5 Stars or Less in 5 Sentences or Less

4 star

Vampires, Shapeshifters, Sex, True Blood, Murder, Louisiana

In the 13th and final installment of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, Sookie’s loose ends all tangle together in a messy, bloody knot that get tied up (or cut off) quite neatly. A number of old characters are trying to kill our saucy Southern heroine once and for all while she works to keep her job and her home in order even as her heart is breaking as Eric drifts further away and another man drifts closer. If you’ve been reading for the mystery and the world of Sookie you will love this volume, but if you are interested in just the vampires or the romance you will probably be disappointed (fair warning). I found it fun and fast-paced and a solid conclusion to a tempestuous series.

(Earlier books: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, from Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family, Dead Reckoning, Deadlocked)

4 star

Vampires, Shapeshifters, Sex, True Blood, Murder, Louisiana

The 12th Sookie Stackhouse book is packed with mystery, surprise, drama, danger, and blood—but it is seriously lacking in romance. Sookie sees Eric feeding on a younger woman who turns up dead—and now she has to find out who killed her and who sent her there in the first place while dealing with troublemaking fae, her new position as part-owner of Merlotte’s, and all kinds of personal drama. (If you watch the show / read the books for the relationships, you might not love this volume, but) if you like suspense, intrigue, saucy Southern narrators, and epic supernatural action you are in for a treat.

(Earlier books: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, from Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family, Dead Reckoning)

(Later book: Dead Ever After)

3 star

Vampires, Shapeshifters, Sex, True Blood, Murder, Louisiana

In the 11th installment of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, Sookie must work out her problems with Eric, uncover why Merlotte’s is so empty of late, and witness a harrowing number of deaths.  The pacing is surprisingly life-like and endears the reader to Sookie: she does her laundry, worries about her car, and plans a baby shower—all while running from attackers, reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend Bill, and plotting a murder.  Despite this, the conflict is stretched thin: there is plenty of action, but little plot advancement.  Sookie’s moral struggles continue, and her relationship with Eric has nearly reached its breaking point.  It will be interesting to watch the political fallout from this book and the development of her relationship.

(Earlier books: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, from Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family)
(Later books: Deadlocked, Dead Ever After) 

4 star

Vampires, Shapeshifters, Sex, True Blood, Murder, Louisiana

In the 10th installment of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, Sookie is recovering from the Fae War and the deaths that constantly occur around her.  The characters are clever, fascinating, and feisty as always and we learn much more about vampires and Eric’s painful history.  The mystery unfolds at an exciting pace but I hate that a certain someone’s boss isn’t Just Killed Already (and the fairy plot has a disappointing end).  A must-read for True Blood fans who ship Sookie and Eric!

(Earlier books: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, from Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone)

(Later books: Dead Reckoning, Deadlocked, Dead Ever After)