Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5) Reviews

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  By A2VYJQVP5HU06 on 2005-05-03
  Dead as a Doornail is the fifth installment in Charlaine Harris' dynamic Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie, the buxom, blond, barmaid from Bon Temps is once again thrust into things that she should not be. Her psychic abilities make her a magnet for the supernatural world.
  
  At the conclusion of the Dead to the World, Eric has regained his self, but remembers nothing of his time with Sookie. Jason, Sookie's brother has been found, but is now a werepanther. Dead as a Doornail opens with Jason experiencing his first full moon as a werepanther. Amazingly enough, Jason embraces his new life and enjoys shifting. As much of a relief as this is for Sookie, trouble is looming. Someone is killing shifters and Jason is the prime suspect. To add to Sookie's turmoil, Eric does not remember his time with Sookie, but knows something important happened. In another twist, Debbie's family is desperately searching for her. This search finds its way to Sookie's doorstep once again.
  
  In Dead as a Doornail we get a much clearer picture of the shifter communities - the werewolves and werepanthers. Sookie is drawn into the political struggles within the werewolf pack structure. The outcome is not a happy ending for Sookie or werewolves. Calvin Norris, the head of the werepanthers in Hot Shot continues to attempt to woo Sookie. Another love interest is most certainly not something Sookie needs in her already complicated love life.
  
  I enjoyed reading Dead as a Doornail immensely. Sookie and her adventures are always a treat. The only drawback to this book is that Sookie and the reader become very disappointed when knowledge of certain character defects becomes evident within those close to Sookie. All of the characters, old and new, add flavor to the series and make Sookie's madcap adventures even more entertaining. On the whole, Dead as a Doornail is a fun read.
  
  Charlaine Harris is the author of four previous Sookie Stackhouse novels; Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, and Dead to the World. She is also the author of two popular mystery novel series, the Aurora Tegarden series and the Lily Bard Shakespeare series. Dead as a Doornail will be published May 3, 2005.
  
  
  

• Bill and Eric take a back seat in this one...

  
  By A2BZCHIDR5FTYA on 2005-05-23
  Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic waitress in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Her ability to read minds keeps the normal people away from her. They fear her ability, even those who claim not to believe in it. However, the vampires and other supernatural beings flock to her.
  
  Her brother, Jason, has recently been bitten by a werepanther. Once he makes his first shift, Jason finds that he enjoys his new ability. Problem is that a sniper has begun shooting the local shifters and Jason's new brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Sookie and her friends have until the next full moon to find out who the real sniper is.
  
  Sam, Sookie's boss, is one of the shifters who has been shot. Unable to tend his bar, Sam has Sookie go to Eric for a temporary bar tender. Charles, a vampire, begins work the very next night. Charles is soon protecting Sookie. Seems someone is trying to kill her for simply associating with supernatural beings. If all this is not enough, the local packleader has died. Sookie must attend the funeral, as well as, witness the competition that will select the new packleader.
  
  **** The vampires Bill and Eric take a back seat and play only secondary roles in this installment of the series. Focus is kept mainly on the shifters and the sniper. Author Charlaine Harris has a winning series with this cast of characters! Harris makes the night come alive with her imaginative, supernatural, and dark shrouded community. As usual, I find myself longing for Sookie's next adventure. ****
  
  Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
  
  

• Let's all get shot! Let's all kiss Sookie!

  
  By AVQPY4RTQT93I on 2005-07-30
  The action doesn't let up in this one. Another major character's in the hospital before the previous one leaves. And pretty much every male in the book except Claude the gay fairy (no, that's not redundant) makes some sort of romantic overture to Sookie, and even he asks her for a personal favor!
  
  If you haven't read the previous book in this series, you should do that. I'll wait while you order "Dead to the World" (ISBN: 0441012183). There, back? OK, once you've caught up, you'll know that in that episode, Eric the vampire lost his memory, stayed at Sookie's place, and got real close. When he regained his memory, however, he did not remember any details of his interlude with Sookie. So...
  
  Sam's has a new cook - seems to happen almost every volume. Tara has a new boyfriend - also seems to happen regularly. But then the shooting starts:
  *Calvin Norris gets shot, seriously injured.
  *Sam gets shot, in the leg.
  *Sookie gets shot, a shoulder graze.
  *Dawson, a Were bodyguard, gets shot, seriously injured.
  
  And then, in terms of who's who vis a vis Sookie:
  *Calvin Norris is still interested in Sookie, and in fact they do get in a serious kiss, which surprises Sookie.
  *Claudine kisses Sookie a couple times, though, since she's Sookie's fairy godmother, what that might mean is ambiguous. Claudine certainly plays up a hint to others that it might be serious, when such a suggestion is useful.
  *Charles Twining, the new bartender at Fangtasia, is intensely interested in Sookie, although respectful.
  *Eric is still interested in Sookie, though he's not sure why, and he wants to find out what went on, and he does kiss Sookie again in this book.
  *Even good ol' Vampire Bill gets in a few licks, including sharing (innocently, this time) Sookie's hospital bed.
  *Alcide Herveax, the Were, attempts to continue his courtship of Sookie, sort of, escorting her to the sort of thing where other people will assume one's intentions are serious. (If you recall, they were once engaged for 10 minutes.)
  *And the one we've been waiting for - Sam kisses Sookie, and it might have gone further... yes, admit it, you've been expecting Sookie to finally realize that Sam more than just admires her as a barmaid for several volumes now!!
  
  Perhaps the biggest surprise for me what the sudden intersection with one of Harris's other series, a straightforward mystery series which has heretofore had no hints of fantasy. Lily Bard, who lives in Shakespeare, Arkansas, has been the heroine of such books as "Shakespeare's Christmas" and "Shakespeare's Trollop" and in this book she pops up, having finally married Jack Leeds (isn't that a great name for a PI? Leeds?) as they are investigating Debbie Pelt's disappearance. It's odd seeing Lily referred to as Lily Leeds, after years of seeing her as Lily Bard. Anyway, for those who have only been reading Harris's vampire books, now you are informed that those two characters, who pop up for a couple of chapters here, are actually a whole 'nother series, one I recommend to those who read non-fantasy as well as fantasy.
  
  Other fun bits to watch for - how Greg Aubert's insurance customers stay so lucky; Andy Bellefleur and Sookie finally air some things out; Quinn, who doesn't exactly... kiss... Sookie, and what kind of shifter he turns out to be.
  
  That should be enough teasers to get you all busy!
  
  And, for those just finding out about this series, a few notes on how it compares to the overall vampire genre, a/k/a BunRab's Standard Vampire Classification: What is the vampires' position in the world; do they stand as an allegory for women's sexual fears; what powers do the vampires have; are there other supernatural characters; is the author dead serious, if you'll pardon the pun, or have a sense of humor? The answers, in this case: The vampires in this series can be either good or bad guys. Most of them have jobs; they don't exist merely to be evil and brooding, unlike some series which shall remain unnamed. They do have extra powers; in general these powers include the usual super strength, and once undead, they live very long lives; they can sorta force people to do their will; they need invitations to enter a house; there's no turning into bats. They are good at sneaking off silently, sorta melting away, but no invisibility or seeping like smoke between walls. These vampires' taking of blood frequently involves sex, but doesn't have to; they do need human blood to survive, unlike some (P.N. Elrod's vampires can survive quite well on animal blood, for example) except for Bubba, who gets by on cats' blood - but then, Bubba is... different. There are many other species of supernaturals besides vampires, the most common of which are the Were and shifters. In this universe, Were is reserved for those who turn into wolves, and everyone else is a "shape-shifter" - except for the werepanthers in the tiny hamlet of Hotshot, who are a special and peculiar case. And yes, there's a lot of humor in this series. It's not farce; it's that the characters themselves have senses of humor.
  
  One of the things that I like about this series is that we get a fairly strong sense of "place" - it's very clear that we're in semi-rural Louisiana; we wouldn't mistake the setting for Cincinnati or Chicago if the author forgot to give us a name. There is a community and a background here, that have a life of their own even when the characters aren't doing much. I like that better than series such as Hamilton's, set in what is nominally St. Louis, but could be anywhere, since we never learn a single street name, a single detail about the social life other than our characters, or any idea of what else happens in that city. That's a personal preference - you may not care whether the setting is as fully realized as the characters. I feel it affects my opinion of how "realisticallly" the characters behave, at least within the degree of suspension of disbelief that we have to accept the fantasy at all.
  
  In short: a must if you're following the series, a good series to try if you like vampire novels that don't stick to evil, brooding creee-chures of ze niiiight, and it's also a good murder mystery.
  
  

• Sookie Wins Again!

  
  By A3AM1VNSPSYASP on 2005-05-07
  I am finding the Sookie Stackhouse novels to be very entertaining and amusing. They are a hybrid cross between romance and the supernatural. This book brings some of the other secondary characters from previous novels back in and then some. Sookie is dealing with Eric who still doesn't remember their tryst, but seems to be figuring it out. Bill seems concerned, but knows he's pretty much out the door. Sam is shot which brings in Eric's bartender as a sub. Alcide the werewolf is flirting around with Sookie and visiting now and then. Entertaining and light hearted.
  
  

• A bit disappointing.

  
  By ARN3TKTHP2YVC on 2005-05-04
  This the 5th Sookie Stackhouse book in the Southern Vampire Series seems to be nothing much more than a place holder in the series.
  
  I was rather disappointed by the fact that every supernatural male seems to want Sookie. Its getting a bit old, really, doesn't some male want to kill her? Several females have tried, but no males have been serious about it, rather they seem to be appologetic. Even the villain who is supposed to kill her doesn't really want to, its more of a matter of honor for him to finish the job!
  
  I was disappointed about the lack of resolution over the Sookie, defending herself in the last book, the theme drags on through the entire book and is never resolved.
  
  My last issue is what looks like the lead into the Bill/Sookie/Eric love triangle, or some other combination including one of Sookie's vamps and maybe some were. This is getting a bit annoying really. These last two sentences lead me to my chief complaint... I felt bored. I wasn't engaged, the story didn't suck me and make me want to keep reading. I felt I did have to keep reading, after all I did buy the book. Wish I'd waited till it was on paperback, not that it's a bad book, its just not worth hardcover price to me.
  
