Dead as a Doornail

Written by Charlaine Harris

Narrated by Johanna Parker

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural-but now it's really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time-a transformation he embraces more readily than most shapeshifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks-unless the killer decides to find her first

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 25, 2008
• ISBN: 9781436135979

Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing for over thirty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area. She has written four series, and two stand-alone novels, in addition to numerous short stories, novellas, and graphic novels (cowritten with Christopher Golden). Her Sookie Stackhouse books have appeared in twenty-five different languages and on many bestseller lists. They’re also the basis of the HBO series True Blood. Harris now lives in Texas, and when she is not writing her own books, she reads omnivorously. Her house is full of rescue dogs.

Reviews for Dead as a Doornail

[Leo Mitch Knott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love the book but the reader needs to stop gulping in the mic it's very distracting

[anivyl_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Someone's gunning down the weres, and Sookie is determined to find out who it is, for the sake of her friends and for her brother whom some in the Hotshot community suspects. In this Fifth installation of the series, Sookie found herself embroiled in Were politics as Alcide requested her help in the fight for the pack leadership. What this would lead to might eventually jeopardize her relationship with the weres and Alcide.At the same time, Fangtasia has a new bartender, yet again. He's hot and abled, and Eric has suggested he helps out Merlotte's when Sam got shot and needed a bartender that could protect Sookie.We find Sookie finding out more about the supernaturals of the world and how they function, learning as she is learning about them. She discovers how the pack leadership is chosen - via a contest. She is there to "help" Alcide's father with his political struggles. Inadvertently, things go awry for both Sookie and the Weres. To complicate things further, Calvin Norris is still attempting to woo Sookie, and hoping he could make her love him. I am really enjoying this series. It's fun, exciting, somewhat scary and yet all sexy. Unlike the genres of vampire novels/series I have read before, it's incorporating a whole bunch of supernatural world into one - with an unlikely protagonist who's learning about these all as much as we are. Not to mention, the very much enjoyable vampire humour :)It does get incredibly upsetting when we realise, yet again, that people around Sookie can't be trusted, when Sookie's talent and aid ends up going against her and when she loses her friends. All in all, a good book!

[Deirdre Jackson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just love this series. Moving on to the next one.

[bookmagic_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the fifth installment of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries there is a sniper on the loose who is shooting shift-shapers. Sookie, everyone's favorite telepath, is especially worried as her brother, Jason, was recently bitten by a were-panther, making him one also. He is at risk of being shot and Sookie is also concerned that the were community will think Jason is the shooter, angry at what happened to him. The police can't find a link because the are unaware that there are shape-shifters, much less that they are being shot in their animal form. Add to that, Sookie's house has been burned down and her boss, a shape-shifter was shot. Sookie's friend and former potential romantic interest, Alcide, a Were (were-wolf), wants Sookie present as the Were's have a ceremony to determine to next pack leader. Vampire Eric agrees to lend his club's bartender to replace Sookie's injured boss. But on one condition; Sookie has to tell Eric everything that happened between them during the period when he lost his memory. Sookie tells him, Eric is speechless. I really enjoyed this installment as we get further into the supernatural community. This book focuses more on Sookie alone and her relationship with men take more of a back seat. Vampire Bill has only a cameo appearance.

[theresalee1980 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love this series; although, this book is my least favorite of the first 5 books in the series. I will be picking up book 6 today!

[aneris-3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I never expect too much from Sookie Stackhouse books and yet they are always fun. This one was a bit exhausting since the main story was swallowed by too many people kissing and hugging the main character. Still, fun to read.
I find Hotshot community disgusting. I hope Calvin won't have any romantic role in the future.

[claudia.anderson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

good light reading, good narrator

[Kevin Wilcox · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very fun book. Astounding bad luck for Sookie, but very fun.

[millett23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading these all I can't remember the plots... but I do remember that I love the story!

[anniik_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too many shifters. Bring the vampires back.

[payday1999-430350 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another book in the series and the continuing adventures of Sookie. This book focuses more on Sookie's brother Jason and what he goes through as a werepanther. This book was good and fun to read.

[readingover50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun and exciting book to read. It was more about the shape shifters and weres than the vampires. Although there were some vampires too. Someone is shooting shape shifters and Sookie becomes involved in the mystery. I liked that we learned more about the were lifestyle, particularly how they choose their leaders. There is also a mysterious new vampire in town for Sookie to worry about.

This was a good addition to the series. It is still a great series and I am anxious to read the next installment.

[xiaomarlo · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Listening on audiobook. Seems like this one will be were- and shifter-centric, which doesn't thrill me. Alcide is so boring!

