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In her Charley Davidson series of paranormal romantic thrillers, author Darynda Jones took readers on one outrageous adventure after another with the Grim Reaper. In A Bad Day for Sunshine, the first book in her new Sunshine Vicram series, the paranormal elements may be lighter, but action and comedy are still firmly in place.
The story moves to the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico with newly-elected Sheriff Sunshine Vicram and her 14-year-old daughter, Auri. A native of Del Sol, Sunshine escaped town as soon as she could—but, thanks to her parents, she somehow managed to win the election for sheriff, even though she didn’t even know that she was a candidate. Though she doesn’t expect a whole lot of excitement in her new job, her first day starts with a missing teenage girl and a fugitive on the loose—and a whole lot of memories that she’d rather forget.
In launching this new mystery series, the author sets up plenty of action, mystery, and romance that’s sure to come. There’s a lot going on in this story. In addition to the case of the missing girl—and, to a lesser extent, the fugitive in town—there are characters to introduce and drama to develop. And just as Jones effortlessly managed the chaos in her Charley Davidson novels, she does the same here.
Sunshine is a strong character whose tough exterior covers years of secrets and fears. While moving back to Del Sol means that she gets to reunite with her best friend, Deputy Quincy Cooper, and all of the town’s eccentric characters, it also means that she’s forced to face her past. She runs into Levi, the dark and mysterious man whom she’s secretly loved since they were young. And she’s haunted by memories of her abduction when she was a teenager—a case that she’s determined to solve. Meanwhile, her daughter, Auri, tries to adjust to a new school—complete with some mean kids and one strong (and cute) boy named Cruz.
While the mystery will definitely keep readers captivated, turning pages to find out what happens to the missing girl, there’s so much more building in this novel—many more stories to come. And as you get to know Sunshine, Auri, and the other characters in this quirky little town, you’ll look forward to seeing what happens to them in upcoming installments.
If you loved Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson novels, you may miss the outrageous paranormal adventures—but you’ll find the same comedy, the same action, and the same likable characters in A Bad Day for Sunshine. And this new series promises to become a new favorite.
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