Dead and Gone

March 30, 2009
Telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse braces herself for trouble when another group of supernatural beings goes public in her disjointed eighth adventure (after 2008's From Dead to Worse
). Following the vampires' lead, the shape-shifters decide to step out of the woodwork and announce their existence to the world. While the initial reveal goes smoothly, the brutal crucifixion of a young werepanther behind the local bar makes Sookie wonder if the people of Bon Temps, La., are as tolerant as she thought. Meanwhile, the FBI is asking questions about Sookie's uncanny ability to locate survivors after an explosion, and trouble is brewing among the secretive fae. Harris tries to cram too much into a single story, and even die-hard fans of Sookie's adventures in print and on HBO's True Blood
will complain about the plot gaps.

The Weres, as in werewolves and shape-shifters, have come out of the closet, and telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse soon discovers what the effect of that may be on the human world of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Narrator Johanna Parker portrays Sookie with a Southern accent that gives the story added credibility and gives dimension to its setting. Her narration is both light and fun while transitioning well to the dark and scary bits. This series can now be experienced as a print book, an audiobook, and a television show. Parker's performance makes this audio version a strong contender for being the most satisfying of the three formats. L.P. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine