Charley Davidson sees dead people, which makes sense since she's the Grim Reaper. She serves as a bright, shimmering portal through which they pass, except if their death comes from unnatural causes— like murder. Then, the dead people often want justice. And Charley, part-time private investigator and part-time consultant to the Albuquerque Police Department, can usually help.

In this case, three partners at a law firm get two bullets in the head each on the same night. Their innocent client sits in jail wrongly accused. To make matters more complicated, Charley has a night-time dream visitor that gives her the shivers, and that's in a good way. But then he starts turning up during the daytime. Could he possibly be real? And, if so, who or what is he?

It's hard to stand out in this overcrowded urban fantasy/romantic suspense space, but Darynda Jones manages it with style. Charley Davidson has a mind of her own, a seriously smart mouth, and takes no prisoners. She's tough, but she gets knocked around a fair bit, too, which is all in a day's work. The beauty of Charley is she doesn't take herself too seriously, and she's got a vulnerable side albeit not exactly what you'd expect. Quirky characters like her best friend and receptionist, Cookie; her Uncle Bob (ubie), a cop; and her assistant, Angel, a gangbanger who died a few years back and has helped out ever since make up a terrific supporting cast. And then there's the man of her dreams who makes her heart melt if she stares at his picture too long. Jones doesn't spend a lot of time on description but focuses on action, perfectly-timed dialogue, and humor to lighten things up. That said, the mystery at the heart of the story touches on fairly heavy matters. It's a fast and fun read and will leave you begging for more. Second Grave on the Left is due out in August, and I can't wait.