These books are the literary equivalent of Hallowe'en candy (with the True Blood TV show being the equivalent of dark chocolate). It's fun and enjoyable, while at the same time being crappy and not all that good for you, and afterwards you're like, "did I really just devour all that so quickly?"

It's winter, which causes me to turn inward, and to be fair I've been reading literary broccoli and spinach for a while. So I'll wallow in these novels for a bit longer.

...

Alcide is totally Riley from Buffy (season 4 and 5). So far in the book, though, Sookie has rejected both Bill and Alcide. Keep it going, girl!

...

Finished. You know, I think I agree with the other reviewers that her books get better as she goes along. Maybe I'm biased because it ended with that delicious Eric moment ("don't you wish you knew"! so cute), but also I thought the mystery unraveled nicely, and Sookie was strong and didn't need rescuing even when loads of men were trying. I'm excited that the next book is going to have more vamps in it (at least, I hope). Although mostly my brain is just going "Eric Eric Eric Eric"... Eric/Sookie is the best thing ever. I love his hints at having feelings for her, on the couch in the duplex, and mulling over whether he should kill her (to get rid of the feelings) or fuck her. Although the best is still from book 3, "I don't like having feelings." Heh.

The fairies, Claude and Claudine, are kind of irritating (too Mary-Sue-ish, if that's the right description). I have a feeling, though, that if they end up on True Blood that they'll execute it a lot better. I also didn't really like the Mickey-Tara plotline. Tara on the show is so much better. I'm glad Sookie is disgusted with the werewolf shit, because so was I (along with being bored). Quinn seems a little more interesting, at least, than the other shifters.

[lvstrongpuff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There is alot going on in this book. Sookie has alot to learn about men and she is learning it fast in this book. It seems there is somethign about Sooke that all the non human males want. You find out some stuff that hurts, but the story is great and if you read the other books you want to check this one out.

[chrisweir-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

#5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series. In this one someone is hunting down the weres and shooting them. Sam is one of the one who is shot. With Sam on the mend a vampire in Eric's service comes to help out at the bar. Sookie's house is set on fire by an arsonist and Alcede offers to help. But Alcede also has other intentions his dad is up for Packmaster of the Shreveport pack. Fairly fast paced and keeps you guessing who has done what clear up to the end.

[cubsfan3410 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fun one!

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book and this series! I got involved with this series before True Blood became a show and I couldn't quit reading. I ended up getting all caught up and then had to wait each year for the next to come out until Harris finally reached the end of the series (I was devastated and wanted more Sookie Stackhouse in my life). It's been nearly 10 years since I read the first one and probably getting close to time for a re-read!

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dead as a Doornail
4 Stars

In the aftermath of the witch war, Sookie Stackhouse only wants to live a quiet life. Unfortunately, this is not to be as someone is using the local shifter population in Bon Temps for target practice and Sookie's brother, Jason, the newest member of the Were-Panther community is the prime suspect. Added to this is the arrival of a menacing vampire from out of town and a struggle for pack leadership amongst the Werewolves. Poor Sookie has her hands full!

Dead to the World is a hard act to follow, but Harris does an admirable job in Dead as a Doornail.

Let's start with the plot.

Although there are three storylines that develop independently, each demonstrates the more negative aspects of the various supernatural groups, which have, until now, been presented in a generally positive light. The sniper mystery emphasizes the disastrous consequences of shifter behavior while the Alpha contest brings out the worst in the wolves, in general, and in Alcide in particular. Finally, the sinister vampire, Mickey, who has his hooks into Tara reveals the threat posed by rogues who view humans as little more than food.

With regard to Sookie's love life, she is, once again, the object of affection for numerous supernatural males. While she is a smart, witty and resourceful heroine, it is not clear why so many of them have the hots for her.

Bill has been out of the running as Sookie's love interest for several books and this does not appear to be changing any time soon. At this point, he is more of a stalker than anything else.

Eric is as enigmatic as ever and his interactions with Sookie are a highlight as she tries to thwart his determined attempts to discover what really happened between them when he lost his memory.

Alcide's true nature is also revealed via the Alpha contest sub-plot. Whereas the sexy Were truly appeared to care for Sookie in previous books, the darker of his nature is revealed as he attempts to use and manipulate Sookie for his own selfish needs.

Calvin Norris, the were-panther leader, does not fare much better. It is clear that he wants Sookie as little more than a brood-mare and is not above using Jason as leverage.

Sam appears to be the only one who truly cares for Sookie's needs and well-being, but does not appear to be the friends with benefits type.

Finally, we are introduced to a new character in the form of John Quinn, a were-tiger of all things, and one can only assume that he wants into Sookie's pants as well.

