Unsatisfying sequel to Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas, the second book in the Southern Vampire series, picks up shortly after the events in Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1). Sookie, a cocktail waitress, gets pulled into a dangerous tangle after one of her coworkers turns up as a murder victim. Evidence points to a particular culprit -- but he may not be the guilty party.
Meanwhile, Bill, Sookie's undead lover, has obliged himself to a group of vampires residing in Dallas -- and they demand Sookie's services as a telepath to help track down a vampire gone missing. Sookie complies, because she's with Bill -- his accessory? property? -- and all her ornery words aside, she lets herself be treated that way because she loves Bill.
Oh yeah, and then there's that terrifying creature in the woods who has no particular objection to tearing poor Sookie to shreds...
These disparate threads are tied together rather limply, unfortunately. Sookie is thrown into perilous situations, claws her way back out of them, is alternately rescued and neglected and pleasured by Bill, and... and the results are far less entertaining than Dead Until Dark.
Living Dead in Dallas goes to a dark place, with hate crimes, racism and homophobia swirling around, much to Sookie's chagrin. Scenes of mayhem are interspersed with scenes of lust and a few angsty relationship issues. Still, by the time we reach the bloody and weirdly unsatisfying climax, there isn't much to show for all the sax and violins.
This would have been a better book if Sookie had been less of a pawn and more of an active agent in her own story. I'm hoping for something better with the next in the series, Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 3).
Absolutely have to read!
If you read first book "Dead Until Dark", you'll be delighted to continue the story and read this book. This book is the one you absolutely have to read! I am not a reader, and I am re-reading this book second time right now. I started to watch "True Blood" on HBO, and couldn't wait for next episode for whole week, so I decided that I'll read. I was afraid that that will be difficult for me, because the English is the third language for me, but this book is written easy to read have a lot of action, mystery and love in very realistic form. After I finish reading first book, I started next until I finished all 8 books and now can't wait to the 9-th book, which will be publishing in May 2009. I hope one day that book will be translated to other languages as well.
Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 2)
I have recently become acquainted with Charlene Harris' works. I have enjoyed each and every one and hope she writes many more. The seller provided it as promised and well within the shipment window promised.
Getting Better
This series just keeps getting better. I enjoyed the first book in the series but was unsure how Ms. Harris was going to keep it going. It starts off with the murder of a secondary character that if you are watching the HBO series, Tru Blood then you will miss. However, if you are just reading the book you probably won't miss the character. Then it switches to Eric needing Sookie to do a favor/or follow an order...whichever way you look at it. He sends her to Dallas. While in Dallas, the fun begins. Yes, Bill gets to go as her bodyguard. I really enjoyed the interaction between the lead characters and even though Sookie's in Dallas most of the book, Sam and Jason are still in it. I enjoyed the character developement of Sookie, Bill and Eric. Ms. Harris is really letting the reader get attached to them. You actually feel for them when things go wrong. I don't like how short these books are though. This one is a little over 220 pages. It would be better to buy in an omnibus book that would have the first three books in it. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, fun, entertaining vampire book.
Living Dead in Dallas
A great read. Charlaine Harris has done it again. I just love these southern vampire mysteries.
