But a simple murder case is not enough. Before Sookie and Bill can look into Lafayette's death, Eric, the local vampire leader, summons them to Shreveport. Eric has agreed to send them to Dallas, where Sookie's telepathic talents are needed to solve a disappearing vampire problem. Even before they get to Shreveport, stuff happens. Sookie has a run in with a maenad, who wants tribute from Eric, and decides to write him a note about it on Sookie's back. Bill barely gets Sookie to Eric's lair, where she can be healed. Don't expect Dallas to be any better. There, Sookie finds herself in conflict the local anti-vampire club, 'The Fellowship of the Sun,' and scheduled for sacrifice.

That, in two paragraphs, is just a hint of all the contents of Charlaine Harris's latest thriller about Sookie Stackhouse, northern Louisiana's answer to Anita Blake. And a very good answer she is. It's unfair to make a direct comparison, since the authors have different intentions, but Sookie is a near total contrast with Laurell Hamilton's heroine. Now no one who is a telepath and dates a vampire is 'normal,' but Sookie manages to come across as mostly 'just folks.' As do many of the other characters in the book. There is plenty of serious action, but Sookie's narration includes plenty of humor and wry insights as well.

There's quite a bit of sex as well, in case that's an issue for you. However, it's much less complex than what Anita Blake gets into. Harris has given Sookie's narration a straightforward, no non-sense style that will quickly make you a believer. If you haven't read the first volume in this series, 'Dead Until Dark,' by all means do so. Charlaine Harris has created a new kind of vampire story, part thriller, part detective story, part parody, and part romance. And just plain fun.


Truly enjoyable vampire mystery/romance   May 21, 2002
 30 out of 30 found this review helpful

Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire novels (Dead Until Dark and LIving Dead in Dallas)are reminiscent of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series,(a series I thoroughly enjoy reading over and over) but Sookie, the heroine of Ms. Harris's novels is less like Anita Blake and more like Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich's bounty Hunter ( another thoroughly enjoyable and re-readable series) Anita Blake is more polished and experienced, more at ease with her supernatural abilities than Sookie. Sookie is more human and fallible, kind of a Calamity Jane, but very likable. Her budding romance with a newly arrived vampire is fraught with misunderstandings between species, but they manage to communicate very well anyway. The vampires in this series make no excuses for what they are, predators, but still have a not so nasty side, especially since they are trying to "mainstream" and live with humans. Ms Harris throws in a few shapeshifters, colorful local residents, and reprehensible villains, both human and supernatural. Prepare to sit yourself down for a wonderful read. The plots were well thought out and equally well written. I am eagerly looking forward to her the next book in this series.


Southern Fried Vampire Mystery With a Dash of Romance   April 19, 2002
 28 out of 30 found this review helpful

I just love Charlaine Harris. I started to read her books with Real Murders, the first Aurora Teagarden mystery. I enjoyed the surprising changes the characters went through as that series continued. Next, Ms. Harris began writing the Lily Bard series of mysteries (they all have the word Shakespeare in the title), and once again, I enjoyed the mysteries, the characters, and the interesting way the series grew. Now Charlaine Harris has begun writing vampire mysteries, and the fun has really begun. What's not to like about Sookie Stackhouse? She's cute, she's funny, and she has a definite mind of her own. Then there's her boyfriend Bill the Vampire, her boss Sam the shapeshifter, and a small Louisiana town full of Bon Temps regulars to keep things interesting. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.

Charlaine Harris writes mysteries with a strong romantic undercurrent. She creates characters with realistic motivations and reactions. She doesn't follow a stale set of mystery writing rules, like always killing off the least likeable character, or keeping the detective character unchanged. Sometimes her choices as a writer will take your breath away, but that's what keeps her writing fresh and interesting.

Several reviewers mention Laurell K. Hamilton, and there are traces of Anita Blake's world here, but I don't expect to see Sookie packing knives and guns, nor are Charlaine Harris's books quite as "free-form" in their writing style as Hamilton's sometimes are. There is more humor and less gore. In some ways, they remind me more of Tanya Huff's series of vampire detective books, and if you liked both of those series, you'll probably enjoy the Sookie Stackhouse books.


Avid Reader & Reviewer   April 25, 2004
 27 out of 29 found this review helpful

Our favorite cocktail waitress is back again for another adventure. Living Dead in Dallas introduces us to the various political goings on in the vampire world. Sookie and the Vampire Bill have been invited to Dallas. The Dallas Vampire's need Sookie's telepathic skills and she is drafted by Eric, the Viking vampire sheriff of Area 5 to help them. Sookie feels obligated to Eric as he has recently saved her from a very nasty creature with a venomous bit. Off to Dallas she and Bill will go.

Of course things are not as they seem. With a very scary group of religious nuts and a suicidal vampire, Sookie is soon overwhelmed with all that is happening. To complicate life even more, back in Bon Temps one of Sookie's co-workers meets a grisly end. Life will never be simple for Sookie and Bill, but Sookie never expected this much action.

Living Dead in Dallas is another fantastic adventure created by Charlaine Harris. From page one we are thrust into Sookie and Bill's world and the action does not slow down much at all. I loved the description of Dallas with its vampire airline and hotel. This is the kind of book you read all day and night because you are unable to put it down.

Charlaine Harris is the other of three more Sookie novels; Dead Until Dark, Club Dead, and Dead to the World, to be published May, 2004. She is also the author of two popular mystery series; the Aurora Tegarden series and the Lily Bard Shakespeare series.


You Have Got to Love Sookie!   April 8, 2002
 26 out of 27 found this review helpful

I normally expect my heroines to be tough, women who can coolly assess a situation then kick butt. What I got in Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris, is a heroine who is kind of kooky, reads minds, dates a vampire, and isn't afraid to yell for help when she's in a situation way over her head. While this sounds like a turn off from what I normally expect, believe me, it isn't. There is no way not to like cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse. She's got a figure to kill for, the uncanny ability to read minds, doesn't care about conventional society, and is pretty content with her life until she is reminded she is on loan out to help the vampires.

It seems that Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill have agreed for Sookie to help the vampires when they need help. The leader of the local nest of vampires, Eric is sending Sookie to Dallas to look for a missing vampire. For those of you who have read the first book in this series, take heart, the gorgeous Eric plays a larger role. Now take a backwater gal out of her little hometown and send her by plane to Dallas with her boyfriend traveling in a coffin and see what happens! Sookie ends up way over her head dealing with vampires, werewolves, and fanatics who want to end the existence of all supernatural beings. There is also a subplot with Sookie dealing with the death of one of her friends who just happened to be a member of a sex club. Use your imagination and you can pretty well guess what happens with this plot!

Charlaine Harris has taken Sookie to another level. While she is still the ditsy waitress we were first introduced to in Dead Until Dark, she has managed to develop into a likeable heroine, who while still unconventional, captivates our attention and makes us root for her throughout the book. Like everyone else, I can't wait until the next book to see what new mess Sookie manages to get into.