Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2) by Charlaine Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)
Book Review: More of the same
Summary: 4 Stars
In this, the 2nd book in the series, we find Sookie getting familiar with her telepathic abilities and using them to uphold her end of the bargain with Vampire Eric. This book is more of the same but we do get to learn more about Eric and how cunning he truly is, we also get a little more background information on her boyfriend, Bill. There's more humour here as Sookie continues to be na?ve and slightly vulnerable in a world where she really is just mortal. It's an okay read with an easy pace but there are no surprises here. Read it if you liked the characters in the 1st book and you desperately need to know what happened next. The Vampire's are becoming a more intricate part of the series, so obviously, if you're into your Vamps you're going to enjoy this book, probably more than the 1st one.
The series is growing on me, and it probably will you too!
Book Review: The series continues...
Summary: 4 Stars
Sookie Stackhouse had been minding her own business, but Bad Luck found her. First one of her co-workers was murdered and no one else seemed to care. Then a beastly creature, called a maenad, gave Sookie's back a painful lashing laced with poison. A few vampires (Bill and Eric included) sucked the poison from her veins to save her. So when the vampires wanted Sookie to help them out with her special telepathic abilities, she agreed. Bill and Sookie were sent to Dallas to help locate a missing vampire. A large religious group called "The Fellowship Of The Sun" was up to its neck in the mess. One slip by Sookie and the massacre would be awful.
**** This novel picks up close to where the first left off. This book, just like the previous one, is a mystery story that can stand by itself. Yu do not have to read the first to fully understand what is going on. The secondary characters from the first book are in this one too, however, more time is spent on the mystery. Very good reading here. ****
Book Review: She's Back!!
Summary: 4 Stars
Sookie Stackhouse, the attractive, telepathic barmaid from Bon Temps, LA, is back in "Living Dead In Dallas," Book 2 of Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series. Sookie's heretofore lonely life as a single is no more. She is in love and the feeling is reciprocated. Folks in her backwater northern Louisiana town always treated her as if she had a disability. They made her feel ashamed of her "gift," the ability to read other people's minds. What were they thinking?? The major disadvantages to her telepathy are her inability to keep the voices at bay, even though she has learned to shield herself somewhat. She had also been unable to have a relationship until recently. How can you fall in love when you know everything your boyfriend is thinking? Boyfriend Bill is just what she needed...almost. Tall, dark and very handsome, albeit very pale, Bill Compton is a vampire who lived, and died, during the Civil War. Sookie had always wanted to meet a vampire, ever since vampirism became legal a few years before the novel begins. I don't think she envisioned herself coming home to one at night though. Sookie cannot hear Bill's thoughts, which he thoughtfully blocks from her. Peace and quiet at last! Bill is doing his best to assimilate into the general human population. He dines on bottled blood rather than hunt humans, and is making friends with people in Bon Temps, especially among the town's Descendants of the Glorious Dead Society. After all, he is a war vet. He even involves himself with the local vampire self-governing body in Shreveport, to gain their protection for Sookie and himself. Bill has been made Vampire Investigator of Area 5. In the politically complex vampire society, Sookie, as Bill's girlfriend, is now obligated to utilize her telepathic powers for Area 5 Nest's purposes.
One early morning, while she is on day shift, Sookie finds a dead friend's body in a cop car outside of Merlotte's Bar. A few evenings later, on the way to Shreveport with Bill, she is attacked and almost killed by a murderous Maenad accompanied by a feral razorback boar. Bill rushes her to the Fangtasia, a vampire bar, owned by Eric, Master Vampire and kingpin of the local power structure. Sookie has been poisoned by the Maenad and is dying. The only way to save her is to drain her blood and replace it with a human-blood transfusion. After saving Sookie's life, Eric expects her to do a job for him, quid pro quo. It seems that the vampires of Area 6, (Dallas), have a problem they are unable to resolve on their own. One of their number has gone missing, and the Dallas leader thinks a fanatic cult might have kidnapped him. Eric sends Sookie to the Dallas vampires as a consultant...and she takes Bill with her.
The story turns into a roller-coaster ride of an adventure from this point, with one surprise after another and much action of the preternatural sort. Sookie is almost kidnapped from the moment she steps off the plane - and that is only the beginning. She also discovers and interacts with supernatural beings she had thought only mythical...and some of these critters are downright nasty.
"Living Dead In Dallas" is plotted like a mystery novel, in spite of the other-worldly elements. There are thrills, chills and suspense throughout! Sookie's development as a person takes center stage in the storyline, along with the development of her relationship with Bill. And it looks like sexy Master Eric is going to play a greater role in future novels. Yummy!
Author Charlaine Harris's writing is excellent, as is her sense of humor. Her characters are unusual, to say the least. Sookie Stockhouse is a real sweetie, though somewhat naive. However, she is growing fast and I look forward to watching her develop. Her adventures are dark, but her self-deprecating manner helps to lighten things up. Unlike some, I preferred "Dead Until Dark," the first book, to this one. The writing seemed tighter and the pace was more consistent. Don't get me wrong though. It is just the difference between a 4 and 5 star rating. I enjoyed the novel - and if you like Sookie, you will also.
JANA
Book Review: Living Dead in Dallas
Summary: 5 Stars
The story of Sookie Stackhouse and her vampire boyfriend Bill continues. Sookie's colleague gets murdered and no-one seems to care except Sookie. Then Sookie gets blood poisoning which her lovely vampire friends have great satisfaction in sucking the poison from her veins! But, they did save her life... Sookie gets asked to use her telepathic skills to find a missing vampire but, the vampires soon break their good behaviour condition over a nice blonde...
Bill involves himself with the local vampire self-governing body in Shreveport to get protection for him and Sookie and Bill becomes Vampire Inspector for Area 5, thus Sookie being Bill's girlfriend has to use her telepathic powers for Area 5's purposes.
So Sookie leaves work one day to find her friend and colleague dead in a police car outside the cocktail bar. A few days later she is out with Bill on their way to Shrevepotrt and she is attacked by a Maenad, Bill then gets her to Fangtasia which is a vampire bar owned by Eric the master Vampire! Then this is where Sookie has the poison taken out of her blood by the vampires.
This was brilliant and my favourite of the Southern Vampires series so far, lots to keep you enthralled!
Book Review: enjoyable sequel that takes us to new places...
Summary: 5 Stars
Inevitably some of the newness is lost when reading the second book in a series, but Charlaine Harris wisely takes the action to a new location which keeps things fresh. Having said that I didn't get a clear picture of Dallas, beyond a reference to a certain grassy knoll. The action could have taken place in any American city but this didn't unduly detract from my enjoyment. There are two mysteries to be solved, one in Dallas and another in Sookie Stackhouse's hometown, the latter bookends the action of the former. The strength and abilities of Sookie's boyfriend Vampire Bill would mean that she had little to do, but he is sidelined effectively. How believably Charlaine can continue to do this remains to be seen. The first person narrative means there is an instant connection with the reader, though there is a crucial event that is relayed second hand, which robs the event of tension. This is a quick and enjoyable read, with great moments of humour, and a few shocking moments. You can read this book first, but if you start with Dead Until Dark then events will have a greater resonance for you.