Dead as a Doornail

Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery # 5

By: Charlaine Harris

Narrated by: Johanna Parker

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Charlaine Harris has won an Anthony Award for her one-of-a-kind Sookie Stackhouse mystery series. Sookie, a Louisiana cocktail waitress, skilled telepath, and friend to vampires, has a dedicated fan base that grows larger every day.

Because her mind-reading ability tends to spook people, most of Sookie's friends are of the not-exactly-human variety. And now that her brother is about to transform into a were-panther for the first time, the supernatural world is suddenly a family affair. When Sookie realizes a deadly sniper is gunning down the local changelings, her feelings turn to full-blown terror. She needs to stop the assassain before the next full moon...if he doesn't get to her first.

With its delightfully quirky characters and delicious suspense, Dead as a Doornail is a vampire mystery readers will love sinking their fangs into.

Listen to more titles in the Sookie Stackhouse series.©2005 Charlaine Harris Schulz (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Harris does an admirable job of creating a heroine who's not only interesting but completely believable in a world of the strange and the different. Natural and humorous dialogue and a nicely paced plot...make this entry the best yet in the series." (Publishers Weekly)

Great Story and Great Listen!

Sookie Stackhouse Series is a MUST read! I have listened/read all of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries, 1 - 8. I enjoyed every single one of them. The writing is good, clear, suspenseful and humorous. The narrator, Johanna Parker, does some of the best narrating I have heard...exactly the way I would presume Sookie Stackhouse would sound. You can't go wrong with this series. I CAN'T WAIT until installment NINE!!

Not the best one, but still very good!

Perhaps because book 4 is SOOO good, this one felt just slightly "less". I love this series and the narrator does a GREAT job!

Shape shifters are in mortal danger

Sookie Stackhouse works at Merlotte’s Bar & Grill in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She doesn’t have too many friends, since her ability to read minds tends to keep people away, until she meets vampire Bill Compton, his boss Eric Northman, and their undead community. Sookie cannot read vampires and her ability to read other “supes” is limited.

Sookie is leaving work late one evening when a shot rings out and shape-shifter Sam Merlotte falls to the ground. Since Sam knew of no one who wanted him dead, Sookie begins to wonder if the shooting might be related to shape-shifters. After all, a were-fox had recently been shot and killed. Sookie’s suspicions carry more credibility when were-panther Calvin Norris is shot leaving for work. She is compelled to visit him in the hospital to help pave the way to better relations with those were-panthers who live in neighboring Hotshot. Sookie’s brother Jason was recently kidnapped and bitten repeatedly by a were-panther jealous of his dating Crystal Norris, which means he may change into a panther at the next full moon. When Sookie sees Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’ll change this full moon and begins to worry that the shooter might go after him. Calvin has even suggested Jason might be the sniper, since Jason might be bitter over being bitten.

With Sam hobbling on his wounded leg, he asks Sookie to find him help bartending at Merlotte’s. It wouldn’t hurt if this person could also act as bouncer if things get dicey as they had recently when a very uncouth vampire showed up with Sookie’s friend Tara Thornton. She turns to Eric, the vampire who runs Fangtasia in Shreveport, and not the werewolves, since they are part of the shape-shifting community. Eric sends his newest employee, Charles Twining, to help Sam in exchange for room and board and a future favor. With no place to spend the day, Charles becomes Sookie’s house guest so he can reside in the private space vampire Bill hollowed out beneath her house. It’s fortunate that Charles is there when Sookie’s home catches fire. .

Sookie learns of the death of the werewolf packmaster. Alcide, the werewolf who had escorted Sookie around Jackson, Mississippi not too long ago, calls her to let her know and to ask her to attend the funeral with him. Since the funeral is also the beginning of the campaign to choose a new packmaster, Alcide hopes to make a statement by escorting Sookie.

Things go from bad to worse when the sniper sets his sights on Sookie. It’s time to stake out parking lots all over town to catch this determined shooter. By book’s end, Sookie is overwhelmed with requests of and favors owed to so many supernatural beings. Thankfully, author Charlaine Harris has expertly laid a clear path for Sookie. The story certainly twisted around many issues and people and many of the communities to which Sookie has become part. Narrator Johanna Parker lends yet another voice to the many in her repertoire living in and around Bon Temps, Louisiana.

DNF due to narrator

I tried. I liked the story, but this is one that has to be read and not listened to. While listening to a story I should have to be grossed out hearing the narrator swallow and breathe. It pulls you away from the book. They really should have gotten someone else after listening to her. It's not like you can miss it.

deeper into the werewolf and shifter world

I really enjoyed this book in the Sookie series. I think number 3 & 4 were my favorites but this one was also very good. It gets you even deeper into the werewolf and shifter part of the story Bill and Eric are in the book but they are not a main focal point of the story like they have been in the past. You also get to meet Quinn in this book and he seems like a very interesting character. I found this book interesting and funny just like the ones before it, I am waiting on my next credit to see what happens to Sookie next.

I was disappointed

Because she didn't read it as good as the others. She paused a lot. Swallowed .. I wasn't sure if it was her.

a great series

what can you say about a series that continues to hold your attention hour after hour. what seems like pure make believe becomes real, and a character in Sookie that just keeps her head up and goes. The series is a delight, the narrator becomes an integral part of the series and the story never dies. Keep it up Charlaine!!!

Loved It

Yes I must admit that you could tell Johanna had just started reading from all the breaks and the smacking but I loved the book. For all the people who keep saying that there was to many new characters. I beg to differ. The whole deal about sookie liking different men. I think that this makes her more real. To have an overwhelming devotion to just one person is not that popular in the real world. Our minds sometimes to wonder.

So disappointed in the narration!

I am so use to Johanna doing a fantastic job with the voices that this book shocked me terribly. I struggled to finish it because she seems so disinterested in reading it. If I were the author, I would have it recorded again and replace this. Kind of sorry I wasted my monthly credits on it but I wanted the whole series. I will continue to listen to my SS books again and again just not this one.

"Pera" usual fun

This is a fun series about a telepathic barmaid (Sookie Stackhouse) that needs to be read in order because each book builds on the previous one.

Someone is hunting down the shape-shifters and shooting them including Sam, Sookie’s boss, but Sookie is also shot which makes no sense since she is not a shifter. The police think it is random shootings because they do not know about shifters.

Add the multiple sub plots of a fire, wanna-be-boyfriend werewolf Alcide and his political problems, ex-boyfriends Bill and Eric (the vampires), a new love interest, bother Jason and his new state as a ware, a couple of fairies, Sookie’s concerns for the woman she killed (Debbie Pelt) and you end up with a cast of fascinating characters and lots of action.

The author, Charlaine Harris, also adds humor and romance into the adventure making the book “pera” usual fun.