Goldilox and the Three Weres: Early Review: Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones

Fifth Grave Past the Light
(Charley Davidson #5)
Darynda Jones
Release: July 9, 2013
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Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.

When dead women start appearing in her apartment - lost, confused and terrified beyond reason - Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her - body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay…

Review:

Charley, Reyes, Cookie, and Mr. Wong are all back in this fifth installment in the always freaking hilarious Charley Davidson series. Fifth Grave Past the Light is one of my favorite paranormal/romance/mystery/fantasy/WTF series and this one is one of my favorites so far! In the previous book, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, and in this one we really learn a lot more about what Charley and Reyes each are: where they come from, what their powers and abilities are, and where their relationship is going. I would have been fine with things staying on a surface level, but I must say that I really love getting to know these two characters on such a deeper level. We also get to learn a lot more about Swopes and what he went through in his brief trip to hell and I'm so glad that all finally gets revealed!

In this one Charley finds her apartment overcome by the ghosts of dead women. She suspects a serial killer and immediately sets about finding these women's' bodies with the help of her uncle. This was one of the better main plots of the books in this series, with the overwhelming number of dead people for her to help and the addition of a secondary plot involving a woman and her cheating husband. There are always, like, a million different plot threads in these books and the author manages to weave them all together amazingly well. My only complaint is that the resolution of the main plot doesn't have that big reveal feel to it that other books have typically had. The reason for this is because there are other plot threads that are ultimately more important to the series so they get more importance placed on them at the end and I'm really okay with that.

I've really loved how this series has moved into more serious territory while still maintaining the silly charm that's its famous for. If I had to describe this series with two phrases I would say sexy as hell and ROFL. Charley and Cookie are hysterical as always. They are one of THE BEST examples of Thelma and Louise BFFs in the paranormal genre and they crack me up every time they're together! The humor in this series has not gotten stale at all. How Charley manages to solve such intricate and gruesome crimes while being such a airhead is beyond me but she gets it done. She manages to be such an endearing character and if she was real I would totally want to give her a huge hug and them get margaritas together!

Now...remember when I used the phrase "sexy as hell" up there? His name is Reyes. Mmmmmmm...Reyes. Several books ago Charley described Reyes as "chocolate covered heroine" and I can't help but coming back to that over and over again because it is SO right on. He is a delicious man...dark, dangerous, possessive, and with a one-minded focus on Charley and Charley alone. In this one we get to see how other women in Charley's hometown respond to Reyes (which is awesome and hilarious by the way) but his "I-only-have-eyes-for-you-now-get-in-my-bed" attitude toward Charley just makes him even more delicious. And GOD ALMIGHTY his sexual prowess is just...YUMMY.

Overall this is another solid book in the Charley series. It made me laugh (and, if I'm being honest...snort), tear up, and swoon like crazy. I love where this series is going and I can't wait for what's next!

Recommended for fans of: chocolate covered heroine, Reyes, snarkity snark snark snark, Thelma and Louise, murder mysteries, and grim reapers.

This review is based on an advance copy of the book provided by the publisher.