Dead and Gone

The ninth Sookie Stackhouse mystery is a very much better book than I was expecting, given the trend in my series-mystery reading towards increasing disappointment. I was hoping at best not to feel acute disappointment, and ended up feeling quite satisfied.

Sookie's world took ours by storm at the beginning of this century. It somehow made the US we live in able to look into the mirror these books hold up to us, and acccept what Harris shows us. In the Murrika that Bush and the right wing were creating, I saw and see that as a huge plus. I don't belong to the group of optimists who see that nightmare conservative Hell as in retreat, so much as crouching for the next blow to goodness, kindness and tolerance...those enemies of conservative show more hate-based fascistic dreamers.

"True Blood" on HBO is a huge pop-culture success. It's a hopeful thing to me that these stories of the hideous consequences of prejudice and intolerance are so popular. It's a hopeful sign to my eyes that stories told from the point of view of a victim of social intolerance and the hates of the religious are so well tolerated and so eagerly consumed. It's puzzling to me how Harris does all this without earning the ire of the Good and Just (as they see themselves) heaped on JK Rowling. I know a lot of Harris's readers HAVE to be teens; what's holding the baying hellhounds of Coulter and Limbaugh back?

Whatever. Don't care that much. I encourage people, even ones who dislike supernatural stuff, to go and buy some books in this series. If you don't want to read them, put them on BookCrossing or BookMooch...just buy them, get them into the hands of those who want to read them, and strike a blow against the shadows of hate that darken our noble experiment. show less

Dead and Gone
4 Stars

In this book, the weres and shifters have decided to reveal their existence to the world at large and not everyone is excited about the disclosure. The situation is exacerbated when the crucified body of a were is discovered in Merlotte's parking lot and Sookie feels compelled to investigate as the victim is someone close to her.

As if this weren't bad enough, Sookie also finds herself caught in the middle of a war between fae factions, each with their own agenda. Sookie soon learns the hard way that the vampires and weres are nothing compared to the fae when it comes to cruelty and viciousness.

On the romance front, Sookie and Eric take their relationship to the next level, but it is unclear how long this will last show more given their significantly different approaches to life and love.

In sum, this is one of the more exciting and actions packed installments in the series and there are some truly intense and nail-biting moments. On a final note, although Bill will never completely atone for his actions, he does go a long way toward redeeming himself in this book and my hopes for his demise have been put on hold... show less

If you had not read any of the Sookie Stackhouse books, please avert your eyes right now. As we get further into the series, avoiding spoilers becomes just impossible. Sorry.

As you would expect from this series, Dead and Gone is just a fun book. One might be concerned that the story is slowing down, that Ms. Harris cannot continue to write such enjoyable and compelling books. She does not fail to impress. In fact, Dead and Gone does a great job of moving forward the overarching story through the further development of Erik and Sookie's relationship and Amelia's future.

As the story progresses, each book gets a bit darker. The reader can see this clearly in Sookie's plight, Bill's fate and the danger facing both the vampires and the Fae. show more In addition, each book continues to surprise me. I still have no idea what to expect or in what direction the main story will go.

One thing I do enjoy is the fact that Sookie grows and matures just a bit more each book. She is more self-aware, more confident, and is slowly learning to think before saying yes. Her reliance on southern manners and the need to please others is disappearing as she learns that her actions have severe consequences when dealing with the supernatural world. I look forward to seeing her explore this discovery and taking back control of her life a bit more.

Even though I remain unconvinced that Erik and Sookie's relationship is for the best (I am still a Bill fan and wish we saw more of him), I cannot wait to read the next book. This series is so addicting! show less

This is the ninth book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris. It was also one of the most disappointing books in the series.

This book starts with the shapeshifters going public with their existance. Shortly after Sookie's brother's wife, Crystal, is murdered in front of Sam's bar. Everyone wants Sookie to help find the murderer. When Sookie's fairy grandfather shows up and warns her to "watch herself" because bad stuff is happening in the fairy realm; it only makes Sookie's already difficult life even worse.

