Definitely Dead * Charlaine Harris * Sookie Stackhouse #6

When she travels to New Orleans to sort through the estate of her late cousin who secretly transitioned into a vampire, a telepathic cocktail waitress is swept into a dangerous supernatural power struggle involving royal vampire politics, shape-shifter rivalries, and a dark murder scene.

The Story: Written by prominent urban fantasy pioneer Charlaine Harris, this globally celebrated 2006 volume marks a critical turning point in the blockbuster series that inspired HBO's True Blood. The narrative completely steps away from the dark, brooding templates of traditional gothic horror. Instead, Harris establishes a light, fast-paced, and highly entertaining storyline that pairs a supernatural whodunit with sharp Southern wit, small-town charm, and a detailed look at the complex laws governing the undead hierarchy.

The plot follows Sookie Stackhouse, a mind-reading waitress working in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Her life takes a sharp turn when she prepares to visit New Orleans to wrap up the affairs of her deceased cousin, Hadley. Sookie soon learns that Hadley was a favorite of the vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq. Before she can even unpack her bags, Sookie discovers Hadley's apartment is a crime scene, and an unknown enemy is deploying absolute force to stop her from uncovering what her cousin left behind.

Rather than a routine inheritance trip, the assignment pulls Sookie straight into a high-stakes arena of political games and supernatural warfare. Partnering with a handsome werewolf named Quinn and navigating the demands of her vampire ex-boyfriend, Bill Compton, Sookie must use her unique telepathic skills to survive. As the narrative builds toward a chaotic countdown, she faces attacks from rogue shape-shifters, vampire assassins, and highly placed corporate schemers who treat human lives as expendable pawns. Published as an essential mass-market paperback by Ace Books / Penguin Random House, this chart-topping page-turner keeps the tension and humor at an absolute boil.

Perfect For: Devotees of fast-reading urban fantasy, supernatural mysteries, and paranormal romance fiction; fans of sassy protagonists and witty ensemble casts like the works of Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, or Kim Harrison; and anyone who loves addictive, multi-book fantasy series.

First published 2006; this edition 2007 by Ace Books.

Fiction / Horror / Urban Fantasy / Supernatural Mysteries / Vampire Sagas / Southern Gothic Humorous Fiction / Paranormal Romances