A combination comedy and mystery and paranormal, Grave Reservations is a great beginning to a new series. I caught myself laughing out loud at the antics of an inconsistent psychic, her best friend, and a detective from the Seattle PD.

When less-than-successful travel agent Leda Foley reschedules Detective Grady Merritt's flight home because she had a "feeling", he is understandably annoyed. When he watches the plane he was supposed to be on skid off the runway and catch fire he is no longer annoyed but very curious as to how Leda had a "feeling" he shouldn't be on that plane. When he visits Leda in her tiny office, her best friend Niki on the couch nursing a hangover, he has a proposal for her: help him solve a murder.

Grave Reservations could be construed as a police procedural but not in the usual sense. Psychics aren't usually involved in solving years-old mysteries but it turns out this psychic is in the right place at the right time for more than one reason. Leda's fiance was found shot in his car years ago and she is still haunted (literally) by his death. Grady and Leda rely on each other to help solve both mysteries and with a little help from Niki and all their drinking buddies at Castaways bar, they prove to be a successful team.

It was a fun read with moments of total silliness, a clever mystery (or two), with an emphasis on strong women and their equally strong BFF's. I loved it and will definitely check out more of Cherie Priest's work because I like her style. And I will definitely continue to follow Leda and Grady (and Niki and Ben and Matt and hopefully Molly) in the next book.

(Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance copy of Grave Reservations in exchange for an honest review)

Leda's psychic powers are inconsistent at best. But when a strong feeling hits her, she has learned to take action. One of these actions leads her to change Grady Merritt's flight reservation at the last second. Grady, though originally frustrated beyond measure, quickly realizes that his travel agent's "feeling" was something more when his original flight has an explosion on board before takeoff.

As part of the homicide dept for the Seattle PD Grady has always been bothered by a certain unsolved case. So much so that he decides to loop Leda in on investigating the cold case. Leda agrees to go along with his plan, but only if he will take a look at a cold case of interest to her- the murder of her fiance.

This book felt like a cross between the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris and the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. While I am not sure that originality would be part of my description of this book, I still enjoyed it. It was pithy and the characters were likable. I would recommend it to those who enjoyed the aforementioned books for sure!

Grave Reservations has a fun premise: a psychic travel agent teams up with a cop to solve a murder, and perhaps get some closure on a tragedy in her own life. The book will likely appeal to fans of cozy mysteries or comic thrillers—it felt very much like a Hallmark cozy mystery.

I especially enjoyed main character Leda's relationship with her best friend, Niki. I also thought Leda's "klairvoyant karaoke" act at a local bar was a fun element. I was excited about the Seattle setting, but was disappointed that the characters seemed to spend most of their time in traffic or looking for parking.

At times, I felt like the author was trying too hard to make Leda quirky, which came off a little forced at times. I also felt the mystery itself was predictable and not as suspenseful as I'd hoped.

Recommended for cozy mystery fans!

I read this as an ARC from NetGalley because I am a Cherie Priest fan. I first took notice of her through her Cheshire Red series, featuring a sarcastic vampire thief named Raylene Pendle, and her sidekicks, a blind vampire and an ex-Navy Seal/Drag Queen. I’m very selective with urban fantasy, but there was something about her writing, her humor, and her edginess that had me coming back.

I also love her horror. The Toll was uniquely southern. My favorite was The Plot. I’m on board for more of her horror, but I was also excited to see she had returned to mysteries. I was hoping for something very like Cheshire Red.

This book is a little...cozier...than I expected/hoped. Some of the edge has been rounded off. Seattleite Leda is a psychic who doesn’t know her own skills. She is working as a travel agent when she gets a “feeling” that one of her clients shouldn’t board a certain flight, saving him from injury, or worse. It turns out he is a police detective named Grady, who is working an older case that he just can’t let go of, and thinks maybe a psychic hint or two would help. Leda agrees to help him because she hopes to get some closure on something in her own past.

It took a little bit for me to become fully immersed in this world, but when I did, it sailed along easily. The story is entertaining, Leda is fairly relatable as an aimless millennial, and Priest is really allowing her humor to shine in this one. Take two quotes that made me laugh:

“It probably wasn’t good coffee...[the detective] was drinking the coffee anyway. Maybe he was desperate. Maybe his taste buds had been shot off by bad guys. It could’ve happened.”

