Charley Davidson Character Guide

Character Guide

*This is a breakdown of all of the characters in Darynda Jones’s Charley Davidson series, complete up to the e-novella For I Have Sinned.  While I have tried to keep things general, this is a reference that may include spoilers.

This is alphabetical by first name, with main or vital characters highlighted in red.

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-A-

Amador Sanchez

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former classmate of Reyes Farrow
• friend of Reyes Farrow and Kim Millar
• former prison cellmate of Reyes Farrow
• out of jail on parole

Amber  Kowalski

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• daughter of Cookie Kowalski
• pretty and smart
• 12 years old
• long dark hair, blue eyes

Anaya, Detective

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• Albuquerque Police Detective
• friend of Bob Davidson
• not fond of Charley Davidson
• lead detective on the Mark Weir case

Angel Garza

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased partner of Charley Davidson
• works as an investigator for Charley Davidson
• former gang-banger
• tough talking
• was close to his mother
• died in a drive-by shooting at age 13
• died trying to save someone else
• killed 12 years ago

-B-

Becky Taft

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased sister of Officer David Taft
• called Demon Child by Charley Davidson
• died at around age 9
• small and blonde with silvery blue eyes
• drowned years ago in the lake by the Taft family home
• follows her brother Officer David Taft around
• jealous and possessive of her brother

Benny Price

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• human trafficker of children
• targets homeless kids
• kidnapped Father Frederico Diaz
• murderer
• orders the deaths of Patrick Sussman, Elizabeth Ellery, Jason Barber, among others
• responsible for the death of James Barilla
• tried to kill Charley Davidson
• owns the Patty Cakes strip clubs
• short black hair
• neatly trimmed mustache and goatee
• father of two

Bianca Johnson

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• murdered child
• first body Charley Davidson helped find

Billy

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased prison inmate
• committed suicide in prison
• died 7 years ago
• spirit stayed behind to help other inmates
• Native American
• good looking

Bob Davidson

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• called Ubie by Charley Davidson
• Albuquerque Police Detective
• uses Charley Davidson’s abilities to help solve his cases
• lead Detective in the Reyes Farrow case
• Uncle of Charley Davidson

-C-

Carlos Riviera

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• tortured and killed
• found floating in the Rio Grande
• death arranged by Benny Price
• long arrest record
• former employee of Benny Price
• working with Father Frederico Diaz to stop Benny Price
• had information that would free wrongfully convicted Mark Weir

Chaco Lin

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• friend of Julio Ontiveros
• works for Benny Price
• probable shooter of Sussman, Ellery and Barber

Charlotte Jean “Charley” Davidson

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• called Dutch by Reyes, Calamity by Bob
• the Grim Reaper
• the portal through which the dead pass
• mother died in childbirth
• first soul to pass through was her own mother just after she was born
• exists on both the human and departed planes
• has been able to see and interact with the dead since birth
• remembers everything since the day she was born
• has always known every language ever spoken
• able to sense a persons guilt or innocence
• private investigator, sometimes bartender for her father
• consultant for the Albuquerque police dapartment
• has helped both her father and uncle Bob solve crimes since she was 5
• often works to help the deceased solve their murders
• a brilliant light that acts as a beacon to the souls of the dead
• saved several times from certain death by Reyes Farrow
• heals relatively quickly
• bachelor’s degree in Sociology
• former member of the Peace Corps
• quirky sense of style
• small tattoo of a grim reaper on her left shoulder blade
• 125 pounds, curvy
• chocolate brown hair, golden eyes
• 27 years old

Chrystal

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• former classmate of Reyes Farrow at Yucca High
• big and startlingly pretty
• dark brown bobbed hair and wide smile

Cookie Kowalski

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• best friend of Charley Davidson
• Charley Davidson’s receptionist and neighbor
• wrongly thought to be a witch by some
• breast cancer survivor
• divorced, with a daughter named Amber Kowalski
• honest and down to earth
• great at tracking down information
• plus sized
• wiry black hair
• very attracted to Garrett Swopes

-D-

Dave

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• known as “Delivery Dave”
• delivers bread
• almost set up on a date with Cookie Kowalski by Charley Davidson

