I have to say I love this book. Right from the beginning, it lured me in. Darynda Jones has created a character that has just the right amount of sarcastic attitude, enough internal conflict to propel an entire series, and of course, has managed to build a solid mystery. She even solved the end leaving room for the soon to be released Second Grave on the Left without leaving you on a cliffhanger.
The pacing is very tight here with two separate and unrelated plots woven around one another skillfully. While they aren’t really related, neither one is relegated to subplot and both are resolved neatly. Jones has a clear vision of who her characters are and shares just enough of their back-stories that we want to know more about them, but again, we are spared a long, boring info dump. Our characters are very busy, no sitting around in introspection, and even when that is precisely what they are doing – the reflection is just as busy as the main storylines and, ultimately, very much a part of the plot. Information is given as needed. Jones is writing with the premise that you will be intrigued enough that you will want to read the next book to find out what she left out this time. In this case, she is right.
My Review this time -4 out of 5 stars