Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

“A grim reaper of questionable morals.”

The Blurb…

Charlotte “Charley” Davidson, a part-time private investigator helping the police with her ability to contact the dead in her full-time role as the Grim Reaper, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a paranormal romantic suspense series.

My Thoughts…

So last week I went crazy and read this whole series from the first to the fifth book in only 6 days, kept in mind that I work at least 40 hours a week, so in other words I didn’t slept too much… but It was so damn worth it! this series is great!!! so f*cking great!!!!!! I enjoyed it a lot, I couldn’t stop laughing and sometimes snort laughing (embarrassing but it happens…) the things Charley thinks and says! she doesn’t have a filter and her brain works in weird and mysterious ways…

Charley is the grim reaper, she sees dead people, only the ones that don’t cross over because they have unfinished business or they don’t know they’re death yet  (shock or denial), she sees them since she was a baby so her father who was an Albuquerque PD detective started using her gift to solve murders since she was 5 years old (who can blame him? everything is easier when you have access to your main witness…). Later on when her father retired, her uncle (also a detective) kept using her as a “consultant”. Everybody knows she’s a little weird (that usually happens when you keep talking with people only you can see…) but she doesn’t care, she’s always funny, happy and carefree.

The stories usually focus in one or two mysteries at the same time but they also have a continuous storyline mystery, one that involves Reyes Alexander Farrow aka Rey’aziel who was totally swoon worthy and I don’t usually use that term lightly (like Mags haha). I’m so  freaking in love with him (really my last GR status update when I finished the fifth book was “OMFG! I’m in love!”) and to tell you the truth every time Charley and Reyes had an impasse in their relationship I was screaming “noooooo!!!! why?!?!?!?!?! fix it!!!!!!” I love them, their interactions, their sexual tension, how they break even though they’re tough and how stubborn both of them are.

And lets not forget Cookie and Ubie, Charley’s uncle, (his name is Robert or Bob but Charley keeps calling him Ubie) those two are amazing supporting characters, they care a lot for Charley and they protect her as best as they can, they also try to keep up with her crazy comments and humor.

The pace of the book is great you get the feeling that everything moves forward and you don’t feel stuck. The mysteries are easy to guess but usually all the important clues are left at the 70% of the book so everything fits together until the end. But the main mystery is still a mystery, in each book we learn a little bit more but many questions are still unanswered and I’m dying to know!!!!!

Also every chapter of the books have a funny quote or phrase that is hilarious and you get the idea of what the chapter is going to be about.

I have only one complain: Darynda Jones was cruel!!!! How could she end the fifth book with that cliffhanger!?!?!?!! That last question:

I need the answer now! right nowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 And please somebody tell me that the answer is YES!

Rating: 4 stars

Delia’s Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

The Blurb…

A dark, romantic fantasy set against the backdrop of San Francisco devastated by the Great Quake

It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia’s most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.

Since the great quake rocked her city in 1906, Delia has been haunted by an avalanche of the dead clamoring for her help. Delia flees to the other side of the continent, hoping to gain some peace. After several years in New York, Delia believes she is free…until one determined specter appears and she realizes that she must return to the City by the Bay in order to put this tortured soul to rest.

It will not be easy, as the ghost is only one of the many victims of a serial killer who was never caught. A killer who after thirty years is killing again. 

And who is now aware of Delia’s existence.

My thoughts…

Where you a fan of the TV show Ghost Whisperer?

Did you read The Name of the Star and liked it?

Then you’ll love this book!!!

Mix Ghost Whisperer with Jack the Ripper and add the setting of a 1915 San Francisco and you get Delia’s Shadow.

Delia is a woman, and she … well …

So she can see dead people’s ghosts, but one of them, one in particular, the ghost of a woman, is following her around, like a shadow. Delia was working in NYC and when she goes back to San Francisco, to her friend Sadie’s house, Shadow tries to tell her things trough her dreams, but those are not pleasant thing … those dreams become nightmares when Delia re-lives the way Shadow was murdered.

Sadie’s fiancé Jack and his partner Gabe are cops investigating a serial killer in town, but things get complicated when said serial killer targets their family, Delia and Sadie.

The thing is, Shadow is more than she seems, she’s connected to Jack AND the Serial Killer. And Delia’s dreams are the key.

I like the book, it has a good pace, although I would have liked a bit more romance. The mystery was good enough to keep me on my toes … however some parts were predictable. So yeah, I recommend the book, if you like the serial killer + ghosts mystery without the gore 😉

Rating:

BUY @ AMAZON
Delia’s Shadow

A copy of the book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.