David Taft

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• young Albuquerque Police officer
• sucks up to Detective Bob Davidson hoping to advance his career
• followed around by the spirit of his dead little sister
• almost died as a child trying to save his sister from drowning

Debra

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• cousin of Chrystal, sister of Emily
• has information that helps Charley Davidson track down Kim Millar

Denise Davidson

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• uptight and disapproving
• refuses to acknowledge Charley Davidson’s abilities
• stepmother of Charley Davidson and Gemma Davidson Roland

Donnie

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• works at the bar Calamity’s
• quiet
• Native American
• long black hair
• well built and good looking

Dunlop, Mr.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• worked at the bar when Charley Davidson was a child
• a cook

Dunlop, Mrs.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former lover of Bob Davidson
• next door neighbor of the Davidson family

Dwight, Sergeant

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• Albuquerque police officer
• military buzz cut
• stuffy and uptight
• dislikes Charley Davidson

-E-

Earl Walker

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• bought Reyes Farrow from a child abductor
• child molester and abuser
• lived under several aliases
• long criminal record
• pure evil
• father of Kim Millar
• believed to have been murdered by Reyes Farrow

Elizabeth Ellery

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased “client” of Charley Davidson
• partner at Sussman, Ellery and Barber law firm
• former lawyer of wrongly accused Mark Weir
• killed by two gunshot wounds to the head
• death arranged by Benny Price
• born on June 20th, died October 18th
• 5 foot 10
• blonde hair, blue eyes

Emily

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• sister of Debra, cousin of Chrystal
• former friend of Kim MIllar

-F-

Fiona

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• around 12 years old
• friend of Amber Kowalski

Frank M. Ahearn

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• legendary skip-tracer
• mentor of Garrett Swopes

Frederico Diaz, Father

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• Catholic Priest
• honest and kind
• runs a mission for runaway kids
• tries to bring down the human trafficking ring run by Benny Price
• operates an underground railroad to save targeted kids
• graying bear, thick dark hair
• kidnapped by Benny Price

-G-

Garrett Swopes

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• top skip-tracer and private investigator
• very good at tracking people
• confident to the point of being cocky
• tricky relationship with Charley Davidson
• friend of Detective Bob Davidson
• skeptical of  the abilities of Charley Davidson
• handsome
• half African-American
• short black hair, chocolate skin, smoky gray eyes

Gemma Vi Davidson

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• over eager and pushy
• prissy and uptight
• competitive
• very smart and over-achieving
• PhD in Psychology
• blonde curly hair, blue eyes
• older sister of Charley Davidson
• daughter of Ken Davidson, step-daughter of Denise Davidson
• married to professor Dr. Roland

George, Mrs.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• potential client of Charley Davidson
• determined
• convinced her husband is being unfaithful

Gonzalez, Mr.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• school teacher of Amber Kowalski

-H-

Habersham, Mr.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased “neighbor” of Charley Davidson
• lives in apartment 2B
• tries to spy on Charley Davidson in the shower
• peeping tom and dirty old man
• after death relationship with Charley Davidson’s great aunt Lillian

Harriet

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• large and bossy
• friend of Michelle Sussman
• consoles Michelle Sussman after her husband Patrick  is killed

Holly

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former classmate of Reyes Farrow at Yucca High

-I-

-J-

James Enrique Barilla

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• homeless
• kicked out of home by his mother when she remarried
• lived in Mark Weir’s shed
• friend of Teddy Weir
• killed at age 15
• murder ordered by Benny Price
• Mark Weir wrongly convicted of his murder

Janie Thomas

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• mother of Teddy Weir
• sister of Mark Weir
• kicked her son Teddy Weir out of the house
• some trouble with the law in her past for drugs and shoplifting

Jason Barber

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased “client” of Charley Davidson
• partner at Sussman, Ellery and Barber law firm
• killed by two gunshot wounds to the head
• former lawyer of wrongly convicted Mark Weir
• death arranged by Benny Price
• has difficulty believing he is dead
• strained relationship with his mother

Jessica

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• high school best friend of Charley Davidson
• turned on Charley Davidson when she found out what she was
• became hostile and cruel to Charley Davidson

Jillian Lightfoot

• first appearance in For I Have Sinned
• nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Jo Anne Montgomery

• first appearance in For I Have Sinned
• ghost
• deceased “client” of Charley Davidson
• cannot remember who she is or how she died
• sick her whole life
• severely diabetic
• died after giving birth
• sacrificed her own life to have a child
• in her late 20′s
• chestnut hair
• mother of Melody Jo Anne Montgomery
• daughter of Ruth Montgomery

Johnson, Mrs.

