Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

[slowfox]

I obviously spoke too soon when I was attempting to list all of Sookie's suitors, because now we have Quinn dating her! Actually, I don't like Quinn that much, so I'm hoping that this won't be a long-lasting thing.

I was a bit puzzled by the plot in this book, since it centres around Sookie's cousin's murder in New Orleans. The murder happened some time ago, but this is the first time we get to read of it in the series, as far as I remember, and yet the way the story's written, it's clear that Sookie knew quite a bit about Hadley's life as a vampire (she'd only recently been turned, and was the Queen of Louisiana's squeeze for a while).

Loose ends from the Debbie business are still dogging Sookie (and her new beau), and our heroine also manages to thwart the scheming King of Arkansas' grand plan in the course of the tale, too.

In the overall scheme of things, I didn't think this instalment was quite as good as the previous five: although we got introduced to some interesting characters, and we had the familiar two-intertwined-but-separate plots through the story, it didn't seem to have quite the same zing about itself.

Still enjoyable, of course, but this particular book felt a little more by-the-numbers than its predecessors.

Comments

[glittertine]

Two more, and then I can't read your reviews any more! (The last one's not out in paperback yet, so Ina, who I've been borrowing them from, hasn't bought it yet.)

Isn't Quinn a Zero? >_>

Butbutbut - Amelia! Amelia is cool. If only for that reason, I liked this book despite the blandness of Quinn (which I count as one of the lapses in Sookie's taste, because, really, how far can physical attraction go when the guy is boring - then again, Bill. >_>). Well, in any case, I thought Amelia was da bomb, plus I thought the New Orleans vampire structure was really interesting.

[slowfox]

Two more,

I know! I have them both, too, and am half-way through All Together Dead, but as you note, the final book isn't out in paperback yet. Just watch them change the cover design for the entire series for that one, and then I'll have to wonder whether to buy the hardback, which obviously won't match *twitch* or buy a non-matching paperback *double twitch* </OCD> :-P

I'm not quite sure how I can find a guy who morphs into a seven foot Bengal Tiger boring, but most surely I do. He's awfully smug, too, but not in an Eric kinda way, and I intensely dislike that he always calls Sookie 'Babe'.

Amelia is cool - warming to her more in All Together Dead, and LOLing at Bob's current predicament. I did wonder about the oft-mentioned but never used attic space at Casa Stackhouse - had fears that something unspeakably horrid was lurking up there, but evidently not, now that Amelia's moved in.

I think, in order of preference, I'd say:

Sookie/Eric (because yes, they're cool)
Sookie/Sam (bit sorry that we're not seeing quite so much of Sam atm)
Sookie/Calvin (seriously - I kinda like Hotshot)

and then I'm not interested...

[glittertine]

Hahahah you seriously did just list your pairing preferences, that's awesome!! I can't believe you did that. \:D/ For me, it's Sookie/Eric all the way, but I'm just not OTPish about it. I might not like whomever else they're seeing (if Eric can be said to be "seeing" anyone, ever), but after so many books and the resolution of Bill etc., I trust the author to not screw (heh!) either of them with someone I don't like, long-term. I think that by now, it's well established that Eric has soulmate dabs on Sookie and the other way around. Likewise, we know Sam is the quintessential good guy, though if she used him as a "fall back" without a proper romance bit I'd actually feel kind of insulted on his behalf. Calvin, well, there is a thing to be said for honesty, and he certainly is that, never trying to hide anything from Sookie. I'm not a great fan of his, but he does have my respect. Alcide is complicated, and I think out of the running for good by this book, because he's too wrapped up in his own struggles. As for slashy ships, I just don't see Sookie swinging that way, she's too attracted to Alpha Males (though I do think Eric would be apoplectic if Sookie ever started dating Pam - and would LOVE to see that *grins*). Amelia, well, too much of a girl-friendship going there, so no. What I would love to see would be the Queen successfully hitting on Sookie, but I think that just won't happen. *sadface*

[Even though I have a firm picture of Sophie-Anne as a teenaged vampire in my head, it took only one episode of True Blood having her cast significantly older - 20-23 looking - for me to have her almost replaced in my mental view of the character. Hence, I can ship her without trouble now. - They wrote her into S2, with both Bill and Eric going to ask her for help with the Maenad.]

Also, oh dear, the trouble with the non-matching covers! Your tough decision, I do not envy you it! ;) Ina has the 'merican paperbacks, which do have the cutest cover art (I didn't like it at first, and now I think it's awesome), and hopefully won't change until the series is done!

Quinn. Babe-calling. Issues. *killz*

:edited for speshul spellings reason:

[slowfox]

As for slashy ships, I just don't see Sookie swinging that way

She explicitly tells Amelia that she doesn't 'do' girls in All Together Dead (which, I'm sure, sunk more than a few ships). You're right, though, it would be fun to see Eric's reaction to Sookie/Pam (I *love* it when Pam starts giggling on the phone when Sookie tells her she can't make the Friday for Eric because she's got a date :D)

Thinking it through, I reckon if anyone could induce Sookie to swing that way it'd be Sophie-Anne, who is made of awesome, but also slightly scary. Just love the fact that none of the Arkansas vamps survived the wedding celebration at Sophie-Anne's 'party barn' in New Orleans. Gosh, convenient :-)

I'm not keen on the 'merican covers. But then, the UK covers aren't that great. But currently they all match. I will be most put out if I end up having to break teh bookshelf pretty with a non-matching final instalment (as an aside, I find it a bit perturbing that the cover girl's eyes are always cropped out).

And OK, just watched the 30-second clip of TrueBlood that they had on that site and think I may need to watch the series as a whole: 26 October, duly noted.

[carolanne5]

Actually the pairing that would really get to Eric must be Sookie/Claudine; his one true love and a fairy, *nods*.

[slowfox]

I could possibly see Sookie/Pam, Sookie/Amelia, Sookie/Tara, but I cannot see Sookie/Claudine... Although yes, it would certainly drive Eric Up. The. Wall. :D

I'm not sure which book it is, but there's a point where Sookie states that she doesn't go for girls, so scotching any ideas of Bon Temps femmeslash :-(

[carolanne5]

I can explain the puzzle of the sudden appearance of Sookie's cousin. In between the two novels Charlene Harris wrote a short story for a Vampire anthology called "Bite". The short story, called "One Word Answer" covers the Sookie's introduction into Hadley's death and investigation.

It puzzled me so much I had to go searching the web for answers.

... Still enjoyable, of course, but this particular book felt a little more by-the-numbers than its predecessors....

I completely agree, it didn't feel as satisfying. BUT OMG (just remembered) the exposure of Bill's real reason for arriving in Bon Temps! Ouch, that hurts. Just how much of the whole mainstreaming was real?

[slowfox]

Ouch indeed, re Bill's original motivation for moving to Bon Temps... and no matter how much he might protest that future feelings were genuine, methinks his bridges are well and truly burnt now.

It also makes Bill's suggestion that Sookie should hook up with Eric waaaaaaaaaaaaay back when, if he were to meet an untimely end, seem somewhat... sinister. Was he saying that because he thought Eric would be her protector, or because that would mean that Sophie-Ann would have continued access to her...

Of all the ones I've read to date, I did feel that this was the weakest instalment, possibly not helped by the disconnection that was felt when Hadley suddenly arrived (and departed) with seemingly no explanation.