Sookie Stackhouse

Despite the differences between the novel series (Southern Vampire Mysteries) and the television adaptation (True Blood), there are a number things that are constant among Sookie’s life and history. Sookie was born a few years after her brother, Jason Stackhouse, and they were both raised by their grandmother, Adele, after their parents drowned in their car during a flood. Sookie has always been telepathic and she usually refers to it as her ‘disability’. After the first Great Revelation (the public broadcasts in which the vampire community revealed its existence), Sookie began dating a vampire named Bill Compton. She then began to explore her telepathic abilities. Sookie works for Sam Merlotte, who is a shifter, at his bar Merlotte’s.

HBO’s True Blood

Early Life

Sookie Stackhouse was born May 24, 1982 to parents Corbett and Michelle Stackhouse in in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie is the second born child, having a brother named Jason, who is three years older than her. Even as a child Sookie realized she was different, when she would hear people say things, when they weren’t even speaking. Her “disability” frightened her parents, and her mother submitted her to mental health tests. The doctors were unable to remedy her condition, and instead of committing Sookie to a psychiatric institution they decided to ignore the telepathy, convinced that Sookie was just extremely observant.

Corbett and Michelle, were killed in a flash flood when Sookie was seven. From that point on she and her brother Jason, were raised by their grandmother, Adele Stackhouse. Along with the psychological pain of losing her parents, Sookie was molested by her Gran’s brother, Grand-Uncle Bartlett at a very young age. Sookie revealed to Gran what he had done, and from that point on their relationship hit a virtual flat line. Growing up was difficult for Sookie and due to her ability she was unable to concentrate in school, which lead teachers to believe she was a slow learner. Many residents of Bon Temps were frightened of her as child, and often thought she was in need of psychiatric help. Tara Thornton was Sookie’s closest friend growing up, as Tara was shunned much like Sookie, for having an alcoholic mother.

Season One

Sookie meets Bill Compton, the first vampire to visit Bon Temps since vampires ‘came out of the coffin’. She is instantly drawn to Bill, as he is to her. After Bill is nearly killed by the Rattrays and saved by Sookie, the two quickly bond over their curiosity about each other. Bill quickly realizes that Sookie is more than human and Sookie cannot hear Bill’s thoughts because he is a Vampire. The following night the Rattrays came for revenge on Sookie. Bill intervened, saving her life and incapacitating the Rattrays. Sookie was badly injured and near death, so Bill forced her to drink his blood. After she is healed she begins to have erotic dreams about Bill, a side effect of consuming his blood. Sookie continues to talk to Bill and begins to help him find contractors to make the necessary repairs on Bill’s house . On the night she brings the contractors’ numbers to Bill’s, she is confronted by three vampires Malcome, Liam and Diane. The vampires terrorize her and try to bite her until Bill states that ‘Sookie is [his]’. After this attack Sookie is frightened and worries about her safety, finally deciding not to speak to Bill any more. When she tells her gran about her decision to cut ties with Bill, her gran quickly points out that Sookie is not truly angry at Bill, but afraid because for the first time in Sookie’s life she cannot tell what some one thinks of her. Sookie and Bill reconnect.

Sam Merlotte who had always had a romantic interest in Sookie takes advantage of the halt in their relationship by asking Sookie out on a date. He takes her to the Descendants of the Glorious Dead meeting at the Bon Temps church, then out for pie, where he kisses her. After Sam yells at her for dating a vampire, Sookie takes a cab home, arriving home later than planned. She arrives home and sees blood on the kitchen floor. Sookie then turns on the light and sees her gran dead in the kitchen, the victim of a violent attack. Sookie is distraught by her Grandmother’s murder, and is unable to keep the thoughts of others out of her head. While her guard is down, she hears most of the townspeople believe it is her fault that Adele is dead, because she is dating Bill. After Gran’s funeral, Sookie seeks comfort in the form of Bill, and they have sex for the first time together, and Sookie loses her virginity. After spending the night with Bill, Sookies feels more empowered and ble to deal with with loss of her dearest Gran. Though Sookie is happy to be with Bill, and believes that she may love him, the rest of the town is less than thrilled when they find out, and call her a fangbanger along with other cruel names. Vampires, Malcolm and Diane come into Merlotte’s the same evening in order to frighten Sookie, and draw Bill to them. The three vampires leave together, and Sookie is left alone with her thoughts at Merlotte’s. Sookie becomes aware that the new nest of Liam, Malcolm and Diane is found burned, and that 4 unidentifiable bodies are found. Worried that Bill may have been the fourth victim, Sookie is once again distraught. Her fears are soon put to rest when the body is identified as a local man named Neil. Bill slept in the ground the night of the fire. When Bill awoke, Sookie was there and the two had fierce intercourse on top of his grave.

Eric Northman requests that Sookie come to Fangtasia to assist him. She reluctantly goes to the bar, where Eric asks her to use her telepathy to find out which employee has been embezzling $60,000 from the bar. Sookie agree to this, and she learns from Ginger, a human waitress, that her memory has been completely whipped, so the culprit must be a vampire. Longshadow, the bar tendering vampire then lunges at Sookie, fangs out. Bill reacts quickly, and stakes Longshadow through the back with a broken beer tap. When Bill and Sookie arrive at the Stackhouse home, they find blood on the walls and Sookie’s cat, is hanging from the ceiling fan. Bill stays with Sookie and promises to protect her. When Bill is called away, to pay for killing a vampire, he asks Sam to look after Sookie. Reluctantly Sam agrees and decides that the easiest way to keep an eye on her is to be with her at all times. Sam, who is a Shifter, shifts into a dog and goes home with Sookie. Sookie allows the dog, to sleep on the bed with her. When she wakes up in the middle of the night, she finds a naked Sam Merlotte on where Dean was, and they both scream. Sookie originally accuses him of being a murder but when Sam gets and opportunity he explains to her that he is a Shapeshifter. The next night Sookie is attacked in the darkened Merlotte’s Longshadow a party in the parking lot when she goes in for ice. She is able to get free and finds herself in the arms of Sam. While she was being attacked she managed to gt a sense of the killer but had no clue who he was, as his thoughts were dark but familiar. Sam and Sookie head to a near by town Bunkie, to investigate a waitress that Sookie feels may be related to the killer in some way.

When Sam and Sookie return from Bunkie they sit close while watching TV in Sookie’s living room, and they share a kiss. Before the kiss is through Bill appears and pulls Sam off, and starts a fight. Sookie in turn rescinds he invitation, and Bill is forced out of her house. The next day, Sookie leaves work early, but when she gets in her car to go home she finds that it won’t start, and Rene who happens to be around offers her a ride home. While they were driving around Sookie heard him think to himself not to think of anything, and she mentioned that he didn not have a cajun accent when he thought to himself. Sookie and Rene arrive at Sookie’s house and both enter, the whole time Rene still thinking, not to think of anything, but soon Rene slipped up and Sookie relized that Rene was the killer. Sookie ran from her house, Rene chasing after her. Sookie hid in an open grave, but Rene found her and choked her, causing Sookie to lose consciousness. Sam, in canine form attacked Rene to defend Sookie, though Rene was able to over power him. Sookie regains consciousness when a burning Bill comes to he rescue. Sookie kills Rene with a shovel. Sam and Sookie put Bill in a grave and covered him with soil. That night Sookie is surrounded by her friends, including a healed Bill. At the very end of Season one, Two weeks have passed since the incident with Rene. Sookie, Tara and Andy discover an African-American leg, with painted toe-nails sticking out of the back of Andy’s police cruiser.

Season Two

The body discovered at the end of the previous season is that of Miss Jeanette, a fake exorcist. Sookie undergoes the usual questioning associated with being at the crime scene. Soon after Sookie meets Jessica Hamby, Bill’s newly sired charge and is furious with Bill for not telling her about her existence sooner. Sookie is further angered when she finds out about Bill murdering her Uncle Bartlett, but she soon forgives him. In an attempt to bond with Jessica, Sookie takes the young vampire to see her family against Bill’s wishes. While viewing the home from across the street, Jessica jumps out of the vehicle and Sookie is unable to stop Jessica from running up to her family home. When Jessica is provoked she attacks her father, but Bill arrives in time to save the ignorant man. Sookie and Bill have an argument after he finds out about Sookie taking Jessica to see her family. The fight causes Sookie to leave the vehicle and walk down a darkened highway alone, while Bill is too proud to go after her. While walking alone, Sookie is attacked by an unknown force and is brought to Fangtasia to be treated for the injuries that occurred in the attack, including a massive scratch from a claw across her back. While at Fangtasia Sookie discovers Lafayette has been kept prisoner by Eric in the basement, and demands his release. Sookie promises to infiltrate the Fellowship of the Sun to find Eric’s maker, Godric in trade.

Sookie travels along with Bill and Jessica to Dallas Texas, where a member of the Fellowship attempts to abduct her right off the plane. Eric later joins them. Sookie is paired with Hugo, the human lover of the vampire Isabel and together they visit the Fellowship Church, but are taken hostage on their mission. Gabe, a trainer for the Light of Day soldiers attempts to rape Sookie in the basement, but she is saved by Godric. Sookie is able to make contact with a telepath who works at the vampire hotel, who informs the vampires of the situation. Eric offers to trade himself for the safe release of Godric and Sookie and Jason Stackhouse along with a large majority of the Dallas Vampire community confront Steve Newlin. Godric, manages to calm everyone down, and forgives Steve for his actions, as he wishes to meet the final death, that is the light of the sun. Sookie leaves with the vampires for Godric’s nest, where they are attacked by a suicide bomber, named Luke McDonald. Eric saved Sookie’s life by covering her with his body, and takes the silver shrapnel into his chest which he tricks Sookie into sucking out for him. By ingesting his blood Sookie has developed a blood bond with Eric, similar to the one she shares with Bill. Because of the exchange of blood Sookie begins to have sensual dreams about Eric. Sookie goes with Eric up to the roof while Godric gets ready to meet the sun. Godric orders Eric to seek shelter from the sun and Sookie stays with Godric while he awaits his much desired death. They speak of God and what awaits him after death, and is even surprised that Sookie cries for him. Before he bust into a beautiful blue flame, Godric asked Sookie to take care of Eric after he was gone, and she agreed.

Back in Bon Temps, Sookie discovers Maryann has taken over her home, and that the town has gone haywire. Sookie confronts Maryann and somehow conducts electricity through her hand. Maryann take Sookie hostage, though she soon manages to destroy the alter, which held Maryann’s eggs. Maryann chases Sookie through the woods, and is killed by Sam who is disguised as a large bull. At the end of Season 2 Bill and Sookie are alone in a lovely restaurant, and Bill proposes to Sookie. Sookie is hesitant and goes off to the restroom to think it over. When she emerges from the restroom to tell him “yes”, she finds signs of a struggle, and Bill missing.

Season 3

With Bill’s disappearance Sookie attempts to convince the police that he was actually kidnapped. When her attempts fail she contacts Eric and asks him for assistance. Eric tells Sookie about Werewolves and she gets teary-eyed while talking about Bill, telling Eric that he owes her after Godric. Later in the day Eric arrives at Sookies home, believing she is in danger. While the two are talking on her porch Eric senses something and tells her to invite him in right away, and is just in time to capture and kill a werewolf who had entered the Stackhouse home. Although Eric warns against it, Sookie decides to go to Mississippi too look for Bill, as the Werewolf was from Jackson.

Shortly before Sookie leaves to find Bill she holds a Funeral for Eggs, to comfort Tara. While tidying up her home, from the attack a man approaches her, and explains that his name is Alcide Herveaux and was sent by Eric to protect her. The two head for Jackson, where he takes her to Lou Pine’s, a werewolf bar. At the bar Sookie is able to pick up on a lead of Bills location, from a patron named Gus. Gus tries to force himself on Sookie, but Alcide interferes. Alcide was injured in the scuffle and Sookie tends to his wounds back at his apartment, while the discuss his ex, Debbie Pelt. While at Alcides, Sookie received a call from Bill telling her that he had slept with Lorena, his maker and that he no longer wished to be with her. Alcide comforts Sookie, and the two decide to go to Debbie’s engagement party, and Alcides sister comes over to help Sookie blend in with the Lou Pine’s crowd. While at the bar Sookie and Alcide find out that Russell Edgington, a Vampire, is the leader of the pack, and that the pack is addicted to V.

