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    First Grave on the Right
    First Grave on the Right
    First Grave on the Right
    Audiobook8 hours

    First Grave on the Right

    Written by Darynda Jones

    Narrated by Lorelei King

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    First Grave on the Right is the 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 Darynda Jones, an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.

    First Grave on the Right is the winner of the 2012 Rita Award for Best First Book.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateFeb 1, 2011
    ISBN9781427211316
    First Grave on the Right
    Author

    Darynda Jones

    New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the international bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at http://www.daryndajones.com

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    Reviews for First Grave on the Right

    4/5

    1,043 ratings123 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I read the second book of this series first (not knowing it was second in a series) and the awesomeness of that book led me to want to read this one. This book is just as awesome as the second! I loved it; read the entire book in a day, and I can't wait to get and read the third!
    • 4/5
      Have you ever had that moment where you read a book and instantly knew you were going to be in love forever with the series? That is how I felt when I read First Grave on the Right. Charley Davidson’s character was hilarious! I adored the fact that she is a part-time PI and that she has the ability to see dead people. Not just see them but interact with them as well. The supporting characters in this story are also top notch, both the living and the dead. I laughed throughout this entire story at the antics Charley pulls and her friend Cookie is always there backing her right up one way or another. I liked that Charley did actually investigate crimes, usually ones that had been done to the victim who came to her for help. Everything about First Grave on the Right was just amazing! This is a book and a series that I highly recommend!
    • 5/5
      This was an entertaining read. Looking forward to the next one!
    • 4/5
      I loved it. The first series to make me laugh out loud in a while.
    • 3/5
      Charley is not your average private investigator; she sees dead people. Actually, she helps dead people to cross over. The ones who hang around are the ones who have unfinished business, often about their own death. Her ability to talk to these beings was soon exploited by first her police detective dad and then her uncle. It makes solving the crimes so much easier when you can ask the deceased if they knew who killed them. This first book in the series is entertaining and a quick read, and not bad for an introduction to the characters and their personalities. But some aspects are overdone a bit, like the witty, sarcastic humor, and other things are not developed enough, like some of the secondary characters as well as the plot. But I am intrigued enough to go on with the series, if I happen to see Book 2 at my local library.
    • 5/5
      Love these books, just wish the whole series was available here in New Zealand
    • 5/5
      Good Book!!!!! Can’t wait to start the next book.
    • 5/5
      Great book. Can't wait to start book 2. Narrator does a great job and is easy to listen to.
    • 5/5
      Outstanding beginning to a promising series.

      Lots of humor, action, and sizzling paranormal sex kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Charlie Davidson is snarky, unique, and hides a soft heart with a tough gal attitude.

      The ending left a few questions. Almost like a cliffhanger. As in, Is that it? The answer is no. Read the next book. As soon as I finish this review I'm going to start book two.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed this read. PI who has a supernatural ability to help people cross over, and the dark smokey figure in her life that is so hot but so mysterious. Very exciting and interesting read.
    • 5/5
      Charley Davidson is a private investigator helping her Uncle Bob, a detective in the Albuquerque PD to solve murder cases. But its really just a cover for her duties as the "Grim Reaper" she frequently has to help the dead before they crossover. Delightfully irreverent, sometimes snarky Darynda Jones pulls you into a world she has created and inhabited with a variety of normal and some "other-worldy" characters each individual and unique. A fast-paced enjoyable read.
    • 3/5
      For some reason, I cannot stop reading urban fantasy lately. I'm not sure exactly what to think about this, but it was enjoyable. I liked Charley a lot. Sometimes her humor was a little excessive, but overall she was a fun character. I didn't super love Reyes (because of something kind of sketchy he said to Charley when he met her) but I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
    • 5/5
      Wonderfully entertaining. A mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.
    • 3/5
      The main character has a charming, breezy sense of humor, but the plot and "love interest" were both lackluster. It's not a long audiobook but I still got bored. I don't plan to continue with the series.
    • 4/5
      For the most part I enjoyed this story and found some of the narrator's observations really funny, but the whole "son of Satan" twist was a little weird. I cracked up at her use of "Danger" and "Will Robinson"!
    • 4/5
      I finally read this book! I feel like I have had this book on my tbr for basically forever. Well, maybe not forever but a very long time. I bought a digital copy of this book over a decade ago but just never got around to it for reasons that I cannot even explain. I definitely should not have put it off because this was a whole lot of fun.Charley is the grim reaper which means that she can see the dead. This can be very handy when solving murders but a bit of an issue when unexpected visitors drop in whenever and wherever they want. I enjoyed getting to meet Charley Davidson and seeing how things work in her world. The humor in the story was incredibly well done and helped to give the book a lighter tone. There were a few surprises worked into the story and I can’t wait to see where things go in the next book.Lorelei King is one of my favorite narrators so I was very excited to learn that she would be reading this book. I thought that she did a fantastic job in bringing this book to life. The character voices that she used were incredibly well done and I thought that her delivery of the more humorous moments in the story was perfectly done. I am certain that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.I would definitely recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very solid start to a series that I am excited to finally be reading. I cannot wait to dive into book two in the series!
    • 3/5
      Interesting premise, but not my cup of tea. It's more chick kit with a sudd of urban fantasy than straight up UF.
    • 2/5
      There were several original ideas in this book, but a lot of the underpinnings didn't make sense. Like, the way Charley's powers work, specifically the fact that she seems to be a local phenomenon when it seems she should be more than that. Does not compute. Neither do some of her mood swings. I give the writer credit for trying something different than the scores of werewolves and vampires that fill the Paranormal Romance shelves, but the writing just feels a little off to me.

