Definitely dead

Sookie is once again called away from her little home town of Bon Temps on account of a vampire. Only this time it is to the city of New Orleans, and the vampire is her cousin, Hadley. Actually I should say 'was', for as we found out in the short story One Word Answer, Hadley had been killed, and

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Sookie is off to New Orleans to clean out Hadley's apartment and close out her estate.

But before Sookie can leave Bon Temps there is plenty to keep her occupied. Her ability is called upon to help a co-worker, and there are new people in Sookie's life. One is a new co-worker that Sookie is suspicious off, one is a new worker at Fangtasia, a vampire, who Sookie takes a liking too, and one is a man that Sookie takes a real liking too.

Once Sookie arives in New Orleans, things don't go as smoothly as Sookie hopes. There are surprises awaiting Sookie in Hadley's apartment. There are friends, and enemies, new and old. Kings and Queens, killers and kidnappers. There are obligations, revelations, allegations, confrontations, confessions, broken hearts, broken bodies and fancy dresses.

Sookie is shown New Orleans in all its forms, from the bright lights of the city, to the grand old Garden District, to the dark and damp swamps and bayous, whether she wanted to see it or not.

Sookie is learning more and more about the supernatural community everyday, and so too are we. Every moment brings new excitement and new challenges, this book will keep you on your toes and keep you guessing. I recommend reading the short story One Word Answer by Charlaine Harris, found in the book Bite, before reading this book as it provides a lot of background for this story, although I should say it is not entirely necessary.

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Most of Sookie's love interests kind of suck. However, in Definately Dead, we get to know Quinn a lot better and I actually think he's pretty good for Sookie. Bill reveals some news, which really made me dislike him. I hope Charlaine Harris stops the Bill/Sookie romance and puts Sookie with someone

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who clearly deserves her. Anyways, some interesting things happen in this book including a trip to New Orleans and we get to know the Queen of Louisianna a lot better, I think she's a fantastic character! One thing I do hope to see in future novels is a Sam-Sookie hook-up.

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This has been my least favorite of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. I didn't realize till I was almost finished with it that Harris had written a short story that went between the 5th and 6th novel that appeared in an anthology. Missing that short story definitely made a difference, because I kept

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checking to make sure I hadn't skipped a book. Also, there was an overall story arch. This book felt more like a bunch of loose ends from previous novels and introductions for future novels packed into one book. Not as enjoyable as the others, but I'm still reading the series so it wasn't that bad.

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Sookie Stackhouse is off to New Orleans in the sixth book of the Sookie Stackhouse series. She must go and clean out her cousins apartment after her murder. Of course Bill and Eric are in town, and a relatively new face, the Were-tiger Quinn, shows up. Someone's after Sookie and she can't figure

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out who until it's almost too late.
We learn a lot about Sookie in the book and go even deeper into the vampire world. Really great read!

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Definitely Dead is book 6 in the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Sookie, weary and battle scarred, once again has high hopes that her life can return to normal. She has enough stress as it is between her brother’s personal life, rebuilding her kitchen, Debbie Pelt’s family’s meddling, her broken

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heart, the dead demon left on her lawn, and the murder of her cousin Hadley. As it turns out, Hadley was a vampire and a favorite of the Queen of Louisiana. Sookie must go to New Orleans to clean out her cousin’s old apartment, which means entering the paranormal world of the vampires once more.

On the bright side, she has a new boyfriend. Her new boyfriend is a were-tiger named Quinn. Quinn is tall, bald, patient, and seemingly without drama. Unfortunately for them, they are attacked by crazed bitten weres on their first date. It is all downhill for Sookie from there. Weres and vampires attacking from all angles, oh my. Additionally, not only does Sookie want to clean out Hadley’s apartment, but she wants to find out what truly happened to her cousin. That opens up its own can of worms to add to the already smoldering pot of problems simmering.

I’ll be honest with you guys. If this had been the first or second book that I read in the series, I wouldn’t have continued. Though it was good, I gave it a lot more credit because I already know and love the characters. If Definitely Dead were my introduction to the Sookie Stackhouse world, I wouldn’t have thought twice about not picking up the next book. Don’t get me wrong, Definitely Dead is a good book, it just isn’t the type of book that would capture my attention and make want to read again.

