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Book Review of Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 10)

Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse, Bk 10)
nantuckerin avatar reviewed on + 158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11


The only problem I ever have with Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books is that they're so damn good, I devour them in a heartbeat and am once again left morosely staring at the calendar, trying to figure out how long I have to wait until the next series installment. Dead in the Family was no exception.

In Dead in the Family, Sookie is recovering from her brutal attack during the war with the fairies. She and Eric are settling into a normal relationship pattern, and she's come to terms with her feelings for him, admitting that she loves him and wants to be with him.

Of course, nothing is that simple in Bon Temps. This time, family issues cause stress on her relationship -- both from her own family, in the form of her 5-year-old nephew and fellow telepath, Hunter, and from Eric's sire and brother, who come into town without warning in need of help. (Incidentally, these new characters were a real treat, and must have been fun to write. I enjoy the nuggets of history readers are provided through these immortal characters -- and it's always fun to see what famous figure Harris will throw in to the mix next.)

More plot tension is also provided when "ghosts" from the past pop up again to cause trouble for Sookie, and add even more drama to her life. You can't help but feel sorry for the poor girl.

We say goodbye (at least temporarily) to series regulars like Amelia, Sookie's roommate, but meet other new and interesting additions to the Bon Temps community -- like Judith, a vampire "sibling" of Bill's who bears a surprising resemblence to his Civil War-era, human wife. Harris is once again expert in keeping the action moving through use of supporting characters, without neglecting her fan favorites, and I'm especially intrigued to see where this storyline will go in future novels.

It's no secret that I am hugely "Team Eric" when it comes to Sookie's love life, so I'm cautiously optimistic about the path Harris seems to have her herione on. However, since Ms. Harris is also a genius of mystery and surprising twists at the end, I won't get too comfortable as I settle in for the long wait for her next book.