  On the other hand the book is seemingly error free but I read it while dealing with frequent interruptions. On the whole its not a bad story just a boring one that doesn't inspire a 2nd read.
  
  
  
• I agree!
  By A2DXYV6D8O7USI on 2005-09-11
  "I have read all the books in this series and loved every one. I particularly like the way the character of Sookie Stackhouse matures and becomes increasingly self confident and self reliant in each book. And the books get better with each one. I don't need sex scenes in a book to enjoy it, and quite frankly, that's one reason I only read about 20 pages of one Anita Blake book-then never read another. That particular series is an insult to intelligence. I read for enjoyable characterizations, wit, and charm."
  
  This was one of the reviews from a reviewer and I have to say, I totally agree.
  
  I perfer Charlain over LKH in many ways. The characters are much more vibrant and likable. Another excellent author that just as good as Ms. Harris is D.N. Simmons, fans should check her out, i'm sure you won't be disappointed.
  
  
• Disappointing
  By A1BEAVZ7TZJ2GD on 2005-05-08
  Lacked the strong developed plots of the previous books with undervelopement of intercharacter relationships. Disturbingly remeniscent of the later Anita Blake books with regard to excessive male attention that is annoyingly distracting of the main plot and its clear development.
  
  
• Very so-so.
  By A3FHD9P87PEVKZ on 2005-05-10
  I have loved every previous Sookie story written, until this one. I was so excited to finally get to read the newest adventure of Sookie. I was hoping and praying that she and Eric were going to be back, and be hotter than ever. But, alas no. Very disappointing. I would have even taken a serious Sookie and Bill love theme, but nothing there either.
  
  What I did get was Sookie and Sam? What????? So NOT what I was wanting.
  
  I did enjoy Alcid's character in the book #4, but his character in this story was very immature and manipulative and I lost interest in him quickly too.
  
  The whole situation of turning Sookie into a tamed down version of Anita Hill was redundant and boring. There were so many supernaturals wanting Sookie, I quickly got nauseated everytime she and one of the super-characters started talking, then kissing. Ugh. I was expecting the gay fairy to turn hetro, just so he could have a piece of Sookie too. Even the villian at the end of the story seems conflicted about wanting to kill her. I expected him to change his mind, just so he wouldn't be kept out of the kissing loop.
  
  The whole story was supposed to be based around Sookie's brother Jason. Instead there is really very little about Jason at all in this story. Instead we get a Sookie story that wants to go down about 6 different love lanes, and really goes no where.
  
  The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. I suggest getting your copy from the library, just in case the story is as disappointing to others as it was to me.
  
  
• Disappointed
  By A1TQTXOISD4LNN on 2005-06-20
  I love the Southern Vampire Series, and was so excited as I waited for this latest to be released.
  
  I read it in 2 days and was so let down I wanted to cry!!!! What happened????????? By far, the worst book in the series. No substance, no fun, no adventure.
  
  Save your money on this one. If you must read it, wait for the paperback. I hope and pray the next one will be better, and will redeem this otherwise fun series.
  
  
• Sorry--this just did ...NOT.... cut the mustard
  By A1ILGWSWF413U0 on 2005-05-09
  Sookie Stackhouse was a character who stood out as interesting in so many categories she was in the very top percentage of my favorite female fantasy characters, and Charlaine Harris as an author, equally so. Each book was a pleasure and a delight.
  
  Until this one.
  
  I was deeply disappointed. The biggest shortcoming (and cheat)? How can a character and series go from such a delightful range of sensually embarrassing, astonishing, amusing situations to ....what happened in this book. Which is none, basically.
  
  None.
  
  I will wait for further novels about Sookie to come out in paperback. Or read a copy owned by the library or the bookstore. And I am terribly disappointed in having purchased the hard-cover. My money was wasted.
  
  
  In the past, when reading the plot summary of Sookie's book, I was skeptical I would be engaged by the story. And each time I was very simply and happily wrong. This time, feeling I have learned my lesson, and whatever unravels for Sookie would be delightful, I was stunned. The opposite was true. My confidence was misplaced.
  
  My favorite characters were Eric and Bill, in that order. And the tension, uncertainty and complete surprise in how their relationships unfolded. Too little progress on either was made in this book. And that something to fill the vacuum? If it happened, it fell far short. It did not cut the mustard.
  
  The only thing consistent here is my surprise. In the past my surprise was expecting 'not' to like Ms. Harris's characters or plot, and being very very wrong.
  
  Now, confident to expect a thoroughly enjoyable and wickedly sensual story unfold, my surprise was to find?
  
  
  It did not.
  
  
  
  
• Alone for the first time - So what is all the fuss about?
  By ABH4W48461L4L on 2005-05-14
  By the time you read my review #28 or so, you've read several reviews referring to too many boyfriends and very little mystery. This is a backlash to another book series (Anita Blake) which appeals to this same niche market which suffers from too little plot and too much sex with too many men. Reviewers need to keep these two series separate rather than projecting their disappointment onto another author/character.
  
  On to the Sookie Stackhouse series - In the first book Sookie finds herself with Vampire Bill, in the second book Sookie is becoming disillusioned with Bill's lack of attachment, in the third book Bill leaves Sookie and she ends up needing Eric to help her find Bill and solve the mystery, in the fourth book Sookie has reciprocated by ditching Bill and ends up termporarily with Eric as they try to remove a witch curse. Okay - lots more happens in the first four books but I'm making a point here! Enter book 5: This is the first book in which Sookie is actually free to play the field and explore her options which she does in a very ladylike way, consummating NONE of these relationships prematurely! So what is all the fuss about? Book one explains Sookie's issues with normal men - so of course the supernatural community is going to be drawn to this hottie, who has her own abilities and is understanding and accepting of the dog, the wolf, the panther and the fangs! Why shouldn't she have the options of kissing one or two of these guys and seeing what might work out for her. At first I thought the mystery a tad thinly drawn when I figured out one bad guy almost as soon as the character was introduced but there was a surprising spin that I didn't expect so I'm satisfied there. Sookie is as engaging and sympathetic a character as ever. I used my Barnes and Noble book card and a coupon to get my book for $15ish. I suggest that if you have doubts order from Amazon where the book is discounted. I have a dislike of the publisher's technique of going to hardback after the series initiates in paperback. This is happening in several genres with hot selling paperbacks. I think this leaves the book open to a deeper level of criticism from series faithfuls. However - I liked this book and will read it again.
  
  
• Meh
  By A19AP3KPQ1SNL8 on 2005-05-11
  A very much anticipated read for a major Sookie/Harris fan, and quite disappointing. The main "mystery" is weak and resolved almost as an afterthought. The usually charming and sensible Sookie is cranky, frenetic and unlikeable (gasp! I can't believe I just wrote that!), yet mysteriously alluring to almost every supernatural being in Louisiana.
  
  The reader is thrown into the complex, yet deeply boring world of werewolf politics for no apparent reason. Yawn.
  
  The most enjoyable parts of the book for me were the cameos by Jack and Lily Leeds from the Shakespeare series (and even that subplot just petered away) and the always, always entertaining Pam.
  
  I assume all of this "sound and fury" is set-up for the next book, which seems more promising. Go library on this one and save up your cash for Book Six.
  
  
  
  
• Another excellent installment in the Southern Vampire series
  By A27992GJRRJKUK on 2005-05-15
  Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic barmaid in rural Bon Temps, Louisiana. She has been shunned by her community for her seeming "otherness" but when she meets a vampire named Bill, she is ushered into a semi-secret supernatural community in a very big way. Dead as a Doornail is the fifth book in the series. Basically, it ties up several loose ends from the fourth book (Dead to the World), addresses some interesting current events, and sets the stage for book number six. I won't try to recap the plot, as it has been done more than adequately by Publisher's Weekly (see above) and by other reviewers.
  
  By the time I got about one-third of the way through the book, I decided that plot-wise, Dead as a Doornail was perhaps not as strong as the previous four books in the series. However, I soon understood that the plot is actually quite strong, and in addition, this book covered some material that made the previous books all the richer and paved the way for new developments. Some might call this a "bridge" book; I personally don't think that's a bad thing. There was more than plenty going on, much character development, and it was a whole lot of fun. I do think the next book in the series will be all the better for it.
  
  I agree with the reviewer who cautions readers to take Sookie on her own terms. Despite the plethora of handsome and available men, Sookie isn't Anita. And I am grateful for that. It is true that as the series has unfolded, we have seen that Sookie is a very fine person but that her abilities have put her at odds with her fellow humans, so wouldn't she look to the supernatural community for love? With regard to the lack of sex in this book: isn't that a good thing? It seems to me that Sookie is waiting for the right man to come along. Sure, she has plenty of suitors, but she's basically a good girl who wants lasting love and a family, and unfortunately, she hasn't found Mr. Right yet.
  
  I would like to take issue with one thing: in Dead to the World, the possibility of a romance between Kevin and Kenya was brought up, and then ignored in Dead as a Doornail. Now, is that nice? :)
  
  
• Furry Trouble
  By A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q on 2005-08-11
  Charlaine Harris has developed such a unique twist on the vampire genre that she has already begun to attract imitators, but she owns the vampire/back country/chick lit storyline completely. I read her first several years ago for laughs, but now I keep coming back to her stories of dought Sookie Stackhouse - waitress, vampire date, and telepath. What makes Sookie special is her attitude and brand of courage. Anyone who has had a vampire lover or two, hangs out with weres, and braves the slings and arrows of a Louisiana country town like Bon Temps deserves plenty of respect.
  
  Now that vampire Bill is her ex-boyfriend, and temporary lover Eric is at arms length you would expect Sookie to have a few moments of peaces, but no such luck. Her brother Jason has been bitten by a were panther and, come full moon, he crosses into the world of the shapeshifters. He adapts well, but someone is hunting the weres of Bon Temps, and the panther clan suspects that Jason might be hiding resentments behind his winsome smile.
  
  Sookie tries to go to the rescue, but in the process winds up enmeshed in a power struggle in the nearby werewolf pack. Alcide invites her to the funeral of the pack leader in an effort to influence members to favor his father, but the idea nearly backfires, leaving Sookie deeply disgusted with the whole thing. And one top of that, someone tries to burn down her house with Sookie in it. Possibly as revenge for the woman she had to kill in the last book, but it's hard to tell.
  
  As you can see, a lot happens here. It would be a dark and serious tale, but Sookie, as narrator has a way of pushing back the darkness. Almost making the story a Southern cozy until you remember that a quarter of her friends bite other people on a regular basis. Don't fall for the marketing ploy that compares Harris with Laurell Hamilton. Even when the story gets a bit spicy, it never approaches the steamy scenes of recent Hamilton writing, and Sookie has shown no interest in SM or corpse raising. Sookie doesn't have a cause, she really just wants a normal life, but there doesn't seem to be one available.
  
  This isn't great literature, but enjoyable entertainment. A pleasant pastime in the occult world of the rural South in a world where vampires are legal. Heck! Why not?
  
  
• Wait for it on paperback
  By A2JJGIJI8X6KRS on 2005-05-03
  Okay this seems to be the trend with authors this book is trade paperback size or book club size and it's in bookstores for $22.95 do yourself a favor and either get it at the Library, your local Used Bookstore or here on Amazon where you can save on the shipping cost if you purchase more than one book. On to my review...
  
  Again I am plaqued by the fact that EVERY supernatural man in this book is attracted to and WANTS Sookie she in turn has been kissing on everyone of these men that seems to show some interest with the exception of 2. 2 out of 6 is not a good ratio in my book LOL I am confused as to where her heart lies. At the beginning you think they are going to do something with the whole Jason thing but they don't they address it once or twice in the book and that's it. This one was kind of sort of all over the place from Alcid's Dad fighting for Alpha Male Werewolf and how is this got ANYTHING to do with Sookie is beyond me, Lily Bard (from Charlaine Harris other series) shows up to investigate with her friend/mentor/lover regarding Debbie's death (which BTW is never really laid to rest) There is something going on with a debt Eric owes and somehow this is tied into what has been going on in Bon Temps there is a killer of "were" people on the loose and that is tied to the bar.
  
  URGHHHH!!! I just was dissapointed because the story didn't have me engaged I didn't care about it I wanted to hear about Bill and Sookie or Eric and Sookie and how that whole thing was going to work out. So if I'm not going to get satisfied with Eric/Bill/Sookie love triangle then give me a story line that is plausible and not 5 different storylines that weren't strong it just felt like the plots were empty fillers, that really didn't jibe.
  
  What I did get was Alcid and Sookie thrown in there and then Sam and Sookie to add to the flavor, to befuddle me Charles and Sookie and top it off Quinn and Sookie. In this it reminded me of the direction of {{{Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake Series}}}although without all the raunchy sex. I have heard from fellow readers that they really love this book so it may be me who missed the boat but I still think at $22.95 in the book stores it doesn't warrant it for me.
  
  Respectfully Reviewed
  
  
• Not quite as charming
  By A5TMZIQ50KLWP on 2005-05-06
  This book was a little off. Sookie did not seem to have her usual down to earth Southern charm. Her relationship with Eric, which had been addressed over the last several books, was underplayed. There was not much of a plot. Wait for the paperback.
  
  
• Harris has lost her way in this one
  By A2YNSRWMTS4UFN on 2005-05-14
  I am a lover of this series and was greatly looking forward to this installment. The previous 4 were so good I just knew this one wouldn't be anything but charming and entertaining. It starts off promisingly with Jason dealing with his changed condition . . . and then seems to go off the rails with numerous unrequited romance possibilities (basically every eligible man in the Parish) and with Sookie, previously a strong, independent woman, putting herself at everyone's beck and call (namely Sam, Alcide and Calvin). This series is becoming more of a primer on Southern social responsibility than supernatural romance. The core mystery was an afterthought, and not a very intriguing one at that. All of Harris' previous books were too short because I never wanted them to end . . . but this one ended too abruptly out of sheer exhaustion from a weak plot--or no plot at all. I hope Harris can resurrect this series with her next installment because it has so many charms. Here's hoping.
  
  
• Boring! Hope the next one is better.
  By A1PHCYDFXYVQB4 on 2005-05-19
  Buy this one used or wait for the paperback. A real disappointment after the others were so enjoyable. I don't know what happened during the writing of this book because either Ms. Harris was not very focused on it or maybe she's just in a rut with her story line, but this book is dull and Sookie seems to be in a bad mood most of the time. Considering the character of most of the men in her life as written in this book, no wonder. This book focuses more on the shifter community and the politics of that group, and they all want to use Sookie for one reason or another. Hopefully the next book will be better. This is the third new book out this year by one of my favorite authors that was not up to par. Laurell Hamilton's new Merry Gentry book and Nora Roberts' latest In Death books were disappointing too. At least Kim Harrison came through with a really good follow-up to her first book, Dead Witch Walking. The Good the Bad and the Undead is a fun read.
  
