[Review] Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Title: Second Grave on the Left

Author: Darynda Jones

Series: Charley Davidson #2

Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy

Published: August 16th, 2011

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Format: Hardcover, 307 pages

If you hang around with dead people, life can get pretty complicated. Take it from Charley Davidson, part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Complicated is her middle name. The deceased find her very sparkly. Demons find her irresistible. And one entity in particular wants to seduce her in every way possible.
When Charley and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. Cookie's friend Mimi disappeared five days earlier. Mimi then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling Cookie to meet her at a nearby coffee shop. The coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue Mimi left on the bathroom wall: a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains to them that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old high school friend had been murdered. The same woman whose name Mimi had scribbled on the bathroom wall.
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...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? Can she keep those she loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?
Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the year: Second Grave on the Left.

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Review

My thoughts:

OMG! I went to pick up the next one as soon as I finished this review. I really liked the first book in this series, but this one just won me over completely.

This was one of the best books I read in 2014. It’s still one of the best I’ve read so far, ever. Yes, I enjoyed it that much!

The writing is a dream… Fast-paced and action-packed, with details where needed and a witty dialogue that had me cracking up at 2 a.m. like a crazy person.

The whole cast of characters is awesome! Charley Davidson is one the best female characters ever. She’s tough, badass, sexy, feisty, funny and just an all-around fantastic heroine.

Reyes could have been taken directly from my wildest dreams if the amount of swooning I did throughout the book is any indicator. He’s just the perfect paranormal love interest: a bad boy, dangerous, seductive and mysterious but who somehow has a soft side. He’s very protective of the ones he cares about and I just fell for him so hard in this sequel.

The rest of the characters are great, colorful and full of life. In this book, for some reason, I got to appreciate them even more than the first time around.

I loved the chaos that was Charley’s world in this book. There were a hundred things going on, but the author somehow finds a way to give each storyline its place. There was never a dull moment, there was always something just waiting around the corner and it was really exciting. I even loved how the new case Charley was working on surprise me at the end.

This one is a must-read for all paranormal lovers! If you’ve read the first book and you’re still on the fence about continuing the series, I encourage you to do so, because this one is definitely better.

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About the author

NYTimes 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. As a born storyteller, she grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike. She currently has two series with St. Martin's Press, the Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. Darynda lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of more than 25 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.