Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Ace Trade
Release Date: January 1, 2001 
Language: English
Source: Library

Synopsis: Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out....Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea. A fun, fast, funny, and wonderfully intriguing blend of vampire and mystery that's hard to put down, and should not be missed.

With everyone obsessing over the new HBO hit True Blood, I thought it was time to look into the Sookie series. I've seen the books before but never picked them up since I thought the covers were silly-looking. But why not give it a try? I thought as I picked up my mutilated, library-owned copy. I settled in so I could listen to Sookie.

Vampires, in Sookie's world, have recently "come out of the coffin" and are integrating themselves into the human world. The Japanese have even created synthetic blood so their thirst can be quenched without killing. (the japanese....we'll never beat them, will we?). Sookie's waitressing job is fun but she does her best not to be obvious about her "handicap"-her psychic abilities that enable her to hear everyone's thoughts. Her handicap makes it hard for her to have relationships so she naturally shies away from that. (Not that she doesn't get offers because believe me, guys like her.) So when Bill strolls into the bar one night, she's immediately attracted to him since a.) he's a vampire and she knows nothing about his kind and b.) she can't hear his thoughts; she loves this. So when Sookie starts dating Bill, it's heaven. Until two local women in town are brutally murdered and people suspect that vampires are behind it....

When I started, I felt that the pace of the book was perfect-not too fast but nowhere near boring. It was almost like Sookie was taking me on a leisurely stroll. I was confident I would get through intact...until there were a lot of jolts on the road. So much crap happened in this one book; I couldn't believe it! Even the identity of the murderer shocked me. Obviously I'm not telling you guys who it is, but it was like whooooa, what?! I instantly liked Sookie; her character is so lovable and cute! I enjoyed how she could be naive one minute and then shock people by how intelligent and observant she was. She always took people, even Bill, by surprise. I wasn't a big fan of Bill; I can't pinpoint what I didn't like about him. I just....eh. He was okay. I LOVED Sam, however. I wish Sookie could've given him a chance!

So what's left for me to say? Dead until Dark is engaging, funny, full of southernly charm and filled to the brim with mystery. A perfect start to a series. Definetely pick this one up! You won't regret it. :)

rating: 5.0