  
• Disappointment with the "Dead"
  By A2FS7YFANWHLB2 on 2005-05-21
  I had a chance to read this book a few months ago when I got hold of an advanced review copy. I'm a big fan of Charlaine Harris and all her books, but I was really disappointed with this installment. While I enjoy the characters, there are just TOO many of them, and I feel that the main ideas of the series are slipping away under so much supernatural chaos.
  
  Biggest problem - where are the vampires? It is a Southern Vampire mystery series after all, but you wouldn't know it from this book. We've got shifters, werewolves, werepanthers, and even fairies all over the palce, and the vampires are a distant last place. Even Sookie the main character just seems like a catalyst for events. And Alcide, who I thought was great, has turned into a whiny puppy!
  
  Let's get back to Bill, Erice, Pam and Bubba!
  
  
• Scattered, Without Purpose, But Read It Anyway
  By A1JETF7AMESH0R on 2005-05-29
  Sookie is back along with the vampiric/shifter/were gangs.
  In this book, however, Sookie is never happy, always yelling at others and is generally unlikeable. Ms. Harris has thrown in too many new creatures/people without interesting, worthwhile reason. It needs more vampire and less strange. I look forward to the next book, in hopes that Ms. Harris will help Sookie find a more engaging kookiness in which to live. More southern vampire, please, less random creatures of the night.
  
  
• An Enjoyable Read.
  By A2C84YLA1MWAWY on 2005-07-06
  I really enjoyed this novel, it was a refreshing change from the LKH novels.
  
  The sex was entertaining and not over done. The characters were entertaining, my favorite out of his series is Eric. (which is probably a lot of people's favorite.)
  
  I really like the fact that supernaturals are out in the open and Charlaine Harris does a good job with the interaction between the supernaturals and the humans in her series.
  
  I thought this book was better than the last one. Don't get me wrong, I love Eric, but he wasn't Eric and the romance between Sookie and Eric seemed contrived. Not Ms. Harris's best.
  
  I did think that this novel could have been a bit darker, not a big deal though. It was still enjoyable to read, much like the rest of the books in this series. Another great series to get into is D.N. Simmons's Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Just finished reading it and I loved it! LKH and Harris fans may want to check it out.
  
  
• logic will break your heart
  By A2TUZRDXESVCA2 on 2005-11-01
  I've started reading the Sookie Stackhouse books and have found them to be my guilty pleasure. I enjoy the characters and the world they're set in, but there are just too many logic flaws for my continued enjoyment. It started in me in the first book, when Sookie is being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends all know about her predicament, but seem alright with letting her babysit. I've met plenty of stupid people in my life, but non dumb enough to leave their kids with a woman who is admittedly being stalked by a murder. Also, in the third book, she learns that werewolves or shape shifter can only have one werewolf/shifter child when two mate. This means that the werewolf/shifter population is cut in half each generation, and if they have been around for hundreds, or maybe thousands of years, there should be practically none left at all, yet they're everywhere in the story. I enjoy the characters and the plot lines, but there are just too many flaws, unexplained foolish decisions by characters, and general inconsistencies with the fictional world they live in to get through to completely enjoy this series. Where as Ann Rice seriously needs an editor to cut, Harris needs an editor to critique.
  
  Harris also has a vary limited bag of tricks to drive the action forwards. In between times of action or intrigue, there is almost always a sex scene, or description of a rock hard body Sookie wants. The writing is fun, but not crafted well enough to hold the readers attention without this. Some say it's a blend of several genres, but the romance is lacking, the mystery is full of illogic plots and character motivation, which in turn makes it very hard to suspend disbelief for the fantasy. My recommendation for anyone looking to crack into this series is look elsewhere.
  
  
• A former favorite writer
  By A18ZSMR1DW4VFW on 2005-05-07
  I am very unhappy with Charlaine Harris. She writes very strong words. I loved her books up until this one. I don't get it what was she thinking? There was no closure, no satisfaction. After wasting $24.00 I was extremly disappointed. I'll wait for her next book to be in paperback.
  
  
• Excellent as always
  By A188NTJ5LV8LA4 on 2005-05-06
  This is the latest in a series of vampire mystery romances (using the term loosely). Sookie Stackhouse is a blonde, lowly-educated, telepathic barmaid. She's also reluctantly involved with the werewolves, shifters, fairies, witches and vampires near her rural Southern home. Her brother has been turned into a werepanther and is suspected of being a serial killer, so Sookie has to find the real killer before her brother is falsely accused. Meanwhile, a sniper is out to kill the shifters, people close to her are injured, her house needs extensive repairs, and all she really wants to do is pay her bills. Oh, and there's a were succession fight, several new vampires, and her first love vampire Bill shows up again...
  
