Book Review: Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, #3) by Charlaine Harris
Club Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, #3) by Charlaine Harris. © 2003 Ace Books. ISBN 9780441010516. Mass Market Paperback. Paranormal Romance/Mystery. 292 pages. Source: borrowed a copy from my sister.
Synopsis: There’s only one vampire Sookie Stackhouse is involved with (at least voluntarily) and that’s Bill. But recently he’s been a little distant – in another state, distant. His sinister and sexy boss Eric has an idea where to find him. Next thing Sookie knows, she is off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. It’s a dangerous little haunt where the elitist vampire society can go to chill out and suck down some type O. But when Sookie finally finds Bill – caught in an act of serious betrayal – she’s not sure whether to save him…or sharpen some stakes.
Review: In my attempt to get some background info while waiting impatiently for the new season of True Blood, I borrowed a couple of the Sookie Stackhouse novels from my little sister.
In this book, Bill takes a trip to Jackson, MS (though he told Sookie it was Seattle) and ends up being held hostage by Mississippi’s vampire king, Russell Edgington and the mysterious Lorena. As Sherriff of Louisiana’s Area 5, Eric is duty-bound to get Bill back but once again needs Sookie’s telepathic abilities in order to do so. Eric charges werewolf Alcide Herveaux with the job of escorting Sookie to Jackson, where both must masquerade as a couple in order to learn more from the patrons of Josephine’s (a.k.a., Club Dead). As you can expect, danger and mystery find Sookie and the shit hits the fan when Bill betrays her.
I found Club Dead to be well-written, steamy and fun (plus I surprisingly find I’m acutally enjoying the dynamic Sookie and Eric have) but I really think I need to learn to just enjoy a book and stop getting my feathers ruffled at the little things. Example, when we first meet Alcide, Sookie does an amazing job at describing him but one thing she said bothered me to no end and I almost put down the book upon reading it: “He was a proper man.” (page 59). So, only guys who look like the Brawny Man are “proper” men. Ugh. Sookie, are you living in the 50s, sweetie?
Despite that, I am warming up to Sookie … I think. At least she finally dumped her crap vampire boyfriend, Bill. We never see Bella Swan doing that, so she deserves a little of my respect. But I’m still not pleased with how Sam, Bill, Eric and Alcide all want Sookie. It’s just too Mary Sue and I only like Mary Sues in my fan fiction, thankyouverymuch. Thus I’m only giving this 3/5. Let’s hope book four shows more promise. I’m looking forward to learning more about Eric, at least.
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