First Grave on the Right is the first book in the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones. Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and full-time grim reaper. Meaning, 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 (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 Grave on the Right is an urban fantasy with a great blend of humor, danger, and steam. Charlie can see and interact with ghosts, she is also their portal into the afterlife. She is also a private investigator and consultant with the police department, work that is made significantly easier (but harder to explain) due to her ghostly communications. I love her snark, and find her inner vulnerability and concern for those that cannot defend themselves to be very well balanced and believable. I thought the Reyes storyline and the complication of their possible relationship to be well played and the larger storyline it leads to is intriguing, and I want more. I like the way that the cast of secondary characters were introduced, and how much depth each were given. There were moments that felt like I should already know something about a character, or that there might have been a prequel or backstory that I somehow missed, but most of those were quickly explained and fixed in the story. Ithink the fact that Charlie does not have all the answers but is figuring things right along with readers goes a long way to forge a connection between the reader and her character. I like that I was not able to solve the mystery, and that some things surprised me as much as they did Charlie. Too often I have my theories about who is pulling the strings too early in the story, but in this instance I was as shocked as the characters when certain reveals were made. As a whole I am engaged with the story and the characters, and while there was closure to the story, I still want more (in a good way).

First Grave on the Right is a fun and engaging read. While this is not a new series, I have read one of the more recent instalments and wanted to see where it all started. I was not disappointed. Now I need to binge read the whole series. I highly recommend that other urban fantasy fans that have somehow missed this series to pick it up.

Wow..wow...wow..it's my first book from Darynda Jones and I love it and definitely a fan and surely will continue this series.

This is the first book of Charley Davidson series. So it's the introduction of Charley, THE Grim Reaper and part time private investigator. Oh yeah this book hooked me from the words "grim reaper" from the first chapter. Since then is an adventure full of actions, mystery, suspense, twists, surprises and emotional moments. There's drama, laughters, love, steadiness, tears, and violence. And I really get to know Charley, her past, why she did what she did, her feelings, her struggles and pains, although I felt that Charley is a reckless woman, well she's a grim reaper so I totally understand her braveness, I love her sarcasm and her beautiful heart and kindness. Charley is one badass heroine.

If you're looking for mystery suspense romance read, this one is definitely for you, a MUST-READ one.

Charley Davidson is a modern day Grim Reaper who works as a PI in order to help her Uncle solve homicides and unsolved crimes and also works to help solve and absolve those deceased from what is holding them to the mortal realm and then sending them on to the realm. Charley is a snarky and witty and doesn't take anyone's attitude while having the smarts to be able to lie to the police, family, and keep her sanity at all the same time.

This is the first book in the series, and I absolutely loved it. The characters are relatable and the plot kept me guessing and up way past my bedtime. I thoroughly enjoyed reading First Grave in the Right. Thank you NetGalley and Ms. Jones for allowing me to read your book. I can't wait to find out what happens next to Charley.

Charley Davidson is a private detective who has clients that are both living and dead. This is because she is the Grim Reaper and souls who have died from unnatural causes seek her help to solve their murders. As you watch her solve mysteries, you will learn to love her snarky, funny, sarcastic, coffee-obsessed personality. The unique writing style of Darynda Jones will have you finishing this 13 book series in no time at all.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just campy good fun. It reminded me a lot of old school Sookie Stackhouse PNR, without the vampires...at least they haven't shown up yet.

This book was light and I could pick it up and put it down without too much trouble, which at this time of the year is exactly what I need. Great characters, awesome world building, I will definitely continue with the series at some point. 3.5 stars.

This tremendously long supernatural mystery-suspense series is written with plenty of humor, and ends up being very believable. It reminds me very much of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels. We are treated to the seedy underside of human experience in each one, rendered cohesive by a supportive cast of family and friends, all strung upon a thread of erotic romance.

They also have a numerical value in every title that give up very little else of the plot. As you can guess, this is volume 1, where the main character, who's been seeing dead people all her life, discovers that her astral traveling lover is going to be taken off life support, which could trigger the Apocalypse. Meanwhile she has mysteries to solve for her PI clients, on top of helping the many souls she encounters to move on into the Light.

It's quite a juggling act for Charlie to handle, but it's how she rolls. I'm pretty certain every volume is going to be more of the same, nonstop chaos very reminiscent of real life for those of us cursed to live in 'interesting times'.

This story was amazing. So funny and smart and entertaining! I will go down fighting still saying I don't like PNR...but I guess that would be a lie. I adored this book and Charley and Reyes. And somehow all the kookiness and PNR aspect of it easily made sense. I cannot wait to read more of these. I think I wanna be a Grim Reaper and badass and sarcastic like Charley.

