First grave on the right by Darynda Jones
P.I. Charley Davidson sees dead people. Well, she not only sees them, they are drawn to her. Because she is shiny. You see, Charley Davidson is the grim reaper as well as the portal (the shining light) through which all souls must travel to gain entrance to Heaven.
The advantage to having these miraculous talents is that Charley Davidson not only helps the dead move on, she also helps her father and Uncle who work for the local police solve "unsolvable" cases. The only downside is that lately people are trying to kill her - literally. To even make things more complicated she's having these red hot steamy dreams that include a very hot studly man but she is starting to wonder if the man might be a dead guy or a ghost or something even worse.
This was a fun and sarcastic kind of look at the undead - Jones has an almost Janet Evanovich style of writing. All the characters are very entertaining. The way this book leaves you hanging there is hopefuly a sequel.