A lot of the book just seemed to be… out of character. Sookie is slowly exiting the world of being your average every day telepathic waitress who is cutely modest to being a supervixen special something who has all the guys stare when she flips her hair. And Bill did a total 180. Only Eric was the same, which was a relief because I would take it too hard if he changed at all.

It is disappointing that there is such an influx of new characters because the old characters, the ones I enjoy, are being pushed to the wayside. I don’t need a whole new league of witches and boyfriends and vampire buddies to enjoy The Southern Vampire Mysteries. I just want to read about the world of Sookie and her close companions. Adding too many characters makes things overly complex and complicated. Of course, fresh blood is necessary to keep a book active, and new people are always coming and going in life, but within the limited confines of a book they only end up pushing out other characters since only so many can be in focus at a time.

Also, a word of warning. If you’ve ONLY read the books, you will be confused. If this book is to make sense to you from the start, I suggest you read the short story One Word Answer from Bite. The events of that story come to fruition in Definitely Dead and are unfortunately never mentioned anywhere else. So, if you haven’t read One Word Answer, you are going to be very confused about Hadley and the Queen and the Queen’s request. It doesn’t make sense that the story wasn’t included as a prelude or a first chapter, but I suppose it makes more money selling in parts.

I have high hopes for the next one and can only cross my fingers that Sookie and her world will return to how it was when I fell in love with it. I want Sookie to go back to being a normal girl with a special gift, not some half-supernatural creature like everyone else. How can I relate to her that way? And I want more of the old characters, more Eric and Bill and Sam.

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The bane of Sookie’s life (after the vampires and weres, that is,) consists of her family relationships. Her brother is trouble waiting to happen, and now her cousin Hadley is making trouble...from the grave! Once the consort of the Vampire Queen of New Orleans, Hadley has made Sookie her heir.

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However, is it a legacy that Sookie truly wants to accept?

It is painfully apparent from the get-go that someone doesn’t want Sookie to scrutinize Hadley’s past – or even her belongings. What’s a cocktail waitress to do?! Investigate of course. Sookie’s bump of curiosity has often gotten the better of her, and in this sixth book of the series, she is really on a roll. Working with Hadley’s witchy landlady, Sookie takes on the supernatural world of New Orleans. She is tired of being manipulated, and ready to move forward with her relationships and her life. She is SO over Bill, her former vampire lover, and very intrigued with a new “man” in her life, were-tiger Quinn. She had taken part in the execution of her cousin's murderer (this took place in the short story "One Word Answer" in the Bite anthology, reviewed elsewhere on Bitten By Books) and she isn't thrilled with the prospect of seeing the apartment and visiting the vampire queen. However, she is anxious to get home, so the sooner she is done with the onerous task the sooner she can return to her job at Merlotte’s Bar and her own cozy home.

Adding to the frisson of excitement for Sookie, the Pelts are after her again for information about the nasty Debbie’s disappearance. The powerful and sexy Eric is persisting in bugging Sookie about going to some weird vampiric assembly get-together, and some shape-shifters seem to think they have a motive for wanting her DOA. Really, all poor the beleaguered Ms. Stackhouse wants to do is get to know her new love, the dynamically fascinating were-tiger, Quinn.

The Sookie series is one that really should be read in order. Charlaine Harris is a fantastic writer; the series builds, in suspense and atmosphere, with each successive book. The series never gets musty, and always has a surprise or two in store for the reader. Ms. Harris is terrific with character and plot development, and it is amazing how many series she juggles. (Other series: Lily Bard series, Aurora Teagarden series and the Harper Connelly series – all with female protagonists, but all very different.) Charlaine has done a great deal, in this particular series, in forwarding the public’s interest in vampires and supernaturals, yet she does it with charm, humor and creativity, keeping the series lighter than most vampire books, while maintaining the spooky elements.

