I won't really describe the happenings in this book, because it felt like mostly filler. It was like Charlaine was just preparing us for upcoming books. I enjoyed this only because I love all of the characters, I love the town, and Sookie is a great lead. There were some problems resolved and new problems brought to the surface. These have obviously opened new doors for future books. Lets see, Alcide is finally head of the Were's. Sookie and Quinn solved their relationship dilemma. Sookie is introduced to one of her ancestors. Eric now remembers his past with Sookie. I was hoping more would come out of that last one, but I was left disappointed. The book ends kind of awkwardly, and I'm not really sure what she was trying to tell us or make us feel at the end. All I know is I felt kind of empty about the whole thing.

I have a feeling that the next book will much better. This book set up a lot of new storylines for the future. I can only hope this series keeps trucking along, because I'm in love with the lighthearted small town charm that it has.

Having read all her other books, this book is one of my favorites...if you have not read her other books in the series then I would encourage you to read them first...as a stand alone book it is well written and enjoyable but you get a little lost if you have not at least read the book prior to this because of character reference...I can't wait for her next book in this continuing saga to take off...

I agree with everyone who has said that there is no central plot to pull the book together and the reader along. The first 60 pages were a snooze fest followed by a very compelling novella of about 100 pages whose plot line was neatly concluded. Sadly the book plodded along for another couple of hundred pages. There were some interesting bits of information revealed, but I doubt Harris could have sucked any more life from their presentation if she tried. If this was a TV show you would say all of the actors had phoned in their performances. There was no mystery, no romance, no character drama, no character growth, just a few action sequences and a lot of dull uninspired narration about Sookie's daily life. This read like a rough first draft, with a bunch of potentially interesting stuff that had not yet been shaped into a decent novel. It appears that Harris is spreading herself too thin in trying to keep up with her various series and is not taking the time to a good job. I'm just surprised that this book is still averaging such a high rating, because it is the dullest thing I have read in a long time. This is the first time I have been completely disappointed with the author and I'm not going to be too eager to chance her again.

Charlaine Harris's strength, to me, is character. Sookie is a great character... both in her unique and humorous voice as narrator and her combination of heart and gumption as heroine. And she's surrounded by other good characters, human and supe. It's the details of her every day life in Bon Temps (earning a living, paying property taxes, dealing with customers at Merlotte's) rubbing up against outlandish events in the supernatural world that gives this series such a delightful kick.

However "From Dead to Worse" has no arc, no real progression, no story... just one easily-wrapped up event after another... and frankly we've seen the Were wars and vampire wars before. Only the final few pages contain a potent new story idea... and we have to wait til the next book to explore it.

I'm wondering if Ms Harris was too caught up in the upcoming HBO series to give this particular novel much thought or planning.

I am a huge fan of the previous books, but aside from some violent political shifts and some minor character deaths this one was a whole lot of setup for the next book. I loved learning more about Sookie's background and her new living situation is lively and fun, but this just got me excited for reading the next one where hopefully something HAPPENS. I also got tired of the plodding EXPOSITION. If you haven't read all of the books thus far, you have NO BUSINESS picking this one up. I didn't appreciate having EVERY situation and relationship re-described for me. In my opinion, Miss Harris should have a long preface at the beginning like Stephen Kind did with his Dark Tower novels and leave the actual narrative for new stuff. There was a serious lack of sexiness and chemistry in this one too which I was disappointed about. Sigh... Hopefully the next one finds Miss Harris back to form.

I recently found this series through a friend. I never thought I would be interested in vampire books. That being said, I love, love, love this series and most particularly this book. Just the right blend of humor, romance and adventure. I've blown through all eight of them in a month's time and now I can't believe I have to wait for the next one. This book was so entertaining. I love Eric. I'm so glad he remembered that he loved Sookie. I'm counting down the days until I get the next saga in the adventure.

I've loved this series for a while--especially the character of Sookie, who is believable and funny. I think the last few books, including this one, have lagged a little in the plot dept., but are still enjoyable reads. I always look forward to visiting Sookie and the great cast of supporting characters Ms. Harris has developed.

I love this series and I absolutely loooove the characters. No other series of books makes me more excited about reading as this one. What is different about these than other series is that the heroine actually has morals and sticks to them. I read about three to four books a week and this is the only series that contains a main character that understands the difference between right and wrong, attends mass on Sundays, believes in abstaining from sex in a relationship until she actually gets to know the person, is committed to one person if she is dating him, and respects her elders. Added bonus is the fact that not every man that comes within walking distance falls in love with her and attempts to get her in bed with them. Some men are interested, some could care less, some even hate her--you know, like normal. Whereas other novels have a habit of throwing men at their heroine. Even though this is a paranormal book, this realistic look and down-home sweetness makes the book relatable as well as likable. I adore Sookie!

On the slightly downside...the reason I gave this four stars instead of five is because Harris did something wacky with the plot. Like other reviewers mentioned, for some strange reason there was no one definable plot line but several strong plot lines running in a series. It was like reading a bunch of short stories in a row about the same character. Each problem was solved, but it messed up with the flow of the book.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book immensely and would highly recommend this series, although, I suggest you read them in order.

I am giving an extra star for improvement over the last two books which were not so hot. I started reserving at the library after book 5 - just felt that it wasn't worth the cost of a hardcover. I really liked the first four books. I especially loved #4 with Eric and the witch war - he is so incredibly sexy. I've been trying to figure just how Sookie could be happy long term with him. Without giving out any spoilers, I think this book suggests some possibilities - she might have unusual longevity due to her heritage, she might assume a nurturing mother type role with a child. This would make a relationship with a vamp more palatable. As for some characters in this book that simply disappeared - I won't really miss them. I think Charlaine is getting back on track with Sookie - I really didn't care too much for her in the last 2 or 3 books - especially with Quinn. He's a nice enough guy - just not for her. Yes, there are a few story lines in this book - hopefully, they are going somewhere.

I love this series and this author. This incredibly talented author throws in just the perfect amount of action, intrigue, sex, and mystery. Keep up the good work, I'll buy anything written by Charlaine Harris, as it is guaranteed to be well written, funny, a bit scary, and very entertaining.

Charlaine Harris in one my favorite authors. And she back with her lastest Southern Vampire Mystery series. From Dead to Worse was good, I reread it three times.

I do agree with some of the other reviewers when they said this is an
'in between novel.' This book is not for people who haven't read the rest of the series.

I liked that Sookie met her grandfather. He seems like a really interesting characters. And I'd love to see Sookie cook dinner for him.

The ending left in a good cliffhanger. I'd liked the fact that she could communicate with her little cousin.

My favorite part in the book was when she dumped Quinn. I never really liked Quinn. I didn't think they'd make it as a couple.

I liked the Eric--Bill tension. How they argued of Sookie on who loved her more. Sookie is confused over her feelings. And how Eric finally remembered about what happened between them. I hope that Sookie gets with Eric. I don't like Bill, that much.

The funniest part in the book was when Sam, Eric and Vegas Vampire King--who killed Sophie Ann and took over, all got attacked by Sophie Ann's guard with the lasso chains. And how Pam kept killing all the Vegas Vampires people when she escaped.

Crystal and Jason won't last. Crystal will cheat again--or miscarriage.

This book is not for new readers. The books are all interconnected (much more so than most series) and there's much benefit to reading them in order.

I understand where many readers are coming from about a lack of plot from point A to point B. However, having read all of Charlaine Harris' other work, I think she meant this to be a transition piece and that she plans to take the character in another direction (like Aurora Teagarden in her A.T. mysteries (Pls. though, no shocking ending like one of the A.T. mysteries)). I found some points left open from the last book closed and new avenues opened so that the next book will be a "growth piece" so that the series will not stagnate. I found this book satisfying in wrapping up some things, like her relationship with Quinn (not sure how I feel about that, but I do lean towards Eric), Sookie's growth by ending it with Jason and the opportunities for the future.

Some of the Sookie Stackhouse books are more character studies than mysteries, slices of slightly dark americana from one person's view. I enjoy it for what it is and I like the fact that her life changes instead of the same old, same old.

For any readers thinking that the author brought in stuff from the blue, they should reread the whole series in a row and you'll see the connectiveness of the work.

In From Dead to Worse, telepathic barmaid Sookie Stackhouse is back home in Bon Temps recovering from the aftermath of the events that took place in All Together Dead. She's vowed to stay away from supernatural politics as much as possible, but that's easier said than done -- not when she can count vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, and fairies amongst her friends, lovers, and family members. When local werewolves start dying, when a gang of foreign vampires shows up in town, and when several assassins take potshots at her life, Sookie has no choice but to get involved.

On the whole, I liked FDtW more than several of the more recent Southern Vampire books. (Dead as a Doornail and All Together Dead come to mind.) That being said, From Dead to Worse is definitely not a stand alone entry in the series. There's no central "mystery" for Sookie to solve, and almost all of the plot threads (from the werewolf uprising, to the vampire takeover, to Sookie's family surprises and woes) have their roots in previous novels. I wouldn't recommend any new reader to start with this book.

On the plus side, some of the series' core characters really shine. I've always loved Sam, and he got a chance to show everyone what he was made of during the werewolf skirmish. Eric's revelation to Sookie was, well ... a long time coming. (I've been waiting for that moment since Dead to the World!) Bill's speech during the vampire takeover gave me hope that his character can be redeemed. (I will always have a soft spot for Bill, so I was happy that there was a glimmer of hope on that front.) Sookie herself is growing and changing, and I like that she's learning how to stick up for herself and tell people "no." Considering the dangerously manipulative critters that she now deals with on a daily basis, she needs a bit more backbone.

On the downside, Sookie's brother Jason hit a new low in this book. I had hoped he was maturing, but he shows all signs of becoming more thoughtless, more selfish, and a bit ruthless to boot. (But, of course, that might make for some interesting future conflicts.) I'm not sure how I feel about Sookie's new roommates, either. Amelia's character and her personal problems haven't really interested me so far, and I don't know what to think of Octavia yet. The book also made me wonder if Sookie sometimes takes Claudine's and Eric's protection for granted. I'd like to see Sookie become a bit more savvy and capable of defending herself -- without losing her charm, of course. Like it or not, Sookie's abilities are now well-known by the supernatural community, so she can't stick her head in the sand anymore and hope that everyone will leave her alone. Sookie's treatment of Quinn was rather abrupt as well, but I can't say that I'm terribly upset or surprised by it. (Their relationship always felt like a rebound one to me.) Frankly, I'm happy that Sookie's no longer collecting new suitors like they were postage stamps.

