Dead as a Doornail

Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5) by Charlaine Harris. Ace, 2006

Someone is shooting the shape-shifters of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Most humans are not aware of shifters. They keep their existence secret unlike vampires who, because of the advent of a decent synthetic blood, have acknowledged their existence to the human world. But Sookie knows all about shifters. In the previous book, Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4), Sookie's brother Jason was bitten by a were-panther, and he is outspokenly bitter about it. In Dead as a Doornail, on the night of the full moon, he goes through his first transformation. Surprisingly he finds this to be quite exhilarating. Too bad not everyone believes he's had a change of heart.

Some of the shifters think the culprit might be someone who was bitten and is seeking revenge. There are those who believe Jason may be guilty and have called for his execution. Fortunately one of the shifter leaders - Calvin - is holding his group in check, at least for now. It also helps that Sam - Sookie's boss at Merlotte's Tavern who sometimes turns into a collie - makes it known that he is certain of Jason's innocence. Sookie needs to solve this mystery soon or her brother faces death. And if Jason's problem isn't bad enough Sookie finds herself the target of an assassin.

As many of you know I love the entire Southern Vampire series. The mystery plots are well done, but it is the many fascinating characters and how they interact that make Harris's stories so much fun to read.

I'm anxious for the new season HBO's True Blood to begin. But I must be patient.