Sookie goes to a vampire summit in Illinois to work for the Queen of Louisiana. The action was almost good, but not quite. This could be forgivable if Sookie wasn't continually becoming a character I don't like very much. She superficially focuses on clothes, etc... I think this book may be setting up a major change for Sookie. I hope so.

For my extended review, check out my blog at: http://wp.me/pp7vL-5r ( )

From start to finish, All Together Dead was an unbelievable thrill ride. I loved every single second of this novel. The last couple chapters had me on the edge of my seat, frantic to find out what was going to happen. Certain parts of the mystery were obvious, others were completely shocking. Either way, the action was unbeatable. The repercussions of everything that occurred are unfathomable and I just can't wait to read the next book. All Together Dead was amazing, shocking and truly awesome. The Southern Vampire series just keeps getting better and better. ( )

Fun fast read...good for airplanes, beach, etc. ( )

In this Sookie Stackhouse installment, Sookie has been requested to work for the Vampire Queen of Louisiana as they attend a very important vampire summit. The Queen needs Sookie to use her telepathic powers to "listen" to her enemies, as the Queen will be on trial for the murder of her Vampire husband, the King of Arkansas. The Queen's stature has weakened since Hurricane Katrina has effected her economic status.

Joining Sookie and the Queen, will be Vampire Eric, a sometimes romantic interest of Sookie's, her ex-boyfriend, Vampire Bill, and Sookie's current boyfriend, Quinn, a were-tiger.

But this trip is business for Sookie and she must uncover several plots; some to destroy the Queen and one to kill all the vampires. Sookie gets help from fellow telepath, Barry the Bellboy, who now works for the vampire King of Texas.

My review: I liked this one fairly well, but I do prefer the ones were Sookie is back home in Bon Temps. This had a whole other dimension of vampire politics, which Sookie manages quite well. She continues to get more confident in her abilities as a telepath but also as an intellegent, independent woman.

I am ready for Quinn to be gone, though he treats Sookie well, as I want some Sookie/Eric love happening. I hope there is a little more romance/sex in the next two books left in the series!

my rating 3.5/5 ( )

My Thoughts
I have to admit: I very much enjoyed this book. With much more vampire politics and less Sookie's love life, I found the plot to be quite interesting. Sookie attends a Vampire summit with her Louisiana brood including Eric, Pam, Bill, and the Queen and her entourage. Much is happening in this book: the Queen is on trial for her husband's death, Quinn has a mysterious-to-Sookie past, Barry the Bellboy returns as a telepath for a vampire King, the Fellowship is making waves of course, and on and on and on. I enjoyed the inclusions of events and characters from prior books being the basis of this installment's plot. By the end, I felt that much of what had been happening was nicely wrapped up.

That being said, Sookie's love life is still rather prominent with Quinn, Eric, and Bill all playing roles, as well as some random "I want to do you" comments from Barry. While the focus was on the political situation and Sookie's telepathic abilities, we still had to read about her bitterness towards Bill, which I found a bit childish and hope the series can move on; we also have Pam confronting Sookie about Eric's feelings for her which seemed out of character and very highschoolish; and then of course we have Quinn getting all jealous over Sookie's forced connection to Eric.

Even with my minor annoyance over the love triangle quadrangle um, what comes next, I still really do enjoy reading these books, primarily because they are quick, easy, entertaining reads. ( )