Sookie Stackhouse Book 9 – Dead and Gone

In Sookie’s world vampires co-exist with the human race. They “came out of the closet” several years ago and demonstrated their ability to live amongst mankind, due in part to the development of a synthetic blood substitute.

In Dead and Gone the werewolf/shifter community decides to follow suit. After all, they’re closer to “normal” than vampires right? They can withstand the sun, they’re warm-blooded, their skin isn’t pale, and they can eat real food. Who cares if they grow fur and howl at the moon every few weeks?

They decide to reveal themselves to the world on national television by having one of their kind turn furry during a live broadcast. Their unveiling is met with mixed reviews; some question whether other supernatural races exist whereas others applaud their honesty and willingness to trust that the human race will embrace their diversities. Overall, people seem to be taking the announcement fairly well.

Until a were is brutally murdered and placed in the Merlotte parking lot.

With Sookie, when it rains it pours: the recent were murder has Jason once again on the prime suspect list; two of Sam’s relatives are brutally attacked and Sookie has to take over managing Merlotte’s; a new vampire king is interested in using Sookie to his advantage; and her fae relatives are at war with a faction of human-hating faeries that want to kill Sookie because of her half-fae heritage.

So it’s no wonder that Dead and Gone shows us a more reflective Sookie, one who wonders about some of the choices she’s made in life. Sookie realizes that although she’s still a caring person, she’s also become somewhat hardened and jaded because of the numerous life-and-death situations she’s dealt with. Before she knew much about the supernatural world her life consisted of going to work, shielding herself from other people’s thoughts, and looking after her home.

Her increased awareness of the supernatural community has come at a price: she’s lost several loved ones and acquaintances; she’s been targeted by a serial killer; she’s been kidnapped by religious fanatics; her house has been set on fire; and she’s been violently attacked by monstrous creatures more times than she cares to remember. Sookie keeps plugging along because that’s her nature, but in Dead and Gone she’s much more cautious about the decisions she makes.

Dead and Gone is a writing coup for Charlaine Harris. Several loose ends are wrapped up in this book and unfortunately, at least one character from previous books is killed however the storyline kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. The character development is superb, the pacing is quick, and the suspense is, well, downright suspenseful. I used to think that Book #4, Dead To The World was my favorite in the series but it’s been usurped by this entry. If you love well-written urban fantasy with a bit of humor and adventure thrown in you’ll thoroughly enjoy Dead and Gone.

Dead and Gone is available from online retailers and booksellers.

Also, check out the entire collection of Sookie Stackhouse Books in Order.