First Grave on the Right

I was so taken with the book I just finished by Darynda Jones, the Dirt on Ninth Grave, that I ordered this first book in the series, which I devoured in 3 days. Again, a little too much bodice ripping for an  unreserved rave, but still such fun characters and outrageous premise (supernatural), that I will undoubtedly read the whole series. Charley Davidson is a PI in Albuquerque, NM, who works as a consultant to the Albuquerque, PD. She has special skills that help her detective Uncle Bob (and previously her father when he was a cop) solve the unsolvable crimes. She is the Grim Reaper, but not in a bad way. She is a shining beacon to those who have died but not passed beyond because they have unresolved issues--like being murdered. They come to her to pass along messages to their loved ones, to get justice, and eventually, to use her as a portal to "the light." She first saw The Big Bad--what we stereotypically think of as the Grim Reaper (tall, dark, hooded, no face visible, carrying a big scythe) on the day she was born, and she has been able to interact with dead people ever since. Her mother died giving birth, but told Charley in her passing that she was happy to give up her life for Charley's. Her dad eventually came to believe in Charley's special abilities, but her step-mother never did, and made her life a misery as a result. We get all the background on Charley as she reluctantly reveals herself to best friend, employee, and neighbor, Cookie. Both Cookie and Charley are addicted to coffee and hot men. Charley is a smart ass and I always find that appealing in a female protagonist. She is being stalked by someone tall, dark, and not always visible, who visits her in her dreams. She is beginning to think it is a man she met in high school, Reyes Farrow, but it turns out he's in a coma in a prison hospital. Apparently he has some special skills as well. You will love Charley's cast of deceased hangers on: Mr. Wong who stands in the corner of her living room with his face turned to the wall, her Great Aunt 'Lil who always makes coffee but not really, and 13 year old gang-banger Angel, who is Charley's one and only investigator.