... a perfectly charming paranormal mystery that features a slightly flaky but quite personable protagonist ... You will read late into the night for two reasons. You must find out which of the quirky characters is the murderer. And you will want to learn more about Grady and his sassy daughter, as well as Leda and her trusty sidekick, Niki. This combination makes the whole experience just too much fun to stop. You will want to keep reading Priest's marvelous metaphors and delightful dialogue to the last drop—or rather to the last page ... you'll be on the waitlist for the next book.
... delightful ... The key pleasure in Grave Reservations is Leda’s company, whether she’s hanging out with her best friend Niki or giving 'klairvoyant karaoke' performances at a local bar. Priest layers the humor and camaraderie with unexpectedly moving scenes of Leda haunted by old grief. As she discovers, the line between what’s lost and what can’t be sensed by others turns out to be gossamer-thin.
... brisk and fun without being so lightweight it simply floats away. It’s the perfect book for a harrowing week/month/year because it only wants to entertain you ... No, it’s not a deep plot—but the characters and setting are so entertaining that it doesn’t matter. Leda and her best friend Niki have the makings of a Lucy-and-Ethel style comedy powerhouse. Merritt has enough of a backstory to be believable. There are hat tips to other adjacent pop culture, like Leda’s Klairvoyant Karaoke act that owes a nickel to Angel. Priest’s Seattle is its own character—and one of its main traits is the inability to frustrate anyone who drives a car. Not only is the book itself great fun, so is seeing this side of what Priest can do. While churning out light whodunnits is unlikely to be her new all-the-time gig, it is a lovely change of pace—and I’d be shocked if it’s a one-off.
Even someone who isn’t psychic can foresee that the killer will eventually focus on Leda, a constant worrier who finally refuses to be a victim ... [Priest's] witty mystery has a likable amateur sleuth and a strong supporting cast. For fans of Wendall Thomas’s offbeat travel agent Cyd Redondo.
Priest, best known for her Clockwork Century series, dives into a new genre with this unique mystery ... Light and irreverent, but with more serious themes, including grief and responsibility, this is an excellent series starter for Priest’s fans as well as new readers.
... [a] frothy blend of paranormal cozy and off-the-books police procedural ... Snappy patter and the irrepressible, goofy charm of Leda and her colorful friends more than compensate for the lack of thrills, chills, and breathtaking surprises. Readers will hope this is the start of a series.