Charlaine Harris has done a great job of tying up loose ends in this book, both plot-wise and character-wise. The fight for Shreveport's pack-leader, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the attack by the Fellowship of the Sun, Queen Sophie-Anne's failed marriage and the death of her second in command -- all of these past events left the local vampire and werewolf populations in unstable positions -- and that instability came to a breaking point in From Dead to Worse.

At the same time, Harris has opened up possibilities for future storylines: a new king, a new pack leader, new family ties. Niall Brigant intrigued me, and Hunter ... wow. The book's ending sent chills down my spine. I can't wait to see what else falls out of Sookie's family tree, and I can't wait for the next installment of the Southern Vampire series.

4.5 Stars

I know there are some complaints about all the characters that make an appearance in the book, but I loved seeing everyone and how Ms. Harris tied up a lot of loose ends. I was thrilled with the addition of an mysterious new relative to Sookie's family and I was very satisfied with the direction this book is taking the series. And yes, I have to admit that I love, love, love Eric so any sign that Sookie and Eric might get back together is good news to me. Even Bill, who I have held a grudge against for the last several books, is starting to become more sympathetic. I highly recommend this entertaining edition to the series. Can't wait for the next one. I also can't wait for the TV show, "True Blood," based on the series to make its appearance on HBO!

In the aftermath of Katrina, many towns in Louisiana struggle to cope with the havoc and fall out. There is a storm coming, though, that makes nature's fury seem pale in comparison. The head of Las Vegas' vampire kingdom wants to take over Louisiana and Arkansas, and is prepared to do it in a bloody fashion, no pun intended. Since her love life has entangled her with the local vamps, Sookie Stackhouse finds herself smack in the middle of things; as if she didn't have enough to juggle between her were-tiger boyfriend vanishing, tensions between the aforementioned former vampire romantic ties, and her perpetual family woes that have just taken an interesting twist or two. When the smoke clears, will Sookie be among those still standing?

**** Both fun and tense at once, this series remains a consistent winner. Sookie's plain talking view of life is easy to read and relate to; she somehow makes it seem almost normal to be in love triangles with vampires and were critters or to have kin that are of the fey sort. Rather than being angsty, she rolls with the punches and makes even the worst moments worth a smile. Fans of the series should enjoy, at least I did, the way her romantic life alters in this book. ****

Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews

I love to read ANYTHING Charlaine Harris writes but I was quit disappointed with this new installment. Is she threw with this series? If so this wasnt a grand way to end it. Sookie just seemed to going through the motions and there wasnt any real substance to what was going on. Sookie seemed depressed. The only thing I could gather at the end...there was a possibilty(?) for another book. If so I hope to see the old Sookie.

I was very much a Sookie fan until somewhere around Definitely Dead. Now I'm not so sure any more. Sookie and the whole Louisiana crew are evolving into something else...which is okay if you like your characters to grow and change. I originally liked the series for Sookie's sweetness, the lighthearted one liners, and the interaction between her and the vampires. I find most of that is gone--especially the interaction with vampires, and isn't this a Southern VAMPIRE mystery? This is a Southern Supernatural Soap Opera hodgepodge (witch, werewolf, werepanther) with a little vampire politics thrown in on the side.

If you want closure to many of the things left hanging in earlier books you'll probably find this book to be satisfying. Like others have mentioned, this book as a whole doesn't have its own plot--it looks to be a clean-up hitter. Old things are explained, situations are resolved and put to rest, and several characters are more or less put away and we can probably forget about them from now on. Some publisher's comment was that this is a "pivotal" novel. I can see that, although I think the change started in All Together Dead or maybe back in Definitely Dead. More power and politics, less interpersonal situations.

As I said earlier, characters (especially Sookie) are changing. No more wisecracks from Pam, goodness in Alcide and Arlene, and Sookie is definitely becoming harder and more cynical. All understandable considering what she's been through but I don't find her (or anybody for that matter) to be very likeable and I'm not really cheering for her any more either.

Perhaps this is indeed the pivotal installment. Harris has wrapped up several characters but introduced a bunch more who forseeably have the potential to play big roles and take the series off in another direction. Sorry vampires, you might only be peripherals in the future.

From Dead to Worse? Yep, definitely WORSE for me. If you like serious rather than funny you may enjoy the changes.

Especially after reading Hamilton's Blood Noir, From Dead to Worse was so much fun! I appreciate Harris' ability to treat the South with both respect and truth. This is definitely her best series.

I eagerly pounced on the book and dove in the day I got it. I enjoyed it - but it seemed to lack something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I went back and reread all the books in order - and reread this one again. Firstly - I love this series. I liked this book - but when you line 'em all up - this one just doesn't sparkle like the others. It's the runt of the litter - you could say. I would agree - there's no mystery in this one - it reads more like small stories... all the characters make an appearance... loose ends are tied up... and a couple of interesting story lines are started. It's not as funny - which is what I love about the other books. This could be just because that's where the character is emotionally... she's a little burned out by all the trauma and drama?...but it could be because Ms. Harris needs to take a little breather on this series and re-find the wit and charm. As I said - I liked the book - but it's not my favorite. I hope the next one has Sookie back in fighting form.

Each book has been a wonderful read and this one (Dead to Worse) is no different. This is my number one favorite series. The best part, I have never been disappointed, not once. At the finish of this book I was ready for the next one. I love Sookie and I am rooting for Eric. Each book is a new adventure for Sookie and it is fresh even after eight books. And, issues get resolved and a new one comes up. While I don't like Bill much, I do like that he is still in the picture, in the back ground. For new reader's I recommend that they start with the first book and read them all in order.

