Second Grave on the Left is Darynda Jones’ second book about Charley Davidson, full-time grim reaper and private detective. Charley doesn’t have a hood, just a gun and the ability to see dead people. She helps them cross over literally through her body as a portal to heaven. Book two begins with Cookie, Charley’s neighbor and receptionist, dragging her to a diner for a potential case. When they arrive, the client Mimi is nowhere to found, but she scrawled a name on the bathroom mirror. Suddenly, […]
If Tom Riddle Lived
The novel Yamada Monogatari: To Break the Demon Gate opens and closes as “Moon Viewing at Shijo Bridge” from the collection Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter. Even though I loved that short story collection, this made the novel a slow start because, having already read the short story, the word-for-word repeat was not interesting. Especially not for 50 pages. I am glad I kept going though. Between Yamada and Kanemore figuring out Princess Teiko’s death and Yamada’s final few paragraphs of contemplation, this story presents a […]