URBAN FANTASY CRIME REVIEW: Harley Davidson 1: First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones

Release Date: 30/11/11

SYNOPSIS:

Private investigator Charlotte Davidson was born with three things: looks; a healthy respect for the male anatomy; and the rather odd job title of grim reaper. Since the age of five, she has been helping the departed solve the mysteries of their deaths so they can cross. Thus, when three lawyers from the same law firm are murdered, they come to her to find their killer. In the meantime, Charley's dealing with a being more powerful - and definitely sexier - than any spectre she's ever come across before. With the help of a pain-in-the-ass skip tracer, a dead pubescent gangbanger named Angel, and a lifetime supply of sarcasm, Charley sets out to solve the highest profile case of the year and discovers that dodging bullets isn't nearly as dangerous as falling in love.


REVIEW:

Debut authors face the warzone with their first release. It matters not whether they’re an officer or a grunt, well provisioned or mending and making do, it’s a case of standing up and taking the flak hoping that their luck is in and that magical bullet won’t come for them.

What Darynda presents in this, her debut is a title that has a cracking lead character, she’s feisty, she has guts and perhaps best of all she’s not all powerful as she’s flawed more than once in this outing. Yes she can take her punishment, yes she has allies but there are also the doubters around whom she has to work. Its cleverly written, the supporting cast decent and when added to an overall plot that not only introduces the reader to her world but also accompanied with a kickass plot and it’s a title that really will please the Urban Fantasy Crime reader.

All in this title, whilst having some flaws, was a solid entry into the publishing world. Add to this decent prose, good dialogue and a character that the readers will just love to spend time around. I suspect that future outings will reveal more than one skeleton in the Davidson closet.