Back at Alcides apartment, Sookie and Alcide have an argument but are interrupted by Debbie who shows up, tells Alcide she wants to save his life and accuses the two of them of being together. Before she storms off Sookie is able to get a read from her mind that she doesn’t know where Bill is being held. Sookie goes with Alcide to speak with his father, the packmaster, to discuss Russell but are disappointed to find there is nothing that can be done about his regime. Shortly after returning to Alcides apartment, Bill shows up and tells Sookie to leave Jackson but is too late, as Coot and Russell walk in a moment later, to retrieve Sookie. As Coot cornered Sookie, she throws him across the room, with the same mysterious light she used on Maryann. Sookie is taken to Russell’s mansion where she is to be held, for her mysterious abilities. Bill attempts to save her but is taken to be executed by Lorena. The following morning, Tara who has been held in the mansion, escapes with Sookie. Sookie goes to find Bill, and Tara finds an getaway car. Sookie finds Bill, kills Lorena and Tara shows up with Alcide. Before the four are able to escape, they are stopped by Debbie, and then Coot. Tara disarms Debbie, and Alcide shoots and kills Coot. The four then escape in Alcides truck, and Sookie gets in the back with the near dead Bill. While in the back with Bill she gives him blood but he starts to feed ferociously, pinning her down and nearly drains her. Alcide pulls over, and Tara goes to check on her finding an unconscious and bloody Sookie. Bill is kicked out of the truck in the middle of the day, and Sookie is raced to the hospital. Bill who is on the side of the road in daylight manages to not burn up instantly because of how much of Sookie’s blood he drank.

Sookie’s body rejects the blood transfusion and it is discovered that she has no blood-type. While Sookie is unconscious she wake up in another dimension, and follows rose petals from the hospital room down the hall to a open door, where people are dancing, talking and laughing. Wondering where she is, a woman approaches her, and informs Sookie that she is in the hospital, and that her name is Claudine Crane. The woman notices the cup that Sookie was carrying is empty and fills it with some water from a nearby pond that doubles as a portal. Claudine asks Sookie to stay and go with to her world, which you reach through the pond, but Sookie who is terrified of the deep water, never learnt how to swim. As the two speak the sky darkens and Claudine tells Sookie that it is no longer safe. Before departing Claudine informs Sookie that someone will steal her light. Sookie passes out in her dream world. Back in the hospital Bill is allowed to give Sookie his blood to save her, and when she awakens she screams at the sight of him. Though she is frightened by Bill, they talk and he tells her he will always love her, and leaves. Later, Sookie’s home is invaded by werewolves, Bill and Jessica assist in warding them off, and even manage to kill a few. After the ordeal, Bill tells Sookie that she is part Fairy.

Sookie is worried about Eric, and visits him at Fangtastia where the two share a passionate kiss before he brings her to the basement to use as bait to lure Russell to him. Eric uses Sookie’s blood to con Russell into walking in the sun, like Bill while escaping from the mansion. However Sookie drags them both inside, Russell is tied up and the other vampires go to rest for the day. When Sookie is back in Bon Temps, Bill shows up at her home, followed by Eric who is covered in cement. Eric tells Sookie the truth about how bill was sent to Bon Temps to get information on her, as requested by Queen Sophie-Anne. Sookie then withdraws her invitation to Bill and runs distraught to the cemetery where she seeks comfort at Grans grave. Claudine appears and the two disappear along with other Fae into a bright shining light.

Season Four

Claudine and Sookie arrive in Faery. While they are there Sookie is surprised to see Barry, the telepath she met months ago, and her Granddaddy Earl. Sookie soon realizes that this fairy world is a trap for Fairy-human hybrids, and that they need to get out as soon as possible. Sookie is approached by Queen Mab, of the fairies and then chased when she wants to leave. Claude, the brother of Claudine, helps Sookie and her grandfather escape, and is told to jump through a portal to get back to her world before it closes for good. Her grandfather goes with her but he dies rapidly upon arriving back in Bon Temps because he ate the magical fruit in Fae. Sookie makes her way back home only to discover men redoing her home. Her brother Jason, now a cop, is overjoyed to see her home, and tells her that she had been gone over 12 months and they all thought she was dead, and he had since sold her house. As soon as the sun sets, Bill Compton appears at her door, followed quickly by Eric Northman, who tells her that he never gave up hope on her, before Bill, now the King of Louisiana commands him to leave.

