Bonus: First Grave on the Right

St. Martin's Griffin

First Grave on the Right
Darynda Jones
2011

The Summary
Charlotte - Charley to her friends, living and dead - is a part-time private investigator and consultant with the local police department; however, her full-time occupation is grim reaper.  Yes, like the fellow with the hooded cloak and scythe, but Charley isn't really into dramatics.  She's a portal between the living and the dead, not some hunter of wayward souls.

Besides dealing with the usual dilemmas involved with the dead, Charley is confronted by a very unusual string of murders - and, perhaps even more important, she must contend with a terrifying guardian who is hellbent on protecting her and the portal.

Even if it might cost Charley her life.

The Good
First Grave on the Right is an interesting concept.  The cosmic dynamic it creates - like heaven versus hell, good versus evil - isn't original, but the idea that the grim reaper is a portal between heaven and earth is an intriguing one.  It's fascinating to see how Charley fits into the world (universe?) - and how her not-so-silent protector fits into all this madness.

Additionally, I really liked Charley.  I mean, it took a while for her to grow on me, but, once I was really committed to the novel, I enjoyed her company.  Charley is humorous, sassy, and entirely self-sufficient.  She can hold her own with even the surliest police officer (including her uncle, Ubie); moreover, she can take a beating and give one back.

She's a strong female protagonist, which I am fond of reading in fiction, but she's surprisingly gentle at the same time.  She cares for the ghosts she meets and she isn't afraid to show it.  She has an emotional depth that's definitely nice to find.

The Bad
First Grave on the Right doesn't really distinguish itself from the horde of paranormal-romantic fiction you'll find in bookstores.  It's a good book, don't get me wrong, and it certainly kept me entertained, but I wasn't glued to the pages.  I'm not exactly salivating to read the next novel in the series.

The Ugly
Murder, naturally.