Excellent blend of mystery, suspense, entertaining one-liners, a bit of romance and the supernatural. The main character's distinctive voice and self depreciating humor made for fun, laugh-out-loud moments and a definite 'ah, someone who thinks like I do' look inside the character's mind, making Charley very relatable.

I can easily see this series becoming nmy next obsession!!

I loved Charley.

The mystery itself is an interesting one and did keep me turning the pages but really it was Charley's own back story and current predicament that fascinated me the most. Who is the mystery man who has been saving her life and invading her dreams,why is he invading her dreams?
This series is a fun new twist,full of sad and laughter.
I can't wait to read the others!!

I really liked this book and I can definitely see this series becoming my next obsession. It's both fun and funny with some very likeable characters and a great story. I loved the whole idea of a private investigator who also happens to be the grim reaper and uses her ability to see and talk to the dead to solve mysteries. Being able to chat to the victim does give her a bit of an advantage over a regular detective when it comes to investigating murders.

Charley Davidson is a pretty awesome character and I love her attitude to life (and death). She's just so blase about the dead people who seem to be drawn to her and I love the way she interacts with them. I also loved the relationship between her and the other key characters in the story. Her friendship with neighbor/employee Cookie is truly something to be envied, and her interactions with Uncle Bob (who is also a police officer) and Garrett Swopes (skip tracer, former friend and skeptic) had me laughing out loud.

The mystery itself is an interesting one and did keep me turning the pages but really it was Charley's own back story and current predicament that fascinated me the most. Who is the mystery man who has been saving her life and invading her dreams.

If I had one qualm about this book I have to say it's the romance. It's a little bit insta love (or possibly more lust at first sight) but I could just about go with it given the whole grim reaper/supernatural thing. I would however have liked a bit more verbal interaction between them.

It is a fantastic start to a series though, there's lots of action, romance, laughs and characters you can't help but become invested in. I can't wait to read the next one.

First of a series. This is funny, sexy, and different. Charlie has abilities that go beyond being a private investigator, she can talk to the victims ghosts and get their information directly. While her father and uncle are police detectives, they do love her but use her to help solve their cases. This is a winding murder mystery that everything comes together at the end, some unexpected twists and outcomes.
She's wise cracking and tough, but as we learn about her past a lot of it is to cover up her abilities in a hardened case. Unfortunately for Charlie she didn't come with instructions. Several mysteries are solved here and a few left me with, so what are you going to do with this information?
There are a few informative dumps, but they are done in a palatable way as she explains to her best friend what she is, she has learned to be discriminating in who and what she tells. Good beginning to a new series.

I bought First Grave on the Right for my kindle after seeing lots of talk on twitter, many blogs, and one very long conversation with a bookseller in the Elizabethtown, KY B&N store (who says actual bookstores aren’t still a good thing?). I’m glad I went with my gut instinct and downloaded it to my kindle as soon as I walked out of B&N that day (parking lot Wi-Fi doesn’t restrict kindle like some B&N store Wi-Fi does).

Charley Davidson is one of the best characters I’ve ever read about. She is the grim reaper and dead people see her as sparkly. She works as a PI to help dead people who have been murdered find their killers so they can move on. She also has been having some really hot dreams involving Reyes, who she remembers seeing from the very first moment she was born. Charley remembers every single thing that has happened since the day she was born. She can be pretty snarky at times, but she is also super smart and I love smart women in books.

While Charley is helping the police solve the murder of 3 attorneys, she is also trying to figure out who and what Reyes really is. She also has to deal with skip tracer Garrett Swopes, who knows her secret thanks to her Uncle Bob, who gave up her secret after having a few too many beers one night. Uncle Bob is on the police force and Charley uses her talents to help him solve crimes, much as she did for her dad before he retired. Garrett doesn’t know what to do about Charley. I could see he was attracted to her, but didn’t believe she could really see and talk to dead people. Charley’s focus throughout the entire book was really saving Reyes. She knew he had been in her life since she was born and wanted to know who he really was, especially since he didn’t seem to age.

I liked First Grave on the Right when I read it originally. I found myself really loving it on my most recent reading. The humor in this series really is something that started with this very first book and it has kept me coming back for more. I also highly recommend the audiobooks in this series. Lorelei King absolutely brings the characters and the story to life with her narration.

Original Review Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Updated Review Rating: 4.5 Stars (A)

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones introduces Charley Davidson a private investigator and seer of dead people. She assists these lost souls by convincing them to 'go to the light' and also assists her Uncle to solve the unsolvable crimes. But Charley is also being followed by something that causes her intensely erotic dreams.

