After having this on my TBR list for a while. I finally got around to read this book . Overall I really enjoyed reading this . It had me laughing a lot . Charley over is a great character and I can’t wait to read the next book .

I had heard the hype surrounding the series for quite some time and am so thrilled that the story definitely lived up to said hype. Fantastic world building and a story that was chock full of interesting characters made this book a win for me.

"First Grave on the Right" was a surprisingly well done story. I've never read anything from Darynda Jones so it was a surprise how much I enjoyed it. I liked her writing style, the plot, and the characters quite a bit.

I love the whole series. I've read and listened to the series multiple times. Charley is appreciatively grumpy and snarky. I, too, have an appreciation for coffee and enchiladas. And sarcasm.

OMG this book was so fantastic I just fell in love with Charley. Books like these make me happy Charley Davidson is a Private Investigator part time and a full time Grim Reaper. She is like my favorite tv character Melinda Gordon The Ghost Whisperer but extra. im starting book 2 ASAP.

Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator, and full time Grim Reaper. Yes, she see's the dead, and as she puts it..Better to see the dead, than be the dead, and not she does not carry a scythe around with her. As we get to meet our snarky and hilliarious Charley, she is being woken up at 4:34am. Yes, that's AM. There has been a body found and her uncle needs her assistance, again. The only problem is, there's already a dead guy (Sussman) in her bedroom, and he has two bullet holes in his head. Oh, but that's just the beginning of our little romp through Charley's long week.

Next, Elizabeth Ellery and Jason Barber, reveal themselves to Charley, and they have been killed as well. The similarities: All three are lawyers for the same law firm, and they were working to free an innocent man from prison for a crime he didn't commit. But the really interesting part is that Charley has an unseen lover who drives her to the moon and back when she is taking a shower, or when she is in deep REM sleep. She has no clue who the unknown is either.

Charlies shows up to the dead as a kind of beacon to those who are ready to cross over to, I'm presuming Heaven, since there are other facts throughtout the book that warrant that discovery. Charley lives in two planes of existence at the same time: The departed plane and the human race. Charlies also has the ability to understand any language spoken throughout the world. She can, somehow, also remember everything about what happened when she was born. The ABQ PD thinks that she slightly eccentric and treats her with mostly with distain. Thankfully her Uncle Bob stands by her side as he has since the first time Charley helped solve a murder when she was 5 years old, and subsequently got slapped down by her step mother for doing so.

Charley lives in one of my favorite cities Albuquerque, New Mexico, and calls her private parts names after the TV shows Lost in Space, and Star Trek. You have got to read it to find out which parts are which. Seriously!

What we learn: The big bad, as Charley calls it, has actually saved her life different times over the course of her 27 years of existence. The first time was at birth when her mother died and crossed over through Charley. Needless to say, Charley's life hasn't exactly been a cake walk through the park.

We later learn that the Big Bad is actually named Reyes, but he's not what he seems, and in the end, Charley isn't either. Reyes first met Charley when she was 15 years old, and he presumably killed his own father. Reyes, as we meet him, is currently in a coma after having been accidentally shot in the head. It also appears he is hiding from his father. (Not spoiling and saying WHO it is either.)

I love the sub-characters Uncle Bob, and Cookie her best friend and receptionist who both know all about Charley's abilities. Her incorporeal being Angel, works for Charley and sends those who die horribley to Charley to investigate and help cross over. Charley doesn't always make smart choices, but it seems that she has the ability to swim through the quicksand and come out the other end.

I've added this author as one to watch for future releases. I, personally, love the romance, mystery, suspense and humor aspects that flow from the first page to the ending. The supernatural twist at the ending is also interesting. I loved the banter between Charlie and Garrett, Ubie, and Cookie. She even has moments with Amber, Cookies 11 year old daughter, as well as the three dead lawyers; especially Elizabeth.

❝ Never knock on death's door. Ring the doorbell then run. He totally hates that. ❞

Whenever a book decides to blend fantasy with crime-solving I'm instantly interested. First Grave on the Right delivered on my expectations and took it a step further by creating a complex romance with its own plot. This book had it all: romance, urban fantasy/supernatural elements, humor, and crime-solving.

The main character, Charley Davidson, was quirky, sassy, and bold. I loved that she was so resilient and empathetic. She was an entirely likable character who also so happened to be the Grim Reaper. The way she dealt with her supernatural tasks (and how everyday people reacted to them) was so entertaining! Her sassy, to-the-point bathroom sign made me laugh. The way she always greeted the non-responsive ghost in her apartment. How she dealt with the perverted ghost in her building complex. She was just such a vibrant character that made the story that much more great.

Of course, the fantasy/supernatural elements weren't the only parts of the story I enjoyed. Charley was a private investigator who also consulted with the police department so she always had plenty of work. Throughout the book, Charley is trying to solve the murder of a group of lawyers. Along the way, she has to deal with resistance from a skiptracer who doesn't really buy what she can do.

❝ If I couldn't be a good example, I'd just have to be a horrible warning. ❞

While the crime-solving angle was well done, I don't think I enjoyed how quickly Garrett Swopes changed his attitude toward Charley. he went from total skeptic to just-kind-of-skeptic-but-totally-trying-to-get-in-Charley's-pants. The change was so fast it threw me off and seemed a little forced.

