The Barnes & Noble Review
The seventh installment of Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire saga (after 2006's Definitely Dead) marks a decidedly dramatic turn in the series that features lovable telepathic Louisiana barmaid Sookie Stackhouse. What started out as a relatively lighthearted amalgam of romance, paranormal fantasy, and mystery has gradually evolved into a complex and wildly compelling literary juggernaut comparable to Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake novels.
In All Together Dead, Sookie is trying to put past failed relationships behind her and has a new man in her life: the handsome and mysterious shapeshifter Quinn. But in the wake of the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, and with the entire Louisiana supernatural community still reeling, Sookie is summoned by Sophie-Anne Leclerq (the Queen of Louisiana) to accompany her to a historic regional vampire summit. However, the conference -- where entire power bases could be gained or lost -- is filled with friction and ill will; and when delegates are found brutally murdered, Sookie finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy-ridden power play where the unlikeliest of suspects could be a cold-blooded killer…
Considering this series' ever-increasing cast of memorable characters (a half-wit bloodsucker named Bubba who happens to be an undead Elvis Presley, quirky telepath Barry the Bellboy, et al.) and a fast-paced, witty, and intricate story line that would rival any daytime soap, it's no surprise that HBO is in the process of developing a show (True Blood) based on Harris's Southern Vampire novels. Fans of authors like the aforementioned Hamilton, Kim Harrison, and Patricia Briggs who have yet to discover Sookie Stackhouse should do so as soon as possible -- before Bubba leaves the building. Paul Goat Allen
Bestseller Harris mixes humorous Southern-fried fantasy with biting satirical commentary in her seventh novel to feature Sookie Stackhouse, the bubbly telepathic barmaid from Bon Temps, La. (after 2006's Definitely Dead). Sookie attends an all-important central U.S. vamp summit on the shores of Lake Michigan as a "human geiger counter" for Sophie-Anne Leclerq, vampire queen of a Louisiana weakened by Katrina and who will be tried during the event for murdering her king. Sookie knows the queen is innocent, but she's hardly prepared for other shocking murders, not to mention protests by the Fellowship of the Sun, a right-wing antivampire movement. Her sleuthing skills, along with those of her new telepath friend, Barry the Bellboy, are put to the extreme test. Harris juggles a large cast, including several romantic contenders for Sookie's heart, with effortless exuberance. HBO's True Blood, based on this addictive series, is scheduled to begin its TV run this fall. 11-city author tour. (May)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Sookie Stackhouse, the telepathic barmaid from Bon Temps, LA, returns in Harris's (Definitely Dead) seventh mystery, a strange brew of vampire fantasy (weretigers beside werewolves!), romantic comedy, and murder. Sookie uses her telepathic powers to assist the Queen of Louisiana in fighting a murder charge that surfaces at a vampire summit on the shores of Lake Michigan. Titled True Bloodfor HBO, the series is scheduled for broadcast this fall. But narrator Johanna Parker just can't do justice to the large cast of characters, with male voices particularly poorly rendered. Purchase where demand for Sookie warrants.
—Sandy Glover
Praise for #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse novels
“It’s the kind of book you look forward to reading before you go to bed, thinking you’re only going to read one chapter, and then you end up reading seven.”—Alan Ball, executive producer of True Blood
“Vivid, subtle, and funny in her portrayal of southern life.”—Entertainment Weekly
“Charlaine Harris has vividly imagined telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse and her small-town Louisiana milieu, where humans, vampires, shapeshifters, and other sentient critters live...Her mash-up of genres is delightful, taking elements from mysteries, horror stories, and romances.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“The series continues to be inventive and funny with an engaging, smart, and sexy heroine.”—The Denver Post
“Blending action, romance, and comedy, Harris has created a fully functioning world so very close to our own, except, of course, for the vamps and other supernatural creatures.”—The Toronto Star
Johanna Parker's perky narration is perfectly suited to Harris's heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, a bubbly, telepathic barmaid, and her world of vampires, fairies, and other supernaturals. Parker empathetically portrays the large cast of characters, including Sookie's boyfriend, weretiger Quinn; her fellow telepath, Barry Bellboy; the vampire queen of LA; and her roommate, Amelia. Sookie starts sleuthing at a vampire conference on the shores of Lake Michigan when vampires start dying. Parker's splendid pacing allows listeners time to absorb the action and emotions. Between the plot twists, romantic entanglements, and biting satirical commentary, listeners will be enthralled. S.C.A. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine
