Product Description

Sookie Stackhouse enjoys her job as a cocktail waitress in Merlotte's, a small-town bar in small-town Bon Temps, deep in Louisiana. She's funny and pretty and, thanks to her grandmother, she's very well-mannered - but since not many people truly appreciate her ability to read their minds, the guys haven't exactly been beating down her door . . . And then along came Bill, tall, dark and handsome - and Sookie couldn't 'hear' a word he was thinking. He was exactly the type of guy she'd been waiting all her life for. Of course, Bill had a disability of his own: fussy about his food, not into suntans, bit of a night person: yep, Bill was a vampire. But at least now Sookie nows there *are* guys she can date who won't worry about her catching them thinking about other women . . . And that's going to make Sookie's life really interesting!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #482 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-29
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
"The most interesting character is Sookie, which is lucky as she's the main one, the fact that she can read minds and how she does it is brilliantly illustrated in the opening 'Fairy Dust' and 'Lucky'. A brilliant example of how an author should do a short story collection." (NEXTREAD.CO.UK )

"The tales are appealingly fast-paced, lighthearted and sexy (though there's nowhere near the level of sex and violence of the TV series), and the Sookie of these stories is, in her own straightforward way, just as winning as the Sookie of True Blood." (James Skipp TOTAL SCI FI )

I really enjoyed that Harris told each story 'how it was'. Sookie may have her issues but the emphasis is always on the plot at hand and what's going on. It's also refreshing to see how Harris treats her otherworldly characters; while they're powerful enough they're also susceptible to human failings (and I'm not just talking about sex!) that make them more endearing to the reader and easier to get into." (GRAEME'S FANTASY BOOK REVIEW )

About the Author
Charlaine Harris is the author of the New York Times bestselling series of supernatural romantic mysteries starring Sookie Stackhouse, the telepathic bar maid, and a cast of vampires, werewolves and things that really do go bump in the night. She is married, with children, and lives in southern Arkansas.

Customer Reviews

Back stories & insights
I automatically expected the next novel continuing the story of Sookie but this book is 5 short stories. Three giving a back story and two insights into Eric and the life Sookie leads now. How Sookie found out about Claudette's death; the third of the fairy triplets and how Claude and Claudine acquired the Strip club. The first time of meeting the vampire queen of Louisiana & Mr Cataliades on the death of her cousin; referred to by Sookie but told here in detail. A third story tells of how Sookie & Amelia turn detective using both their skills to help an insurance agent, an amusing and moral tale. The story of Dracula Night celebration finds Eric in hero worship mode. It is unexpected and entertaining. The final story centers on Sookie's loneliness and her Great-grandfather's idea to cheer her up, which if this has occurred prior to Bill's entry on the scene would have had a very different result. All in all the stories fill in between the various books and also provide an insight into the characters in the novels. I found these stories enjoyable but look forward to the next full length novel. Like all short stories they are over too quickly.

Filler-inner?
I'll be honest, I've only started reading the Stookie Stackhouse books since True Blood started on the telly but I've been pretty hooked pretty quick so I was looking forward to instalment 10. The short story format is interesting as it gives us discreet (episodal?) glimpses into Sookie's life. Plus there is a slight departure from the first person in the last story "Gift Wrapped" which was also new.

For me though, I was hoping for more development rather than explanation and ellaboration on established situations. Plus, like many readers I suspect, I would have like to see more Eric who only featured in one story.

That said, I don't regret buying "A Touch of Dead". There aren't many writers who can sound out a voice so clearly (accent and all) in your head as you read so it hit all the buttons on that score (If you enjoy that very defined first person style I recommend Hellfire by Mia Gallagher, totally different genre but an amazing book) and I also enjoyed the typical Sookie blend of strength and vulnerability that Charlaine Harris delivers so well.

Also, and maybe you'll think I'm really weird for mentioning this, the book itself - hardback, thick pages, very easy-on-the-eye type face was incredibly comfortable to read.

In short, as a fan of the Sookie Stackhouse series I enjoyed this book but would only recommend it on that basis. Newbies to the series should leave it alone until they've read the rest otherwise I imagine they will wonder what all the fuss is about.

Not for newbies
If you're new to the wonderful world of Sookie Stackhouse then please don't buy this book...yet. Like many other readers I was expecting the next novel but as you have read by now this is a collection of short stories that occur at different times in the storyline so if you have just started reading the books or aren't too far along then by reading this you'll learn stuff you shouldn't know yet which could spoil your enjoyment of the unfolding story. Otherwise this was like ice cream, delicious but gone too soon which is why it gets four stars and not five.