Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

   Dead Ever After is the 13th book in Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire / True Blood series.  Throughout the series Harris has blended romance and supernatural fantasy, with a little mystery thrown in.  In every book there is a problem to be solved or a question to be answered, and here there are two.  Who is trying to kill Sookie and why?  And more importantly, who will be Sookie's next (and perhaps last and lasting) lover? 

If you haven't read the previous books in the series, I wouldn't start with this one.  Harris brings back several old characters, including a few that haven't been seen for a few books.  Arlene, Reverend Newlin, Barry the other telepath, the sexy weretiger Quinn, and even a rogue fairy make an appearance.  It makes up for exciting time, but does require a knowledge of the history of these characters.

Oh Sookie, I'm going to miss you.  That's right, Dead Ever After is the last in the Southern Vampire / True Blood series.  Though some books in the series were better than others, overall I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in Bon Temps and everywhere else Sookie's adventures took her.  Not everyone will be pleased with the man Sookie ends up with, but then that's one of those things on which consensus is never going to be unanimous.  Personally, I liked the ending, and really, it wasn't a huge surprise.  In fact, it was about time.