Sookie Stackhouse - A Touch Of Dead

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
A Touch Of Dead by Charlaine Harris

Sookie's Quick Bites!

A Touch Of Dead is a collection of five short stories from the Sookie Stackhouse series that has been published here together for the first time.

Fairy Dust. (takes place after Dead To The World)

Claudine enlists Sookie's help to find a murderer. A fairy has been murdered and only Sookie has the skills to discover who murdered the fairy, and why? But will she be able to discover the truth before the fairies decide to take matters into their own hands?

Dracula Night. (takes place before Dead As A Doornail)

Eric is excited, it's his favourite time of the year, and a huge party has been planed for the event. Sookie has received an invitation to a birthday at Fangtasia, but it is not Eric's, its Dracula's, and rumour has it this year he just might show up...

One Word Answer. (takes place after Dead As A Doornail)

News of Sookie's cousin Hadley arrives in the form of a demonic lawyer, and he's not alone; he comes with vampires. Sookie is about to discover what has become of Hadley, she is also set a task that seems almost impossible to her. But is this one offer she can't refuse?

Lucky. (takes place after All Together Dead)

A mystery has landed on Sookie's doorstep in the form of an insurance agent with magical powers. It's a simple case, or so detective Stackhouse and her partner inspector Broadway thought. But even with a telepath and a witch on the case, they are going to have to be more then good to crack this mystery, they are going to have to be lucky.

Gift Wrap. (takes place before Dead And Gone)

Sookie has accepted the fact that this year she is spending Christmas alone; or so she thought. Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to make this Christmas one Sookie will never forget; but will it be the killer Were on her doorstep, the naked man in her living room, or the surprise guest for dinner that is the most memorable this Christmas?

This book is invaluable to any Sookie Stackhouse fan, and if you're not a fan you should be. So many hidden gems from the Sookie Stackhouse universe are revealed as we learn all those glorious bits of inconsequential snippets of the lives affecting our heroin, Sookie. These are the background stories that enrich the series, a must read.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

Charlaine Harris @ Hachette

On sale: 01 October 2009
Price (AU): $29.99
ISBN: 9780575094437
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Short Bites
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: four out of five
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Sookie Stackhouse - Gift Wrap

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
Gift Wrap by Charlaine Harris

The Best Presents Can't Be Wrapped!

Gift Wrap is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that has been published in the book Wolfsbane And Mistletoe. A book of short stories about the furred persuasion and the Christmas spirit from a number of different authors.

Sookie is about to have one hell of a Christmas. She is not speaking to her brother, her great-grandfather is not exactly the Christmas type, and her house mate Amelia has left her for the holidays to be with her own family. All in all this is shaping up to be one lonely Christmas.

But her brother has planned a surprise for Sookie, one she may not like. Mostly because of the danger it seems to have put her in, but she's not the only one. Another tall, dark and naked man has appeared at Sookies home seeking help, and Sookie can never say no to a person in need.

However, things are not always as they seem, as someone else has plans to surprise the unsuspecting Sookie with a gift of their own. A gift like no other has been arranged for Sookie, and it will come from the most unlikely of sources. Christmas is no time to be alone and lucky for Sookie this year she doesn't have to be.

A lovely story of family, love and yuletide cheer. An intriguing story with a twist that you will never see coming, but with an ending to warm the heart. This story takes place before Dead And Gone, the eight story in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

On sale: 01 September 2008
ISBN: 9780441016334
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Christmas
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: three out of five
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Sookie Stackhouse - Lucky

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
Lucky by Charlaine Harris

Lucky Rabbits My Foot!

Lucky is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that has been published in the book Unusual Suspects. A book of short stories about paranormal detectives and supernatural criminals from a number of different authors.

Sookie Stackhouse and her house mate Amelia Broadway were just in the middle of a very important operation when they were interrupted by the door bell. Greg Aubert, Sookie's local insurance agent, has just arrived in time to watch the paint dry on Sookie and Amelia's toenails. But without the need for any claims, Sookie is at a loss as to the why the full time insurance agent, part time witch, has arrived on her door step.

Greg has come to Sookie to beg a favour, with a few threats thrown in for good measure. Someone has broken into his office, someone has rifled through his files, but worst of all someone may have discovered Greg's magical secret. Somehow, Sookie and Amelia have been roped into finding out who is behind it, and why?

As Sookie and Amelia delve deeper into the mystery they find more suspects then they bargained for, and some very surprising culprits. Not to mention some twisted magic, a stray vampire, and more danger then thought possible for a little investigation such as this.

