Dead and Gone by Charlain Harris

RECOMMENED (for Sookie Stackhouse fans)

In a word:  Lightweight

Plot:  The ninth book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, and I'm going with the assumption that you've read them all.  The Weres have decided to follow the lead of the Vamps and "reveal" themselves to the world.  Things seem to go without major incident, until Sookie's sister-in-law, Crystal (a werepanther) is found crucified behind Merlotte's Bar.  Sookie, of course, can't keep herself out of the mystery and uses her telepathic powers to attempt to find the killer.  Meanwhile, all is not well in the land of the Fae and Sookie's great-grandfather is in a battle to keep his throne.  And, just to make Sookie's life even MORE interesting, she is tricked into pledging herself to Eric the Vampire.

Thoughts:  Not the best entry in the series.  The "big reveal" of the Weres is dealt with almost off-handedly by Harris in the first few pages.  The mystery surrounding Crytal's murder is also given short shrift.  It seems as though Harris was more interested in telling the tale of the Fairies.  I almost wish she had saved the Were's story for another book and concentrated on the Fae this go round.  Of course, it wouldn't be a Sookie book without a long, gratuitous sex scene (this is not a complaint) and this one is no exception.  Unfortunately, it's between Sookie and Eric, whom I find a bit of a bore, now that he has his memories back.  It bugs when Sookie sleeps with every otherwordly creature that comes through her door.  Maybe it's just that I'm a big Sam fan and think he's the best bet for Sookie in the romance department.  Sookie keeps sleeping with the Vamps, who tend to treat her like a child (something that would bug the hell out of me).

The main problem with this book is the ending.  The ending to this one seemed really rushed, silly and not well thought out (see spoilers below).  Not the best entry in the series, but it goes very quickly.  If you're a fan of Sookie, I wouldn't skip it.

SPOILERS:  The end of the book is a bit of a mess.  We get a hastily thrown in solution to Crystal's murder, the needless torture of Sookie by two 'evil' Fairies, what is supposed to be a 'big' reveal about the death of Sookie's parents (you see it coming a mile away), a silly battle scene (which is ended with a dash of lemon juice of all things) and the senseless death of Claudine, Sookie's Fairy Godmother.  I was not really thrilled when Harris introduced the Fae into the series a few books back, it seemed like she was trying too hard to throw all things legendary into the mix.  But, Claudine was a good character - and she was just getting really interesting with her pregnancy.  I wouldn't have minded a bit if Harris had killled Claude, or even Niall - but this reallly felt like she wasted a good character.  With the ending you get the sense that Harris herself has tired of the Fae and isn't bringing them back (though I doubt it, she's left herself an open window).  Unfotunatlely, their departure obscured the more interesting story of the Were's in this book.

If you like this, try reading:  The Lily Bard series by Charlain Harris; ;