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)

What a let down

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

Johanna Parker did a wonderful job. CH DID NOT

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

I will read other books in this genre, but I will not buy another charlaine Harris book again. I feel she let all her fans down in this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Did not even have a favorite scene in this one.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was very disappointed after following the books for so many years to be let down with the last book of a series. This is a first for me.

Any additional comments?

I usually don't do book reviews. But this one just hit me wrong!

When a writer is tired of the universe she created

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

It was by far the worst book of the series. The storyline was so full of cliches and unimaginative that was painful. It would had been better if the author had closed the series on book 12. The best thing about the Sookie Stahouse series was the marriage of the mundane and the fantastical and it was always a pleasure to delve into the lore Charlene Harris was creating. And that is exactly what is missing from the last book: no magic, no fantasy. It's a sloppy romantic knot to a very creative series, from an author that is maybe tired of the universe she created.

What a Letdown: I Feel Cheated

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Ms Harris following her normal, action packed writing style.

Would you ever listen to anything by Charlaine Harris again?

I have been with this series since the release of Book 1. I am so disappointed with this ending book ... on many levels .... that I'm not sure I'll read anything else by her.

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

Narrator was good. I can't say anything else was good, though. I disliked the lukewarm, need to wrap this up feeling I got while reading.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Waited for it to get better as I read ... it never did .... I am angry and disappointed that I spent so long living in a series to have this 'throw the fans a bone' finish to it. Just get it done, never mind the years and money spent by faithful fans ... they'll just have to suck it up. Yes, I lost much respect for Ms. Harris' writing with this one very poorly written book ... most especially because it was THE END of a series.

Any additional comments?

I have never had a negative review of any book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sure, I liked some books more than others. This book is the worst collection of drivel ... because what should have been a shining moment in the ending of the series ... read like a feast without any seasoning. Lots to eat but nothing tasted good so my appetite was long gone well before the end came.

Love the series but this was dissapointing...

I love this series, but this book by far was my least favorite. I felt that the book was forced to finish the series and it didn’t leave you wondering about anything and not because the story had a great ending. When other series are finished they make you wonder what if…. Not this book, the beginning started out OK and the tie in with past characters was fun other than that the book felt like it was rushed to be finished to meet the publisher timeline.

Don't bother

The story was a total disappointment. It feels like Charlaine just didn't care about making this book interesting.

Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

What would have made Dead Ever After better?

I seriously have no words for this book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Charlaine Harris again?

Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I don't think so

What didn’t you like about Johanna Parker’s performance?

I like Johanna's voice, it's the story that's the problem

What character would you cut from Dead Ever After?

EVERYBODY right now with the way I'm feeling

Any additional comments?

Why did she do this me?

Crushed

What disappointed you about Dead Ever After?

I can not express how heart broken I am about the last book in the series. The story line was rushed, pushed and squished together in a most unflattering way. How could she just discount Eric; the strongest personality in the whole series next to Sookie herself? How can she think that letting Eric walk off into the sunset ( figuratively speaking) with not even twenty words in the whole book be a good idea? This story did not even make sense in relation to the previous books. It was as though Harris just wanted to get it all over with. I would not recommend anyone even start this series with an ending like this. Another review suggested Harris did not even write this book; that would be the only explanation. That and if there was a ghost writer, they never read the other books.I haven't been this upset since they switched narrators in the Dresden series.I am left feeling angry,disappointed and utterly crushed. What in the world was she thinking?

Would you ever listen to anything by Charlaine Harris again?

No way; I will never get over her thoughtlessness and what she did to Sookie.

Did Johanna Parker do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

The characters were all there, but somehow I think they were just as frustrated with what Harris was making them do as we the readers were.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No- there is not one redeeming quality. The book should be recalled and Harris should re-write it. I can't help but wonder where were her friends and editor to tell her she was making the biggest mistake of her career?

Charlaine Harris has plumb run out of f***s to give

These books have always been light, fluffy popcorn reads, but on this one Charlaine Harris really phoned it in. I wouldn't have continued past the third chapter if I hadn't been curious to see how the series would end. That said, I've read fan fiction of these books that did a much nicer job of wrapping up the series, and I suggest you do the same.

Johannah Parker That’s it and That’s all!

I’d read the series up until like book 5 when they’d first come out. Now that I’m addicted to Audiobooks I decided to finish it. Every book up until this one held me captivated. Had me laughing or crying and always always rooting for Sookie. And Eric. That damned Viking. This book tho? Stupidest ending ever. Sam? She ends up with SAM??!! Sam, is the friend zoned friend. She settled. She loved Eric for like 5 books than boom! Nothing. Eric and Pam were virtually non-existent. Sam and Sookie has the chemistry of potato salad with raisins in it. I feel my time was wasted and I’m disappointed. Saying good bye to Sookie wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.

Welp, At Least She Didn't Do An Anita Blake

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

No but this has spoiled the series for me.

What three words best describe Johanna Parker’s performance?

I love her

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Dead Ever After?

the trailer. *shivers*

Any additional comments?

I feel cheated out of a true happily ever after, for the fans and for the protagonist. Instead, Sookie ends up with a "we'll take it slow" with her bff. What a tragedy. It sullied the entire series that was filled so much promise. I've read better fan fiction that was more devoted to the continuity of characters and had a greater love and reverence for the overall Sookieverse. Charlaine needs a do over, beginning with book 10 or maybe even 9.