-- which, for a fantasy novel, is pretty cool.

Charlaine Harris is a great writer, and Sookie Stackhouse is a great character. This is a special combination, one that should be cherished (by those who connect to the series, of course -- there has never been a book or a character that every single reader has to fall in love with, the Annie-Wilkes-style loyalties of some fans notwithstanding) for as long as the author is able to maintain that relationship with the series. The good news for fans of Sookie Stackhouse is that Charlaine Harris is a patient writer.

That has impressed me most, I think, over the last few years I have been reading and re-reading this series. These books are about Ms. Stackhouse's life, and because no entanglements, no complications, none of the tangled webs we weave (deception-practice or otherwise) can be unraveled and disposed of quickly or easily, the plot lines can last for several books, and even once they have been ended, they can pop right back up again. Take the Pelts, for example. I have been relieved to see that storyline ended, over and over again, ever since the third book, when it began. In every book, I have thought, "Well, I'm certainly glad THAT'S over." And then with each new addition to the tale, the hydra has raised a new-grown head where there was but a stump before. It has allowed me to grow a mature, well-aged hatred for the characters -- who, let us not forget, are nothing more than the figments of the author's imagination. Villains in novels, particularly in paranormal/fantasy novels -- which tend to have villains with a short shelf life, owing to the lethal nature of the characters -- rarely are able to maintain a presence over the course of several books without becoming at least partly heroic (J.R.R. Tolkien's Gollum should stand as the example here), and though there was a sympathetic nod to the Pelts in the sixth book, Definitely Dead, overall, the family has remained distasteful as well as outright villainous.

But here is the wonder: that is the way of the world. That is what it is like to have an enemy. Enemies don't stalk you for days, weeks, months, organizing mustache-twisting, tied-to-the-railroad-tracks climactic showdowns, nor Batman-style supertraps. Enemies do occasionally offer a genuine threat, as the Pelts have at times threatened Sookie, but for the most part, enemies are just annoying. Enemies show up in our lives often, usually bringing little more than a sour look and a palpable hatred, but whenever they do so, they ruin everything good and pleasant about the day. Enemies, like so much else in our lives, are tiresome and dull -- and thus they are incredibly difficult to write about for any extended period. The temptation to kill them off and replace them with more interesting villains, or simply to give the hero a chance to hand out a little closure-with-extreme-prejudice, is too great, as is the difficulty of keeping a distasteful and ugly-hearted character fresh and genuine, rather than allowing them to slip into repetitive stock roles. And yet here these enemies are, back again in this, the eighth book in the series -- and I find myself no less annoyed by the Pelts in this work than in the previous four.

Every plot line is like that, at least in terms of realism. Some are surprisingly short-lived, even anti-climactic, because that is the way of the world. Some drag on and on and on and on -- the Fellowship of the Sun slouches sullenly to mind -- without any resolution in sight, because that, too, is how it goes for all of us. But all of them, every single plot line, is genuine, is well-written, is exactly how it would be if I were to live this life. Because of that realism, because life is basically tedious, these books, this series, should be boring, should be quotidian and monotonous. But they aren't. And they aren't because Charlaine Harris is a great writer, and Sookie Stackhouse is a great character.

These two (if I may be allowed to grant Sookie at least honorary personhood) have created a world, a true world, one that lies parallel to our own rather than on the same track. Because of that, these works give us everything that a good novel should: the potential for an escape into fantasy, with magical creatures and high romance; the ability to feel a connection to another person, an imaginary friendship, as we are permitted a glimpse into her mind (Irony in this case duly noted); the chance to learn something about ourselves and our fellow human beings through the examples given to us here, so like and yet unlike our own lives. And then they give us more, as there is humor and outrage and justice and friendship, romance and sex and heartbreak, drama and pathos and even a little homegrown philosophy -- the best kind, of course. They give us a whole world. And I, for one, love it dearly.

This product came promply and in great condtion. I was very pleased with this distributor.

Johanna Parker is the second professional that I have heard tackle Sookie Stackhouse's voice in the first person novels by Charlaine Harris. A professional voiceover artist, according to the Voice 123 website, she has narrated at least 40 audiobooks. Her warm tones with just enough of a credible accent to appeal without seeming to caricature Sookie's Louisiana roots make it easy to listen to this book. She also differentiates between the characters by accent and "aging" her voice. The production values-- clarity of the recording and consistency of pronunciation-- nothing is worse than a poorly edited audiobook where the same word is pronounced two or more different ways-- are quite good.

As for the book, I would probably give it four stars because it appears to be a sort of clean up novel. As others mentioned, plot lines that had been wending their way through several books in the series are dealt with handily. Other new possibilities are opened up. I always like spending time with Sookie and the other inhabitants of Bon Temps.

Definitely recommended for the audiobook fan.

Charlaine Harris is a great writer giving us another chapter in the life of Sookie and her friends. Keep it up!

I love all of the Sookie Stackhouse books. I have read everybook at least twice waiting for this book to come out. I finally get the book, I read it in one day and sat back when I finished and said, "This is what I waited for?"
Don't get me wrong, the book has tied up some loose ends, opened a few new storylines but on average was just plain boring. There was no "umph" to this one. Previous books were filled with witty banter, good storylines and hot romance. Not so much here.
I re-read the book to make sure that I had not unfairly critized it. Nope, still no jazz for me. Maybe Ms. Harris needs to stick to one series at a time. With 3 series going on at once, one is bound to suffer and I think this is the one. Sorry.