And obviously, there was the romantic angle to First Grave on the Right as well. For some time now, Charley has been having some intense, passionate dreams with a spirit-like being--dreams that feel completely real and leave her wanting more. When the spirit whispers a name in her ear it dredges up memories of a troubled boy from her past and sets her on a path to find him. Although we didn't get to see much of them together in this book there was definitely some chemistry and I wanted to know so much more!

The storyline with that character got so complicated so fast. I always had questions about him and every time I felt like we learned something about him I ended up having more questions. The ending could not have left me any worse (in the best way). Let me say that this definitely won't be an easy relationship for them and I can't wait to learn more about him and Charley in the next book (and to see her solve the next crime).

First Grave on the Right definitely met and exceeded my expectations for books in this genre and it was a solid start to the series. I'm looking forward to continuing it!

Great start to a paranormal romance series and I'm definitely going to keep reading them. I'm also getting ready to start A Bad Day for Sunshine and can't wait after reading this one! Love the mix of humor and suspense.

Great start to the series! I spent way too much time thinking about what kind of paranormal characters were involved. Charley is a grim reaper and it was cool to discover everything she's capable of. Her relationships with ghosts brought the humor.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book and I'm so looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Charley is hilarious and witty! I love reading about her relationships with her friends, family and enemies! She definitely leads an interesting life as a grim reaper. I love the spin on it. She doesn't kill people but helps the departed pass over. This series will be full of suspense, thrills and sexual escapades! I really look forward to finding out more about Reyes and what his and Charley's relationship will become. Also, I think her and Garrett will end up having something too!

NB: Leaving this feedback for posterity, even tho I didn’t DL this title prior to it being archived.

ORIG READ (MMP) ★★★½☆☆ / RE-READs (audio) ★★★★★

Here’s how much I love the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones:
(1) I started the series in MMP format & stayed w/ it due to old-school notation style.
(2) I added audio format for subsequent re-reads b/c incredibly, Lorelei King’s narration made the stories even more enjoyable & the LOLs even louder.
(3) I periodically re-read the series from book #1 in anticipation of latest book.
(4) I requested this title for series re-read prior to final book & to complete my trifecta of DTB, audio & ebook for this series. (Yes, I’m one of “those” book lovers.)

However, as is the case w/ many series, my appreciation & loyalty to this series developed over years as the characters & stories matured & broadened. Per my original rating for “First Grave on the Right”, it wasn’t love at first read. Notes jotted on inside cover of MMP were as follows: entertaining, even if formulaic elements; 27yo MC but parts read like MYA/NA; grammar pet peeve = mis/non-use of past perfect. But great potential & LOL fun. Cliffy ending?? Get #2.

Crazy, right? (say/think this à la Lorelei King)

My complete series re-read in Fall 2018 (in anticipation of the Jan 2019 release of “Summoned to Thirteenth Grave”, the 13th & final book) meant that I’ve read each Charley Davidson book at least 5x. I’m sure that another re-read will come in future—especially b/c I’ve got an on-going bet & *major* fingers crossed for spin-off/continuation after Beep et al grow up :-)

Apologies for non-DL/delay & thanks for many, many lovely hours w/ Charley & the gang. Can't wait to read Ms. Jones's new Sunshine Vicram series! Cheers :)

This book was a fabulous kick off to an amazing series. Love this series and the characters. I recommend it all over the place. Thank you for the chance to read these books again and again.

Hidey-ho fellow SMPer! I'm just leaving a review that I don't want you to publish because I checked this book out via Netgalley and am trying to raise my score. I wish we could send ebooks from the MDL to our Kindle! Please don't post this publically haha! I didn't feel like it was honest to leave a review working for the company!

What a great paranormal sarcastic HOT start to a series. I am over the top for this book! The book flew by and took no time to read. If you are into snarky heroines and hot bad boys, pick it up. This is the start of a series that is still going on so plenty of time to get started!!

I love how sassy and witty Charley is! Add in the twists and turns, plus sexy Big Bad, and an interesting story line...now I'm hooked! I can't wait to read the rest of the books.

I'm going to write this review as a "series" review because, quite frankly, I binge read the whole series THIRTEEN books in one week. I literally couldn't put them down. When I read the last page of the last book, I wanted to cry.

Book one hooks you from the start. The world that Darynda built within this series is phenomenally creative. It's full of magic and mystery. The hero is the perfect anti-hero turned true hero that I've read in a long, long time. My heart broke for the trials and tribulations the hero and heroine went through to get to the end of the series. Calling it an emotional rollercoaster doesn't even cover the vast span of emotions that the author drags the reader through.

The only complaint I have is that the series ended.... there was a "the end" and I didn't want to be done yet. A complete must read for all PNR lovers!

A re-read thanks to a promotion by Netgalley for the final Charley Davidson book. I love this series and so happy to have it in my e-reader instead of getting a loan from the library.

This is the first and, of course, best of the series. It's amazing to see how the total story arc played out through the Thirteenth Grave, and I have to wonder if the author planned everything to go that way even in this early book. Either way, she's a genius!.

Darynda Jones is awesome! This is the first book in the Charley Davidson “Grim Reaper” series and I loved the characters and banter right from the first word in the first chapter. I don’t think that there is another character quite like Charley anywhere else and I thank Darynda each day for bringing her to life. #First Grave on the Right

I love the humour. It's constantly making me laugh. And as a concept it's great - something completely original and fresh.

I love author Darynda Jones and her writing! Let's just get that straight right now, this book is the first book I ever read of her's and I haven't stopped reading her books since. Her take on death in this series is just perfection and the main character is just AMAZING!! Love the plot, I love everything about this book and the series.