Darynda Jones Books in Order

Where to Start with Darynda Jones

Darynda Jones has established herself as a powerhouse in urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary mystery. Her books are famous for their quick-witted, snarky heroines, steamy romance, and laugh-out-loud humor. Because her work spans multiple genres, your ideal starting point depends on your personal reading tastes:

• For Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Lovers: Start with First Grave on the Right, the award-winning debut of the Charley Davidson series. This is her flagship series and introduces her signature blend of paranormal elements, mystery, and sarcastic humor.
• For Mystery and Cozy Crime Fans: Start with A Bad Day for Sunshine, the first book in the Sunshine Vicram trilogy. Set in a quirky New Mexico town, it features a newly appointed female sheriff solving local crimes while dealing with family drama and past secrets, offering a grounded mystery experience without supernatural elements.
• For Midlife Magic and Paranormal Women's Fiction (PWF) Readers: Start with Betwixt, which kicks off the Betwixt & Between series. This series follows a forty-something protagonist discovering her magical heritage, perfect for fans of the "midlife magic" subgenre.

The Charley Davidson Series: Publication vs. Chronological Order

The Charley Davidson series follows Charlotte "Charley" Davidson, a private investigator who also happens to be the Grim Reaper. She can see, touch, and speak with the dead, frequently helping them resolve their unfinished business—or assisting her detective uncle in solving their murders. The series features a overarching plot centering on her relationship with Reyes Farrow, the son of Satan.

While the main numbered novels are straightforward, Darynda Jones has written several companion novellas, short stories, and spin-off tales (many published through the 1001 Dark Nights project) that expand on side characters. This has led to two main ways of reading the series: Publication Order and Chronological Order.

Charley Davidson: Publication Order

Reading in publication order is highly recommended for first-time readers. This allows you to experience the world-building, character introductions, and overarching plot progression exactly as the author intended. The publication sequence is as follows:

1. First Grave on the Right (2011)
2. For I Have Sinned (2011) - Novella
3. Second Grave on the Left (2011)
4. Third Grave Dead Ahead (2012)
5. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (2012)
6. Fifth Grave Past the Light (2013)
7. Sixth Grave on the Edge (2014)
8. Seventh Grave and No Body (2014)
9. Eighth Grave After Dark (2015)
10. Brighter Than the Sun (2015) - Novella
11. Shimmer / Glow (2015) - A Christmas short story told from dual perspectives (Charley's and Reyes's).
12. The Dirt on Ninth Grave (2016)
13. The Curse of Tenth Grave (2016)
14. A Very Charley Christmas (2016) - A short story originally exclusive to the author's newsletter.
15. Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (2017)
16. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave (2017)
17. Summoned to Thirteenth Grave (2019)
18. The Graveyard Shift (2020) - Novella focusing on Leland and Nicole.
19. The Gravedigger’s Son (2021) - Novella focusing on Reyes's brother, Quentin.
20. The Graveside Bar and Grill (2022) - Novella focusing on Donovan St. James and Sia.
21. The Grave Robber (2023) - Novella focusing on Eric Vause.
22. Graveyard Dog (2024) - Novella focusing on Michael Cavalcante and Izzabel Walsh.

Charley Davidson: Chronological Order

For readers who want to experience the events in the exact order they occur in the timeline, the chronological order shifts the placement of the novellas and short stories. Note that because some short stories contain flashbacks or retrospective insights, reading chronologically on a first pass can occasionally disrupt the narrative flow. Here is the chronological path:

1. First Grave on the Right (2011)
2. Second Grave on the Left (2011)
3. For I Have Sinned (2011) - Sits comfortably after the events of the second book.
4. Third Grave Dead Ahead (2012)
5. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (2012)
6. Fifth Grave Past the Light (2013)
7. Sixth Grave on the Edge (2014)
8. Seventh Grave and No Body (2014)
9. Eighth Grave After Dark (2015)
10. Brighter Than the Sun (2015)
11. The Dirt on Ninth Grave (2016)
12. The Curse of Tenth Grave (2016)
13. Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (2017)
14. The Trouble with Twelfth Grave (2017)
15. Summoned to Thirteenth Grave (2019)
16. The Graveyard Shift (2020)
17. The Gravedigger’s Son (2021)
18. Shimmer / Glow (2015) - Though the events of these dual stories are set right after Fifth Grave Past the Light, they can be read later as a nostalgic look back at Charley and Reyes's dynamic.
19. A Very Charley Christmas (2016)
20. The Graveside Bar and Grill (2022)
21. The Grave Robber (2023)
22. Graveyard Dog (2024)

Sunshine Vicram Series

If you prefer contemporary mystery over the paranormal, the Sunshine Vicram series is a perfect fit. It follows Sunshine Vicram, who returns to her hometown of Del Sol, New Mexico, to run for sheriff, only to find herself immediately embroiled in a kidnapping case and the long-cold mystery of her own teenage abduction. The series is complete as a trilogy and should be read in publication order:

1. A Bad Day for Sunshine (2020)
2. A Good Day for Chardonnay (2021)
3. A Hard Day for a Hangover (2022)

Betwixt & Between Series

This series belongs to the Paranormal Women's Fiction (PWF) genre, highlighting protagonists who are over forty. It follows Defiance "Deeny" Mitchell, a forty-something woman who moves to a small town in Oregon and discovers she is a powerful witch caught between the human world and the afterlife. This series should be read in order:

1. Betwixt (2020)
2. Bewitched (2020)
3. Beguiled (2021)
4. Moonlight and Magic (2021)

The Darklight YA Trilogy

For young adult readers, Darynda Jones penned the Darklight Trilogy. This paranormal romance series follows a teenage girl named Lorelei McAlister, who discovers that the boy next door, Jared Kovach, is actually an angel of death. Together, they must navigate ancient prophecies and supernatural battles. Read them in this order:

1. Death and the Girl Next Door (2012)
2. Death, Doom and Detention (2013)
3. Death, and the Girl He Loves (2013)

What to Know Before You Start

Darynda Jones's books are highly character-driven. The Charley Davidson series features a distinct narrative quirk: every chapter begins with a humorous quote, usually formatted as if it were printed on a T-shirt, bumper sticker, or coffee mug, reflecting Charley's sarcastic outlook on life. The romance elements in her urban fantasy and PWF books are prominent and lean toward the steamy side, particularly the chemistry between Charley and Reyes. Additionally, the spin-off novellas published later in the Charley Davidson universe focus heavily on side characters, meaning you do not need to read them to understand the main story arc of the 13 core novels, but they enrich the reading experience for dedicated fans.