Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood, Book 3)

Club Dead is the third book in the Sookie Stackhouse series by popular American author, Charlaine Harris. Lately, her boyfriend Bill seems to be completely engrossed in the computer project he has taken on for the (vampire) Queen of Louisiana, leaving Sookie bored and frustrated. And then, suddenly, he is heading for Seattle and leaving her instructions in case he does not return. Weeks later, no Bill and suddenly, Eric, the boss of Area 5’s vampires, assigns her a vampire bodyguard. And he has some news that has Sookie re-examining her relationship with Bill.

Soon enough, Sookie is on her way to Jackson, Mississippi in the company of a rather dishy werewolf named Alcide who is her entrée into Club Dead. Hopefully her telepath skills will help her locate her absent (possibly kidnapped? hopefully not permanently dead!) boyfriend. And while Sookie enjoys being pampered in a beauty salon on two occasions, dressing up in a jaw-dropping dress and getting to dance with a gorgeous and appreciative male, this is more than offset, over the next few days, as she is also insulted by a jealous ex, mauled, drained, staked, locked in a car trunk, battered and beaten.

This instalment also sees her meeting the (vampire) King of Mississippi, saving a vampire’s “life”, foiling an apparent holdup attempt, helping to dispose of a dead body and killing someone without remorse. The consideration of certain thoughtful males accentuates the distracted attitude of her official boyfriend, to Sookie’s dismay. The ending leaves Sookie’s relationship with Bill very much up in the air, although there are plenty of males willing to take his place. Very enjoyable. 4.5 stars