Instead of explaining to everyone that she was in a different realm, she and Bill come up with a lie that she was away on top secret vampire business, and couldn’t tell anyone where she had gone. That evening she encounters Eric Northman once again, this time in her bedroom, while she is naked. He tells her had bought her home and everything in it, but she informs him that he does not own her, and that even if she fully embraced her other half she would not magically be his. Sookie goes to visit Bill at his home, but is stopped by his armed guards, before she is allowed through. She bumps into his Fangbanger, Katrina who is leaving his bedroom just as she enters. Sookie explains her situation to Bill and asks if he can order Eric to give her house back to her, but he tells her he cannot. As Sookie leaves him, she is curious of how he became King, but then decides she doesn’t really want to know, as every time she finds out something new about him, she wishes she didn’t know it.

Sookie is soon greeted by Tara who came back to Bon Temps to see her as soon as she heard the news of her return. When the two enter Sookie’s home she is annoyed to see there are more new additions to her home from Eric, and infuriated when she finds a carafe or blood in the fridge and his cubby, built into an armoire. Sookie goes to Fangtasia to plead with Pam over the ownership of her home, and there Pam informs her that by being what she is, she needs to be somebody’s, or she won’t be at all, after which Sookie states she will never be Eric Northman’s puppet. While Sookie is driving home from Fangtasia she finds a shirtless, Eric Northman in some sort of daze, drifting down the road. She calls to him, but he doesn’t recognize her. Bringing the amnesiac Eric home with her, Sookie calls Pam for assistance who tells her to hide him.

Sookie goes to see Alcide to ask him for help with Eric, but when Debbie comes into the room Sookie decides to leave. Upon arriving home Sookie finds Claudine, but before Claudine was able to convince Sookie to leave with her, Eric attacks the fairy and drains her, becoming drunk off her blood. Alcide helps Sookie find Eric the next day where he is still playing in the water in broad sunlight. At this point, Sookie’s feelings towards Eric begin to change. When Bill goes to Sookie’s home searching for Eric she would not let him enter, and tells him that Eric is not there and that she wouldn’t lie to him. That night Sookie wakes to find Eric, in her bedroom, fangs extended, who claims to have a nightmare, and she comforts him. Determined to find out what happened to Eric and how to fix it, Sookie goes to the Moon Goddess Emporium to see Marnie, the witch who cast the spell on Eric. Reading Marnie’s mind, Sookie is able to hear Gran tell her to run away from Marnie. That evening Sookie and Tara get in a fight when Tara finds Eric Northman has been living underneath Sookie’s home. Eric, tells Sookie he cannot be responsible for “snuffing out her light”, and turns to leave but before he can get very far Sookie call out to him and they embrace, before sharing a passionate kiss.

Sookie is portrayed by Anna Paquin.

Powers and Abilities

Sookie has always been telepathic, but describes her telepathy differently than the norm: in comic books and other series/titles, characters are usually able to read full thoughts; Sookie however says that people only think in half sentences and images. In addition to this, sometimes Sookie finds it hard to differentiate between what a person is witnessing or is actually imagining, but since her powers have developed has now found it easier to do this. Also, Sookie is also able to read waves of emotion feel regarding these thoughts, which also helps with their interpretation.

When it comes to the supernatural community however, Sookie telepathy doesn’t function as it does with humans. In regards to vampires, Sookie at first believed that they were totally immune to her powers; however, she has occasionally picked stray thoughts from the minds of vampires like Eric, but keeps this secret to herself as she believes they’ll kill her if they find out. Where Weres/Shifters are concerned, Sookie has said that she is only able to gain a general mood/waves of emotion from them, and finds them much more difficult to read. Sookie has claimed many times, mainly in the novels but it has been seen in the TV show, that eye or physical contact allow her to “read people” much clearer, and that also applies to Weres/Shifters. Sookie also says there are different kind of thinkers: she describes some as “broadcasters”, meaning she can easily read their minds, while some are a little more. In the TV show, the character has been seen using her ability in many ways her counterpart in the novels haven’t. When being chased by Rene Lenier through the graveyard, Sookie apparently projects thoughts into his mind which daze him temporarily. Sookie also demonstrated the ability to contact another telepath, Barry, over a significant distance, suggesting that she may also be able to send thoughts.

