Dead Reckoning is the eleventh novel in Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Mysteries series. The fae war is over but that doesn’t mean that things are in any way getting easier for Sookie. There are new issues to deal with in her life that crosses over with the lives of the local supernaturals around her. Someone throws a Molotov cocktail through the window of Merlotte’s Bar, where Sookie works and from what she glimpsed of the perpetrator running away, the person is of the two-natured variety. Business has been very slow at Merlotte’s lately since the owner Sam, Sookie’s boss, came out as being two natured himself – a shapeshifter. They haven’t exactly had quite the acceptance yet that the vampires have had since they came out of the coffin a couple of years ago and Sookie is worried about the bar. There’s a new bar open not too far up the road that boasts wet t-shirt competitions and lots of other lowbrow entertainment and they seem to be gaining a fair slice of Sam’s business. If things don’t pick up, Sookie could be out of a job.
Things are also a bit off between Sookie and her vampire boyfriend, Eric Northman. The Sheriff of Area 5 of Louisiana, Eric has been facing some problems ever since the King of Nevada staged a coup and dethroned the Queen of Louisiana. Now ruling three states, the King of Nevada sent a deputy named Victor to look after Louisiana and Victor has enjoyed nothing more than making life extremely difficult for Eric. Everyone knows that Victor’s sole aim in life is to goad Eric into attacking him so that he can be justified to the King of Nevada in removing him – permanently. Eric’s Area 5 is very prosperous so Victor would need an excellent excuse and lately, he’s been trying all the tricks in the book to crack Eric’s self control, including attempting to use Sookie.
So now Sookie realises that Victor has to die. She knows that eventually it’s going to be either Victor or Eric in this power struggle and she’d much rather it was Eric who came out on top. The trouble now is coming up with the perfect plan that won’t backfire on them and get them all killed (or just Eric). Victor is wily and hasn’t worked his way up as high as he is by being stupid. He surrounds himself with good fighters and he’s a smart vampire. Their plan, whatever it may be, is going to have to be second to none. And that issue with Victor isn’t the only thing coming between Eric and Sookie at the moment. Eric has a secret that he’s keeping from her and his reluctance to tell her is even causing trouble with his devoted #2 Pam. Sookie doesn’t know what Eric is keeping from her but she knows that their feelings are getting way too confused by the blood bond they share. When she’s offered the chance to sever it, to decide how she really feels, she takes it. Without consulting Eric and no matter what the consequences are.
So with coming up with a plot to kill a powerful vampire, trying to find out who firebombed Merlotte’s and how it relates to her (because let’s face it, it always does!) and the fact that the fae war might be over but Sookie’s life is still affected by the fairies that remain in it, it’s a pretty busy and dangerous time for Sookie. Bit like always, really…
I have a bit of a love affair with these books. They’re my new ‘go-to’ series, books that I know I’m always going to enjoy. There are several that I can pick up anytime and open to a random page and just start reading and immerse myself for a little while. I need those sorts of books, because sometimes I feel lazy and not like getting to know new characters and I want ones that are familiar and comforting to me. And these books are perfect for that!
Usually I always support the direction these books go in, primarily because after the first couple of books, interest in Bill moved away and Eric ended up front and centre and I’ve always been an Eric fan. I’ve enjoyed the relegation of Bill to the background but he was more active in this book and the fact that something that was neatly tied up with him in book #10 was undone in this book did worry me! I prefer him to be just vaguely on the periphery, not talking much (because he annoys me when he talks) or doing much. I didn’t find his newly elevated status in this novel exciting, I was cringing reading it and praying that Sookie would not go back down that road again! Thankfully she didn’t but given the status of her relationship with Eric at the end of this novel, I am a bit afeared for book 12!
Life in the supernatural community never runs smooth and now that the fae war is over, of course it’s the vampires turn to have some drama. What was set up nicely in previous books came to fruition here with the cat and mouse game being played by Eric and Victor erupting into a final showdown. At the end of this novel there have been no consequences so it seems that a lot of the next book will revolve around that, and also the bombshell that Eric dropped on Sookie at the end of this novel. I’m all for conflict between a couple in a series, because I understand that reading about them undertaking mundane tasks of domesticity isn’t what readers want. And for the most part I’ve enjoyed the relationship between Eric and Sookie – it’s a proper one, with ups and downs that they have to work through with issues that are very real to them. But the communication was severely lacking in this book – Eric kept things from her that he should not have. And the result was inevitable really, at least until (if) Eric can sort out this latest problem.
This novel also had Sookie facing her conflicting feelings about the action she feels compelled to take about Victor. For a long time now Sookie, although drawn into violent conflict, has never actively sought to want someone dead. She does with Victor and her inner turmoil about it is actually well done because as much as she loves Eric and wants him to be safe, she knows the only way to accomplish this is to do something she finds abhorrent and something she would condemn others for. She also seeks for Eric to understand this, but Eric hasn’t been human for 1000 years and for him it’s merely a kill or be killed equation – often the way of the life of the vampire, particularly with those that possess power or aspire to power. This is a real difference between them that is excellently written and is, I think, one of the best parts of this book.
Not one of my very favourites of the series but for me it was still a pretty strong installment. Enjoyable, good pacing and tension, a bit rambling maybe but that’s just Sookie. I’m used to her internal monologue by now!
7/10
Book #61 of 2011
I’m counting this novel towards my What’s In A Name?4 Challenge for 2011. This one fits into category 6 which is “Book with a life stage” in the title. Being dead is a life stage, right? We all end up there eventually! Now 2/6 complete for this challenge. Yay!