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• mother of murdered child Bianca Johnson
• told by 5 year old Charley Davidson where her daughter’s body was
• brown hair

Jose Ontiveros

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• staying at a shelter in Corpus Christi
• nephew of Yesenia
• brother of Julio Ontiveros

Julio Ontiveros

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• questioned in the shootings of Sussman, Ellery and Barber
• gang-banger
• works at a body shop for Noni Bachicha
• talks and acts tough, major attitude
• hair shaved off at the sides
• has been searching for his brother for years
• raised by his aunt Yesenia

-K-

Kim Millar

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• works out of her home
• intelligent
• around 27 years old
• sister of Reyes Farrow
• daughter of Earl Walker
• mother a drug addict that died of Hepatitis
• abandoned by her mother on Earl Walker’s doorstep as a child
• used by Earl Walker as a weapon to control Reyes Farrow
• Irish looking, with dark auburn hair and light green eyes

-L-

Leland Davidson

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• retired Albuquerque police Detective
• used Charley Davidson’s abilities to help solve crimes
• own a bar called Calamity’s
• kind and supportive
• tall and slim
• married to Denise Davidson
• brother of Bob Davidson
• father of Charley Davidson and Gemma Davidson Roland

Lillian

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased great great aunt of Charley Davidson
• routinely visits Charley Davidson
• may or may not know that she is dead
• small framed, toothless smile
• after death relationship with Mr. Habersham

Louise

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• former classmate of Reyes Farrow at Yucca High
• Latina
• curly hair and beautiful skin
• dark brown eyes

Lowenstein, Mrs.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• neighbor of Charley Davidson and Cookie Kowalski

Luann

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• secretary of Deputy Warden Neil Gossett
• highly efficient

-M-

Mark Weir

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• wrongfully convicted of the murder of teenager James Barilla
• calm and collected
• tall and gangly
• in his 40′s
• sandy blonde hair, kind blue eyes
• uncle of Teddy Thomas, sister of Janie Thomas

Mary Jane Holbrook

• first mentioned in For I Have Sinned
• died at age 84

Melody Jo Anne Montgomery

• first appearance in For I Have Sinned
• infant daughter of Jo Anne Montgomery
• mother died when she was born
• going to be a very successful artist
• same birthday as Charley Davidson
• daughter of Jo Anne Montgomery, grand-daughter of Ruth Montgomery

Michelle Sussman

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• widow of Patrick Sussman
• soft and pretty
• honest and kind
• large brown eyes, blonde hair
• mother of two small children

-N-

Nancy

• first appearance in For I Have Sinned
• nurse at the Presbyterian Hospital
• friend of Charley Davidson
• Hispanic
• short bob and almond shaped eyes
• gorgeous

Neil Gossett

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• former high school classmate of Charley Davidson
• high school football player
• deputy warden of Penitentiary of New Mexico
• former prison guard
• slightly balding
• tall, bulky build
• gray eyes

Noni Bachicha

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• Santa Fe body shop owner
• honest businessman
• acquaintance of Charley Davidson
• employer of Julio Ontiveros

Nora

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• administrative assistant
• highly competent
• works at the law firm of Sussman, Ellery and Barber

-O-

Owen Vaughn

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former school-mate of Charley Davidson
• attempted to run Charley Davidson over with his SUV in high school

-P-

Pari

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• friend of Charley Davidson
• talented tattoo artist
• gave Charley Davidson the Grim Reaper tattoo she has on her shoulder

Patrick Sussman the Third

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• partner at Sussman, Ellery and Barber law firm
• deceased “client” of Charley Davidson
• killed by two bullets to the head
• murder arranged by Benny Price
• died on October 18th
• neat and tidy, wears glasses
• former lawyer of wrongly convicted Mark Weir
• married to Michelle Sussman
• father of two small children