“...he regretted it more thoroughly than he’d ever regretted anything, at least since his high school Juggalo phase.”

There is no romance in this, which is rather refreshing. What is really notable is the friendship between Leda and her best friend Niki who support each other no matter what. A nice depiction on female friendship, even if they rely on drinks a little too much (I just don’t relate, but I’m sure a lot of people do.)

Recommended for cozy mystery readers and/or people who like Cherie Priest’s writing voice. I liked it. I’ll look out for a sequel if there is one.

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest is an entertaining mystery. I loved the characters and laughed out loud. Do you need a break from the real world? Pick this up.

Cherie Priest has decided to lighten up. After all this time. And as a result there is this book, a first in series, strategically cashing in on the ever popular thriller genre, specifically the chickler subgenre, invented just now by me to represent the intersection of chicklit’s ditzy breeziness with mystery and suspense aspects of the thriller.
For me, the author is prominently associated with the literary scares, from her previous quite excellent gothic delights like Family Plot and Troll, so this is quite a departure. But since she’s such a pro and no stranger to genre hopping, she does it with aplomb. Which is to say Grave Reservations is lite done right. Yes, it has all the quaintness and silliness of the chickler (to me something closely associated with Janet Evanovich), but it’s genuinely cute, surprisingly unannoying and notably charming. Plus the actual thriller angle of it all genuinely works.
The basic plot involves a self proclaimed useless psychic named Leda Foley, the sole owner, operator and employee of the Foley’s Far Fetched Flights of Fancy, a travel agency whose name genuinely pleases my alliteration fond brain grooves. Leda is the kinda sorta psychic, something she doesn’t much use or knows how, until on a whim she had a proper premonition and saves a life of a local police detective by rescheduling his flight. This understandably piques his interest and he decides to hire her on consultant basis to assist him with an unresolved murder case from a while ago. Which, wouldn’t you know it, just might have something to do with the murder of Leda’s fiancé that occurred around the same time.
So now, between klairvoyant karayoke for free booze and trying to maintain a business (Leda’s desperately optimistic stab at financial solvency following a long string of dead end jobs), there’s also a crime/crimes to solve.
Throw in a dedicated bestie, a local bar positively crammed with appropriately quirky characters, a fun (and nonromantic, how awesome is that? how stupid cheesy romance to muddy the plot, way to define the trite genre stereotype, Cherie Priest) banter based working friendship with the cop and a bunch of suspense and you got a really enjoyable brew to pass the time. It reads as quickly as something this breezy ought to and was fun enough that this reader (who is neither into lightheartedness in thrillers or chicklit or series) might check out Leda’s further adventures whenever the time comes. Way to make cute work, kudos to the author. Though let’s hope it doesn’t distract her too much from all those excellent ventures into the horrific realm. Fun read. Recommended.Thanks Netgalley.

A neat new cozy mystery.. Unlike anything else that I've read in a while. Great plot and twists. A great cozy, comfy read.

A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait for another book. This was from a new to me and great author. I really enjoyed the book. Will definitely recommend this book.

This was a hilarious read. I loved the uniqueness of the protagonists and the fun Seattle setting. Well written with the perfect comedic timing!

Filled with humour and an intriguing premise. I have never read a story that centres around a psychic before. This was funny and it had a good story.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Grave Reservations.

I've read a previous book by the author and the premise sounded right up my alley so I was pleased when my request was approved.

Leda Foley is a psychic travel agent. When an odd feeling prevents the potential death of a Seattle detective named Grady, the both of them team up to solve a cold case.

Strangely enough, Grady's case ties into the death of Leda's fiancee from a year and a half ago.

This was a quirky mystery; Leda and Niki are relatable, funny, and supportive of each other. All the bad stuff happens off screen, as befitting books like these and the supporting characters are diverse, funny and kind, people you want to know personally.

I love Klairvoyant Karaoke, Leda's not quite consistent psychic ability, and her friendship with her BFF.

Are there some things hard to suspend disbelief for?

Sure, Grady never seems to do any real work, he's allowed to bring Leda onto two crime scenes with just a raised eyebrow from his superior and this was less police procedural than I prefer; there aren't any real clues to unravel and no shocking revelations.

There's no urgency or suspense and Leda spends most of her time tagging along with Grady, missing her fiancee (understandable) and the author spends plenty of time describing the terrible traffic and parking conditions in Seattle (just like in NYC!)

