boredom. Admittedly, there's a decent chance it was my fault because of my tendency to skim, but clarity is always great.

Thanks so much for the read, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley! Feels like I haven't found the chance to leisure-read in a while and this book was definitely worth the time.

I haven't have this much fun reading a book for a long, long, long time. Charley is hilarious while dealing with some serious stuff. I guess she needs that sense of humor to deal with murder and mayhem. See, she is a grim reaper, or she is the passage for dead people to pass on. So her constant companions are ghosts. Add to that mix, a sexy entity that gives her wet dreams literarily and figuratively. His name is Reyes among many, and who or what he is should be fun for you to find out. Yep, you have to read the book to find out, and I promise, you will wet your pants.

This is a wonderful awesome read for me. Different somehow.

This author knows how to take whitty and sass into one awesome character. Charley is a grim reaper. Works as a Private Investigator, and has some great wit and sass to her. She is great to read about and I can't wait to read more about her.

So Charley has known what she is for a long time now. Because of this, she has been working in the PD at a young age. She is able to speak to those who are dead and it makes solving cases a lot easier. With their help, she can find their bodies. Know how they died, who did it, and basically create an open and shut case. Because of her, she was able to help her dad and uncle close cases that no one else could solve. She has even solved cases that have been open for a long time.

Now being a grim reaper isn't always fun. It comes with a lot of work and some days she doesn't want to deal with the dead. But she does have a good friend by her side, who I loved because of her coffee habit. And well Charley has had the same routine for a while now, and doesn't tend to tell anyone what she is. Either no one believes her or they use her. So really she just gets up each day and does her job.

A lot goes down, each day brings something new and I just loved this book and can't wait to read the next one.

I read this a few years ago and I loved it. This book is very well written and I was hooked from the very beginning. I do highly recommend this book.

Book Info
ebook, 243 pages
Published February 1st 2011 by St. Martin's Press
Original Title First Grave on the Right
ISBN 142999326X (ISBN13: 9781429993265)
Edition Language English
Series Charley Davidson #1
Characters Charley Davidson, Reyes Farrow, Garrett Swopes, Cookie Kowalski settingAlbuquerque, New Mexico (United States)

Literary AwardsRITA Award by Romance Writers of America for Best First Book & Nominee for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements (2012), HOLT Medallion by Virginia Romance Writers for Best First Book & for Paranormal/Time Travel/Futuristic/Fantasy (2012), Golden Heart by Romance Writers of America for Best Paranormal Romance (2009)
Other Editions (40)
Source:Netgalley EARC

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BOOK BLURB


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.


This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

My Thoughts


I have been curious about this series for years so when book 1 was brought to my attention as being available to read from Netgalley in honor of the impending release of the 12th book in the series it was my chance to see what Charley Davidson was all about for myself.

I was not disappointed with either the main character nor those supporting members created to give her not only living people to interact with but an eclectic group of ghosts that livened things up as well.

The humor was used well to break up the serious, the different plot points blended well for me, the pace was just slightly slow here and there, the character development was pretty fleshed out and overall this was exactly what I hoped for after reading others excitement about book 1.

However as there are already 12 books either released or releasing soon with the 13th slated for 2018 unless can borrow digital copies from my local library will likely not go any further into the series, running out of room in my house for book shelves to keep adding more paperback copies at this point.


[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]


On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, if released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones was a total ride from beginning to end filled with laughter, sarcasm and a woman, Charley Davidson, who seems to be indestructible as the Grim Reaper.

Ms. Jones puts a whole new spin on the cliche version of the Grim Reaper. He's not a guy in a long black cape with a scythe but a she that seems to be able to walk or least limp away from any amount of physical altercations that she gets into. Charley Davidson is independent, strong, snarky and quick with the quips. Ms. Jones has developed a world filled with quirky characters, a couple of hot, Alpha males Reyes and Swopes, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and compassion for the more serious parts of the story. The plot is twisty and fast paced so that I just had to keep reading to find out what Charley was going to do next.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.