-Q-

-R-

Reyes Alexander Farrow

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• able to come to Charley Davidson in her dreams
• fiercely beautiful and dangerous
• dark, intense and sensual
• the son of Satan
• former General in Satan’s army
• created from a supernova and forged from Earth’s elements
• being of unequaled power
• left his life in Hell to be with Charley Davidson
• appears and saves Charley Davidson’s life when she is in danger
• first came to Charley Davidson at the moment of her birth
• has been hiding from Satan and his army for centuries
• sometimes appears as a dark, shadowy blur
• taken from the family he was born to on Earth and sold to Earl Walker
• beaten and abused by Earl Walker as a child
• convicted of the murder of Earl Walker
• protective of his sister Kim Millar
• about 30 years old
• has been in prison for 10 years
• knows the future
• immeasurably high I.Q.
• had been studying to be a lawyer
• educated himself in prison
• Degree in criminology, Masters in computer information systems
• saved the life of a prison guard during a riot
• shot in prison saving a friend
• swirling tattoo is the key to opening the gates of Hell
• piercing mahogany brown eyes flecked with gold and green
• thick dark hair
• devilish grin
• lean but muscular

Rocket

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• former mental patient, given electroshock therapy
• lives in an abandoned mental asylum
• had been a child during the Great Depression
• knows the moment of everyone’s death
• carves the names of the dead into the walls of the asylum
• never forgets a name
• was able to see the dead before his own death
• almost childlike, but very strong
• huge, but baby-faced and playful
• obsessed with following the rules
• hard to keep his attention focused
• appears to be in his 40′s
• younger sister died from dust pneumonia

Roland, Dr.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• professor
• married to Gemma Davidson

Rosie Gutierrez Herschel

• first mentioned First Grave on the Right
• originally from Mexico
• client of Charley Davidson
• had a miscarriage after being punched by her husband
• trying to leave her abusive husband Zeke Herschel
• killed by her husband Zeke Herschel

Rupert

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• young Albuquerque police officer
• part of the task force sent to capture Julio Ontiveros

Ruth Montgomery

• first appearance in For I Have Sinned
• mother of Jo Anne Montgomery
• grand-mother of Melody Jo Anne Montgomery
• beautiful and strong

-S-

Sarah Hadley

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former fiancee of Earl Walker
• testified against Reyes Farrow
• attracted to Reyes Farrow
• afraid of Earl Walker

Stan Eichmann

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• lead defense attorney for Reyes Farrow

Stone, Mr.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former teacher of Reyes Farrow at Yucca High
• wrongly accused Reyes Farrow of cheating on a test

Suzy

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former classmate of Reyes Farrow at Yucca High

-T-

Taft, Officer

• see David Taft

Tarpley, Ms.

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• administrative assistant at Yucca High
• worked at the school for 10 years
• stylish
• dark hair with red highlights
• green eyes
• very good looking
• flirty with Bob Davidson
• grand-daughter died two years ago

Teddy Weir

• see Theodore Bradly Thomas

Theodore Bradley Thomas

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• also known as Teddy Weir
• 16 years old
• nephew of Mark Weir
• kicked out of the house by his mother Janie Thomas
• lived with his uncle
• missing, police believed killed by uncle Mark Weir
• friend of murdered James Barilla
• works with Father Frederico Diaz
• helps to rescue trafficked children
• targeted by Benny Price
• tall, very good looking
• sandy blonde hair and light blue eyes

-U-

-V-

-W-

Westfield

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• student at Yucca High
• a jock

Wong, Mr.

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• deceased “roommate” of Charley Davidson
• hovers in the corner of Charley Davidson’s apartment
• never moves or speaks
• barely 5 feet tall
• small and painfully thin
• looks gray

Worthy, Mrs.

• first mentioned in First Grave on the Right
• former high school teacher of Charley Davidson

-X-

-Y-

Yesenia

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• ghost
• Latina
• aunt of Julio and Jose Ontiveros
• gives Charley Davidson the information needed to question Julio Ontiveros
• raised Julio Ontiveros

-Z-

Zeke Herschel

• first appearance in First Grave on the Right
• husband of Rosie Gutierrez Herschel
• cocky and arrogant
• abusive, a wife beater
• over 200 pounds
• arrested for assaulting Charley Davidson
• murdered his wife Rosie Gutierrez Herschel
• attempted to shoot and kill Charley Davidson
• spine severed by Reyes Farrow