Nice review, Shannon. I've just added it to my shelf.

I'm looking forward to the next one :)

I'd compare it more to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series than I would the Anita Blake series - Anita Blake can be extremely gory sometimes - the Sookie series doesn't ever become horribly gruesome. (I've read them all - they are fabulous.)

Haven't read any of those books. I was thinking more that they're a similar style of vampire book. I don't have many books in that style to compare Sookie to :)

I read the first three in the Stephanie Plum series, but they got boring. The humor was overdone and Stephanie is an idiot.

I definitely want to avoid books with idiotic heroines!

I rather enjoyed the first couple of Anita Blake books, but found the series went in a direction I didn't like so I stopped reading. You may enjoy Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series. Kitty is a werewolf DJ who hosts a talk show for the "creatures of the night." In the first book, she's had a lot of bad things happen to her and is vulnerable. Later she grows, changes and turns into a very appealing and realistic heroine. I'm on the fourth book now and really enjoying this series.

I haven't heard of those. Thanks for the rec Nancy :)

I stand by liking Stephanie Plum novels - I find the humor really entertaining - a great pick-me-up, and a nice way to balence out some of the darker, violent, more suspenseful scenes in the later books of the series. There's a reason these books hit the top of the best seller list regularly - they are really entertaining and have broad appeal, at least to women. Plus, the men in her life are yummy. The Stephanie character might have average intellect, but she's got some endearing character traits, and she's very loyal to those she loves. That's why I feel a similar vibe to the Sookie series, though I admit that it's not a similarity that everyone would agree with.

What is the first Stephanie Plum book called? I'll check it out :) (always willing to give a book a go!)

One for the Money (A Stephanie Plum Novel)
by Janet Evanovich

Shannon,
I don't know if you've heard, but HBO optioned Harris' Sookie stories and they started 3 weeks ago. Right now, where I am, they come on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm on HBO. I don't know if you can get HBO up north, but I, for one, am enjoying seeing 'a' version of Sookie and surrounding characters coming to life.
J

Yes I did hear but we don't have HBO - possibly you have to pay extra for it? I saw some photos online of the cast and I'm not too excited with how the vampires look, what did you think of them? Perhaps they just don't come across very well in the photos?

I'm enjoying the series so far, but it IS HBO so there's a ton of sex and they have certainly spiced it up a bit. So far they are following the plot line of "Dead Until Dark" and she just met Eric and Pam on the last episode. It's always odd for me to see books made into movies or TV. I have 'pictures' of the characters in my head and they never quite 'match'. But I'm still liking it!!
J

I'm loving True Blood (the hbo series based on the books) and even went and read the first book in the series because of it. They've been sitting on my wishlist for years now but I never bothered with them because the covers look a little silly. However, I loved the first book and am waiting to get my paws on the next seven (rather impatiently, I might add, silly library).

I know what you mean Shelly, also the "Southern" part put me off for a while, for some reason, until I heard all the raves from friends.

I don't get HBO so I haven't seen any of it :( Wouldn't mind a new show to veg in front of!

I LOVE the show, and am on the fifth book! I grew up in the South, and now live in San Diego, and while the show or books may seem, to some, almost a parody.... they're not!!!! I grew up with these people, and love that Harris has captured them! I read in a few reviews that some fine her name laughable, but I actually have TWO cousins named Sookie. (one is Sukie) Not that unusual a name for Southerners.

Kandice, that's great to know - and I find her name really cute and it really suits her. I wouldn't have thought so but it works.

I've had to stop at the fourth book because they're not selling them in the bookshops at the moment, only the first one. I think maybe they're re-releasing them with new covers to match the show but it's frustrating because I'd like to keep reading them!

I have been buying them at Target! They have all 8 in stock, 25% less than the $7.99 cover price. I just found out the 9th book is coming out in May.

um how good is it? and how adultish? more than the H.O.N series??

I'm sitting here trying to think what "HON" stands for. Nope, can't think of it, so I can't compare.

They're good fun, dark at times, and sometimes people die. It's fairly adult but if you mean does it have sex and violence, then the answer is yes - not lots, and some books don't really have any (like so much "these days", it has more violence than sex). They're mysteries and can be pretty exciting. They're not like Anita Blake and Sookie is a bit of a "good girl". Does that help at all? I can't tell you if you'd like them.

H.O.N.-House Of Night Series
I was actually thinking about reading those books but it has so many mixed reviews?

Oooooohhhhh

I'd say they're very very different series!

Tina, maybe try the first one and if it doesn't grab you don't bother with the rest?

Thanks! I'll do just that!

I love this whole series. Every book.

I've never read these books, but am a big fan of the TV show on HBO. Looking forward to reading them after your review!

Is this the first book of the series? What order are they... I'm just so confused

Is this the first book of the series? What order are they... I'm just so confused... I bought this book the other day

Applebear wrote: "Is this the first book of the series? What order are they... I'm just so confused... I bought this book the other day"

Yep, you got the right book! I know it's hard to tell right? The publishers don't print the numbers on them because they want you to buy the wrong ones so you have to buy more! Sneaky isn't it.

You can find the whole series in order here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/series/42636-sookie-stackhouse I always use GR to find out the order of books in a series, it's very useful for that!

Who does Jason start dating in this book after the 2 women are found dead?

really nervous when reading it