• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Charlaine Harris’ Website
• List Price $25.95 US/$32.50 CDN
• Publisher: Ace Hardcover; 1 edition (May 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441018645
• ISBN-13: 978-0441018642

Buy Dead In The Family at:

• Chapters/Indigo
• Amazon
• Book Depository

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…

Dead in the Family is the 10th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

We learn a lot more about Eric’s background, with an appearance by someone from his past that threatens his relationship with Sookie. On top of that, Eric is still coming to terms with the new vampire king of Lousiana. There are also a lot more of the shifters due to them coming out & the government wanting to make them register as such.

Claude & Sookie develop a relationship since the passing of his sister Claudine has left him trying to feel more human, since he’s stuck on the human side of the fence now that the entry-way to faerie has been closed. All due to the fairy war that killed his sister.  He’s trying really hard to be more human & compassionate, but it’s Claude & you know he always has an ulterior motive. There is also one fairy who may have been left behind & he isn’t a fan of Sookie’s. There’s also Bill, who is really struggling after being silver poisoned.

The book is named Dead in the Family for a reason, as family plays a big part in this book.  Sookie has changed big time, she’s been through so much & is just trying to get past it all. But it’s made her much stronger & she even has some snark in her.

Honestly, I didn’t remember much at all about the ninth book in the series other than we lost Claudine & that there was a fairy war. So it was refreshing to read Dead in the Family, it was kinda like a restart to the series but it reminded you of what happened & tied up the loose ends from the previous book. But it also sets you up for the next book in the series, something big’s going to go down for sure.

There was even a mention of the True Blood theme song playing in Merlotte’s, which honestly I could have done without. I’d rather the series not move into the TV show, because there are continuity errors in terms of Eric’s maker in this book (if we are following the TV show, he has a different maker). But it was a bit funny to see it mentioned.

I found Dead in the Family lacked the action the previous books had, while there was action it was spread out & quickly resolved in the end. I could have done with some more action. It was kind of like getting little bits of information about all of Sookie’s friends, a bit too much backstory for my liking. Hopefully it’s setting up for the next book in the series. If you haven’t read the series, this is not the book for you. But if you are a fan of the series, this book is kinda the calm before the storm. A nice addition to the series, but it won’t shock you.