Dead Until Dark

Dead Until Dark: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel
By Charlaine Harris
Fiction
Released May 1, 2001
$7.99 Kindle http://www.amazon.com/

This book was lent to me two summers ago by my BFF. She actually handed me a box set of 8 and said, "You gotta read these-you'll love them!"
The Sookie Stackhouse novels-not to be confused with Snookie from Jersey Shore- are the inspiration for the "Tru Blood" series on HBO. I don't have a HBO (or a DVR...just saying) so I was unaware of this show or the books.
I do love a book featuring supernatural characters...yes.... okay....vampires and werewolves...Team Jacob!
"Dead Until Dark" is like "Twilight" for adults. More violence, more sex. Politics, more sex...wait-what was I talking about? Oh yea. Sookie. In the first book (of 13 and counting) you meet the main character, Sookie Stackhouse. She is a small town waitress in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie was raised by her Grandmother Adele and the two women live together in Adele's home outside of town. It turns out that Sookie was born with a little supernatural ability herself. She can read minds. Of course her friends, family, and Bon Temps residents just think she has a disablity....she's "slow". Sookie soon discovers that the mind of  other supernaturals-vampires-to be exact-are unreadable to her. A nice change of pace for Miss Stackhouse. A bit of silence in a noisy world. Now, to give a little history. The story is set in a time in the near future where vampires are legal citizens. Thanks to the creation of a synthetic blood; Tru Blood, vampires can be public and not have to feed off of humans. A good thing, as that has been outlawed and a  vampire can go to jail for that. Tru Blood is found in supermarkets,bars, and restaurants across the nation. Including the little juke joint that Sookie works in. Enter in Sam Merlotte, owner of said juke joint and her boss. He's got the hots for Sookie. First chapter in, Bill Compton, a handsome prince of darkness,walks in to Merlotte's. Sookie is instantly attracted to Bill, mostly because she has discovered she can't read his mind. Silence is golden. A love triangle has officially been created. Sam, Bill and Sookie (in case you weren't keeping up).
The book takes you through the adventures and perils of dating a vampire in a small southern town.
"Dead Until Dark" is campy fun! Laugh out loud and chocked full of sexual tension. Tons of mysterious characters and life and death missions around every corner.
I love these books! I have read every single one in the series. I enjoyed myself so much I read every single book by Charlaine Harris.
She writes very simply, with easy charaters who have very complex, dark histories. Her leads are always female and always bad-ass. Her crescendos are worth the chapters you have to read to get there. I always say to myself when reading a Harris book, "Holy Crap, I can't believe that just happened!"
The authors sense of humor is wickedly good. Case in point; in "Dead Until Dark" you meet the most memorable vampire ever, Bubba. He strongly resembles a famous rock and roll legend who was fond of fried peanut butter sandwiches. Shhhh...never mention that resemblance to Bubba though. Apparently during his transition between life and death he was affected by all of the drugs in his system and it has made him a rather peculiar vampire with a penchant for cats. Bubba isn't usually aware of who he was in a past life but if you get him in just the right mood....he sings an amazing version of Love Me Tender.

Read This: Yes. If you get a kick out of Jerry Springer and PeeWee's Playhouse, and/or all thing trashy, you will love this book! Cute, campy and funny!

But: No butts about it.

Bonus: Check out the HBO series, "Tru Blood". LOOSELY based on the books! http://www.hbo.com/

P.S. If you want to meet another memorable supernatural Elvis character, read "Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz!