Review - Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson #3) by Darynda Jones

Title: Third Grave Dead Ahead

Author: Darynda Jones

Series: 3rd (First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on the Left)

Pages: 310

Published: January 31st 2012 by St. Martin's Press 

ISBN:  9781250001542

Source: publisher sent for honest review 

 

Description: Charley Davidson—grim reaper extraordinaire, private investigator . . . meh—is practicing her profession under the influence, caffeine and copious amounts of it, due to an extreme desire to induce insomnia. Every time she closes her eyes, Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan, is there. Only thing is, he’s a tad peeved. She did bind him for all eternity, so it’s hard blame him. But 13 days without a wink is bound to bring out the crazy in a girl. So, when a man hires her to find his wife, Charley accepts the job with one goal in mind: Put the man behind bars, and not the wet kind. She can sense the guilt waft off him and vows to find the woman’s body and prove he’s a murderer. In the meantime, Reyes is back in prison and none too happy about it . . . so Charley thinks, until she is carjacked by the dark-haired rake, who swears the very man he went to prison for killing is not only alive, but close by. And he wants Charley to find him. While a visit to her old friend Rocket sheds no light on Reyes’s situation, Charley finds out the man’s wife is still alive and time is running out. Finding her before she dies would be a miracle, but she has to try. Together with the help of a fashion-impaired receptionist named Cookie, Charley sets out to bring the bad guys to justice. She just hopes Reyes is not one of them. And that she’s not hallucinating from her self-induced bout with insomnia. 

I Give This ...

 

I was really curious as to were this book might go since the 2nd in the series left me with mixed emotions.  I was hoping the book might go back to the sarcasm I loved in the first book.

I'm very happy to say that I got that sarcasm back and then some.  Charley on little to no sleep is down right hilarious.   It took everything I loved about the first book in the series to the next level.  I loved how Charley get tangled up with everything from dead clowns to biker gangs.   She takes on a new case with a doctor and his missing wife.  Turns out the case is way more complicated than it seems.  I always find it interesting that each outside case in the book is not the focal point of the story.  Yet, it adds just the right mix of events to break up the idea that the book is solely about Reye's.

Speaking of Reye's, he was different in this book.  In each book, his character seems to take a different tone.  While, I think I like him the best in the first book, he seems more true to his nature in this one.  He is the devil's son, and I think it shows.  Some of his actions didn't sit well with me.  But, then I reminded myself who he really way.  I'm curious as to how he really feels about Charley though.  I couldn't get a good read on it this time around.

A great addition to the series, especially after a bit of a let down on the second book.  Makes me that more excited to read the next installment.   Although, it's a long wait.  Maybe the author's new young adult series can tide me over this fall...

CLOSED - Second Grave on the Left Audiobook Giveaway

Second Grave on the Left

Darynda Jones

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message. Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do? 

Thanks to Macmillan Audiobooks, I have two copies of Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones to giveaway.  Remember this is the second in the series!

Contest open to those 13 and up and US residents only until August 20 at 11:59 PM (MT). 

Review: Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2) by Darynda Jones

Title: Second Grave on the Left

Author: Darynda Jones

Series: 2nd, First Grave on the Right

Pages: 307

Published: August 16, 2011 by St. Martins Press

ISBN: 9780312360818

Source: Publisher for honest review

Description: When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message. Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do? 

I Give This ...
  

I always have a hard time with a book that I think deserves half rating.  Do you round up or down?  With Second Grave, I took in to account my enjoyment of the first book and decided to round up.  

Charley felt a little off in this book for some reason.  She still had her spunk and her sarcasm, but it didn't feel like such a defying characteristic and I missed it.  This time around I felt like she was following more than leading.  Her instincts seem a little overshadowed by her complete infatuation with finding Reyes.  And she was really air-headed.  I didn't feel like there was so much going on in the book that she shouldn't be able to keep up with characters' names.  It drove me a little crazy.  I also missed some characters that got more face time in the first book (like Rocket Man).

The ghost involved with this book was down right creepy.  I'm still not prepared for were ghosts show up.  This time it was in the trunk of Cookie's car and then he sticks to Charley like glue.  But, he never talks and has a tendency to show up at odd time like when she's in the shower.  But, I enjoyed the mystery of who he really was and how he came to be in the trunk.  I also really liked the mystery of Cookie's friend.  It turns out Mimi was forced to hide something that happened in high school and now fears for her life.  The culprit is kind of sprang on you and totally now who I thought it would be.

I find Reyes to be a fascinating character that I can't quite get a handle on.  He genuinely seems concerned for Charley and what happens to her.  But, he's got a really nasty dark side and I'm not sure how that connects to Charley in the long run.  Overall, it makes me unable to firmly decide which side he's on.  I'm not sure he knows himself.

Not as good as the first one, but a decent addition to the series.  I'm still looking forward to the next one. 

      

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1) by Darynda Jones

Title: First Grave on the Right

Author: Darynda Jones

Series: 1st in Charley Davidson

Pages: 320

Published: Available now from St. Martins

ISBN: 9780312662752

Source: PTA Review Rewards

Description: 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. 

I Give This ...

 

You know, I really like adult paranormal novels.  I should read more of them.  I'm extremely pleased I got the chance to review this debute book.  It was lots of fun and I think will become a new favorite series for lots of those who enjoy the genre.


I absolutely loved Charley.  She's so sassy and sarcastic.  It's not really a trait that I want, but sometimes wish I didn't bite my tongue as much.  So, I really love a character that holds nothing back.  I loved the fact that she's the grim reaper and dead people are attracted to her like moths to a light.  I also enjoyed that fact that her family accepts this as fact and use it to their advantage (note the difference...they do not really take advantage).  I also really enjoyed how casually Charley views it all.  It's such a part of her life than it all comes across as normal through the story.


I LOVED the humor in the book.  There are so many little things going on that can make you chuckle.  My favorites were the sign on the bathroom door Charley leaves for any ghosts (but particularly the one that lives down the hall), Mr. Wong in the corner, Aunt Lily, and the "hell spawn" child in the back of a police car.  There are just two many moments and lines that had me going.


I also really enjoyed the sexual tension throughout the book.  Charley has some dreams that can really suck you in.  I liked how that relationship builds up throughout the novel and who it really is.  I also liked her relationship with Garrett.  It's not as upfront as the other relationship, but you can tell that it's building.  I think it will make for some interesting scenes in future books.


This was really close to a 5 butterfly for me.  Something that might have been different if the editing is a little different in a finished copy.  There were times, I had to to make sure I understood what was going on.  The story would change locations abruptly, which would throw me.  I also had to make sure that I realized Charley was chatting with people other's couldn't see.  So really she would be holding two conversations at once, which was hard to follow.  


Overall, just a fun read!  I will be reading the sequel!!