Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress working in a backwoods bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie is outgoing and charming, but the townspeople tend to shy away from her. You see, Sookie has a gift. She can hear the thoughts of others. Although some might think this would be appealing talent to have it’s actually more of a curse. Sookie spends her entire day blocking out the thoughts of others. Imagine what it must be like working in a bar trying to shield yourself against the voices talking in your head.

Bill Compton just moved back to his homestead in town. Bill also has a secret but it’s one which everyone knows about. He’s a vampire.

When Bill walks into Merlotte’s, the bar where Sookie works, she’s initially excited to see him – she’s never seen a vampire up close before. And when she realizes that she’s unable to hear his thoughts, she even more intrigued. She’s never met anyone whose mind she couldn’t read. To her, being around someone (especially a man) who’s not invading her mind with their thoughts is a luxury she thought she’d never experience – it’s absolute paradise.

In Sookie’s world vampires are out of the closet. Everyone knows they exist and in fact, they have to pay taxes. But communities like Bon Temps tend to have small town mentalities and therefore not everyone is pleased that a vampire has moved into the area. Their prejudices and suspicions about this supernatural stranger are all too obvious.

Sookie however, is immediately attracted to Bill. She’s almost honored to serve him a warm bottle of TruBlood, a synthetic beverage developed by the Japanese. So she’s a bit concerned when later, a couple of bar patrons lure Bill outside. Sookie goes after them and discovers that they’re “drainers”, people who attack vampires, subdue them by wrapping them in chains, and then take their blood. Drainers then sell vampire blood on the black market. Because the blood is so powerful a small drop goes a long way. But there’s a downside: ingesting too much vampire blood can make a human insane.

Sookie succeeds in saving Bill’s life but not without a price: he has to suck her blood in order to recuperate. Although this is a new experience for Sookie it’s not entirely unenjoyable.

Thus begins the relationship between Bill and Sookie.

And thus begins a string of murders.

Women who have dated vampires are being brutally killed. At first Sookie’s brother Jason (a guy who hasn’t met a woman he doesn’t like) is the prime suspect because he’s dated the women being killed and his anti-vampire sentiment is well known. But when a close relative of Jason’s is killed suspicion shifts away from him and lands on Bill. It’s then that Sookie decides to use her mind reading talent to determine the true identity of the killer. Unfortunately, this puts her in the crosshairs of the killer.

The romance between Bill and Sookie is sweet, but it’s not without its challenges. They have to endure prejudice from townspeople and vampires alike and this puts them in dangerous situations. Even Sookie’s friends express disdain at their relationship and distance themselves from her.

Charlaine Harris knows how to weave a tale of intrigue, romance, and suspense. Her characterization of Sookie is so vivid that even before True Blood aired, I knew what she looked like, how she walked, and how she would react in different situations. Sure, True Blood brought her to the small screen but she was already very much alive in my mind.

Dead Until Dark is funny, suspenseful and thoroughly engrossing. Fantasy fans will love Sookie’s wit and enjoy getting to know the cast of supporting characters. True Blood Season 1 was based on Dead Until Dark but the book contains several other wonderful scenes not shown on the TV show. If you like True Blood you’ll LOVE Dead Until Dark. This first book in the Southern Vampire Mystery series is top notch and sure to please fantasy fans.

Dead Until Dark is available from all major booksellers.

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See also: Sookie Stackhouse Book 2 - Living Dead in Dallas