Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at a bar in her hometown of Bon Temps, LA. After years of keeping her own telepathic ability a secret, making most close relationships impossible, Sookie is excited to learn the arrival of vampire Bill Compton. Bill's mind is a blank slate to Sookie, a welcome relief to her. He has moved to Bon Temps because it is his hometown as well, although from a different century. While their relationship blooms, other young women begin to die and suspicion volleys between the new resident and Sookie's brother. With a surprising blend of supernatural happenings and beings, Harris has created an interesting mystery series with unlikely detectives. ( )

I don’t read paranormal romance novels. This isn’t due to any snobbery against the genre, I just have too much else on my shelf to be getting on with, and don’t need another area of fictional enthusiasm, so I have avoided it. True Blood, however – The HBO series which is based upon Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books – has proved to be such exquisite entertainment that I couldn’t resist the temptation to pick up Dead Until Dark. It transpires that this first book is exactly as amusing, raunchy, mysterious, American South atmospheric, spit-in-your-eye rebellious about the whole vampire credo as the show, and I am instantly hooked. Move aside, everything else on my shelf. Vampire romance books, coming through. ( )

Delightful. Got a little sluggish in the middle with mind reading that seemed to be of no consequence to the plot, but it ended with a bang and I felt thoroughly satisfied ( )

I'm giving all of these Southern Vampire novels 4 stars not because of the level of writing, but because of the excellent narrator on the Audible versions. They really were a fun summer read (listen) that once i started i couldn't stop. Of course you all probably know, the True Blood series on HBO is based on these novels. Kudos to narrator Johanna Parker for making this one of the most enjoyable Audible experiences I've had in awhile. ( )

I found that it had quite a few similarities to Twilight, which made me wonder who copied who..but in the end it was ok..Twilight with a comedic twist. I need a break from vampire books now! ( )