For me, one of the signs of a really good book is that when you get to the last page, you want more story. The last several books in Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series have been like that. When I finished, I wanted more. It’s a trial to wait an entire year to get the next book, but I’m very glad that Harris is so consistently enjoyable.
In Dead in the Family, we reunite with our heroine only a week after the terrible battle at the end of the previous book. Everyone is still healing and still mourning, especially Sookie. Over the seriesvif you’ve been reading—Sookie has grown more real, more fully realized. In this book, I really felt like Sookie was a real person that you might meet on the street. As Sookie heals, Harris starts to gear up for Sookie’s next challenges.
I’m constantly amazed at how much plot Harris can cram into a book and still not have it feel overstuffed. There’s always a main plot, but there are always subplots going on. In this book, Sookie has an unknown enemy lurking in the woods around her house. Her brother is moving on with a new woman. Eric, her vampire lover, is trying to be a husband and an authority figure who brings even more enemies into the picture. It’s a wonder Sookie can still keep her job at the bar with everything that’s going on in this book.
Dead in the Family is another outstanding entry in the series. I highly recommend them for fans of vampire fiction. Unlike some other series (*cough*Anita Blake *cough*), it’s not all about sex. While there’s some brooding, people get on with their lives. There is a minimum of stonewalling conversation. Things move in this book. Harris isn’t afraid to wrap up plotlines or kill off major characters. And I really like that about her books. They’re anything but predictable.
I recently read Harris’ website FAQ (as of 7/6/2024, page no longer exists), where she states that there will be an end to the series. I was shocked! While I appreciate Harris not wanting to keep dragging out a series that’s past its time, these books are still lively and interesting and good. What will I read when there’s no more Sookie?