  Some reviewers have expressed a dislike of the paranormal men who seem to be attracted to Sookie. To me it all seemed very logical. We know Sookie is pretty, blonde and attractively built. However, normal human men shun her because she's "crazy". The paranormal men know she's very, very special and that's what's so attractive about her. Alcide (werewolf) and Calvin (werepanther) don't want to marry another werewolf and regional werepanther, respectively. They're both attracted to Sookie because she's not from their communities, yet she knows about them (not to mention she's nice and smells good...) Bill and Eric (vampires) both want her, Bill as her ex and Eric because there's something about Sookie he just can't resist (perhaps because she resists him?). Quinn (can't tell you what he is, it'd be a spoiler) likes her because she's smart, brave and tastes good. Sam (shifter) has worked with her for more than 3 years, and he's always been attracted to her. So to me, it seems like of logical. She's really pretty, she knows that werewolves, shifters, etc. exist, her blood tastes special, she's valiant and loyal, and she's special in her own way.
  
  By the way, Sookie doesn't get tangled up with any of her admirers in this book, she's nice and single.
  
  
• Def. Improvement
  By ASY3867QPUU85 on 2005-05-06
  I was pleased that this installment of Souther Vamp. series was less raunchy than previous titles & focused more on the characters. I would really hate to see Sookie go down the Anita Blake road & was pleased that she kept a cool head throughout the book. Yes, it is odd that all the supernatural males are romantically interested in Sookie but at least this gives her plenty of options. I did think paying over $20 for a hardcover edition (and one that wasn't that think to boot) was a bit pricey. But that didn't stop me from pre-ordering. Can't wait for the next installment. Hopefully, Quinn will reappear.
  
  
• Shifters and vampires and fairies, oh my
  By A1CSJRFPUZMUZW on 2005-06-15
  Charlaine Harris does edgy, creative paranormal thrillers better than anyone. And by that I mean she mixes edgy, dark humor with vivid, multilayerd characters, and does it with polished ease.
  Series fans won't be disappointed, and newcomers to Bon Temps can jump right in for a wild ride.
  
  The plot has already been summarzied well, so I'll hit some of the highlights and subtleties that struck me in this book. First, for all her lusty humor, Harris doesn't candy coat characters or their relationships. Even wonderful love affairs don't always work out, and Harris always maintains a running subtext of how hard it will be for even telepathic Sookie to find what she needs and wants with a paranormal. Harris is unusually noir in that aspect. She plays absolutely level and fair with the world she created. No sappy, instant happy endings. Eric is a hunk and he's fond of her--but he's also an ancient *vampire*, with all that implies, and he doesn't LIKE having feelings. Alcide, the hunky werewolf, is attracted to Sookie (and alive, to boot) but he's also enmeshed in a complex, and sometimes offputting, shifter society.
  
  I appreciate that pragmatic, tough-minded outlook because it gives real teeth (heh, heh) to the story. It's also an exhilarating bass line under Harris's rippling, hilarious narrative. The contrast between ordinary small town life and exotic paranormals gives this series its punch, tension and zing. But that's my individual taste. Others' may vary.
  
  It was also interesting to see Lily and Jack--protagonists from her Shakespeare series--make an appearance in this book. Watching them through Sookie's life and eyes was a hoot.
  Harris always suprises me with her plot turns. I expected this book to be about her brother Jason's experience as a shifter, but she switched focus to the werewolf community, with a few side complications from old vampire business. All in all, it was a fine mix, IMO.
  
  I love this series, and this latest entry is a solid winner. Old characters develop nicely, and much new insight is gained about how paranormals actually live. So to speak.
  Though I really hope Harris explains Claudine the fairy pretty soon. And no Bubba this time.
  
  
• Ever Hopeful
  By A38WRXQZ4NFBKA on 2005-06-24
  I have purchased every one of the Sookie novels, and pre-purchased this final entry before it was on the bookshelves. For the next novel, however, I think I'll wait and get from the library. As fun as this novel was, and it was a LOT of fun, I was disappointed when I finished it.
  
  My concern is that I will feel the same way about this series as I did the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I couldn't buy those quickly enough. I shared them with friends and co-workers, and we created our own little fan club. However, I did not purchase the last two books in that series, and didn't even bother to borrow them from a friend or library. The problem is that sometimes an attraction between characters is drawn out for way too long with no resolution in sight, and I'm beginning to suspect that the same will happen with the Sookie novels.
  
  I love these characters, especially Sookie, Eric, and Sam (I may be the only reader who roots for Sam to be her one and only), but Sookie is starting to seem a bit too promiscuous. I like the concept of soulmates - the one person destined to be our greatest love, and I especially like books that allow happy endings between soulmates. If Sookie keeps getting hot and steamy over a variety of men, or rather vampires, werewolves, weredogs and...tigers, I'll be disappointed.
  
  
• Well, it was better than some.
  By A3C4BVBA22741E on 2005-11-01
  I'm a huge fan of CH's Sookie Stackhouse series, but the last two just aren't doing it for me. The plot in this book was weaker than the plot in the last book. Not only was it predictable, but it fell flat in the action department. And I was really disappointed when the secondary villian was killed. There was no suspense, no thrill...nothing.
  And I'm starting to see a Laurell K. Hamilton trend with all of the multiple male interest. I don't like this angle, because it's as if they're aren't any eligible females in the vacinity.
  One did wonder if CH was channeling D.N. Simmons with the temptation of the two vamps in a threesome.
  