I enjoyed Leda and her cohorts, Grady and his daughter, Molly and will read the next book in the series.

Grave Reservations follows a quirky main character as psychic visions are used to attempt to help solve a murder.

This one wasn't for me, I found the main character a bit too much. I couldn't really get into the story itself as the characters were a bit over the top.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great story by Cherie Priest! Interesting and fun characters. Mystery and the supernatural, it has it all!

Interesting, kitschy and quirky characters trying to solve at least one murder with nothing more than good intentions and barely formed psychic vibes.

Leda is a self employed travel agent who has a really, really strong feeling her only travel client should not get on his flight home. Without telling him why, Leda rearranges Gardy's travel plans.

As Grady watches his original flight pull onto the runway, he is on the phone, arguing with Leda who is trying to explain her actions... and the plane bursts into flames.

Grady and Leda develop a professional relationship trying to solve, initially, two murders that truly have no logical connection.

The book is a fast one day read - I didn't want to put it down. The characters are fully developed and the Seattle backdrop is realistic.

I would love to see a second book for Leda, Grady and friends!

Grave Reservations is about a quirky psychic helping a cop solve a crime that ties into the murder of her fiance..
I did not like the main character. She was written in a way that feels like the author is forcing her character to be quirky and likeable to the readers, but majority of the time the main character comes across as flippant, playful, impudent and sometimes stupid. For example, there are times she is told to stay quiet during interrogations of witnesses, but she continuously makes ridiculous comments. Majority of the time I was wondering how a character this vapid would solve a murder. I should have guessed that she sees all the answers in one psychic vision. There was no detective work or working through clues for the readers. Personally I found the murderer more quirky and funny.
The climatic scene is written very obviously. There is a change in the writing that really emphasizes the setting, which makes it obvious to the reader exactly where the murderer will attack the main character.
On the plus side the book has a great introduction that really hooks a readers interest. The relationship between the two best friends is very relatable.

Grave Reservations is a very fun and quick mystery destined to be a series. Honestly I could very easily see this as a serialized tv show, and I would DEFINITELY watch it.

Thank you to Net Galley, Cherie Priest and Atria Books for the ARC!

I sure hope this becomes a series! This was good. As a millennial, a big pet peeve of mine is when millennial characters are over the top, especially in their dialogue. This is not the case here. Leda and her best friend have a completely realistic relationship and way of talking with each other. It is so nice to see. All the characters were lovable and this book was funny! I lol'd many times. The mystery kept me guessing, though I think the handling main character's psychic abilities could use some finesse. I'm sure that it a second book will be even better

This was a fun and easy read. The characters were all great, especially some of the side characters. I love a good mystery and this one had me making some guesses, even if I had been totally wrong. I’m definitely hopeful that this is turned into a series because I would love see Leda and Grady working on more cases and see how Leda’s powers grow.

Leda is running a less-than-successful travel agency in Seattle, and has an unpredictable psychic gift. When she has a flash of insight and re-books a police officer's flight which subsequently catches fire, he takes her on as a psychic consultant for an older case that remains unsolved. Since her fiance was murdered and no one was ever charged, she agrees to help with the case. She's also got a second unpaid career as the "Psychic Psongstress," where bar patrons give her an object, and she sings a song based on the vibe she gets. If you are looking for a mystery with humor and likable characters, Grave Reservations would be a good choice. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

A murder mystery, but make it comedy. The characters kept me reading and are modern and relatable. Grave Reservations is the perfect light buddy read, and perhaps an opening act to a new series featuring the Leda Foley, a 30-something travel agent/songstress with an imperfect psychic talent.

Leda is grieving the murder of her fiancé and has a luck encounter with a detective after saving his life. Realizing her psychic abilities can give him a leg up in his police work, he then draws her into investigating cold cases. Detective Grady is the rational to Leda’s rash, and they make a great crime-solving duo.

The real comedic buddy genius lies in Leda’s banter and relationship with her BFF, Niki. From real talk, to codependent decisions that ultimately lead to personal healing and growth, Niki inserts herself in the investigation to look out for her friend. A seemingly small choice that will have larger implications, Niki becomes the third wheel, yet three doesn’t feel like a crowd for Leda, Niki and Grady.

I’m a sucker for a heroine-slays-her-own dragon story, and Leda does not disappoint. I loved this book and am crossing my fingers for this foray to be the first in Leda’s many adventures to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!