"Dead as a Doornail" by Charlaine Harris

What I really love about these Sookie Stackhouse books...OK I love everything about them to be honest, but I just want to say that for a detective mystery fiction series (that's what B&N calls it) based continually on one main character I LOVE the fact that each book picks up right where the previous one ended. A few weeks may have passed, but everything is as it was and things are still moving along with all the characters. I really find this refreshing, not to pick up the next book and find that nearly a year or more has passed since the climax of the last book. OK, now on to the review!

*spoiler warning*

"Dead as a Doornail" by Charlaine Harris is the 5th book in the series and it's wonderful. It starts off with Sookie's brother having to deal with the effects of the werepanther bites he suffered in the previous book. The full moon is approaching and Jason is about to find out if he's now part werepanther or not. Sookie is worried about him, but werepanther leader (and hopeful husband to Sookie) Calvin is there to see Jason through the full moon - good thing too because Jason does change. Because Jason wasn't born a werepanther but bitten and made into a werepanther he doesn't completely turn into a panther. Instead he becomes a half human/half panther. He's shook up and a bit disappointed a first, but then loves it. Sookie is relieved Jason handled it so well- after all he just found out about the supernatural world that Sookie has known about for months.

Sookie has numerous men (all supernatural men) romantically chasing after her in this book. Dull cheating neighbor vampire Bill is still hopeful even though he insists on bringing his dates to Merlottes where Sookie works so Sookie has to serve them (bastard!), werepanther Calvin, rich werewolf Alcide, Sam her boss, and of course that hunky overly sexy Viking vampire Eric. *sigh*

Eric is still after Sookie and wants to know what happened between them while he had lost his memory. He knows that something happened and he was details! Sookie still doesn't want to fess up because she knows Eric will use that info to manipulate her somehow (giving a dominate "I get what I want" vampire leverage over you is not smart, and Sookie is a smart cookie!).

In this installment someone is shooting shapeshifters and Sookie's boss is one of the people who gets shot. Sam lives but has a broken leg and can't bar tend his bar, so he asks Sookie if she will go to Eric (*sigh*) and ask him for a favor- to lone Sam a bartender until Sam is back on his feet.

Eric being Eric doesn't nothing just to be nice and tries to get Sookie to tell him what went on between them, Sookie tells him off but does manage to get Charles and one eyed pirate (complete with patch) vampire to take over for Sam at Merlottes.

Sookie goes into detective mode again to solve who is shooting supes and finds herself nearly killed a few times and her house set on fire (which reminds me, don't you just love that each Stackhouse book cover gives a hint at what will happen in the story?). While vampire Charles is tending the bar and living in Sookie's "vampire hole" under the closet, another vampire is on the scene: Mickey. Mickey is a nasty vampire whose making Sookie's friend Tara miserable.

Between solving the shooting mystery and surviving near death events, Sookie has to help her friend Tara- so she turns to Eric. Eric names his price...tell him EVERYTHING that happened between them when his memory was gone. Sookie spills the beans and now Eric knows just how much he gave Sookie, promised Sookie and scariest to Eric of all, was learning just how much Sookie means to him. Eric has said in a few books now that he doesn't like to feel anything and Sookie makes him feel. He's not sure what to do about it or how to handle it, but he still wants more sex with her (of course!)...sex that he can remember this time. Sookie's not willing to go there with Eric now that he's back to his manipulating arrogant self.

Sookie and Eric are attacked and each saves the other (again- this happened in the last book too). Eric is impressed with Sookie's quick thinking and she just can't seem to help intriguing him all the time. Which means it's not just about having sex with her, it makes Sookie different and even more appealing to him. He kisses Sookie some more, makes it clear he's not giving up on having her.

Another 5 star book from Charlaine Harris. Highly recommend it & the entire series.