I loved it, would have given it 5 stars but I didn't like how the relationship between Sooky and Quinn ended. I thought that Sooky who was extremely (overly) loyal to her brother would understand and respect Quinn's need to protect his family.

OK, I read the other reviews & I didn't feel like this book was all over the place at all while I was reading it and I still don't!

But I can understand why folks felt that way -- It is a book that tied up bunches of loose ends left hanging in the other books, and it got the set ups ready for the next book. So you got a lot of closure in this book but it also gets you interested in new budding story lines. I especially loved the very end - it comes out of no where and really hooks you. I really want to see where that goes - and I do hope it goes somewhere!!!

Definitely worth reading and as always Charlaine Harris writes with great humor that should make even the grumpiest crack a smile.

Bon Temps telepath, Sookie Stackhouse, returns in her 8th adventure, From Dead to Worse. Sookie again finds her life in danger, resulting from the Pelt family (returning characters).

There are some quick plot twists involving her relationship with Sam, Eric, and Bill; the Hotshot community and her brother Jason; Alcide's rise to power; and an upset in the vampire community that comes out of left field and may leave reader's wondering where Harris is going with the story.

Much of the novel is devoted to Sookie's relationship with her roommates (yes, she gets a second house mate). There is a happy turn of events for Bob the cat, and Sookie is introduced to two new relatives, leaving an opening for the next Stackhouse book to contain more supernatural elements than this one.

Though the novel was entertaining, the level of Sookie one-liners was way down, making it a more somber novel than Harris has provided readers with in the past. There wasn't as much non-stop action than the other novels in the series making this one a brief respite in Sookie's crazy life.

While I always enjoy the writing style of Charlaine Harris, and I do so love her characters, I did not Love this book. There were several interesting plot lines, and I do mean several. But they each almost felt like a separate short story that an editor pieced together to achieve a full length book. Without giving too much away, between the werewolf pack drama, the Grandfather Fairy Prince, the werepanther adultery/violence, the Eric Memory Recovery, the Vampire King coup, the weddings and the witches and so on and so on, it was almost difficult to get involved with any one plot. I felt less emotionally vested in Sookie. She did not tug at the girly heartstrings like normal.
While I am certain that CH is laying the groundwork for some great follow up books, I would love to have had this broken up into 2 or 3 and had the individual plot lines delved into a bit more.
Plus, I have got to say, a Sookie book without the sex just leaves a girl wanting. All in all, Charlaine always delivers quality characters, writing and ideas, but I will hope for more with the next Sookie Installment.

Sorry to those who know what books are in this series, if so, skip down a bit. I try to list the previous books in a series because personally I hate it when I come upon a review which mentions being part of a series- but I can't find what order the books go in!!

Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries: Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 1), Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 2), Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 3), Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 4), Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 5), Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 6), All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 7) and now From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 8)

However, don't forget about the anthologies which contain stories that are also a part of this series! There's Powers of Detection: Stories of Mystery & Fantasy~book 4.25 in the series with a Sookie short story, Night's Edge~ book 4.5ish- not a Sookie story however in that universe, Bite~ book 4.5 in the series with a Sookie short story, My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding~ book 4.75- not a Sookie story however in that universe, and Many Bloody Returns~ book 7.5 in the series with a Sookie short story. Also, book 8.5 Wolfsbane and Mistletoe will be out October 2008.

This is only the second time (The first being Sweet and Deadly) I've been *slightly* disappointed by a book by Charlaine Harris. Considering I've read, hmm wow thirty books, either by Harris or containing a short story by her, I'd say that's pretty good. I'd say that Harris is one of my favorite authors, so when this book was released I read it immediately. Many others who've read this book had a problem with the book not going `anywhere'. Okay, so while Sookie and the gang doesn't travel to Dallas or New Orleans like in previous books, I didn't feel like that took anything away from the story. To borrow from a fellow LibraryThing member, "I see this book as a sort of week or couple of weeks in the life of Sookie." There were plenty of things that happened, no need for them to leave town!

I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn't give it the five stars I wanted to. I won't spoil what happened, but one of my problems was with the way Sookie acted at a certain point in the story. I found it out of character and completely unfair to the person she was dealing with at the time. My other issue was with Jason. Something he did was (to me) also completely out of character. I actually had the opportunity to question Harris herself about these two events (via the B&N message boards), and she had this to say (regarding Jason): "...you bring up some issues that I've had to address while I was touring for FROM DEAD TO WORSE. The issue of why Jason **...spoiler...** will actually be addressed in the next book. I didn't feel I explained it in FDTW well enough, and your question bears that out." (I've taken out what Jason actually did so that nobody will be spoiled) Harris' answer satisfies me here, although I can't necessarily say the same for her response to my Sookie question.... but I can't post that here without giving away major details.

As for the things I liked, there were many. Harris certainly has a way with twists and turns, and I really couldn't put this book down until I reached the very last page. I was excited to see for example, that Sookie's fairy ancestry is finally revealed and I look forward to reading more about that in the next books. I also was happy to see both the were and vampire communities take part in the story, as opposed to one or the other like in previous books. So would I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. Am I fair in taking away the stars I did? Maybe. She lost those stars because of the two events I mentioned above. It just didn't flow for me. The fact is, you expect more from your favorite author, so perhaps this 3.5/4 stars for Harris would be 5 stars for somebody else.

