Charlie Davidson is the UnGrim Reaper

I decided my first post was going to be dedicated to Darynda Jones' Charlie Davidson series. I would recommend starting at book one, First Grave on the Right. But I'm up to Book Seven so I've included that image. They're short books, but packed with laugh-out-loud humour and steamy sex wrapped loosely around a detective story.

I have no idea how I originally found this series and it probably wouldn't have attracted me, based on its cover, but as soon as I started it I was hooked. Who wouldn't be with quirk little one-liners as chapter headings like, 'So many dead people, so little time.' 

Charlie Davidson is the Grim Reaper but there's nothing grim about her. She's funny, brave and very crazy, and you have to love her First Person POV quips and comments as you go along. But if you're looking for an example of proper English, this is not it. Jones writes as Charlie thinks, and while not truly Stream of Consciousness, it comes in as a very funny version of it. Molly Parker is also good at this style of writing, and I'll talk about her books in another post.

So Charlie as the Grim Reaper doesn't actually kill anyone, she just moves them on into the Light. Or she actually is the Light they pass through. But Reaping the dead is not her day job. She's a PI and her books follow at least one murder, missing person or crime, while she's doing weird and wonderful things like talking to the dead asian guy in the corner of her living room, naming everything she owns, including her sofa and breasts, interacting with wonderful friends, and falling in love with the Son of Satan.

Did I get your attention with that last one? Yes, Reese the very delicious hunk is the mortal form of a demon who is the son of Satan. He's had a terrible tortured life, but having come from Hell he's pretty much able to handle it. I'm not going to add Spoilers in this review so you'll have to read the books to find out if Reese is a good-guy or bad-guy. But he is certainly a bad boy, and every female that lays eyes on him is drawn to him. It's his devilish good looks and charm. Actually no, he isn't charming, he's kind of the straight man of the comedy duo. The Martin of the Martin and Lewis team. (If you've never heard of Jerry Lewis, then my blog is probably not for you. And I only know them from watching Late Night Oldies, because I'm not THAT old.)

If you're looking for a fast-paced, hysterically funny romantic mystery then this series is for you. But be prepared for steamy sex scenes. If you're not into them, then do as I say to my fans who complain about the sex - skip that part and get back to the story. Steamy sex scenes aren't for everybody, but its easier to put them in for those who like them than leave them out completely in case they offend. That's what's so good about books, you can speed=read through the bits you don't like.