Dead Reckoning

September 5, 2011
The past, both recent and distant, comes back to haunt telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse in Harris's solid 12th installment (after Dead in the Family). When a firebomb hits Merlotte's bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana, Sookie wonders if the attack was directed at her shapeshifter boss, Sam. She has her hands full elsewhere, though, trying to keep the peace with her fairy kin, Claude and Dermotâwho are still living at her houseâand with her vampire lover, Eric Northman, who has issues of his own. Eric and his second-in-command, Pam, are chafing under the rule of Louisiana's new regent, Victor, who recently opened a vamp bar in Shreveport. As always, Sookie's blood bond with Eric connects her to the slowly brewing feud whether she likes it or not. And just when she thought the attack on Merlotte's was an isolated incident, it's revealed as the work of Sandra Pelt, the vengeful sister of Debbie Pelt, whom Sookie killed in Dead to the World. Sookie also discovers a long-lost letter from her grandmother detailing her fairy lineage along with a strange token from the fae world. Harris throws in the usual vampire fight-to-the-death, introduces a new supernatural creature and, most importantly, lays the groundwork for potential future plot twists.

May 1, 2011
With the fourth season of True Blood about to debut on HBO, the pump should be well primed for another print installment of Sookie Stackhouses supernatural southern adventures. The excitement kicks off when someone firebombs Merlottes Bar and Grill while Sookie is working, but that plotline isnt the focus of the story; instead, vampire politics rear their ugly head once again as the regent of Louisiana does his best to provoke Eric and Pam. With a vampire-on-vampire showdown looming, Sookie tries to deal with her increased concerns over her blood bond with Eric; to understand the real reason her fae cousins, Claude and Dermot, are living with her; and to plan a baby shower for best friend, Tara. While the series has become much more about fantasy than mystery, it still has always drawn fans across genres, and this fast-paced and fun entry will be no exception. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Sookie mania shows no sign of abating any time soon, and with nicely timed release dates for the latest book and the new season of the TV series, the feeding frenzy is sure to continue.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)