An interesting little story that tells of balance in all things, even magic, and that life is every bit as complicated as people are. Even the mystery of Terry's dogs is revealed during Sookie and Amelia's inquiries. This story takes place after All Together Dead, the seventh story in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

On sale: 01 December 2008
ISBN: 9780441016372
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Lucky
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: three out of five
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Sookie Stackhouse - One Word Answer

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
One Word Answer by Charlaine Harris

In A Word, Yes!

One Word Answer is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that has been published in the book Bite. A book of short stories about dark seduction and vampires from a number of different authors.

Sookie is at home raking up her yard, at midnight, with the vampire Bubba. Just your ordinary night. When something unordinary happened. A limousine turned into Sookie's drive. A limousine would not turn up at Sookie's unless it was deliberate, no one turned up unless it was deliberate, that's how far out of the way Sookie's house was.

As a large gentleman emerged from the limousine, Sookie is left alone to face him, and from what she can 'hear' he isn't human. What could he possibly want from her, and what has all this to do with her long estranged cousin Hadley?

The large gentleman has not come alone; he has come with vampires in tow. Just as things start to look ominous for Sookie help arrives. But is it enough to save her from the task that has been bestowed upon her? Has she just made a powerful enemy? and will she survive another attack on her life?

A great little story offering an intriguing extra insight into the world of Sookie Stackhouse and its character. I strongly recommend reading the first five Sookie Stackhouse novels before you read this. This short story sets the background for what is to come in book six, Definitely Dead.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

 

On sale: 01 January 2005
ISBN: 9780515139709
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: 'Yes'
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: three out of five
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Sookie Stackhouse - Dracula Night

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
Dracula Night by Charlaine Harris

Nothing Says Happy Birthday Like A Sharp Pointy Stick!

Dracula Night is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that has been published in the book Many Bloody Returns. A book of short stories about vampires and birthdays from a number of different authors.

Sookie is on her way to work when she is collecting her mail. Bills, bills, bills, and an expensive, fancy looking invitation. It's a birthday invitation from Eric. No, its not Eric's birthday, its Dracula's. To celebrate Eric has planed a lavish party. Every vampire celebrates the birthday of Dracula, and even some hope against hope that Dracula himself may one day appear at their party. Although this is highly unlikely Eric is blindly hopeful that this year Dracula will chose to celebrate at Fangtasia.

At the party there are scarce few humans, Colonel Flood and Calvin Norris are present but neither can be called true human, with one a werewolf and the other a werepanther. There are also a number of vampires present that Sookie has never met before, out of towners passing through who have doped by for the celebration.

At midnight every one present is holding their breath as Dracula appears, or has he? There is some confusion and a lot of disbelief, and Sookie as one of the only humans is placed in a precarious position. While Colonel Flood and Calvin Norris try vainly to assist Sookie, and Eric seems temporarily unable or unwilling to, it is Pam that places Sookie salvation in Sookie's own hands. But is Sookie able to save herself? And what of the consequences of such action?

A fun and enlightening story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that takes place before Dead As A Doornail.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

 

On sale: 01 September 2007
ISBN: 9780441015221
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Birthday
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: three out of five
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Sookie Stackhouse - Fairy Dust

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE:
Fairy Dust by Charlaine Harris

Lemons Are A Killer!

Fairy Dust is a short story in the Sookie Stackhouse universe that has been published in the book Powers of Detection. A book of short stories about fantasy and mystery from a number of different authors.

Sookie is at work, and not in a good mood. Something that is not helped by the newest customer to walk into the bar. Claudine. A six foot tall, long black haired, gorgeous fairy. And she's not come to socialise. She needs Sookie's help, something Sookie is none too pleased about, but lucky for Claudine, Sookie needs the money.

Sookie agrees to help and soon finds herself at the home of Claudine and her brother. There are also three other humans in the house, all are gagged and bound until Sookie is able to 'listen' to them. One of them is guilty of murder. A fairy is dead and Sookie must find out who the killer is, and she has precious little time to accomplish this.

I love fairies, I and really enjoyed the twist to the fairies in this short story. Six feet tall, a high allergy to citric fruits, and possibly enjoy eating humans? And when I say short story I mean short; sixteen pages in total.

A lot of story packed in to a few pages, but I recommend reading the first four Sookie Stackhouse novels before you read this. It will give you a better grasp of the characters, with Claudine being introduced in the fourth book, Dead To The World.

 

Charlaine Harris Webpage

 

On sale: 01 January 2007
ISBN: 9780441014644
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Fairies
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: to those reading the series
Star rating: four out of five
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