Eight stars
After a whirlwind series about the supernatural, Charlaine Harris uses this piece to collect some of the short stories that have appeared in various publications. Sookie Stackhouse made a name for herself and these pieces help fill gaps in the larger story arc and entertain series fans to no end. Harris proves her abilities to pen shorter pieces that pack just as much punch.
Note to review readers: I have added reviews to this short story collection of those pieces I had not read or reviewed before. While the list below is not completely in line with the contents of this book, reviews of other short stories included in these pages can be found under
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6099238037 and
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6163054849
Two Blondes #11.5:
Sookie and Pam find themselves in Tunica, Mississippi for a simple vacation sightseeing and gambling. However, they get pulled into helping out someone else in the vampire world. Posing as strippers, Pam and Sookie end up learning more about a large betrayal before the two men involved are found murdered. Will these two be able to escape unharmed?
If I Had a Hammer #12.5:
Always wanting to help, Sookie and Sam agree to help with a small building project for Tara and her husband, JB du Rone. When they locate a bloody hammer, stuffed into a wall, everyone is a little nervous. There was a horrible murder in the community years ago, which could be tied to this weapon. Now, a ghost is here to tell their version of events.
Playing Possum #12.6:
Sookie arrives to celebrate her nephew’s birthday at his school. Things take a turn when an angry individual shows up and demand answers, putting Sookie and many of the children at risk.
In the Blue Hereafter #12.7:
Manfred Bernardo is also a psychic and finds himself attending a minor-league baseball game, where he meets Sookie Stackhouse, a local legend in Bon Temps, Louisiana. They begin talking and soon Manfred learns a great deal more about the woman. Together they use their powers to ensure something horrible does not happen.
The full-length novels were a treat for me to read, as they pushed me out of my comfort zone. Now, I turned to some of the short stories that added flavour to the series and helped Charlaine Harris flesh-out her ideas. The narrative flow differs between stories, but all are buoyed by strong ideas and a forward momentum. With added depth to characters and more perspectives, Harris increases understanding and propels things forward quite well. Toss in a few plot twists and you have a great collection of short stories that are sure to impress series fans. There are more to come, which has me eager to explore.
Kudos, Madam Harris, for cementing some of your stories with more and introducing readers to some new material.
Book Reviews to Ponder 