NO spoilers for Dead in the Family
contains spoilers for previous books in series!!
Book Order (Southern Vampire Series)
- Dead Until Dawn
- Living Dead in Dallas
- Club Dead
- Dead to the World
- Dead as a Doornail
- Definitely Dead
- All Together Dead
- From Dead to Worse
- Dead and Gone
- Dead in the Family * * * 1/2
Links
Author’s Site : www.charlaineharris.com
Amazon Links : hardback / eBook – not available
This book in 6 words:
told husband leaving him for Eric
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
I love the series and there was no doubt in my mind that I would read Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris as soon as it was released. I actually took today off work so I could devote it to reading the book 
Am I glad I did? Yes. I liked the book a lot. However, it didn’t answer as many questions as it raised and it was much slower than previous books. It is definitely setting us up for something big in the next books. I did love how much time was devoted to Eric (of course) and am glad to see Sookie getting back to some form of herself. I’m going to have to agree with Wicked Little Pixie and say that this feels like the calm before the storm.
Brief Summary
After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she’s angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he’s under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie’s connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry…
- via Amazon.com
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
I can’t say there as much of a plot as the books in the beginning of the series had. You could say that Eric’s family visiting is the main story, but really they didn’t take up that much page time. Neither did the mystery with the weres. Mostly we just learned more about Eric (and Bill) while watching the world deal with Weres going public. Sookie and Claude are left to deal with the death of Claudine and there is some mystery involving who was left on this side of the closing Fae doors. Overall, it was a slower paced book with less action. I must say it was kind of nice not seeing Sookie getting beat-up. After the last book she deserves a break from that.
Characters
This book was centered around further building the characters. Sookie is dealing with being tortured and her new open love with Eric. We get to see her grow stronger and become more herself. I won’t say she’s the same Sookie we met in Dead Until Dawn, but she never will be for good reason. She’s much quicker to just say “let’s kill him and be done with it” while still having guilt issues with everyone who has lost their life due to her.
Eric gets a lot of page time as we explore his relationship with Sookie (although we are still left with a lot of questions). We get to see a new side of Eric with his “family” in town and it’s not all good…
The Weres are now in the spotlight and that is causing more trouble for them than they would like. Alcide isn’t quite the same guy now that he’s head of the pack.
The biggest surprise for me was how much time we get to spend with Claude. After losing his last sister and choosing to stay in our world, he is lonely and seeks out Sookie. He’s still an ass, but at least he makes us laugh.
Recommendations
I highly doubt I even need this section of the review. If you’ve read the first 9 books you’ll have to read this
Going Deeper
I will say that I was a little disappointed in this book. I think I was expecting too much. While I really did like it, it was missing the intense suspense and mystery that the previous books had. I miss how neatly the beginning of the series wrapped up with each book. You wanted to read more, but weren’t left in the middle of a story. The last couple of books have left you dying for more with a wait time near (or more) than a year. I hate to say that part of me will be happy when the series is over and I (hopefully) have a conclusion. Of course even when it’s over I’ll still need to reread them at least once a year
Dang! You read that fast
I just got home and my copy was on my front step so I will be reading it tonight and tomorrow night! I figured she eventually had to have a “filler” book to set the stage for what better be a Sookie/Eric happy ending cause unless that happens at the very end I will be disappointed (and have to read Dead to the World over and over and over again LOL)
@ Felicia : To be fair it’s only 311 pages
You’ll be surprised how fast you’ll get through it. “Filler” is a good word for this one. I don’t think I would be upset if the next one was coming out sooner 
Agreed! I’ll be reading DttW and this one over and over… but she couldn’t possible do that do us, right? They have to get a happy ending!
They have to or I will be stomping mad LOL
Though I honestly believe that Charlaine will do it right, she is after all a hopeless (ful) romantic. I think I read that in an interview she did once
Thank you for the awesome review!
I’m very pleased to hear that there’s a lot of ERIC TIME! I’m so over Bill, and I hope Sookie is too.
Gah! I will come back and read this review when I finish the book! I picked a bad time to get addicted to the BDB. *cries*
I have the book in my possession today and can’t wait to read it. If this is a lot of Eric, then I am sure I will like it ha ha.
@ Ashley : I cannot wait to see what you think of it!
@ Missie : Honestly, while this book is good… I don’t think it will kill you to wait and read it after the BDB
PS. I’m jumping back into the BDB series tonight!
@ Stacy (Wicked Walker) : It has a lot of Eric, but not enough (in my opinion there is no such thing as too much Eric lol). Can’t wait to read your review!
I gave up on Sookie after the first few books, but may have to go back and give her another chance. Great review!
Hey girl! You are a great book neighbor (my attempt at making an award): http://www.geekybloggersbookblog.com/2010/05/award-your-book-blogger-neighbor.html
@ Alexia561 : I didn’t love the series until probably book 4 (which is my favorite). I would say if you have time to give them another chance, do it! If you didn’t like them, then don’t read them because you feel like you should!
@ Felicia : Awww thanks!
Took a break from the boys to read this one and… was disappointed, just like you.
Calm before the storm… well, yeah, next book is going to be about Victor trying to get Eric’s position. Claude was great, but even his motives didn’t make sense. He could have just been straight with Sookie from the beginning, but then again, who understands that HOT fairy. (How many times were reminders of his Hotness shoved in our face?)
As I’m learning more about series and what makes them good, what makes them work, I can’t help but feel like this one should be Dead for Good. Yes, it is a sin to think that way with how madly in love with the Viking I am.
@ Missie : I would agree except I have to find out how she is going to pull everything together. I hope I don’t regret saying that :/