      I think I'll read the second one in this series, though. As I said, there's some originality there, and I'm curious if the sequel is better as Jones gets more comfortable in the world she's created.
    • 4/5
      Stephanie Plum in urban fantasy land, that's how I pictured the sarcastic heroine Charley. Thanks to my new goodreads friend for the recommendation, laughs along with a decent story. Terry Pratchett's character Death is a favorite of mine along with Valkyrie in most any fiction so I really enjoyed this tale of a new grim reaper.
      One of scene that tells you alot about Charlie
      “Ms. Davidson, you have done an outstanding job here today. Outstanding.”
      “Thank you, sir,” I said, choosing not to mention that my outstanding work involved falling through a skylight and making a ham-and-turkey sandwich.
    • 5/5
      Darynda Jones has just shot into my Top 5 Favorite Paranormal Romance Authors list. Charley Davidson is so sassy, sarcastic, and humorous that I want her for a best friend! Being a Private Investigator and the grim reaper makes an interesting twist for her to solve mysteries. And the romance between Charley and Reyes….to quote one of my North Carolina cousins….hoo Lawdy!
    • 4/5
      Tons of fun. Sort of on the same intellectual level as B99, which is about all I can handle atm. Not sure if I'd actually shell out the money for these books, but my local library system has all thirteen! So I can just zone out and enjoy the rest as much as I did this one.
    • 5/5
      If you were to blend Stephanie Plum and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I suspect you would come up Charlotte Jean Davidson, Grim Reaper. Charley is sassy and confident and doesn't play games. She is all woman but doesn't take grief from the men in her life. A great start to the series.
    • 4/5
      Here is another book that has been on my TBR list a long time. Way to long for a good book to wait to be read. I loved the main character of Charlotte Davidson, aka Charley. Her ability to laugh at herself (and others) and her snarky, spot on remarks kept the story real. The plot moved along nicely and the story enveloped you like a blanket and made you want to snuggle in deeper. The subplot worked nicely with the characters and the action. I was totally into this story and I highly recommend if you love urban fantasy/paranormal stories.
    • 3/5
      I was really worried when I decided to download these books. First off, I love the Stephanie Plum books and this series is directly compared with the Plum books everywhere I look. On top of that, they're narrated by Lorelei King (the same lady who narrates the Stephanie Plum books). Recently, I'd had issues with listening to the latest Eragon book because Gerard Doyle narrates both them and the Septimus Heap books and I couldn't get the Septimus Heap books out of my head when I was listening to the last book. So, this audiobook had a lot of strikes against it before I even started. But I shouldn't have worried. Lorelei King is an amazing narrator and she amazing here. Yes, I did hear some of the same voices from the Stephanie Plum books but it wasn't distracting and not once did I find myself getting the series mixed. So kudos to King and if you're considering listening to a book narrated by her - have no fear. She's amazing.