  I did however, really enjoy the battle of the Weres for control of the Pack. But I'm not liking how Alcide is turning out, being all devious and all that. I don't see how he can want to be with Sookie, when he can't even be honest with her, then blames her for things that's not her fault. To me, that's a man on my "do not date" list.
  
  Overrall, not her best. I would recommend D.N. Simmons Knights of the Darkness Chronicles for something trully exciting and original.
  
  
  
• Keeps getting better and better...
  By A1T17LMQABMBN5 on 2005-05-07
  I had looked forward to reading Dead as a Doornail, the fifth book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries series, so much that I finished it in two sittings. Now I wish I had savored the pages like fine wine, for there won't be another installment coming out until next year. Sookie has a lot of unfinished business with vampires Bill and Eric and shifters Alcide and Sam. She still has loving feelings for Bill, is unsure about telling Eric what had happened between them during his amnesic state, has issues about Alcide and the incident with his ex-girlfriend, and is unable to shake off her lustful feelings for Sam. But the lovable telepathic waitress has other problems. Her brother is now a werepanther, and his fellow Weres suspect that he is the one responsible for several shootings against shape-shifters. She has also reluctantly agreed to join Alcide in witnessing a battle involving Were politics. She is watching out for her friend who is dating a strange vampire. And to her horror, a couple of private eyes are questioning her about Debbie Pelt's mysterious disappearance. But the worst of her problems is that someone is trying to kill her. There are various twists throughout the novel...
  
  The best part of this installment is that Sookie delves into her inner torments and guilt regarding the events that took place in the first three installments. The storylines are well connected and the readers get a few answers regarding previous events that the reader should not disregard as filler (perhaps some may have to reread the series in order to refresh their memory). I also like Sookie's inner turmoil regarding the men in her life. Charlaine Harris did a great job developing Sookie's inner conflicts. Her feelings for Bill -- jealousy, nostalgia, heartbreak -- are quite palpable in their scenes together. Bill is my favorite of the sup men in the series (Eric being my second favorite) and I'm still rooting for them to get it together. I also liked the sexual tension between Sookie and Eric and her awkwardness for being the only one who knows what happened between them. We all know that Alcide and Sam have a thing for her and there are some interesting scenes with each of them. Werepanther Calvin also has has his eyes set out on Sookie, and she doesn't know what to make of his feelings for her. And now there is a new guy who may well get into the equation. Some of the readers here have complained about the fact that all of those male characters have a thing for Sookie, but I rather enjoy the heroine's tension and history with each of them. Each man has a different reason for having feelings for Sookie -- and all of those storylines are interesting and will no doubt make for great future installments. I am all for a bit of romantic intrigue as long as Ms. Harris does not let Sookie take the Anita Blake ardeur route. I love that all of the main characters had a chance to shine in this book (although not as much as I would have liked). The fairies Claudine and Claude are great (Claude sounds yummy) and I enjoyed Bubba's funny, albeit brief appearance as well. The mysteries are well done, but there is a loose end with the Debbie Pelt investigation thing. I also would have liked for Harris to concentrate more on Jason adjusting to life as a werepanther. Aside from those two shortcomings, I enjoyed this installment. And I rather enjoyed the last page of the book in which promises a great plot for the next book. Dead as a Doornail is another addictive Sookie Stackhouse book. But now I'll have to wait a whole year for the next fix. Oh, well, I guess there is always the Lily Bard series...
  
  
• 5TH BOOK IN THE SERIES IS A WINNER!
  By A2JP0URFHXP6DO on 2005-05-10
  These books by Charlaine Harris have become quite a guilty pleasure for me. I enjoy them much more than I ever thought I would. They are just plain fun to read. This is the 5th book in the Southern Vampire series. As the last book closed Sookies brother Jason had been bitten by a were-panther. As this one opens he makes his first change and what's more...he likes it. But being a shape-shifter is not such a good idea these days as someone is killing them off Beltway Sniper style. Sam, the owner of the bar where Sookie works is shot and other shape-shifters have also been wounded or killed. Sam needs Sookie's telepathic powers to help track down the the one doing the killing but others are intent on stopping her, nearly burning her alive in her home. Sookie seeks aid from the Vampire Eric who doesn't remember his liason with Sookie due to amnesia. Eric sends a pirate vampire to help out who is one of the most interesting characters in the book.
  
  Dead as a Doornail is smart, fun, exciting and sexy. Harris has created a uniquely dark and witty world populated by real characters who just happen to bee vampires and shapeshifters but who have all the problems of regular people. While I don't normally go for the horror/romance hybrid, Harris' light, but fast-paced and exciting style make the Southern Vampire series rise above so many other books of its kind. It's not all fun and games though. Sookie is dealing with a lot of mental turmoil herself with her previous relationships with Bill and Eric not to mention the apprehension over her brother's shape-shifting. Another great book in the series that gets better and better.
  
  

• Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4)
• Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
• All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
• Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3)
• Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)