Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris

Dead in the Family (Southern Vampire Series, Book 10)
Charlaine Harris

This is the 10th book in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series.  Although it is not the weakest in the series, I was left unsatisfied by the ending.  I love Sookie and I *LOVE* Eric and this book, although highlighting their relationship, left things open for all kinds of drama.  For some reason I don't see positive things for their future.

There are multiple story lines running throughout the series and a couple of them were tied up too neatly leading me to wonder why they were even carried over into this book   Seriously?  Bill and some strange woman we've never met?  And he leaves Sookie a Thank You note?  WTH?  He's been pining for Sookie for the last 5 books!  Sooo not happy with the way that storyline went.  Then the FBI agent I really don't remember shows up at her doorstep to tell her that the investigation focusing on her has been stopped.  This could have been in the last chapter of the last book and I would probably have been less confused.  I also didn't see a point for mentioning that Calvin and Tanya got married.  It can get a little frustrating because some of the storylines stem from books that I read well over a year and a half ago and I don't remember the exact storyline. 

In the previous books, where there were less characters, the books were more focused.  This one seemed a little scattered because it tried to touch on the multiple characters in Sookie's life.  At one point you think the story will focus on a power struggle between Victor and Eric.  Especially with the repeated mentioning of Sookie, Eric and Pam all wanting Victor dead and following the attack on Pam and Sookie by Victor's henchmen.  But, then Ocella shows up with a creepy child vamp and the storyline veers toward them providing no direction for the Victor storyline except for into book 11. Then there is the Pack meeting and Sookie acting as a Shaman and the fae running around in her woods.  A little too much going on with more storylines to be carried over into the next book.

Okay, enough with my bitching.  I do LOVE this series and I inhale every book when it comes out.  I should have re-read the last book because there were several things mentioned that I didn't really remember.  I like the fact that Sookie has a no nonsense view of things and her constant need to please her gran by always being hospitable even to people she cannot stand makes me giggle.

As I mentioned before I see problems ahead for Sookie and Eric.  Especially with the problems he is having with Victor and the weakening blood bond that was mentioned in the end of this book.  I also wonder if Eric is going to show up and find Sookie, Dermot and Claude sleeping in the same bed.  Who knows....  This book has definitely got me waiting for #11.