URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Charley Davidson 2 and 3: Second Grave on the Left, Third Grave Dead Ahead - Darynda Jones

Release Date: 05/01/12

SYNOPSIS:

Charlie Davidson sees dead people. As grim reaper extraordinaire 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), Charlie dons her Private Investigator hat to solve the crime.


REVIEW:

Having enjoyed the first book I was looking forward to seeing what Darynda would come up with in her second offering. After all, the first book sets the world and announces the author, the second has to hit home just as hard to keep the fans die hard demanding the next title.

What the second Charley Davidson title does is allow the character to grow and breathe a bit more as her role as a reaper grows. Add to this some clever twists with an author who knows how to manipulate you and you’re in for a treat. At least that what I was expecting and pretty much got until I found part of the tale unbelievable as no matter who you are the act of betrayal is never an easy pill to swallow, no matter who it is. All in, apart from this problem I had a story that I not only enjoyed but one that left me wondering what the third part would have in store.




Release Date: 31/01/12

SYNOPSIS:

Charlie Davidson sees dead people. As grim reaper extraordinaire 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), Charlie dons her Private Investigator hat to solve the crime.


REVIEW:

Upon the conclusion of the second title, I really couldn’t wait to get my hands upon the third excerpt. As with the others, it has a gripping lead character, a wonderful set of twists and turns which when backed with an author with a great idea of where the overall arc is leading, leaves the reader not only demanding but salivating for the next part.

The writing is crisp, the prose wonderfully devilish and when backed with dialogue that you can really get behind, makes this title a special one to enjoy. Finally add a character who’s back on form after the hiccup in the previous title and all in, it’s a book that you really can’t put down. Great stuff.

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.