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.

True Blood - Recent News

The latest word is that True Blood, the series based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris, will debut on HBO in September, 2008.

A recent article by Brian Ford Sullivan gives more detail.

Remember this month's two contest winners will receive a copy of Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. All email subscribers are eligible. See the information in the left hand column on how to subscribe.

Win a Copy of All Together Dead

Remember - E-mail subscribers to Patricia's Vampire Notes have a chance to win a copy of All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris (Ace, 2007). If you are not yet a subscriber be sure to sign up. See Subscribe To notice in the left hand column.

A winner will be chosen on April 30 and announced on this site.

Charlaine Harris - Old Book - New Series

Recently Charlaine Harris wrote this on her blog. "For the third or fourth time, I think I know when “True Blood” will finally be on the air. The word now is that it’ll debut in the fall, when “Entourage” starts its new season. I should have been taking this all in stride, but this is the first time any of my Hollywood entanglements has gone this far... Because of Alan Ball’s clout and talent, the series based on the Sookie Stackhouse books has gone much farther. First, the script was written, and then the pilot was cast and shot, and then HBO picked it up, and then the second and third episodes were cast and shot, and then . . . the writer’s strike struck. Now, it appears, things are chugging back into movement."

Harris, Charlaine. Dead to the World. Ace, 2004
I (Patricia) wrote the following review in 2004 soon after the book was published but realized I had not published it here.

After her shift at Merlotte’s one New Year’s Eve, Sookie drives down the dark, lonely roads of Bon Temp, LA on her way home. She is surprised to see a man wearing only jeans running as if in fear for his life. She is even more surprised when she recognizes him. It is Eric, the head vampire of the area, who resides in Shreveport.

Welcome to the world of Sookie Stackhouse, a lady often considered a bit odd by others. Although she takes great pains to hide her ability to read minds, many feel uneasy around her and shy away. However, she cannot read the minds of vampires, a group which has recently made themselves known to the human population and now have acknowledged legal rights. Her first real boyfriend was Bill, a vampire, who besides being terribly handsome and charming, has a mind inaccessible to hers. Sookie finds this most agreeable. Through Bill she has met up with Eric. In the past Eric has called upon her to use her unique talent to help retrieve information from the minds of reluctant humans. Sookie has not necessarily liked doing this, but Eric can be fearfully persuasive.

Now Eric is the vulnerable one. Although Sookie recognizes him, he has no idea who she is. In fact he doesn’t know who he is. His confusion leads him to be fearful at times something that Sookie thought she would ever see in this strong, tall, blonde handsome hunk. She takes him to her house after persuading him that he can trust her. Once he is settled she contacts Pam, his second in command. What Sookie eventually learns is that a coven of powerful witches has appeared in Shreveport. Many in the group are more than human. They are shape shifters who add to their strength by drinking vampire blood. One of the witches placed a curse on Eric when he rebuffed her. Meanwhile Sookie’s attraction to Eric intensifies. It helps, of course, that she and Bill have had a huge falling out and he has gone off to Peru.

Another complication arises when Sookie’s brother Jason goes missing. She fears that he has been murdered by one of the witches.

This is the fourth book in the Southern Vampire series. With each volume the preternatural world as seen through Sookie’s eyes becomes more complex, more dangerous, and more interesting. As always Sookie’s level head and wry insights makes each installment a fun read.

Interview with Charlaine Harris Author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries

This interview was conducted in June in preparation for the Library Journal column From Shelf to Screen (Oct. 15, 2007). In 2008 HBO will air the TV series True Blood (tentatively scheduled for March) based on the Southern Vampire Mysteries featuring the mind-reading Louisiana barmaid Sookie Stackhouse who finds herself intimately involved with the vampire subculture.

1. Although you are the author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries you have had to turn over creative control to Alan Ball (producer of Six Feet Under). You obviously have a lot of confidence in him, but how were you able to let go of your own creation?

It won't be my creation any more when it's on television. It'll be Alan's creation, and a completely different animal. I'm looking forward to seeing the books from a completely different point of view.

2. Producer Alan Ball is obviously a fan of the Southern Vampire Mysteries. What information have you shared with him on developing the characters, especially Sookie.

I think all the sharing I need to do is right there in the text. When I was trying to decide who to go with, of the offers in front of me, Alan was the one who convinced me he understood what I was doing with the books.

3. Have you made any suggestions for the True Blood stories? Will any of the novels be a basis for an episode?

The pilot episode is Chapter One of Book One, "Dead Until Dark." The plan now is to follow the books chronologically.

4. Has filming begun? Have you been on the set and if so what was it like for you?

Filming starts June 7, last I heard. I have been on the set while it was still being built, and I've met some of the production crew. Without exception, they struck me with their questions, their interest, and their knowledge of the books. It was a really pleasant shock to find out they cared about the books and hoped their vision enriched mine.

5. What do you think of the actors who have been cast? What do you think they will bring to their roles?

I am confident that Alan and his casting director have picked the right people for the right roles, because that's what they do for a living, and their track record says they're pretty good at it. I don't know squat about acting, and I'm really fascinated by the process. It may be I'll learn something about the characters from watching their interpretation!

6. Will there be any kind of publicity touring or interviewing that will include you in helping to launch the series?
I don't think touring . . . I just toured for ALL TOGETHER DEAD, the seventh Sookie. I'm doing quite a few interviews about the show, and I'm sure there'll be more right around the premier, if that's not too grand a name for it.

7. How firm is the Jan.'08 launch date?
I have no idea. After HBO executives view the pilot, that'll be firmed up.

8. Will there be a prescreening of the first episode? Will you be involved in this or will you watch it for the first time along with the rest of us?

Alan has mentioned that I should come to LA for the prescreening, and I'm thinking about it. Depends on what's going on with my family then.

9. Any other comments you wish to make would be welcome.

I've read the first two scripts, and I couldn't be more pleased and excited.

10. Do you have any comments that you would like to make to the library community? It's impact on you or your work?

Sure. My mom (until her retirement) was a librarian, and my sister in law (until her untimely death) was a librarian, and I think it's a super job. It's no coincidence that two of my best friends have been librarians. When I think of how much libraries do for people who need the dreams and the information books hold, it makes me regret I didn't get a degree . . . though I realize that sounds very suck-uppy, as my daughter would say.


Note from Patricia: I love the Southern Vampire Mysteries and was hooked after reading the first book Dead Until Dark (Ace, 2001). What better combination than mystery and vampires? Book number eight From Dead to Worse will be published by Ace in 2008. Like Harris's many fans I look forward to watching the HBO series. Unfortunately the debut date is very dependent on when the current writer's strike is settled. For more thoughts on Charlaine Harris and her vampire series look at Patricia's Vampire Notes for May 12, 2006.