Rating: 
Summary: You go, Sookie!
Review: I've enjoyed Charlaine Harris' series - all of them. I looked forward to this installment in the Southern Vampire series, and was not disappointed. However, don't underestimate Charlaine. Her books have a cozy appearance, but don't let it fool you! You welcome back many of the previous players, and get introduced to many more new ones. Eric has a new side to show, and so does Bill. Alcide, a new character, will hopefully be seen in more of the stories. Bill disappears, and Eric goes to Sookie for help. Sookie, accompanied by Alcide, goes 'undercover' to find Bill in unfamiliar territory. Needless to say, danger and mayhem ensue, with bodies (dead and REALLY dead) dropping (or rising)everywhere. Kudos, Charlaine!
Rating: 
Summary: Best one so far!
Review: I have enjoyed all three books in this series so far, but this is the best. I had to read the first 70 to 80 pages of the first two before I couldn't put them down. This third one, however, was an instant page turner. The male lead has never done much for me, but the author has three other males around that I really like - Alcide, Sam, and Eric.
Rating: 
Summary: Getting too Anita Blake
Review: I liked this series at first because it was so different from the Anita Blake novels (which I also like). But now Sookie is getting men out the ears when before Bill she had none. She's also getting to be a different kind of tough. My other quibble is that the plot seemed a bit rushed. I kept waiting for the story to get going, but it all seemed cobbled together - it never quite jelled. It wasn't bad, just not as good as 1 and 2. Here's hoping number 4 is a little better.
Rating:
Summary: Darker, more violent but still FINE
Review: I'd give CLUB DEAD a 4.5 if that were possible. First off, I really love this series. It's unique in its supernatural chills mixed with insightful social speculation, lusty romance and hoot-out-loud hilarity. (Hamilton's Anita Blake series, you say? Puh-leeze.) So I approach it as a solid 5 just for great world building and characterization, then work down from there.
I won't bother with a plot summary since it's already been done but this book is less balanced than the first two in the series. The characters are still vivid and grow in suprising but logical ways. Sookie is just as tough, wry and clear-sighted about her own situation and vulnerabilities. Her lover Bill The Vampire's unexpected treachery suprised me but Harris is nothing if not tough minded. She's consistently sprinkled reminders throughout all the diverting humor and action that vampires are fundamentally different; they do not share conventional human morality or emotions. Vampire area boss Eric is still a gorgeous hunk who cheerfully lusts for Sookie but shows signs of being a more simpatico, genuine friend, albeit somewhat reluctantly. (He's still a vampire and "doesn't *like* having feelings, remember.) The introduction of hunky (and breathing) Alcide the Werewolf, hung up on the Ex-Girl Friend From Hell, makes a poignant counterpoint to Sookie's situation. And Bubba, oh my GOD, the ineffable Bubba...(This raving won't make a lick of sense to anyone who hasn't read the series but betcha anyone who HAS can't keep from chortling.)
As always w/ this this series, there are some purely wonderful scenes. Sookie and Alcide nervously trying to dispose of a corpse wrapped in a shower curtain, "like a big green burrito." And as usual Harris seamlessly, suavely injects unexpected humor into horror and vice versa. An appalling bloodbath at Club Dead jolts weres and shapeshifters, already jittery from the full moon, into drifting through the carnage as falcons, German Sheperds and a stray bison. It's pretty danged disconcerting to snicker during a scene where the thoroughly likeable main character gets a stake driven into her side.
But that leads to my one caveat about this book. It's exhausting in its relentless violence against Sookie. Over the span of a few days she's subjected to one horrific assault after another, bam, bam, bam. She isn't granted any respite or downtime and neither is the reader. Even after her harrowing rescue of Bill from the torture chamber--a logical watershed moment--she's ambushed and/or brutally assaulted two more times (once by Bill) and then once again when she finally, grimly flees home. Maybe the constant violence and terror (no matter how deftly leavened with wry humor) set up Sookie's decision to slam the door against her dear undead but the book still ends with a thump. The relentless tension never really gets released; it just...ends.
I'm sure (uh, I *hope*) Charlaine Harris will back-fill the aftermath in the next book. (Soon, please!) It just would have been satisfying to have that coasting-down and wrapping-up at the end of this book for balance. I feel a little thwarted of conversations and resolutions that could have served as coda to this installment. Bill helplessly marching backward, her brush still in hand, doesn't quite cut it. It's not like Harris hasn't built huge suspense already...how will Sookie cope now, with her increasing familiarity and fame with the undead and supernatural ? If she can't "go back", where can she go...and where and how far does she *want* to go? Great stuff.
Please place these few, very minor quibbles in perspective. This series is a genuine, rare *find* for readers jaded with the same old same old. Charlaine Harris is a writer, not a by-the-numbers word factory, who won't insult your intelligence, waste your time or money. If you haven't read the series, you're in for a treat.
Rating:
Summary: A sense of humor, and nice werewolves as well as vampires
Review: BunRab has a set of standard ways to classify different vampire novels, because some of the same points occur on many of them, and many people have a preference for certain features over others. So here's some of the standard questions:
Is this part of a series? Yes, it's the third one in the series.
What genre does the author mainly write in? Mysteries, in this case, and there is always a mystery/murder element in the vampire books.
Can the vampires stand sunlight? Very, very little exposure, but it's not zero.