I totally agree with previous reviewers that mention all the errors in this book (both story-wise and grammatical). I really expect a decently written novel; especially from such an experienced writer. Many characters show more in this book also acted completely out of character. Sookie seemed confused and lost the whole book. Erik started spouting out his life history in the middle of the bar (he's usually a tad more secretive about that stuff). And what is with Bill popping back into Sookie's good graces? I have had enough of Bill let's just get over him already.

Some of the scenes with the fairies were interesting. I will agree though that this was a particularly gruesome Sookie book. Multiple pregnant women are murdered and there is quite a bit of torture. Overall I just didn't like this book much. I just can't figure out where the series is going; apparently neither can Harris. The eighth book was mediocre and I was willing to give Harris a book to transition the characters into something big and new; but this book didn't start anything new.

I read the book, didn't really enjoy it all that much. I was happy when I was done with it and confused about what happened to Sookie's personality. I will probably read the next book; but I am not sure what is going on here. A lot of my favorite paranormal series (The Hollows, Anita Blake) are really sucking it up lately.

Will I read the next book? Yes, but I will get it from the library. show less

This is the ninth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and personally I found it to be one of my favorites. Despite the fact that I still find the lead character annoying at times, I thought Sookie seemed to mature in this installment, showing insight that was lacking previously.

This time around Sookie gets tangled up in a war between the faries while trying to find a murderer.

The characters and plot twists were fun and entertaining as always, and the action was great as always. The story incorporated all of my favorite characters with Eric being involved in the plot. Bill even seemed to redeem himself in this one. All in all a great fun summertime read with just enough darkness to keep me coming back for more.

Book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse series is, in my opinion, one of the best in the series. I absolutely LOVE how Eric and Sookie's "ship" (relationship/friendship) has changed in a suprising way! There's a hot and steamy scene involving Sookie and ... (I'll never tell!) I think it's GREAT that Bill is still there trying to save Sookie's life. Even though I'm personally a little upset at him for some of the actions he's taken in the previous books, I can't seem to stop sighing everytime he calls her sweetheart and vows to protect her even if it costs him his life! There's a line in the book where he says, "Sweetheart, I have always loved you and I will be proud to die in your service". **Sigh** Does the fact that I sigh for both Eric AND show more Bill make me a fangbanger? Hmmm...? Now the REAL question is, does BILL actually die?!

I'm a little surprised at Charlaine Harris for having Sookie reflect on her decisions and how they affect her Christianity. She hasn't really done that before. There's a part where Sookie says to herself, "That made me a bad Christian, I realized. Though I knew I wasn't a deep theological thinker, I sometimes wondered if crisis moments in my life hadn't come down to two choices: be a bad Christian or die? I'd chosen life everytime." I think it's fine for Sookie to have these thoughts, after all, she IS human and she IS a Christian, but I really hope Charlaine doensn't go all "Anne Rice" on us and start writing only Christian books!

Even though Charlaine tied up some loose ends from the previous books, she left a whole bunch of new ones! I cannot wait to read the tenth book! I sure hope we don't have to wait a whole year for the next one!! show less

Charlaine Harris's ninth installment to the "Southern Vampire Mysteries" left me more than a bit shellshocked, though not unsatisfied. If you thought the quick, tragic ending to "All Together Dead" was bad, it was nothing compared to the whirl Harris's words throw you through in this addition.

The story that unfolds in "Dead and Gone" has a more hectic tone, with abrupt word-choice and multiple, meshing plotlines. In the opening chapters, as we read from the exerpt included inside "From Dead to Worse" (SVM, Book 8), the vampirers are joined in the "mainstream" by the supes, via live broadcasts on the television, and strategically placed individuals in public for visual examples; like Merlotte's bar, for instance.

So many questions are show more answered about Niall, Sookie/Eric's blood bond, and there are more tense, heart-pounding scenes than ever before. Literally every single character is somehow physically, or mentally, affected by the drama that ensues. One good point about the novel is that it goes more into detail about both Eric's history, and the history of the fairies that seem to be surrounding Sookie Stackhouse on all sides. And our beloved Eric makes a decision for Sookie that will change their relationship irrevocably. But will Sookie withdraw from him for the cool protector, Bill, or stick by her Viking hunk's side?

It'll leave your pulse quickening with every turn of the page. show less