Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse, #2)

by Charlaine Harris

The second novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris’s “addictively entertaining”(Locus) Sookie Stackhouse series—the inspiration for the HBO® original series True Blood.

Even though Sookie has her own vampire to look out for her—her red-hot, cold-blooded boyfriend, Bill Compton—she has to admit that the bloodsuckers did save her life. So when one of the local Undead asks the cocktail waitress for a favor, she feels like she owes them.

Soon, Sookie’s in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She’s supposed to interview certain humans involved. There’s just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave—and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

Reviewed by celinenyx on

3 of 5 stars

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Original review, 2012 (5 stars)
This book is where, in my opinion, the Sookie Stackhouse series really start off. The plot gets more interesting and less centered around Sookie and her crush on Bill.
Also side character Eric gets more interesting, wonder how that turns out...

Reread review, 2020 (3 stars)
Almost a decade later I can see how wobbly the plot in this one is. Lafayette's murder kicks off the book, but gets completely forgotten while Sookie goes off to Dallas. It only makes a brief return in the latter part of the book, mainly, apparently to get Sookie caught up in this orgy with Eric. In addition to this, many part of the series don't quite hold up - there is a lot of semi-buried racism and homophobia going on, and it's not always appropriately challenged. Lafayette's murder, in particular.

Shout-out to Eric's orgy outfit though.

Content warnings: death of black queer person, racism, homophobia, attempted rape, suicide.

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