Muerto en familia

Damn. This was really good. Dead in the Family is one of the rare books in the series where Harris actually manages to juggle all her usual elements - supernatural politics and warfare, Sookie's day to day life, sex and family - instead of just throwing them up in the air and seeing where they land. The plot isn't as centrally driven as, say, Dead to the World, the climax actually kind of sneaks up on you, but things still come together nicely, and for once we actually get a rather peaceful ending.

Most of all though I think I just love Sookie Stackhouse, how her character is developing and the way her life is moving. I just really like being involved in her world.

The title could just as well have been Much Ado About Nothing (I'm sure that nobody will ever confuse Harris' work with that of the Bard).

As the GoodReads synopsis suggests, there are plenty of subplots that should keep a long-time reader busy, but I found most of them boring.

Jason has settled down with a decent-seeming woman - that's good. And he actually seems to be willing to stand by his sister when she needs him, which is even better–without being asked, without so much as a reminder! Will wonders ever cease? (That one example says so much about why I prefer the books to the televised version.)

Otherwise, though, Eric's maker has shown up with a “brother” for Eric - one who is utterly dysfunctional. If this maker were as powerful and decisive as we are told he is, why hasn't he already taken care of business and put the “brother” down? Why bring him to Eric, as if he needs Eric's help to do the deed? That's completely backwards for this (or any other) vampire mythos. If a younger vampire couldn't handle one of his offspring, he might bring that one to his sire for help or judgment. Now, knowing Eric, and how very proud he is - his sire must know him very deeply, and must know that asking Eric for help will lose Eric's respect completely. How could he possibly lower himself to do that?

I'm more willing to believe that Sookie is having problems with her experiences during the Faerie “war” - why doesn't anybody else ever have PTSD in paranormal romance or urban fantasy books? Her “cure” comes WAY too easily, but it is a fantasy.

Some of a faerie relative's “explanation” for his behavior simply doesn't jive with what we've been told in prior books. Maybe the person in charge of continuity lost his or her job. Maybe Harris is tired of the series. Who knows?

Some of the little details left me befuddled. Bill dated who and now reveals he's her what? Why do crosses hurt vampires, but Bibles don't?

Maybe this book should be left for the diehard Sookie fans. I don't think I count as one.