Do the vampires drink actual blood? Yes, and it may or may not be associated with sex; humans drinking vampire blood get benefits as well, such as faster healing- and glowing in the dark, although that's a dubious benefit.
Do the vampires have special powers? Yes, most can float in the air, some can fly; most are stronger than humans.
Are there other supernatural elements in the books? Yes, there are werewolves and other shape-shifters, and the ongoing argument over who gets to call themselves a were and who doesn't is amusing. We also get introduced, in this book, to a goblin (named Hob, of course), and there are mentions of other supernatural elements.
Is there a lot of sex? Are vampires symbolic representations of sexual fears? No, and no. There's a little bit of sex, and a certain amount of discussion about it, but it's not the main point of the books. Vampires are not just representations of humanity's sexual fears; they are active, working people, well, active, working undead, anyway, with characters and lives. They don't exist just to be evil, or just to attack the unsuspecting. As with Laurell Hamilton's series, owning nightclubs is a popular occupation for vampires. This series exists in what is mainly our real world, not a fantasy world, except there happen to be vampires. Vampire rights are still being debated, now that they are legally recognized at all. Vampires have their own system of governance, which is pretty antiquated for modern times, and adapting to living under regular law as well as their own codes is an ongoing struggle. In this particular book, our heroine, Sookie Stackhouse, spends more time with Eric, and with a bunch of werewolves, than she does with Bill - in fact, the book starts with a serious breakup with Bill. Also, Sookie finally gets new gravel on her driveway. There is a sense of humor evident in Harris' writing, and I suspect that those who like Tanya Huff's books about Henry Fitzroy will enjoy this series as well; on the other hand, if you are into dark, brooding, vampires with evil attitudes toward humans - we won't mention any names here - then this book may not be your cup of tea.
Rating:
Summary: More please Ms. Harris
Review: As with other reviewers, I can honestly say this is one of those books that once you start you just can't put it down. Sookie Stackhouse has fast become one of my favourite characters alongside Anita Blake and Stephanie Plum. I certainly recommend that you read the series in order because you can see how she has developed from the emotionally scarred barmaid in 'Dead before dark' to a young woman who has become a lot tougher, mentally and physically by the third novel.
Club Dead starts with Sookie worrying about her relationship with an increasingly remote Bill the Vampire (although I must say to a certain extent Bill has always seemed a bit of a cold fish throughout the series, he maybe dead but it would be nice to see a bit more fire). Working secretly for vampire royalty, Bill disappears which results in Sookie being made aware of his infidelity. Still, no matter how much she is hurting, with Eric's help she decides to go to his rescue accompanied by a sexy werewolf and Bubba (long live the King). As she searches for Bill at Club Dead, a supernatural nightclub, we find that there are other things prowling at night, ghosts and goblins included.
Bill's old flame surprisingly doesn't make much of an impact and some characters that appear you have to wonder if they will be in some future book, as they seemed incidental to this story.
I enjoyed it immensely and I had to read the last couple of pages twice because I liked the way Sookie had the last word. So if there is more to come I hope Ms Harris will allow Sookie to remain strong, let the men do the running around for and after her for a change.
Rating:
Summary: I wanna smack Bill
Review: Sookie Stackhouse's relationship with her vampire lover, Bill, has seen better days. He's been secretive and distant lately but things completely fall apart when she discovers he's been cheating on her! Not only that but he's been kidnaped as well. Sookie considers letting him rot but her conscience (and Eric) urges her to rescue him... then kick his butt. Rescuing vampires isn't really the safest of tasks so Eric gets her some protection in the form of Alcide, a hunky werewolf. The more she gets to know Alcide the more he seems like the perfect guy for her. I still didn't enjoy this one as much as the first but it was a much better put together book than the second. The best thing about this book is that it proves that the series doesn't depend on Sookie and Bill's relationship to be enjoyable. Some people may not like this turn in the series but I think it was the right decision. Like it or hate it you'll probably be on the edge of your seat waiting for the next one. Lets hope we don't have to wait too long.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but irritating
Review: Club Dead is an great book,an interesting mystery, but I would actually tell people to read this book before reading the first two of the series: Dead Until Dark and Living Dead In Dallas.
The problem is an inconsistency in some of her characters' behavior, especially Bill and Sam. This is, unfortunately, a fault in another one of Ms Harris' mystery series, The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. It appears, that when a storyline get difficult, Ms.Harris either kills, removes, and/or changes the character's personality abruptly. This is a good book, I enjoyed it, it was entertaining, and I am glad I bought it. But, the character jumps in a second Harris series were an irritant.
Rating:
Summary: Getting better with each new installment
Review: This is the third book about crazy Sookie and this one was great. This installment had alittle Laurell K Hamilton type flair which I thoroughly enjoyed. While waiting for my fix of Anita Blake it is refreshing to be able to supplement with Bill and Sookie. New characters introduced and other possible love interests for Sookie made this book a very fast read. Once I started I just couldn't stop. Hopefully Ms. Harris will continue down this path she has started and give us more adventures.
Rating:
Summary: Weakest of the three
Review: This book just doesn't appear to have the same level of effort behind its development as the previous two novels. It feels rushed, almost as if it was completed simply to meet a deadline. Sookie flies into irrational fits of anger that just don't make any sense. There are stake-wielding characters, capable of providing an engaging sub-plot, who appear to have existed only to provide Sookie with a stake for later use. Blah. This just plain wasn't satisfying.
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