All in all, an entertaining addition to the series and I look forward to the next one.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book 5 of the Sookie Stackhouse mystery-romance-vampire series is a bit different from the preceding four books. Throughout most of this book, everyone is irritated with one another. And yes, even vampires, werewolves, and pretty girls all get crabby. I love this: just like real life! Sookie Stackhouse is a 26-year-old small town waitress/barmaid working in Merlotte’s bar in Bon Temps, Louisiana. She has broken up with her vampire boyfriend Bill, and is ticked off at her potential werewolf boyfriend Alcid. She’s a bit wary of her werepanther suitor Calvin, and is even annoyed at her weredog boss, Sam. And she’s worried about her brother Jason, who was bitten by a (different) werepanther and is now facing his first full moon.Meanwhile, someone is shooting were-shifters, and both Calvin and Sam get shot. Although Sookie is not a shifter, she is a friend of them, and so is targeted too. The werewolves have their own problems. Because their packmaster died, they must pick a new leader: Alcid’s dad is in the running. Alcid expects Sookie to help his dad somehow, but she gets distracted by the weretiger, Quinn.And the vampires have their usual political struggles and fights against those who seek to drain vampires of their blood to sell on the black market (“bloodheads”).Bill has been in the bar where Sookie works with a new (and attractive!) human, and Eric, Bill’s boss, is still trying to find out what went on with him and Sookie when he lost his memory and stayed at her house.So everyone’s in a bad mood. I love it!Best quote: Sookie's brother Jason (normally a big party-hardy sort of guy) comes back from his first full-moon experience as a were-creature, and Sookie fixes him breakfast. He takes one look at it, and goes into the bathroom to throw up. Sookie says:"‘Are you okay?’ I asked, not sure if he would be able to answer or not. I poured the coffee into a mug. ‘Yes,’ he said after a moment, as though he’d had to think about it. ‘That was the most incredible experience of my life.’ For a second, I thought he meant throwing up in my bathroom, but that was sure no new experience for Jason…..”Evaluation: This isn’t the best of the series so far (read: no sex) but still, it’s great fun, and if you’ve read the previous books you’re so in love with the characters you just like following their story. And in this book, you get sense of some of what distinguishes Harris from the writers of more mundane romance books: have you ever heard of one in which there is no sex, and everyone is ticked off at everyone else? There is more to Harris as a writer than you might think. If you haven't started this series yet, you are so missing out!

[ksanders63 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my second or third time reading the book, but it still remains one of my favorites out of the series. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the crossover between Lily Bard and Sookie Stackhouse - I hadn't read the Lily Bard series yet the first time I read the book, so I didn't even notice it! This book introduces or foreshadows new exciting characters and storylines and is certainly one of the more fast-paced of the series. There isn't a whole lot of "romance," however, but it moved along so quickly that I found I didn't really miss it!

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really really like this one because so much changes in it. The number of characters (and suitors) is getting a little daunting at this point, but really none of them ever seem too out of place or random. Plus Sookie is just a smart character, so she's not swooning over everything and being a massive flirt or anything.

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Maybe it was the 5th book already, it was not as exciting and fun as before. I am starting to despise Sookie just because every supernatural male wants her. A lot was still left unexplained. There was also a small amount of Bill.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Again, these are worth it as audio books. The reader sounds like Anna Paquin. She does a great job. I'm now obsessed with this series even more with just watching True Blood. Even though this is a series, I think you could read the books individually. Charlaine does a great job of quick overviews so the reader knows what happened in previous books.

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's the first full moon since Jason was bitten by the werepanther Felton Norris (in Dead to the World), and Sookie doesn't know how he is going to handle it. Calvin Norris comes to watch over him and help him, and Jason ends up loving turning into a half man/half panther. Then Sam is shot in the leg, and must recuperate, so he cannot run the bar. He asks Sookie to go to Fangtasia to ask Eric to lend him a bartender while he is out. Eric sends their new bartender, Charles Twining, who is very charming. Calvin Norris is also shot and seriously wounded, and Sookie learns that other shifters and were-animals are being shot throughout Louisiana. Calvin suspects Jason, based on the theory that Jason is angry at weres for turning him into a werepanther. Known for dispensing their own kind of justice, the real shooter needs to be found before the werepanthers turn on Jason. Colonel Flood, leader of the Long Tooth pack of Shreveport, is also killed (supposedly by accident), and the pack needs a new leader. Alcide's father throws his hat into the ring, and Alcide manipulates Sookie into helping his father by reading the minds of others in the tribe. Bill begins to date Selah Pumphrey.

