The author of the Clockwork Century series returns with a new tale about struggling travel agent and sometime psychic Leda Foley. After Leda books Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt on a flight back from Orlando—and the plane he was set to travel on catches fire while he remains safely in the airport—Merritt enlists Leda's help in investigating a cold case he just can't crack.
... 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.
