Definitely Dead

Whilst the fifth Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead as a Doornail, was a major let down, the sixth, Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris, is right back on track. Sookie’s cousin Hadley has been murdered, an action which apparently was revealed in a short story which makes for a slightly abrupt transition, and Sookie must go to New Orleans to clean up Hadley’s apartment. Sookie had been planning to do this at her leisure, but the Queen of Louisiana (who had been Hadley’s lover) hurries Sookie along.

When this takes place we know there must be a reason beyond just getting some clothes and furniture packed up, and indeed this turns out to be the case. Sookie is dragged yet deeper into Vampire politics, yet again by forces completely out of her control. To complicate things even more, Weres keep attacking Sookie, and she does not know why.

Luckily Sookie’s new love interest, Quinn, is around to take care of her, and since Quinn is a weretiger he is well equipped for the task. The major plotline of the novel is one of the better plotlines yet. Lots of political machinations, intrigue, and danger with major changes and long lasting implications. It is also revealed that Sookie has some fairy blood, and that Claudine is her fairy godmother. However, we don’t know how this will effect things, or what exactly it means.

Another thread that is tied up in this novel involves the Debbie Pelt plotline. This plotline has been drawn out through several novels, and Sookie’s circumstances have changed so much in that time period that the Pelt storyline has really lost touch. Hopefully this is the end of that plotline. Beyond that this is one of the strongest entries thus far. I give it a 4/5.