Title: From Dead to Worse
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: ACE
Publisher’s Address: 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
Reviewed by: Amy J Ramsey; http://www.trinagon.blogspot.com/
ISBN: 978-0-411-01589-4
Price: $ 24.95
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 355


Sookie Stackhouse is a barmaid at Merlotte’s, a local bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She also has telepathic abilities, to be able to read other people’s minds. Sookie has a very hard time with humans not accepting her because of her unique ability, until the secret underground society of Vampires decided to announce their existence when the Japanese invented "True Blood", a synthetic blood that contains all of the nutrients vampires need without the killing of people. Sookie found out she could get a little peace around the supernatural community, she could not read their minds like she could with the humans. Unfortunately, there is a lot more at stake (pun intended) in the supernatural community when several groups want to use her telepathic gift for their own evil purposes ..

Sookie has returned home to Bon Temps after the bombing of Rhodes during the Vampire Conference that killed (permanently) a lot of the vampires attending. With the combined tragedies of Hurricane Katrina and the Fellowship of the Sun (anti-vampire "church"), Sophie-Anne, Queen of Louisiana and Arkansas, is in a much weakened state. When the King of Nevada sends in a scout to their territory, there is not much Sookie can do about it, other than let Eric and Pam know about this stranger, Jonathan.

The werewolf community is also in battle amongst themselves, due to the new pack leader, Patrick Furnan. Furnan killed Alcide’s father in a fight for the next pack leader. Alcide and his members are enraged when it is speculated that someone from Furnan’s pack was ordered to murder Alcide’s girlfriend, Maria-Star. Sookie was asked to help use her telepathic ability to sort out lies within both packs, but of course this leads to a war that Sookie can only hope to come out alive.

Amongst helping both supernatural communities with their problems, Sookie has several of her own she has to attend to. Another strange man has been popping in keeping an eye on her and she soon finds out that he is her great-grand father and also a fairy. Sookie wants to know why he decided to show up after all these years and if his intent is to bring her harm. She also finds out her cousin, Hadley, had a baby with her ex-husband before she was turned into a vamp and later murdered by the Queen’s jealous companion. Things get really interesting when Octavia, Amelia’s mentor and fellow witch, comes to Bon Temps to bestow punishment on Amelia for turning a human (Bob) into a cat during sex magic. With all this going on in her life, it’s amazing if she will make it out alive.

FROM DEAD TO WORSE is the 8th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Charlaine Harris is a talented and brilliant writer. The character development grows with each book she writes. The plot keeps the reader intrigued and wanting more. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves to read about the supernatural, paranormal, mystery, romance and thriller genre(s). A definite must read.

CHARLAINE HARRIS is New York Times bestselling author. She writes both fantasy and mystery. Mrs. Harris and her family live in a small town in Southern Arkansas. The Sookie Stackhouse series will be premiering on HBO_TV created by Alan Ball of Six Feet Under. The show "True Blood" will be based on this series and will be airing in September of 2008. To keep updated on her new books and upcoming projects, visit her web site at http://www.charlaineharris.com/.