A great debut novel from Jones, taking a different angle to the supernatural fantasy style we all know and love. Littered with off the cuff humour this novel was exceptionally enjoyable to read. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series now!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read in exchange for a review!

This book started my love for Charley, Reyes and Cookie. At first sight, I thought this book would be interesting. I loved the cover. I have a thing for skulls. So I decided to read the description. Ok cool sounds like it might be good. As I read it, I laughed out loud. Something I don't normally do with books. Charley's sense of humor is hilarious. She's sassy and charming all at once. And Cookie is the best friend that every girl wants and needs in her life. Charley Davidson is a private investigator and a grim reaper. Now you would think being a grim reaper would be dark and gloomy but not when Charley is involved. She sees the dead and helps them cross into her light. But sometimes they require a little convincing and sometimes help to find their killer. All while she deals with the mysterious guy who shows up incorporeally to seduce her. This book is a must read!

The first book is very funny; it brought me in and made me go through the rest of the series. I loved how funny everything was, and I loved the mysteries inside of it. I loved learning about the Grim Reaper.

I love this series as a whole. Daryna Jones has perfected her storytelling to where all parts flow together flawlessly. Would recommend!

Why did I wait so long to start reading this series! I am hooked with the perfect combination of humor, mystery, supernatural and romance - can't wait to read the next book!

If you loved True Blood and Sookie, you will definitely find some fun moments with Charley Davidson PI and Grim Reaper (not so grim, but).

The first book in these series grew on me page by page. I decided to give these series a go for NetGalley. I started the book and even thought of leaving it be. Too much of a smart-mouth, too much up-beat text... but.

I loved it. I read it in a day. It was fun. There was enough suspense, enough backstory, enough grim, grime and gore. And, yes, enough sex to keep one interested.

Will I read the series? I think I will find the time during up coming holidays. Why? I'd love to know how Grim Reaper's love life will turn out.

If you are looking for some supernatural, outrageous, smart-mouth fun, these series are for you. They will take you on the ride and won't leave you reeling.

First Grave on the Right is a fun romp through the living and the dead. This is the first book in the Charley Davidson series, but it feels like Jones writes characters as if we're already familiar with their backstory. This would make sense in subsequent novels in the series, but makes you question if you're missing a story somewhere. There are some fun characters that support or challenge Charley, the lead character, who sees and makes a career out of the dead. In this first novel she's trying to figure out why three lawyers were murdered, while trying to sort out her relationships with Cookie, her sidekick, Garrett, a tracker employed by her uncle in the know, and Reyes, a mysterious man from her past who's doing a very pleasant job of occupying her thoughts. Overall, an enjoyable book.

"First Grave on the Right" is a concoction of everything. It turned the cliched story line of grim reapers into that of a novelty. Have you ever considered a grim reaper being a cocky girl with an attitude? I certainly didn't.

I found the story line to be fast – paced, filled with humor and mystery. I also found the mixture of characters a little confusing but I got used to it. Jones has created an incredible character with originality - Charley Davidson. I found her to be resilient, strong, humorous and what not.

Jones has done an incredible work here. I love her narration and the way she made the story flow without it getting too complicated all at once due to its many characters.


Charley Davidson is the grim reaper. Not in a creepy scary way. She’s nowhere close to being creepy or scary. The story starts off with Charley waking up from her dream – where a hot entity shows up and seduces her all the time.
At first, the dream part felt like a whole different story. During the day she’s an exceptional private investigator with a unique ability to communicate with the deceased – being the grim reaper and all. And at night she’s having dreams about an entity who seems very familiar but she couldn't exactly pinpoint who it was until the day the entity called her ‘Dutch’.

So, she investigates who this entity is and also investigates a crime scene were three lawyers were murdered. Without Charley, I don’t think the story would have stood as a novelty. I guess the characters make the story and not the other way around. Or at least, this is how I found this book. Charley made the story, she lighted the story into a brilliant flame captivating the readers. She’s one of the best female leads I've ever come across.

Reyes Farrow was an enigma from the beginning so I’m not going to clear this part. It’s better if you read the book. All you need to know about him is he’s hot and sexy. The rest, read the book and find out.

Garrett Swopes is a private investigator like Charley but he doesn't believe a thing about her ability in communicating with the deceased. But slowly as the story flows, he tries his best to understand her. They share cocky remarks about each other and Charley kind of likes and dislikes him at the same time and I think the feeling is mutual.

Overall, "First Grave on the Right" was a unique read. Jones managed to make this book funny and serious at the same time! There’s a lot of grins for a few pages and lot of seriousness in the next. I loved it! This is one outstanding urban fantasy read.