By Michelle Bell
Published 01/21/2007

Vampires have been around in fiction for centuries, portrayed as evil monsters, tortured souls, and even charming and romantic. Charlaine Harris in her Southern Vampire Series has attempted to “revamp” the typical vampire story and bring about a whole new genre in the process — the Southern Vampire Mystery.

These stories focus on Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. She has the local townsfolk convinced she is crazy. And who wouldn’t think that with her ability to read people’s thoughts? It’s a hard life trying to go out on a date and being able to hear what your date thinks about your butt! She lives with her grandmother, keeps her head down to avoid trouble, and struggles to make ends meet.

One night someone new enters the bar, and all she can hear from his mind is the quiet of the grave. Bill Compton is an honest to God vampire, one who has decided to make a living in the human world, existing on the new synthetic blood developed by the Japanese. Thanks to the ingeniousness of the Japanese the vampires are now out and about, pursuing their legal rights to own property, pay taxes, and run their own legit businesses. Bill and Sookie hit it off- Sookie can’t get enough of the quiet, and Bill needs some help with his house renovations (it is hard for contractors to take you seriously when you can only call after dark!). The couple soon ends up in the limelight as the prejudices of the town are highlighted by a murder investigation into the women who turn up dead with suspicious vampire bites.

Dead Until Dark is the first of this series, which continues through several books and short stories. In the pages you are introduced to an entire world of supernatural creatures (yes including fairy godmothers!) that Charlaine Harris does a fantastic job of bringing to life. Sookie gradually comes to terms with her “disability,” even managing to save some innocents along the way. Eric the Viking vampire has enough sex appeal all by himself to send Sookie on a tailspin, not to mention Alcide and Sam from various “were” packs.

If you are looking for a tongue in cheek peek into the intimate world of vampires and other supernatural creatures, as well as humorous plots with natural dialogue, then these books are for you. Both well written and highly entertaining, you won’t regret picking them up.