Book Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Title: Dead Reckoning
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #11
Author: Charlaine Harris
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Published: 05/03/2011
Publisher: Ace
Genre(s): Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery

DESCRIPTION

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover, Eric Northman, and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...



MY THOUGHTS

I found this eleventh in the Sookie Stackhouse series to be much more to my liking than the previous book, Dead in the Family. Some of the things that pleased me in the book:
  • I appreciated that Sookie, in the midst of this unbelievably harrowing life she leads, worried about things like being a good hostess, keeping up her family home, and exhibiting compassion to those deserving of it.
  • Sookie's inner dialogue was great! Her exclamation of "Irrelevant!" following silly thoughts, especially during times of peril, was hilarious!
  • I know Bill "done her wrong", but darn it, I like the Southern Gentleman part of his character...it's what's left of his humanity.
  • I admired Sookie for being responsible ("taking care of business")—giving Sam the money and preparing for the baby shower before the "big showdown."
  • I am fond of the author's characters, Lily Bard and Jack Leeds, from her Shakespeare Series, and was pleased they made a brief cross-over appearance.
  • Continuity issues may have "ruined" the book for other readers, but with my inability to remember such detail, this didn't bother me much.
  • I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not seeking a strong plot in these books. I am looking to be diverted when I read a Sookie Stackhouse book, and I feel, in that area, Dead Reckoning accomplished it quite well.

Comments

Netherland said…
Sookie spends this book doing just that. Pieces are falling into place for her. Ms. Harris is shoring up plot lines preparing for the series end (2 more books) Old plot lines are resolved. Sookie contemplates her relationships, and peoples motives. An Appearance is made by most every major player in the Sookie series. I thoroughly enjoyed the book in a very bittersweet sort of way. It's the first book where you can feel the series is ending.