Audio Review: Second Grave on the Left (Charlie Davidson #2) by Darynda Jones

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message. 

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Ah... Reyes... uh, excuse me, I mean this is the second book in this series. This one had me LOL'ing a lot. I also have to say that I'm totally going to try her fake plant craft. Heh... that is something I'd SO do, and that is just one small detail that makes this book so priceless. Yes, Charley makes her plants look like they are dying (I didn't think that would be too much of a spoiler... LOL). Stop looking at me like that... it's not like I came UP with the idea... I just like it.

The chapters are broken up with t-shirt slogans and bumper sticker sayings as the last one. Two of my faves made the list:

There is nothing to fear but fear itself... and spiders

What am I doing in this handbasket? Where am I going?

Yep, if you couldn't tell already, you know I loved this book.

I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book. LOVED Cookie and so want her as my friend. I also loved the coming together of Charlie with the rest of her family. My only complaint was Charlie herself. Usually in these UF books I want to kick the male protagonist in the hiney for being so stubborn but this time it was Charlie! Still, I am curious as to where she takes the story next as not everything was wrapped up and Charlie is continually exploring who she can become and who she is within humanity. Even with all that hiney kicking, I would still totally love her as a friend. We should totally hang out... staring at Reyes. ;)

As for the audio portion, Lorelei King totally rocks this book. Love her voice changes for each character and her vocal pacing is just perfect. She totally draws me into the story.

I give this audiobook 4 1/2 stars! I can't wait for the next installment. I just love hanging out with Charlie and her friends and family (except Denise... lol).