Sookie has also been shown to shoot powerful energy rays from her hands. This ability first manifests in season 2. Sookie feels threatened by Maryann, and shoots a blast of energy in Maryann’s face. This repels Maryann and shocks Sookie, who is amazed at her new ability. The power also appears in season 3 when Sookie is attacked by a rabid werewolf. She releases a blast of energy from her hand, sending him flying across the room. Sookie has no idea where this power comes from or how to control it yet.

Sookie at first had very little control over her mental ability. In the TV show, it is shown to us in flashbacks that it manifested when she was very young and scared her parents. Sookie’s mother at one point says that she took her daughter to see a therapist who told her Sookie was just very good at reading body language, however Sookie read their thoughts and found out they believed otherwise and that they were scared of her, scaring her parents; doing something similar regarding her teacher. Sookie has therefore over time learned to block out the thoughts of others, a task she sometimes finds difficult, especially at work as it is usually fairly populated. Sookie sometimes slips up and forgets that she has read someone’s mind and says it orally, for instance when she hugged Arlene after accidently reading her mind and discovering that she fears that she may pregnant; a move that angers Arlene. Because of times like these, Sookie especially attempts to stay out of the minds of her co-workers.

Personality

Most people see Sookie as a nice though simple girl who may be little more than retarded. This is because as a telepath she must constantly cope with hearing people’s thoughts. She can hear their darkest secrets — without wanting to — and so is awkward around people. Sookie is polite and caring, always willing to help someone in need. Although Sookie is kind, she never hesitates to stand up for herself and her beliefs, even when face-to-face with an angry vampire or her best friend. Sookie is loyal to her friends, but when a friend does not return that loyalty she is deeply hurt. Some of Sookie’s negatives are her naivete and gullibility; this is partly due to her quiet, sheltered life in a small town and her trusting disposition. She can be quite blunt and sarcastic. Sookie has a natural (and deadly) appreciation and curiosity of the supernatural world and all the creatures in it, primarily because she cannot hear their thoughts and feels at peace with them. Also, they value her telepathic abilities and respect her, whereas humans treat her like a simpleton.

Other Media

Novels

Dead Until Dark (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book One)

Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn’t get out much. Not because she’s not pretty. She is. It’s just that well, Sookie has this sort of “disability.” She can read minds. And that doesn’t make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He’s tall, dark, handsome– and Sookie can’t hear a word he’s thinking. He’s exactly the type of guy she’s been waiting for all her life… But Bill has a disability of his own. He’s a vampire with a bad reputation. He hands with a seriously creepy crowd all suspected of — big surprise — murder. And when one of Sookie’s coworkers is killed, she fears she’s next… Editions Paperback (Ace, May 2001), ISBN: 0-441-00853-4 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, January 2008), ISBN: 0-441-01597-2 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, 2007), ISBN: 1-428-16085-X

Living Dead in Dallas (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Two)

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse isn’t happy. Her co-worker has been murdered and no one seems to care. If that wasn’t enough she’s got blood-poisoning and a raging fever. Luckily, some friendly vampires graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn’t enjoy it). But, seeing as they did save her life, when they come asking for a favour she can hardly refuse. She quickly finds herself using her telepathic skills in the search for a missing vampire, but when they break their good behaviour condition over a tasty blond, things go rapidly and horribly wrong… Editions Paperback (Ace, April 2002), ISBN: 0-441-00923-9 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, January 2009), ISBN: 0-441-01673-1 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, 2009), ISBN: ?