The only drawback to this terrific series is that a couple of vital plotlines have been developed outside of the series proper, in short story anthologies. For most of us, this would not be a problem if we knew that was happening, but that key fact seems to have not been well publicized. Therefore, if you are reading and suddenly stumble over a plot twist you are not familiar with, check out Bite, edited by Laurell K. Hamilton, and/or Powers of Detection, edited by Dana Stabenow. Another new anthology came out this year (2008) with a great set of short stories ( Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine herself, as well as Toni L.P. Kelner – a set of stories subtitled “Tales of Birthday with Bite...”) but the Sookie story in this volume does not really forward the general storyline. It is a great Sookie read, though!

Charlaine Harris has created in Sookie, and in Bon Temps, Sookie’s hometown, a wonderful world; full, rich and addictive. So belly on up to the bar at Merlotte’s, have a cold something-or-other, and lurk in Sookie’s World.
© Laura Strathman Hulka

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There's a new man in Sookie's life, His name is Quinn and he's a were-tiger. On their first date, Sookie and Quinn are attacked by two werewolves, and they don't know why. To add to the mystery, Sookie must go to New Orleans to pck up her cousin Hadley's apartment after Hadley's death. While she's

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there, she gets called to visit the Queen of Louisiana which puts Sookie and Quinn right in the middle of vampire political intrigue.

In this 6th entry in the Southern Vampire series, Harris keeps the action going strong. Sookie remains a strong, humorous character and readers will waiting breathlessly for the next entry in the series.

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You REALLY need to read the short story "One Word Answer" from the anthology [Book: Bite] in order to avoid confusion in this installment. I usually don't read anthologies, but lately I've had to start to keep up with some of my favorite series. I don't mind -- yeah, it's more money, but it's also

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more of my favorite characters! Anyway, if you don't read "One Word Answer," you're going to be more than a little lost, and it throws you out of the story somewhat. At least it did me.Don't worry, it's worth reading!As for the rest of the story, there are a few developments in this book that BLEW MY MIND, and change the way you'll remember the previous books, and no doubt will resonate through the rest of the series.

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Telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse had barely gotten used to the news that her cousin Hadley had become a vampire when she opened her door one day to a half-human/half-demon lawyer who informed her that Hadley was dead -- definitely dead this time -- and she had left Sookie as her sole heir.

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Sookie has to make a trip to New Orleans to clean out Hadley's apartment where she discovers that Hadley had been fooling around with the Queen of Louisiana (vampire queen, of course) before she died. Being summoned by a vampire queen isn't Sookie's idea of a fun evening, but it's one of those invitations that is a real bitch to turn down. Sophie-Anne Leclerq, the eternally teenaged French queen is about to marry the King of Arkansas, but there's something fishy going on. Sookie's new beau, the extremely handsome and mysterious weretiger event planner named John Quinn, is in charge of the wedding festivities, but there's gonna be a whole lotta shakin' going on before that night is over. And when the dust settles, things in Sookie's life may never be the same.

Another rowdy installment in a series that goes beyond belief a little bit more in each book. But somehow the whimsy is addictive and it manages to work. These characters are great fun and the series is a winner.

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My favorite book yet, I think I like Quinn the best.

This is quickly becoming my favourite vampire series. It has heart, and is not overcomplicated in its number of characters, nor is it oversexed or over the top.

Not my favorite in this series, but still entertaining, this installment follows Sookie on another crazy adventure. This time someone is trying to kill her and her new love interest, Quinn, a weretiger. We follow her to New Orleans to clean up after her cousing Hadley is killed. I got the

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impression the reader was supposed to already know about Hadley's death, but I don't remember ever reading the backsotry in any of the previous books.

Sookie learns some hard truths about herself and her past relationships, particularly with Bill, that weren't unexpected but diassappointing non the less.

Not a homerun for Harris, but another fair book in the Stackhouse series.