Someone tries to burn down Sookie's house, but she is saved by her fairy godmother, Claudine. A dead man (killed by Charles Twining during the fire) is found outside her house, covered in gasoline, with a Fellowshiop of the Sun card in his wallet, so he is blamed for the arson.

Sookie is then shot while leaving the library, presumably because she associates with shifters. Ballistics says that her bullet matches the bullets of all the others who were shot, except Sam's. Later, Sookie is in an alley with Sam (as a dog) trying to find the killer, when Sweetie Des Arts, Merlotte's cook, comes at her with a gun. Sweetie explains that she was bitten and became part shifter, and kills any shifter she comes in contact with. She shoots Tray Dawson, a werewolf who was sent to protect Sookie by Calvin Norris, but Sweetie is killed by Andy Bellefleur. Thinking that the problem has been solved, Sookie goes back to Merlotte's. Then, she realizes that someone keeps calling over and over, and Charles Twining tells her it is a prank call. The befuddled Bubba shows up at the back door to tell Sookie Eric has been trying to reach her, and adds "He's a hit man, he isn't what he seems". She is then attacked by Charles Twining. It turns out he was sent by Hot Rain, Longshadow's "maker", to hurt Eric, who had killed Longshadow (in Dead Until Dark). While Eric had paid restitution for the kiling, Hot Rain felt that Eric's penalty was not enough, and that he wanted to take something Eric held dear, and believed Eric felt that way about Sookie. Twining was the one who shot Sam, knowing that Sookie would come looking for a fill in, and he is also the one who set fire to Sookie's house, then framed an innocent man for it.

In a subplot, Tara Thorton has been dumped by vampire Franklin Mott, whom she dated in Club Dead, and is now under the thumb of the very scary vampire Mickey—it turns out Franklin Mott gave her to Mickey as part of a debt payment. It used to be common for vampires to trade around their groupies, draining them to death when they grew bored. Sookie appeals to Eric, who arranges to have Mickey free Tara. Mickey becomes enraged, attacks Tara, wounds Eric, and tries to kill Sookie. In exchange for his help, Sookie must tell Eric what happened during the days he cannot remember (in Dead to the World). Sookie tells him about their passionate sexual relationship, as well as about how she killed Debbie Pelt.

The competition for wolfpack leader takes place and there are different rounds to test the werewolves' strength. Sookie discovers that Patrick is cheating. She tells everyone, and as punishment, the judges make the final test one that must be done until grievous injury or death. Patrick wins, and then, after declared victor, kills Alcide's father anyway.

[joem0601 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love how these books are funny , have a great story and some adult stuff for us more mature women. Terrific.

[tanya6d · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

From the book jacket: "When small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse sees her brother Jason's eyes start to change, she knows he's about to turn into a were-panther for the first time. But her concern becomes cold fear when sniper sets his deadly sights on the local shifter population, and Jason's new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who's behind the attacks-unless the killer decides to find her first..."

Overall, I felt this was a successful intallment of the series. It didn't absolute wow me, but I wasn't completely bored with it either. Besides the shootings, Sookie is dealing with several other events as well, such as destruction to her house and then being roped into dealing with the power struggle between two werewolves vying for the newly vacant packmaster role. I must also say that I didn't suspect that actual shooter at all, which for me is a plus. I don't like knowing who did it right away.

[rosa.mill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an okay Sookie Stackhouse novel. The werewolves are picking a new leader, someone is shooting shifters, and someone else is trying to kill Sookie. This time it becomes very obvious who the killers are a little more then three quarters of the way through the book.

[nebula21-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am getting addicted to these novels!!! The saga that is the life of Sookie Stackhouse continues. This is the fifth book in the series and we find out more about the shifter communities as Sookie tries to find out who is behind a series of attacks against the other-worldly. This is an entertaining and amusing read and should not disappoint Sookie fans.

[daniellemd-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another enjoyable book in the series.
Although while I like Alcide as a character, I'm not too fond of the werewolf storyline. There was some cringeworthy stuff in this book involving the weres, which I can handle, but wouldn't love to read about further.
The central story was pretty interesting even though it, too, involved the were community.
Fairies, namely Claudine and Claude, are becoming almost regulars in the series and I can't help but wonder if Sookie will be revealed as one of them as she is in huge tv series.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sookie is dealing with the aftermaths of what happened before, including her brother now being a were panther. She's still being investigated for the disappearance of Debbie Pelt. Then she finds out that there is a someone shooting at were. Including her boss. Then her kitchen is torched. She just can't get a break this time. She has to find out who is hunting the werewolves because they're apparently hunting her. Because of Sam's injury she has to get help from Eric, who is still trying to work out what happened when he lost his memory.It's a roller-coaster of a book. Things happen almost every page and it kept me reading past my bedtime.