Dead In the Family

Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery #10

By: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Charlaine Harris delivers the 10th novel in her number-one New York Times best-selling Sookie Stackhouse series, which has been adapted into the smash hit television program True Blood.

Finally settled with Viking vampire Eric, Sookie finds normalcy just as chaos surrounds her. Sookie’s former lover Bill, her boss Sam, and even Eric are struggling with family problems. Then things get really interesting when the werewolves tell Sookie an ominous presence is lurking.

Listen to more titles in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

©2010 Charlaine Harris Schultz (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Harris or FanFic?

ANGIE in Tennessee

I am just as much a Sookie addict as the next gal, but I just found so many things wrong & lacking with this book.

The first thing that really irked & made me wonder about Harris' knowledge of the wilderness, is when the pack wants to hunt on Sookie's land. It's 20 acres! Are you serious? I could understand 120 acres, but not 20. What were they going to do, run around in a big circle? Deer & all other large animals cover miles of land. I have 700 acres of hunting land & it still takes an effort to bring in deer. My yard alone is 2 acres, so I can easily imagine a 20 acre land plot. Why would they even consider Sookie's land, when they have all of the Louisianna wilderness? Not very imaginative on Harris' part. I know that it was recommended by someone, but still, any good pack leader would have scoffed at the idea.

Did anyone else notice all of the plugs? I understand True Blood being the only beverage mentioned, because of HBO, but do I need a Marie Callender's pot pie commercial in the middle of a book? Although, the Little Debbie honey bun commercial did peek my interest.

I just get the feeling that Harris' Sookie writing skills have been tainted by HBO's True Blood & her website's forums. I've been there, I've read all of the recommendations that her fans would like to see in her next book. On True Blood, we know that Alcede will be in the next season. So let's write him into D-I-T-F & make him mention his feelings for Sookie. Eric's maker was in this past season of True Blood...let's write him into D-I-T-F...For all of the Bill fans, let's write him into the book, & just have wasted pages because it has absolutely NO relevance to the book. Every little fan tid bit has been added.

I think Harris needs to seclude herself from her fans' and HBO's influences. It seems like this was a fanfic over an original. I could go on & on but am allowed only 2000 characters.

horrible

the sookie series needs to end. this book was awful. what was it about? walking towards the kitchen to drink coffee and eat pot pies. doing dishes because someone else did the cooking. taking a kid to park and then macdonalds. how convenient that the fbi isn't interested in sookie anymore. now that would have been a good story. and why does sookie like eric? and why does bill like sookie? this book did not have a plot. there was little to zero conflict. no beginning, no middle and no end. it reminded me of a soap opera. absolutely terrible. sooooo disappointed. i waited a year for this. go back to writing mysteries charlaine.

As much as I love Sookie

I have really enjoyed the Sookie series, loved it really, but I'm thinking it's time to bring the Southern Vampire to a close. If you've read the Harper Connolly and/or Aurora Teagarden mysteries, you'll know that Harris is fully capable of bringing a series to a satisfying conclusion. This episode was entertaining, Sookie's a hoot as always, but the tale doesn't have any new twists or turns, just more of the same conflicts any girl dating a man in the throes of corporate upheaval might expect. I'm waiting for her to fall for Sam and live happily ever after.

Good, but something missing

I was really excited about this book, but I must admit that something was lacking. Although the story line was cute and entertaining as always... there were LOTS of loose ends. I was also disappointed there wasn't more Sookie-Eric time. I love them as a couple.

Lacking - Not Worth The Wait

I really enjoy these books. I also liked the first year of True Blood - the second was lacking.
I do have to say this book was also lacking and not worth the wait.
I agree with reviewer Jamie, but I think a true fan with talent would have done a better job.
My favorite books were the first and the fourth. This book would have to be my least favorite of the series.
I didn't wait for a credit, and paid for the book.
That was probably the good news.

So many strings tied up

I loved this addition to the series. The way the book ends is similar to the last book in the sense that there is no major cliff hanger. Dead in the Family really ties up a few loose ends and you get a deeper look into the main story archs. Sookie is thinking so practically and Eric showed a lot of his own personality behind his tough vampy exterior. Yet another historical mystery is solved and this time it is bloody. This book felt like it's own story and even though i was afraid when the name Debby Pelt came up, but i was pleased to have it dismissed just as quick as it appeared. [I have been so sick of that particular character] I liked how the roles between Sookie and Eric were flipped and we got a deeper look into the families of our favorite characters. The door on the Eric/Sookie/Bill triangle has also seen a significant change. I like how Ms. Harris positions it. This book is an essential for this series and i can't help but feel sad knowing it will be another 364 days until a new book. Use a credit or buy it while it is on sale this week, but either way you must download this book.

More depth then I was expecting ...

The series is nearly finished, I started listening to these books a few weeks ago and so I have been listening to one after another with little break between.

I was concerned going into this book because of all the reviews that claimed it was so horrible. Oddly I think I liked this book better than nearly all save the one with Eric losing his memory.

There was a lot more working things out emotionally, mentally, etc in this book. This book is huge on showing some of the inner workings of all the main characters and does a wonderful job of providing depth where it had been lacking before. Massive insight into Eric as a person. More insight to nearly all the main characters.

At this point in the story, if you are looking at this book, you should get it, it you haven’t read the others, start at the start :)

She's lost a fan. This last book is awful.

I don't expect high literature from this series, but it's usually fun and you get involved with the characters. Not this one. I alternated from irritation and frustration to just plain bored.

I was very, very disappointed with this book. That said, I'm sure if you're a die-hard Trueblood fan, you'll probably want to see for yourself.

I will say that Ms. Harris seemed to have ADD with this book and just sort flitted from one story to the next trying to put out fires she had left burning from other books. Her resolution to a long-time tension between two characters was so lame it was laughable. (can't say more without spoiling! None of the characters, including Sookie had any charm in this one.

Not as good as the rest of the series

I love this series, don't get me wrong, but this book was weak and lacking. The storyline was barely advanced from the last book. The remaining mysteries are not enough to make me excited for the next one. The characters are little changed, or advanced, from the last book, and the secondary characters were used effectually.

I guess I was just looking forward to this book so much,that I was bound to be disappointed. But, I know that this book could have been better. As always, the narrated was superb. I just wish that the book was as good as the rest of the series.

Boring

Compared to the other Sookie books, this book was thin and boring.