      Now onto First Grave on the Right. I loved it. It was fun, light-hearted, sexy and fast-paced. The dialogue is witty and sarcastic and Charley is a wonderful main character. It's so much fun listening to her dealing with the ghosts that pop in and out of her daily life. There's so much potential with Garret and Reyes as main characters. Yes, the story was a bit cliched at times but when I was laughing out loud at the book, I can handle the cliches. Hmmm, should I listen to the second book in this series or the next Night Huntress book first? Decisions, decisions.
    • 5/5
      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!
    • 5/5
      First in the Charley Davidson series and we meet Reyes and the other assorted characters that we will see in the future. We learn in this book that the big bad who has been following her all her life is in fact Reyes. Very fast action paced book.
    • 5/5
      5 stars

      I had no idea what to expect with this book, only that it sounded intriguing and different from what I've been reading lately. And boy, was I not so positively surprised by this book.

      When I was smiling and almost laughing my ass off right from the start, I knew I was gonna enjoy reading the first story of Charley's series. The sarcasm and attitude of this woman are utterly unbelievable, and you cannot help but love her for it. She's downright reckless and on more than one occasion you end up questioning her sanity and your own for keeping up with her, but that's probably what made me love this book so much. I didn't know you could pack a book with that many snarky comments and so much banter before, to be honest. That seemed almost too much, at times. Almost. I guess you just love it or hate it. And boy did I love it.

      I fairly enjoyed the ride because this is really well written and the plot keeps you real entertained and attached to the book. There are so many crime aspects to it, and mystery upon mustery to unveil, after all. It was a bit blurry at times, though, because so much seems to be happening all the time and you get a bit lost with the current and past events and investigations, yet I feel like I'm left with more questions than answers now. There's still so much to learn about who Charley is exactly, what she can do, and what the others can do as well. I mean, how the hell did Angel manage to pull on Ubie's tie? Is he not immaterial and all that?

      The characters. Damn, they were good. Almost all of them, seriously, even the ones we didn't get a chance to see for really long. Cookie is the first one to come to mind (sorry Reyes, you're only a distant second). That woman, damn. How is it possible she seems only to navigate around Charley and no one else pays her attention? That woman is pure gold. Although I'm still not entirely sure what her job actually is (Charley's assistant?), she sure has to handle a lot and she does it with near perfection. I'm impressed. Her addiction to coffee will definitely be the death of her, though.
      I can't wait to see more of Angel, Rocket and Amber, to only name a few. You get introduced to so many different characters in that book that on one or two occasions I had trouble following, but it was really ok, though. I love them all to pieces, villains and gangsters included.

      Last but not least, the "quotes" beginning each chapter are pure gold. Just sayin'.

      Even though I think this book would find a good place on my favorites' shelf, not every single thing in this book was awesome. I guess the ending felt a bit underwhelming, after everything that happened before. And Charley seems kinda childish at times as well. But I can definitely go past those faults and keep on reading. So many questions need answers, after all!

      I would definitely recommend this book for lovers of crime, action and humour, with quite a certain touch of paranormal/fantasy as well.
    • 3/5
      Sex and the City set in New Mexico - with ghosts. Another good plot gone bad due to stupid writing.
    • 4/5
      What a ride, constantly on the move from the very beginning. I was a little unsure if I would enjoy this read, because gratuitous sex isn't something I want to read about, but I was able to jump past it, and luckily it was only 2 pages right near the end. I might even continue reading this series.
    • 5/5
      I've wanted to start this series for a while now but never got around to it, until NetGalley was offering all of the books as read now books prior to the release of the newest one, Summoned to Thirteenth Grave, book #13. Needless to say, I jumped at this opportunity to download the entire series, and started reading First Grave on the Right immediately. I have been hearing for years about how wonderful the series is, and boy was I not let down! Charley Davidson is a real live grim reaper. She doesn't carry a scythe or wear the long black cape, but she still helps the dead move on. She is the bright light that draws the departed to her so that they can literally pass through her (she's a portal to the afterworld) and move on to the other side. Most of them do, but of course, there are always a few that won't leave because they have unfinished business, sometimes just passing on a message to a loved one, and other times asking her to solve their own murder. Luckily, Charley is an excellent PI, so she uses her talents to help them out. In this book, three people who worked together were all killed on the same night, so they ask Charley for her help finding out who killed them.This book had so much of everything I love: humor, ghosts, a hotshot reaper, and a mysterious force (I can't tell you what that force is because it would give too much away) that has been around since her birth. I really can't stress the humor enough!! I laughed out loud so many times when I was reading this book! There was a lot of action, as well, but it was critical to the story, and the pacing was spot on.In summary, I absolutely loved this book and really, really look forward to reading book #2, Second Grave on the Left. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal read with a whole lot of humor!I received a copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.