Club Dead (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Three)

Things between cocktail waitress Sookie and her vampire boyfriend Bill seem to be going excellently (apart from the small matter of him being undead) until he leaves town for a while. A long while. Bill’s sinister boss Eric has an idea of where to find him, whisking her off to Jackson, Mississippi to mingle with the under-underworld at Club Dead. When she finally catches up with the errant vampire, he is in big trouble and caught in an act of serious betrayal. This raises serious doubts as to whether she should save him or start sharpening a few stakes of her own… Editions Paperback (Ace, April 2003), ISBN: 0-441-01051-2 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, March 2010), ISBN: 0-441-01910-2 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, ?), ISBN: 1409116085

Dead to the World (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Four)

Sookie Stackhouse is back! The mind-reading, vampire-dating, small-town cocktail waitress from small-town Louisiana returns in her fourth Southern Vampire Mystery. Life is never simple for Sookie Stackhouse, despite (or maybe because of) the fact that she always tries to do the right thing. Maybe that’s why, when she comes across a semi-naked vampire on the road home from work, she doesn’t just drive on by, even though she knows it almost certainly means trouble. Turns out the vampire hasn’t a clue as to who he is. But Sookie does. It’s Eric, still as scary and sexy – and dead – as the day she first met him. But now that he has amnesia, Eric is sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie’s help – because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie’s investigation into why leads straight into a dangerous battle among witches, vampires and werewolves. But the greater danger could be to Sookie’s heart – because the kinder, gentler Eric is very difficult to resist… Editions Paperback (Ace Hardcover, May 2005), ISBN: 0-441-01218-3 Hardcover (Ace, May 2004), ISBN: 0-441-01167-5 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, 2008), ISBN: 1-428-18390-6

Dead As A Doornail (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Five)

When Sookie’s brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population-and Jason’s new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks, unless the killer decides to find her first. Editions Paperback (Ace Hardcover, April 2006), ISBN: 0-441-01333-3 Hardcover (Ace, May 2005), ISBN: 0-441-01279-5 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, 2005), ISBN: 1-419-33730-0

Definitely Dead (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Six)

Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters. Editions Paperback (Ace, March 2007), ISBN: 0-441-01491-7 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2006), ISBN: 0-441-01400-3 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, April 2006), ISBN: 1-419-38107-5

All Together Dead (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Seven)

Betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse must now not only deal with a possible new man in her life-the oh-so-handsome shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with a long-planned vampire summit. With her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans, the local vampire queen is vulnerable to those hungry for a takeover. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she’ll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe…. Editions Paperback (Ace, March 2008), ISBN: 0-441-01581-6 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2007), ISBN: 0-441-01494-1 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, May 2007), ISBN: 1-428-14780-2

From Dead to Worse (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Eight)

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, and the manmade horror of the explosion at the vampire summit, Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, yearning for things to get back to normal. But her boyfriend Quinn is among the missing. And things are changing, whether the weres and vamps in her corner of Louisiana like it or not. In the ensuing battles, Sookie faces danger, death… and once more, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood ceases flowing, her world will be forever altered…. Editions Paperback (Ace, March 2009), ISBN: 0-441-01701-0 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2008), ISBN: 0-441-01589-1 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, May 2008), ISBN: 1-436-10519-6

Dead and Gone (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Nine)

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps-and nothing about weres. Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works-and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it. But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings-older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves-is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle. Editions Paperback (Ace, April 2010), ISBN: 0-441-01851-3 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2009), ISBN: 0-441-01715-0 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, May 2009), ISBN: 1-440-71718-4

Dead in the Family (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Ten)

After enduring torture and the loss of loved ones during the brief but deadly Faery War, Sookie Stackhouse is hurt and she’s angry. Just about the only bright spot in her life is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman. But he’s under scrutiny by the new Vampire King because of their relationship. And as the political implications of the Shifters coming out are beginning to be felt, Sookie’s connection to the Shreveport pack draws her into the debate. Worst of all, though the door to Faery has been closed, there are still some Fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry… Editions Paperback (Ace, May 2010), ISBN: 0-441-01947-1 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2010), ISBN: 0-441-01864-5 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, May 2010), ISBN: 1-449-80614-7

Dead Reckoning (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Eleven)

With her knack for being in trouble’s way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte’s, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his “child” Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows… Editions Paperback (Ace, March 2012), ISBN: 1-937-00735-9 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2011), ISBN: 0-441-02031-3 Audiobook (RecordedBooks, May 2011), ISBN: 1-461-81689-0

Deadlocked (The Southern Vampire Mysteries Book Twelve) *TBR May 2012

Editions Paperback (Ace, May 2012), ISBN: 1-937-00793-6 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, May 2012), ISBN: 1-937-00744-8