Club Dead.

Sooooookie.

I've been dabbling in Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mystery series for quite some time now. To some, they're just "Sookie Stackhouse Novels" or that show on HBO, True Blood. Frankly, the show has very little to do with the books after the second season. So don't think that you can get away with watching the television show and then pretending that you've read the books. It doesn't work that way. 

Sookie Stackhouse has not only has the uncanny ability to read minds, but she also seems to be a magnet for hostile vampires, werewolves, and even some downright mean shapeshifters. If they're ready to kill someone, Sookie is always conveniently that person. It probably has something to do with her vampire boyfriend, Bill - who just happens to be the cause of her grief this time. When Bill goes missing, Sookie must tag team with his egocentric (but attractive) boss, Eric. But what she finds is not worth the effort.

The thing about the Sookie series is that I can't seem to put them down once I start reading them, I can't stop. And even though I'm unconsciously picking out all the flaws in the storyline, I'm enjoying myself too. Because I just find these books hilarious. Her writing style reminds me of Janet Evanovich, who is another author I enjoy.

As usual, I praise the characters and their stunning personalities. Pam is still my favorite, and pink as ever and borderline mean. Eric changes a lot in this book, but it doesn't amuse me as much as I thought it would. I mean, he's a softie all of a sudden. That's not Eric, come on. Bill seems to have lost all his personality, which is understandable given his situation. Sookie develops a lot in this novel, and you see a less confident side of her that is realistic.

I like the quirky one-liners and often find myself skipping ahead to find where the characters start talking next in hopes of finding something funny to read. Bad me. Bad.

What I think is hilarious is the little "errand" the Queen sends Bill on. You spend the whole book trying to figure out what could be so terrible to get him kidnapped and tortured and then you find out what it is. And it's so ridiculous that you can't help but laugh and think, "Damn these guys are dumb." I know Harris was trying to make the task seem important, but it just seems like a waste of time to me.

Oh, Charlaine Harris, how you amuse me.

4 out 5 stars.