Although I have enjoyed Sookie's adventures in the past, I found this book to be forgettable in comparison.

Sorry to those who know what books are in this series, if so, skip down a bit. I try to list the previous books in a series because personally I hate it when I come upon a review which mentions being part of a series- but I can't find what order the books go in!!

Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries: Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 1), Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 2), Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 3), Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 4), Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 5), Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 6), All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 7) and now From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Bk. 8)

However, don't forget about the anthologies which contain stories that are also a part of this series! There's "Powers of Detection"~ book 4.25 in the series with a Sookie short story, "Night's Edge"~ book 4.5ish- not a Sookie story however in that universe, "Bite"~ book 4.5 in the series with a Sookie short story, "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding"~ book 4.75- not a Sookie story however in that universe, and "Many Bloody Returns"~ book 7.5 in the series with a Sookie short story. Also, book 8.5 "Wolfsbane and Mistletoe" will be out October 2008.

This is only the second time (The first being "Sweet and Deadly") I've been *slightly* disappointed by a book by Charlaine Harris. Considering I've read, hmm wow thirty books, either by Harris or containing a short story by her, I'd say that's pretty good. I'd say that Harris is one of my favorite authors, so when this book was released I read it immediately. Many others who've read this book had a problem with the book not going `anywhere'. Okay, so while Sookie and the gang doesn't travel to Dallas or New Orleans like in previous books, I didn't feel like that took anything away from the story. To borrow from a fellow LibraryThing member, "I see this book as a sort of week or couple of weeks in the life of Sookie." There were plenty of things that happened, no need for them to leave town!

I really enjoyed this book, but I couldn't give it the five stars I wanted to. I won't spoil what happened, but one of my problems was with the way Sookie acted at a certain point in the story. I found it out of character and completely unfair to the person she was dealing with at the time. My other issue was with Jason. Something he did was (to me) also completely out of character. I actually had the opportunity to question Harris herself about these two events (via the B&N message boards), and she had this to say (regarding Jason): "...you bring up some issues that I've had to address while I was touring for FROM DEAD TO WORSE. The issue of why Jason **...spoiler...** will actually be addressed in the next book. I didn't feel I explained it in FDTW well enough, and your question bears that out." (I've taken out what Jason actually did so that nobody will be spoiled) Harris' answer satisfies me here, although I can't necessarily say the same for her response to my Sookie question.... but I can't post that here without giving away major details.

As for the things I liked, there were many. Harris certainly has a way with twists and turns, and I really couldn't put this book down until I reached the very last page. I was excited to see for example, that Sookie's fairy ancestry is finally revealed and I look forward to reading more about that in the next books. I also was happy to see both the were and vampire communities take part in the story, as opposed to one or the other like in previous books. So would I recommend this book? Yes, definitely. Am I fair in taking away the stars I did? Maybe. She lost those stars because of the two events I mentioned above. It just didn't flow for me. The fact is, you expect more from your favorite author, so perhaps this 3.5/4 stars for Harris would be 5 stars for somebody else.

The latest in the Sookie Stackhouse series adds to the increasingly complex world of vamps & supes. Harris combines humor and horror as she continues Sookie's education in the previously unseen aspects of life prior to the vampires' making themselves known. Enjoyable indeed.

thankyou amazon i loved the book. it was wonderful. my freinds begged me to borrow it.(you guys really came though for me) thanks. signed annie hamilton.

This series is still interesting and fun to read. There is plenty of action and I liked the fact that this book had more shifters and weres and not just vampire drama like the last one. Eric is as tempting as ever and i am really starting to wonder who Sookie is gonna end up with. My favorite Sookie suitor Alcide also makes plenty of appearances!!! YAY!!!

I agree with some of what has been negatively said about this book. However, I disagree with it being a negative. Sookie Stackhouse has had eight adventures so far, with many characters brought into various plots, subplots and mysteries. I really liked this book because every once in a while, loose ends, which aided the plot lines in their previous books, need to be tidied up. No one is permanently erased, but their place in the stream of things is tightened up so that other plot lines and characters can move forward more cleanly.

Sookie has gone as far as she can, at this point, with her brother and the life he has chosen. She has gone as far as she seems to be willing with Sam, Arlene, and others at the bar. She hasn't gone as far as I wish she would with Eric (and Bill), but the revelations concerning these two hunks have been sent upon paths which bode well, I trust, for more interaction with them. They are NOT out of her life, even though their own lives have taken a major hit.

And, she has a new family member. In almost every book, a new character is either introduced or developed, and, boy, is her new relative a magic man (relatively speaking)! Lots of plot twists are available for this new pathway.

So, is it the best Sookie? Perhaps not. (Nothing can beat her first love scenes with Bill, and then in a later book with Eric.) Is it worth the hardcover price? Yep. At least to me it is because Charlaine Harris does not fail to entertain me. And I keep hoping for more yummy bits with Eric and maybe even Bill. (Sorry, I would have forgiven Bill long time ago. And, I still wish there was a bit more Lora Leigh in Ms. Harris for a menage. But, that is just me. Probably wouldn't work anyway.)

Just a thought. Maybe that is the sign of an author who does her work well. She sets up characters and situations that let the reader fantasize a bit on their own. Hmmmm. I'll have to think about that concept.

I enjoyed the book as I have the whole series, but this one was not as interesting/fun to me as the first few.

In *MY* humble opinion at least, this is the best yet from author Charlaine Harris. While there was NOT a lot of the action that Mrs. Harris is famous for, I liked it principally for all of the loose ends that got tied up. Once that's done, the author is free to take the characters in entirely new directions that, while they are based on previous action/actions, are new, fresh and interesting.

Too many authors these days keep adding layers and layers of JUNK on their characters rather than put in the effort to GROW their characters; Mrs. Harris, happily, has NOT fallen into that trap. My GOODNESS, a new vampire King, a new Packmaster, a new great-grandfather, Eric remembering living with Sookie, and the rupture of the Jason/Crystal marriage? WHO could ask for anything more? NEW storylines, NEW potential for all of the charatcters, and MORE fun ahead for the next book.

GOOD for you, Mrs. Harris! Keep it up!

Reading a Sookie Stackhouse novel is always a lot of fun for me. As someone who lives in a small Ozarks town I relate to some of the people that surround Sookie -- at least the non-supes. I give Harris a lot of credit for creating such an engaging character. My one and only quibble with this book is that so much happened outside of Sookie's point of view, and could have been whole novels themselves. The Were power struggle was over over in just a few pages and the takeover of Louisiana happened in one chapter! Several favorite characters die and we aren't there to see and know what happened. That I found annoying. Otherwise, this was still an enjoyable novel and I hope to read more about Sookie Stackhouse.

The rest of the book deserves probably 3.5. I love this series and always look forward to the next one. This one kept my attention and I loved seeing my old friends and what was happening around town in Bon Temps; however, I think it was too "busy" and Ms. Harris has gone overboard adding fairies to the mix. I was satisfied with vampires and shapeshifters. It seemed a lot was going on but there wasn't really a solid story arc. Still, I'm looking forward to the next one. Sookie is a girlfriend. :)

I just finished this book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and it was better than the last. I actually came to the series about book 4, but bought them all and read them in order. I've read her other books too, but Sookie is my favorite. Her thought process is wonderfully innocent and thought provoking. I can't wait for the next one. Charlaine, keep 'em coming.

I was going to say that I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. But when I started writing the review, I thought back over what I read and realized how much fun it was compared to the more recent books that had Sookie coping with Hurricane Katrina fallout and bombs and vampire politics. In a way, too, it seems to be clearing the decks for new action.

There's a change in the political structure of the vampires and Eric remembers the time he spent with Sookie. There's a werewolf power struggle, an issue with Sookie's brother Jason, and a double wedding where Sookie fills in as an emergency bridesmaid. Lots of good Bon Temps stuff!

I really liked that all the action takes place in Bon Temps and Shreveport, not in Dallas or other cities far away. Sookie's back at work for Sam and we're involved in the doings of Bon Temp.

Bill the vampire has a role, as does Amelia the witch, Bob the cat, and Sookie's guardian fairies. We also meet two new family members - and both have the potential for moving the series off into wonderful and strange directions.

I look forward to the next installment.

As numerous people have commented, this book has no real plot. It just kind of meanders along, as a series of vignettes, loosely tied together. There are interested episodes, but that is about it. Like many people, I only finished this book because I am obsessive.

I have read almost all of Ms. Harris' books, except for Aurora Teagarden. They have all been good and many quite good. I don't know what happened on this one.

Very disappointing.

Seldom are we lucky enough to find authors who create a character so compelling that you impatiently wait from book to book, wanting to read about the character and adventures therein. Two authors, Charlaine Harris and Dean Koontz have managed this with Sookie Stackhouse and Odd Thomas, respectively. Both authors disappointed in this latest go-round.

I read both books in one eager sit-down, but this is about Harris and FROM DEAD TO WORSE, which got a 3 star rating. If you're just starting to read the Southern Vampire series, this isn't the place to start as it assumes knowledge of the previous books. Because I'm going to discuss this book a bit more in detail than usual, consider some PLOT SPOILERS ahead. Please don't go on if this will ruin the book for you.

Hurricane Katrina is STILL making waves in Louisiana and Sookie begins the book giving a re-hash of previous events. It starts out well after that with the Bon Temps 'weddings of the year', a good exchange between Bill and Sookie, and a couple of mysterious strangers. It goes on with life at Bon Temps, some family business with Amelia that reveals something important to Sookie. So far, so good.

A bit later a phone call from Eric,"...there is someone in town who wants to meet you. I promised I would arrange it." Sookie replies, "I guess. Who'm I meeting and where?" Instead of answering, Eric says, "I'll introduce you and stay as long as you need me to," to which Sookie answers, "Okey". This is the same character who in the last pages of the previous book is thinking life would be better if she stays away from vampires and weres. In fact, she is totally adament about having as little to do with vampires, especially, as possible. Yet, with hardly any protest agrees to meet "someone" a vampire wants her to meet? VERY much out of character!

In this book we have at least three (count 'em!) major plots and three minor. Major: Vampire war, Werewolf war, new discoveries in family. Minor: the Jason/Crystal train wreck (figuratively speaking), Amelia, and Bob the cat. With the exception of Bob, none of them really received the attention and book space due. One would think the Vampire and Werewolf Wars, bloody and serious, vamps destroyed and weres dead, would have rated an entire book instead of a few chapters.

There was just too much going on with too little said about it all, Sookie is acting out of character, the whole thing is rushed beyond belief, and when it's all over the reader is left with a confused look and wondering what the heck happened.