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This is the first vampire book I've ever read, and it's really fun--light and enjoyable. Not what I expected! Glad it's a series--it's always fun to find an author you'd like to read more of.
I'm listening to it on CD--very "Southern"

This book had a more serious tone than any of the others so far. I enjoyed it, never the less. Bill's unforgivable treachery was revealed to Sookie. I just hope he stays out of the picture! Quinn is delightful, in part because he does not have a pack or coven or group that he belongs to. He is

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refreshingly unattached. The origin of Sookie's fairy blood remains a mystery.
Overall another entertaining installment.

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I love Charlaine Harris' Sookie series! Sookie Sutterhouse can hear other people's thoughts; this does not make her popular in her small town. In previous books in the series Sookie has become involved with the "Super" populations in the US; these are populations of vampires, werepeople, and

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fairies. Sookie works as a barmaid and travels in the high and low echelons of the Supers. In Definitely Dead, Sookie finds a new lover, discovers a devastating item about Bill her first lover, and plays a part in a royal caper familiar to readers of The Three Musketeers.

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The sixth in the Southern Vampire series. This one is largely unfocused: it wanders all over the place and really doesn't seem to know where it wants to go. Sookie is starting a new romance, this one with Quinn, a weretiger. But she's also getting tangled up with the Pelts, the family of the woman

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she had been obliged to kill in self-defense. And then there's the stray Were turned vampire she finds while cleaning her cousin's apartment. And let's not forget the vampire war that erupts at the end. Or the witch roommate she acquires. While I continue to enjoy Sookie, this one mostly irritated me.

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This is the sixth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

Sookie has a new beau in this book named Quinn. Quinn is a Were-Tiger and a very unique Were. They travel to New Orleans to clean out her cousin (and vampire) Hadley's apartment after she was killed. While in New Orleans she gets called on to

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make an appearance with the vampire queen and this put Sookie once again in the spotlight of danger.

A good book, but not my favorite in the series. I don't really like Quinn very much. He is better than Bill was, but pretty boring. All the politics gets a little dragged out also. It was good and well-written, but definitly not the best so far.

Once again: Read this series in order!

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This is probably one of the best books in the series though i think it was added at a later date. At the end of Dead as a Doornail Eric told Sookie to keep a few days in March free for a conference, and the double Bellefleur wedding was being planed. We don't see any until the next book.

This is

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one place that Charlaine made a mistake. She has even said so on her website. Sookie's cousin Hadley had been mentioned in the background once or twice and Sookie didn't know anything about her. Now all of a sudden Sookie has to go to New Orleans to clean out her apartment. Charlaine's mistake was writing a short story on how Sookie found out about Hadley's Death and her relationship with the Queen of Louisiana. But all is forgiven in this book.

Sookie once again goes on a trip. For someone who has never been out of Bon Temps, she travels a lot more now. (About half the books have her going somewhere.) Quinn is back and we get to see him as a tiger. We meet some witches and see and ectoplasm reconstruction of Hadley's death which sounds really really cool in a grim sort of way. Sookie finds out why Bill came back to Bon Temps. And she has to deal with the family of Debbie Pelt. She manages all this and becomes the only wittness to the death of the King of Arkansas. What a life for a barmaid for Bon Temps.

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This one was a little disappointing because there is a backstory in a collection of short stories so it was confusing without that book. I have the boxed set and when you buy a boxed set the story should flow uninterrupted. So that is the worst part of the book. Because of that this book took

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longer to read than the others I just kept feeling a disconnect from the story because of missing out on the backstory. There was some big secrets revealed in this book that will be interesting to see play out .But because of the whole backstory missing this was not my favorite of this series.

If your reading this series I would recommend you find the book A Touch of Dead which should be Book 5 ½.

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I think it is incredibly stupid that the short story "One Word Answer" is not added as a prologue, or even MENTIONED, at the beginning of "Definitely Dead." It's easy enough to find online, but I would have had no idea it existed if it weren't for a friend who'd hit this installment before I did.

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If you don't read it, you will be so, so lost at first.

I enjoyed the story, aside from that annoyance. I am not a big Quinn fan, but that's because I keep imagining him as Vin Diesel and I am not really into Vin Diesel, ha.

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Yet another great story by Charlaine Harris. I love how the cover is a scene from the book, I find myself waiting to find it - especially when it is implied. Charlaine builds such great characters that you find yourself getting lost in the story and hanging on for what comes next.

*** Spoiler alert for those who haven't read the previous books! ***

Well now. This is Book 6 in the Southern Vampire series.

Sookie is managing fine without Vampire Bill after rescinding his invitation to her house at the end of Book 4, following his indiscretions with Lorena, and she has no

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shortage of suitors just waiting to take his place. As ever there is Sam, Sookie's shapeshifter boss who has always had a crush on her; Calvin Norris, elder of the shapeshifter community in Hotshot; Alcide Hervaux, a werewolf that she met in Mississipi in Book 3, and now the delectable Quinn - a weretiger.

Sookie however doesn't seem to be desperate to jump into a new relationship, particularly when someone seems to be trying to kill her.

If you were wondering why Sookie is hotter than a girl with beer-flavoured baps, especially where the supernatural community is concerned, all is revealed in this book. We also learn why Vampire Bill really came to Bon Temps.

These books are getting more and more enjoyable. While they're definitely not literature, they are pretty well-written and populated with an interesting cast of characters and plots, and are therefore hard for me to stop reading once I've started. HBO aren't sticking religiously to events in the books, so they're definitely worth a read to see how things were originally meant by the author.

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While reading this book I couldn't help but wonder "Where did my sassy, independent Sookie go?" I'm having a hard time with the fact that any super male that meets her falls madly in love. I'm having trouble keeping up with all her conquests. Sookie started out as a naive but smart woman, and now

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she's becoming so dim-witted and slutty that I feel as if I'm reading a completely different series. I'm tired of her having new men every book. I will read the next installment, but I am close to being done with Sookie and Charlaine Harris. I hope the next book will return Sookie to her former self.

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Comments and Critiques: After five books in the series, I’ve come to understand Ms. Harris’ writing style and know that her books really do take place in a very short period of time, with roughly several weeks separating one book from the other in the life of the characters. So imagine my

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surprise when I pick up this book and discover an entire storyline with which I was not familiar. I checked and double-checked the bibliography at the beginning of my book to find out if I accidentally skipped one. I even went back to my personal library to flip through the previous book, Dead as a Doornail, to see which book it says was the next in the Sookie Stackhouse series. While all my research indicates that I did not skip a book, Hadley’s story and the fact that we come in on it after her death, have already been introduced to several new characters, including the Queen, continues to rattle me. You would think that something like this was worth mentioning prior to this book, and I still believe that I must have missed something or that one of my books was missing entire chapters. I mean, it’s the Queen of the Louisiana vampires! She deserves a better introduction than in hindsight because Sookie’s already met her. So if anyone can shed any light on this little mystery, I would greatly appreciate it.

Getting that out of the way, Ms. Harris does it again! She continues to amaze, entice, confuse, and thrill me with this story. Battles and intrigue, mystery and blossoming romance – it doesn’t get any better than this. Quinn may just be my new personal favorite, and I am definitely anxious to see how their story continues. Sookie has been through the emotional wringer more times than is healthy in a very short period of time and deserves to find some long-term happiness. The confidence and self-assurance, and the fact that he won’t drink her blood, is definitely an attraction. Think Alcide, who I really liked, without all the attitude and issues over ex-girlfriends.

I’m still reeling from the announcement about Bill and his motives for moving back to Bon Temps. I finished the book last night, and I still feel stunned and more than a little betrayed. This might just very well be the first vampire book where I am not rooting for the vampires anymore, or at least one of them. It will be interesting to see if he continues to profess his love for her and if she can ever forgive him, as I can’t get over the idea that Bill and Sookie belong together. Angel and Buffy, Edward and Bella, Spike and Buffy – you can see where a girl might get such ideas. Still, Bill’s betrayal is unfathomably low. This continuing storyline alone will keep me coming back for more.

In spite of my concern that I skipped a book, I remain completely enamored with this series. I am still surprised by what the characters do, and I am rooting for Sookie to find less drama and more happiness with every fiber of my being. Bring on the next book!!

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