Dead Ever After

A Sookie Stackhouse Novel, Book 13

By: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 10 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris has won numerous awards for her Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series, which has been adapted into the hit HBO show True Blood. In this 13th and final book, a murder rocks the town of Bon Temps and Sookie is arrested for the crime. After making bail, she sets out to clear her name - but her investigation only leads to more deaths.

©2013 Charlaine Harris, Inc. (P)2013 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"The Sookie Stackhouse series seamlessly mixes sensuality, violence, and humor." ( Boulder Weekly)

"Harris’s creation offers a magical and mysterious twist on traditional vampire stories." ( Houston Chronicle)

"What sucked me in? Definitely the books’ oddly charming, often funny mix of the mundane and the absurd. And the chills and thrills in boudoirs and various locales around the South aren’t too bad either." ( The Seattle Times)

Dead Ever After

So, I didn't hate it. I fully expected to, given the pages and pages of negative reviews. But (and this is a huge spoiler) I never expected Sookie to end up with either Bill or Eric. She just wasn't happy with either of them, couldn't trust them, and didn't have a future with them. I thought she'd been pretty clear on that in the previous books. I was a little surprised with who she end up with, though, because I didn't see that as a happily ever after either. I read the Sookie Stackhouse series because they were fun. I didn't expect much else from them, and they delivered. They were even addictive. So, being the last book in the series, I thought it was okay that she revisited all of the old characters (though once I found myself questioning whether one had died in a previous book). Overall, it wasn't as awesome as it could have been, but if you've read the previous twelve, I think you'll appreciate this one. And the narration is wonderful as always. I'm sorry to see the series end.

A disappointing conclusion to the Sookie series

What did you like best about Dead Ever After? What did you like least?

The foreshadowing in this story was unduly heavy, and I knew who the antagonist was by the end of the first chapter. The new characters are lacking depth. The old love interests merely make a cameo appearance. Johanna Parker did a great job as usual reading the story, but the story itself was weak and predictable.

So Sad It's Ending

What did you love best about Dead Ever After?

I love how much Sookie has evolved in the book series. I also love how there are so many people we have seen in past books in this one.

What did you like best about this story?

Johanna Parker has a great voice for Sookie. Her performance was wonderful, really brings Sookie and the story to life!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I hated to get out of the car!

Disappointing.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This is Harris final closure to the series and one would thought it would have at least a dramatic finally. However, the story line is so so and slow; plot is not well developed---too many loose ends.Felt like Harris just wanted to end without putting effort into it.

What aspect of Johanna Parker’s performance would you have changed?

JP performance of Sookie has always been awesome. I strongly believe JP performances is a big reason why many listeners are hooked on this series. It's the story line that makes this book so so, not JP's performance.

Do you think Dead Ever After needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

A follow book would be nice as the plot contains many loose ends.
A spin off on another series from the characters would also be welcome.

And Sookie rides off into the sunset with a wimper

I'm glad Ms. Harris is letting this series end, she seems to have lost her energy for this story some time ago. And this last installment is pretty low energy as well. The main bright spot, as usual, is Johanna Parker's narration, which, over time, seems like a good friend telling me a long boring story. No matter the lack of plot or action, I just like hearing her talk to me. I think I'll wander over to the "Bloodhound" series so she can keep talking to me; who knows, maybe there will be a good story too ...

Wish it ended differently

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Out of all the Sookie books this was disappointing...especially for it being the last. I was and wasn't disappointed but it was like this book was rushed to be finished and so much of it was flat.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I know that Ms. Harris could have made this a more exciting book, the sparkle is just gone. For a series that I love so much...I know it could have been to where all the characters could have been better written but somehow they got shoved aside after a few pages.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Johanna Parker?

Johanna Parker is a wonderful narrator...she did her best on this last book as she has for all of the Sookie books.

Worst book of the series!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No

Has Dead Ever After turned you off from other books in this genre?

13 books as an invested reader, I feel cheated by the poor wrap up of the series.

Just flat out Disappointed!!!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No... Was a big Let Down....

What could Charlaine Harris have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The book seemed like it was rushed to get the ending that was desired. As if when she was writing it she just wanted to hurry up and get it over with.

What about Johanna Parker’s performance did you like?

wonderful as always.

Could you see Dead Ever After being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Wouldn't watch this one

Any additional comments?

Was sooo Disappointed.... Would have rather not read this... The story line was just bad. It was rushed to get the end result. So heart broken She is a lot better writer than this. I feel like I was let down for the Ending of this Series.

Why Is Everyone Complaining? Relax People.

Would you try another book from Charlaine Harris and/or Johanna Parker?

Sure! I need books to listen to while I do housework. Johanna Parker did an ok job, but her voices for men were kind of awkward.

If you’ve listened to books by Charlaine Harris before, how does this one compare?

This book was just as mediocre as the rest of the series.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

It was a fine performance. As I said before, the rendering of the male voices were awkward to listen to. However, that was partially due to some pretty boring writing.

Do you think Dead Ever After needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. It's not going anywhere. Give up the ghost. I had really hoped that the series was going to ramp up and end up somewhere exciting. But really, why did I think that? We're talking about numerous books where not much happened: Sookie brushes her hair, eats, drinks, gets dressed, cleans house, we get background info on people we don't care about, we get information on situations that don't move the story anywhere, etc. Charlaine Harris never tricked anyone. She just made up an interesting situation and an interesting set of characters. Then she plopped them around and had them do some pretty boring crap.We don't need more of this town or these characters. They are all just...done.

Any additional comments?

I really think that the people complaining about the ending aren't being fair and are having a bit of revisionist history when it comes to remembering the other books. (Which I totally get, because I did it myself.) It's always been a C/C- series. Great for listening when you need to do laundry or pay attention to other things. But this has never been a stellar series, so why is everyone so angry about the end? It had a sub par ending because it was a sub par series. Quit beating up CH for not ending it how you wanted it. She let you know long ago what to expect, but you went and got excited by True Blood. She never tricked anyone. People need to relax and enjoy it for what it was: something to read while you do other stuff.

So sorry it's over

I really hated to have the story to end but I guess everything ends. I really wished it could have ended differently than it did.