I have the whole series in hard-cover simply because this in probably my all-time favorite series. Yes, I was disappointed in this one but I have hopes for the next in the series. Charlaine Harris is a very prolific writer and maybe she is over-extending herself. Maybe she felt pushed into just getting this book out. I don't know the answers. Mostly I'm just hoping for a great come-back in the next installment of the Southern Vampire series.

Ms. Harris has another winner with From Dead to Worse! In her newest adventures, Sookie is forced to face some hard truths and find her inner strength. Eric does make a short appearance, so do a few of her other men. Some interesting new developments arise and I can't wait to see where Ms. Harris and Sookie go from here.
I highly recommend this one and it is definetly a Keeper!

From Dead to Worse is the eighth Southern Vampire mystery from Charlaine Harris, and to be honest, the series is more than a little fatigued if this is anything to go by. It picks up where All Together Dead left off, after a terrorist bombing destroyed a vampire hotel where an important vampire conference is being held. However, after the breakneck pace of All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse is practically DOA.

There are several self-contained storylines happening in From Dead to Worse, and the main problem is that there is no common thread linking them. Each one opens and is resolved similar to a vignette, with no "a ha" moments of discovery. For a series called "Southern Vampire Mysteries," there ARE no mysteries in this installment. Also, for those fans who enjoyed Sookie's bedroom romps with various supernatural lovers, there's NO hanky panky here. Not that that's a bad thing; I felt that the last several books were becoming increasingly obsessed with graphic sex over plot or action. But Sookie's humdrum "adventures" weren't interesting, just dull.

Also, Harris reintroduces every supporting character from what feels like the entire series, many times with no goal other than name-dropping. To be honest, this Sookie installment felt entirely like filler; there were no satisfying resolutions with the tensions (romantic and political) introduced in the previous book, and the family "revelations" were lackluster.

I'm still a huge fan of the series and look forward to future Sookie adventures (including HBO's TV series True Blood starring Anna Paquin as Sookie), but From Dead to Worse left me deathly bored.

I am a huge fan of Charlaine Harris' books. I have read and loved all the Sookie Stackhouse books as well as the Lily Bard books (which I would love too see more of). That said, I was a little disappointed in From Dead To Worse. It was good but a little disjointed. The story seemed to be all over the place. The only thread tying them together was Sookie's involvement. I still liked the book and Sookie too but it wasn't as riveting as Harris' previous stories.

Great Book and it arrived on time and in excellent condition. I would have liked a few hundred more pages but was happy with the content.

[...]

Sookie Stackhouse is a barmaid at Merlotte's, a local bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She also has telepathic abilities, to be able to read other people's minds. Sookie has a very hard time with humans not accepting her because of her unique ability, until the secret underground society of Vampires decided to announce their existence when the Japanese invented "True Blood", a synthetic blood that contains all of the nutrients vampires need without the killing of people. Sookie found out she could get a little peace around the supernatural community, she could not read their minds like she could with the humans. Unfortunately, there is a lot more at stake (pun intended) in the supernatural community when several groups want to use her telepathic gift for their own evil purposes ..

Sookie has returned home to Bon Temps after the bombing of Rhodes during the Vampire Conference that killed (permanently) a lot of the vampires attending. With the combined tragedies of Hurricane Katrina and the Fellowship of the Sun (anti-vampire "church"), Sophie-Anne, Queen of Louisiana and Arkansas, is in a much weakened state. When the King of Nevada sends in a scout to their territory, there is not much Sookie can do about it, other than let Eric and Pam know about this stranger, Jonathan.

The werewolf community is also in battle amongst themselves, due to the new pack leader, Patrick Furnan. Furnan killed Alcide's father in a fight for the next pack leader. Alcide and his members are enraged when it is speculated that someone from Furnan's pack was ordered to murder Alcide's girlfriend, Maria-Star. Sookie was asked to help use her telepathic ability to sort out lies within both packs, but of course this leads to a war that Sookie can only hope to come out alive.

Amongst helping both supernatural communities with their problems, Sookie has several of her own she has to attend to. Another strange man has been popping in keeping an eye on her and she soon finds out that he is her great-grand father and also a fairy. Sookie wants to know why he decided to show up after all these years and if his intent is to bring her harm. She also finds out her cousin, Hadley, had a baby with her ex-husband before she was turned into a vamp and later murdered by the Queen's jealous companion. Things get really interesting when Octavia, Amelia's mentor and fellow witch, comes to Bon Temps to bestow punishment on Amelia for turning a human (Bob) into a cat during sex magic. With all this going on in her life, it's amazing if she will make it out alive.

FROM DEAD TO WORSE is the 8th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Charlaine Harris is a talented and brilliant writer. The character development grows with each book she writes. The plot keeps the reader intrigued and wanting more. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves to read about the supernatural, paranormal, mystery, romance and thriller genre(s). A definite must read.

CHARLAINE HARRIS is New York Times bestselling author. She writes both fantasy and mystery. Mrs. Harris and her family live in a small town in Southern Arkansas. The Sookie Stackhouse series will be premiering on HBO_TV created by Alan Ball of Six Feet Under. The show "True Blood" will be based on this series and will be airing in September of 2008.

I have to say that I absolutely love Charlaine Harris, I have read every book she has written. This is the first time that I have every been disappointed in one of her books. My daughter and I were both counting down the days until "From Dead to Worse" came out. As I started reading I kept waiting for the big adventure to begin....it never did. There were way too many things going on in the book, none of them engaged me as a reader, I just kept waiting for the story to grip me and it didn't. My daughter felt the same way, I have to say this was a big disappointment.