by Darynda Jones

St. Martin’s Press, $21.99, 307 pages

Charley Davidson enjoys her life, with her jobs as both a private investigator and grim reaper, and her close friends, both dead and alive. So when her best friend and receptionist asks Charley to help her find her missing friend, Charley agrees. Uncovering layers of mystery, Charley quickly realizes that this is not a simple missing persons case. Additionally, her protector, Reyes, is in danger of losing his mortal body. Working both cases, Charley needs to be on her best game in order to survive.

Second Grave on the Left is a fun fantasy book and the second in the series. Charley is a fantastic character – smart, witty, and not at her best when tired. She definitely has her blind spots and faults, which makes it easy to relate to her. The story is well paced and nicely laid out; events unfold well with some nice twists thrown in. Fans of humorous fantasy will enjoy this book.

Barbara Cothern