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A review by grapie_deltaco
The Grim Reaper's Lawyer by Mea Monique
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I’m torn.
I absolutely loved the campy lightheartedness and potential for a slowburn romance that the first half of this book brings alongside a really compelling murder mystery but the story totally falls apart in the second half.
Aiden, our resident grumpy grim reaper, doesn’t even feel like the same character across the two halves of the story and the romance between him and Joyce had a steady build up until a specific turning point and then the rest feels rushed.
The entire second half of this feels rushed. It’s disorienting to read, especially in that last minute world building being slapped together to make a certain conflict be resolved toward the end.
The first half of this book is so much fun. It maintains the vibe of <i>Pushing Daisies</i> or <i>Drop Dead Diva</i> or even <i>Psych</i> where serious subject matter involving crime-solving is balanced out with humor and lovable, ridiculous characters bouncing off of each other. And I did really love the chemistry between this grumpy grim reaper and our hot mess sunshine lawyer, but I think the story could’ve used another draft or something.
Also something about the lack of contractions used in a lot of the dialogue made conversations feel a bit clunky at times.
Love the concept and our main character. I think this had a lot of potential to be something be more, though.
CW: on-page murder, death, gun violence, recurring mentions of dead loved ones/parents, grief, explicit sexual content, excessive drinking
I absolutely loved the campy lightheartedness and potential for a slowburn romance that the first half of this book brings alongside a really compelling murder mystery but the story totally falls apart in the second half.
Aiden, our resident grumpy grim reaper, doesn’t even feel like the same character across the two halves of the story and the romance between him and Joyce had a steady build up until a specific turning point and then the rest feels rushed.
The entire second half of this feels rushed. It’s disorienting to read, especially in that last minute world building being slapped together to make a certain conflict be resolved toward the end.
The first half of this book is so much fun. It maintains the vibe of <i>Pushing Daisies</i> or <i>Drop Dead Diva</i> or even <i>Psych</i> where serious subject matter involving crime-solving is balanced out with humor and lovable, ridiculous characters bouncing off of each other. And I did really love the chemistry between this grumpy grim reaper and our hot mess sunshine lawyer, but I think the story could’ve used another draft or something.
Also something about the lack of contractions used in a lot of the dialogue made conversations feel a bit clunky at times.
Love the concept and our main character. I think this had a lot of potential to be something be more, though.
CW: on-page murder, death, gun violence, recurring mentions of dead loved ones/parents, grief, explicit sexual content, excessive drinking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Sexual content, Death, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence