Where Shadows Dance

Written by C. S. Harris

Narrated by Davina Porter

Drawing upon her background in ancient history and her experiences on archaeological digs, author C.S. Harris crafts authentic, compelling novels that appear regularly on best-seller lists and have won numerous awards. In 1812, surgeon Paul Gibson discovers a stiletto wound in the base of a corpse's skull and immediately contacts Sebastian St. Cyr. And when another body turns up with the same injury, the lives of St. Cyr's family are threatened if he doesn't back off. Now, the pressure's on to find the culprit before anyone else gets killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9781501992988

C. S. Harris

C. S. Harris is the national bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including the Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries. Under the pen name C. S. Graham, she co-authored a thriller series with former intelligence officer Steven Harris and, as Candice Proctor, wrote seven award-winning historical romances. A respected scholar with a PhD in nineteenth-century Europe, she is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of the French Revolution. She lives with her husband in New Orleans.

Reviews for Where Shadows Dance

[schatzi_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse series. There, I admitted it. There's just something about these books that make me want to devour them as soon as they're in my hands, and I find them difficult to put down before I finish them.In this book, Sookie attempts to deal with her blood bond with Eric, which is causing difficulty. She also discovers something about her family history (including how she got her telepathy and why), finds an intriguing artifact from the past, and plots with Eric (and those loyal to him) about how to get Victor out of the way...permanently. Plus Debbie's sister is on the loose, determined to make Sookie pay for what happened to Debbie. The werewolves aren't as involved in this book, which isn't a great loss in my opinion; I'm kind of tired of them.I'm a little sad that book 13 will be the last book in the series, but even I can see that it is time. The series can't sustain itself forever. I rarely re-read books, but I can see myself reading this series again in the future.

[lizard_698959 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm still not sure exactly how I feel about this book I was waiting a while to do my review but I just don't think I want to now. I will say I was very disappointed with the characters in this installment. I felt like Sookie’s character took 10 giant steps backwards as a person. Seriously how many times do you need to kick someone out before they finally don’t come back? I don’t blame Eric if he chooses not to stay with Sookie in the next book after her behavior in this book. Her behavior was reminiscent of at 13 year old child it was familiar from her first few book but I thought we had left behind the times of Resending invitations just because you were mad at your vampire lover. But now not only is she doing it to her vampires she is not doing it to her friends and family. After having her act to grown up in the past few books this book was just steps and steps backwards. Also is it just me or was Hoyt Fortenberry gay in the first few books. I could be wrong I may need to go back and reread this. Didn’t Jason have a friend who was in love with him that either just disappeared or it was Hoyt who is now with Holly?

[jamiebh-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Starting to really not care about this series anymore. The story line was becoming more ridiculous with each book and this book actually brought nothing to the table. It was still an entertaining read; it just didn't grab me. Wondering if I'll pick up the next book or just abandon the series.

[meggle_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In the 11th addition to the Southern Vampires Series Sam's bar is firebombed, Sookie finds a way to break her blood bond with Eric, and Pam and Eric decide it's time to get rid of their new vampire master. Although this series has been steadily going downhill for a while I did enjoy Dead Reckoning more than I have some of the other recent books of the series. I am glad Harris has decided to bring Sookie's story to an end.

[pandawnmonium · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

More please?The werewolves, the fairies, the supernatural OH MY..I don't think there's anything about this series I didn't like.

[lvstrongpuff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book was pretty good. Not my favorite book, but it was nice to find out more info about Sookie's Grandmother's past. Sookie did get on my nervous a few times. She really shouldn't be so wishy washy. You date vampires girl get used to there being blood and violence.

[leduck-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not as slight an effort as Dead in the Family, this is still a very light (and lightly plotted) book, even for a Sookie Stackhouse novel.

Charlaine Harris has said that the series will end on the 13th book, and you can hear the gears beginning to wind down on it. I wish we had more to wonder about in terms of the ending of the series than who Sookie will "end up" with. Unfortunately, the stakes don't seem to be very high for the world or for the supernatural world. There are some revelations in the book, few of which have the ring to me of having been plotted many books before. Rather, they seem like convenient surprises regarding past characters, some of which seem to me to be a great stretch for continuity.

My hope is that Harris will end the series on a high note in the next couple books-- give us some stakes in the world we can care about, continue Sookie's growth and the choices she is making about who she wants to be, and gives us a satisfying ending for characters we have enjoyed for years. The past two books in the series suggest that it's time to give Sookie a last adventure in the next couple books, and hopefully end with us wanting more. If the next two books are written in the vein of the last two, our farewell to Sookie will be disappointing.

[laurochka-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Once again not much plot! Why do I keep reading these? Light relief and Sookie is quite entertaining.

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

More like 3.5 stars but I rounded up because this was definitely better than Dead in the Family, though still lacking that certain something from earlier books.

[millett23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can not get enough Sookie Stackhouse!! I started reading them and I have now finished book 11, what to do now? I know have to wait until book 12 comes out! I don't know if I can wait. Love them!

[dejah_thoris_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Who firebombed Merlotte’s? Why are Sookie’s fairy family members really living with her? What is Victor, the Regent of Louisiana, up to? What secret is hidden away in Sookie’s attic? How did Sookie end up with the gift of telepathy, anyway?In Dead Reckoning, the eleventh installment of Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampires / Sookie Stackhouse series, these questions are answered – more or less.Dead Reckoning will feel very familiar to Sookie fans: sex (although not much), violence, doubts about those who claim to love her. Multiple story lines allow for the appearance of many characters from previous novels, like Hunter, Mr. Cataliades, Alcide, and Bubba. Fans of Harris’ other works will enjoy the return to Bon Temps of Lily and Jack Leeds, denizens of her ‘Shakespeare’ series.As often happens in long running series, there is so much prior history involved with each character and plot line that a reader new to the series will get very little out of this book. Sookie fans, however, should enjoy it very much.It’s not the best in the series, but it was still fun to read (I knocked it in one night). I sometimes wish that Sookie could find peace and happiness, but then there wouldn’t be much left for Harris to write about, would there?

[auntie0nanuuq · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

&#9733 &#9733 1/2

Sookie KNOWS that someone wants to kill her, not just one someone either...and most of the book is about Sookie's peril, everyone's hatred of Victor, & Sookie's family....

I can not even begin to believe that anyone could be as STOOPID as Sookie was in this book (and I know she has done some pretty dumb things before)....to imperil herself & everyone else as she did....... Not to mention she has poor choice in (so called) friends....

Some of the events were totally unbelievable & out of character of the people who were involved.

**************************************SPOILER*********************************
That she should come home & find Alcide in her bed, butt-nekked, waiting to make her his mate! That is So Totally Out of His Character, it's not even funny.

******************************************************************************

It makes me not want to even continue......

[pacey1927 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I finally had the opportunity to read the Sookie Stackhouse novel "Dead Reckoning" which was panned by Entertainment Weekly. I am a fan of the series, have been since I discovered the series when only the first two books were published. It pains me to say the last several books haven't been all that fantastic. I had mentally prepared myself for an unsatisfying new read. I can know say that "Dead Reckoning" wasn't bad. It was no where bad enough for all the criticism that I have read regarding it. However, it also was not near the best books in the series.The problem I think boils down to a mishmash of plots. There are so many plots that none of them get the full attention they deserve. It made me wonder if the author realized how many plots she had left to be resolved with only a couple more books left to complete the series. I do NOT feel like, as others suggested, that she `phoned' this one in. We have the Sandra Pelt plotline (Debbie's equally crazy sister)...resolved far too quickly for such a `threat'. We see some more of little Hunter's life as he prepares to start school. If Hunter is never brought up again, the readers can believe he is in a decent place. I for one HOPE he is brought up again, he really adds something nice to Sookie's life. We see Eric's political situation take a sharp change. I actually really liked this bit of the story including the fact that we get a nice visit from Bubba who helps resolve this plotline. The action sequences are also top-notch in this book, by the way.Fans have been told for awhile that Ms. Harris has always known Sookie's fate. She has always intended for her to have a Happily Ever After. We have two books now to get her to that place. She is with Eric in this book. They aren't in a happy place but they are definitely together. She could end up with Eric, but I just don't think so. If she does, it is probably due to fan pressure. I love Eric, he is one of my favorites but I just don't think things will work out between them. I also feel like the `twist' in "Dead Reckoning", Eric's big secret, may be what Harris uses to separate them. This really felt contrived to me, but we will see how it plays out. I thought maybe she would end up with Alcide; I really liked him when they dated, but this book seems to sniff that possibility as well. Bill? He is certainly portrayed in a more positive light in "Dead Reckoning". My bet is on Sam. I think that I would be happy to have them together, they are best friends. I think book Sam is a great guy. (FYI, True Blood Sam freaks me out).Oh yeah...I forgot the fairies. I blame the downward trend in the Sookie storytelling (and most plot inconsistencies) on the fairies. Their world is too erratic...the rules are muddy and flexible. I just don't like the addition of fairies in this world. I feel like the item Sookie finds passed down from the fairies is really going to end up being a big part to the end of the series. That is fine and good, but I just haven't found a fairy that I care about. You never really know if you should trust them. Even the `good' ones can turn on you in a second.So overall, I read this book very quickly. It was never dull in my opinion. I loved visiting with all these characters again. The action was excellent except for maybe the all too brief conclusion of the Pelt storyline. I just wish the book was tied together better. Too many plots equal too many weaknesses in those threads. I do remain hopefully to a happy ending for not only Sookie, but her fans as well.

[sushicat-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sookie is preparing to host a baby shower for Tara. Meanwhile Sam's bar Merlotte's, Sookies workplace, comes under attack and a new bar is opened nearby drawing away customers on top of the tension due to the coming out of the weres. Fangtasia too gets competition from a new venture opened by Victor, the new regent for Louisiana. Victor is looking for ways to provoke Eric in order to legitimately get rid of him.
Number 11 in the Sookie Stackhouse series is very much an entry into a series. As a standalone book it would not be a terribly satisfying read as the plot picks up loose ends from earlier books and the stage seems to be set for the next entry. There are appearances by a lot of characters from earlier books and not all of them are really involved in this book's plot.
A nice enough read in the series, but not my favorite.

[mzserena · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that I was looking forward to this book, but in the end, I was disappointed by it. It's not up to Harris' usual level of quality. The plot was lacking in a lot of places and the ending was quite anti-climactic overall.Sookie is showing more signs of intelligence, finally, but the plot seems to be getting more disjointed and more influenced by the fans of the television show. I don't watch the show, I didn't like it, so if that's the way the novel is going to go, I will have to walk away and I don't like to walk away from a series unfinished.Overall, I enjoyed the book, but there was something missing from it. Something that I've loved about Sookie and I can't rally put my finger on what, other than that it was lorely lacking the depth of detail.

[tracylg13 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dead Reckoning: I just breezed right through the book. As all the others it keeps you wanting more and more of Sookie and her advertures, as i call them. There is a mysterous item she finds in Gran's attic and i can't wait to find out how she intends to use it. Now the hard part, waiting for the next book! Dead Reckoning falls in line with the other books in the series and introduces more and more different types of beings.

[punkfarie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[eilantha_le_fay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another Sookie Stackhouse novel, this one’s number eleven. There will be more still! Rejoice!The plot thickens, new questions appears as soon as old ones are answered. Our favourite couple can’t be together as before, due to vampire politics.I do love Eric. But he annoys me more than ever. I discovered one of the things I love more about Sookie is her independence and her old house. I think I’d hate it if she ever moved to live somewhere else, for instance, with a vampire boyfriend. Even if it was Eric.As you see, this book got my feelings divided. As Sookie’s must be I assume.More, more, more, please dear Charlaine give us more!!

[busyreadin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fun read with Sookie Stackhouse, my favorite waitress/mindreader.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one was a great addition to the series I liked it better than the last book. This one has the action that the last book lacked and then some! Poor Sookie she just can’t catch a break, I’m curious about some of the decisions she made in this book and how they will affect her future **no spoilers**. It was great to see Amelia & Bob again and there is a line about kittens that will crack you up! Bill wasn’t as much of an afterthought in this book but his role in her life is still pretty small. There are some storylines in this book that make me wonder if the author is setting things in motion to end the series just certain scenes that felt like good-byes.Sookie finds some things out about her Gran that I think she will have to deal with for awhile and I am still wondering just what great uncle Dermott is really all about. I have a feeling the next book will be a lot about the fae.There is somewhat a cliffhanger ending I’ve read worse but this one is more of an emotional cliffhanger than anything else and it will be tough to wait a year for the book.I’d say if you enjoy this series you’ll be happy with this book.4 stars

[rosetyper9 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is definitely one of the more dangerous books in the series. I was surprised at some of the decisions made and plans executed. I also think that the world Sookie lives in is getting more and more dangerous for her. I also think that too because of the announcement Ms. Harris made about number 13 being the last book in the series. So...we only have 2 more books to find out if there will even be a HEA for Sookie...if she even survives.

I was sad to at some of the things Eric is doing in this book. I mean...we know he is Eric but...I though he had more common sense and love for Sookie than he showed in this book. I can't wait to read the rest of the series, this book will keep you on your toes!

[avamp1r3-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Sucked. Was so disappointed in it. No wit, no fun, no intrigue. Was dull and lifeless. Barely even recognized the characters they were so weak.

[krissy724 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dead Reckoning is the 11th book in the Sookie Stackhouse series and Charlaine Harris has yet to lose her touch. This book has less action then the other books, but it sets up a storyline that will leave readers very nervous for Sookie and Eric. We learn a lot more about the world of the Fey but there is still a lot more we don’t know because its obvious Sookie’s Cousin Claude and Great Uncle Dermot are still hiding a lot. We also learn more about Sookie’s past and why she can read minds. I thought that was very interesting and I’m glad that big secret was finally revealed.Eric and Pam are going through a lot in this book, I just wanted to be able to hug both of them and tell them it would be ok, of course if I did that, they would drain all of my blood, so it might not be the best idea. Bill also played a much bigger role in Dead Reckoning then he has in a while, and it was nice to see him and Sookie working together and getting into some, um, compromising positions together. Alcide’s back as well and naked (!) and Sookie has the best one-liners! I really love every single character in this series, even the bad ones!Overall, a great addition to the Sookie Stackhouse series, I can’t wait to see what Harris has in store for us next and the way this one ended, I can only imagine what’s going to happen!

[janersm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In last year’s Dead in the Family, Charlaine Harris took her once quirky characters on a journey to a place much darker than they’d been before. She managed to court some controversy with the “younger sibling” of Eric Northman, since that character was based on the real-life Alexei Romanov, who died during the Russian Revolution. Many fans hoped for redemption for the series and the author when Dead Reckoning was released, but I am unsure whether either was redeemed.The book starts with the normal dramatic intro that has become the norm for the first chapter in every book in the series. This time, the intro was in the form of a firebomb at Merlotte’s while Sookie was working. Of course, Sookie, being the unlucky girl that she is, happened to manage to catch her apron on fire and singe her hair some. Unfortunately, this incident transformed Sookie into a more vain version of herself. While she’s commented on her looks in the past, she was actually mourning and whining about the loss of a little bit of her hair. I adore Sookie normally, but this Sookie just seemed to be different from the character that I’ve loved throughout the other 10 books.The book took a disturbing turn when it began to hint at a possible sexual or romantic relationship between Sookie and her fae relatives. It bugged me as a person who doesn’t enjoy pro-incest plotlines or “‘shipping”, but more importantly, it bugged me as a southerner reading about a southern character. Playing into a stereotype that people have about this region seemed to go beyond Harris’s normal light-hearted attitude towards the South.Sam’s attitude towards the fae was also a bit discouraging. He’s been more sympathetic towards people who have been more blatantly hostile. It seemed like he wanted to keep Sookie from developing more fae-like qualities. His ability to make the situation more hostile and upsetting towards Sookie and then go off to his date, without even trying to help make things better, made me wonder if he’s really the good guy that I’ve always thought he was.I was also caught off-guard by Sookie describing Jason as being happy. I know that his marriage to Crystal was unhappy, but it hasn’t been that long (in the book’s universe) since Crystal and his unborn child died. It seemed like maybe he should still have some level of grief over that. It seems like he moved on too quickly, even for someone as flighty and self-absorbed as Jason can sometimes be.I don’t remember Amelia being so anti-vampire in previous books, especially anti-Eric. I know that she had previously mentioned that she would help Sookie resolve the blood-bond, but she’d never seemed to look at vampires as being as scummy as she seemed to this time around. Her character changed from being one of my favorite more minor characters to being one of my least favorite.Oddly, the character I came to like most from the book was Bill. He seemed to be more friendly and more caring than any of the other characters, with the exception of the newly-emotional Pam. It was weird to see the blood thirsty and pun-filled Pam turn into a more depressed character. I liked both shifts, though, since they seemed to fit with the story that was being told.I am worried about what Ms. Harris plans to do with the Sookie and Eric relationship. It seemed, in some parts, like she was trying to prepare the reader for the unraveling of the relationship. Honestly, I hope that that doesn’t happen. There is one possible (pro-Eric/Sookie) outcome that I think could happen, but I doubt that the author will go that route.Style-wise, the book seemed to lack clear enough cuts within its chapters to distinguish a change of time. In one line it will be afternoon and the very next line will be describing something hours later, in a different location, and that has very little to do with the previous line. It made the continuity of the story a little been choppy.It seemed like the book was written to tie up unresolved issues and sub-plots that had been lingering for a few books. Unfortunately, they were being tied up too quickly and lack a level of quality that readers may have come to expect from the older books in the series. The choppy dialogue and narrative seems to be more of an outline of the book or an unfinished draft than a full-fledged book. Too many of the kinks are still present throughout the whole story.

[bookescapest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I won't give you the plot details since that's easy to find. But I will tell you it wasn't the best Sookie Stackhouse book but it was definitely better than the last one. It still takes some push to get through the beginning, like the last 3 or so books. Plus it has been so lackluster lately that I barely remembered what the previous book was about. However, I will always love the Sookie Stackhouse character. She is strong and yet vulnerable. So I will continue to read the series.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I couldn't put this book down once I started it and I enjoyed it quite a bit. However, sometimes I felt it was a bit thin and some of Sookie's thoughts and concerns were repeated more than once. I'm just a sucker for this theory though. I think it's the characters -- they feel so real to me despite the fact that most of them could never exist in real life. And I just want to know what is going to happen next, not just to Sookie, Sam, Eric, Bill, etc. Feels like a written soal opera. Although I like True Blood, I like the books much better.

[salander_9277 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlaine Harris has renewed my faith in her story writing ability. Her last novel was weak and poor form and honestly it seemed as though someone else had written it. I had feared the story had gone stale for Harris. However, Dead Reckoning was just as I remember the Sookie Stackhouse world to be and refreshed my love for that world.In this novel, Sookie discovers more about her grandmother's past, her heritage as one of the fae, and experiences more danger as she continues her deep involvement in the supernatural world. I highly recommend this!

[krau0098 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is the eleventh book in the Sookie Stackhouse series. I put off reading this book because I didn’t enjoy the last couple books before this. But with the end of the series (book 13 is supposed to be the last one) looming around the corner, I decided I should just go ahead and read it. I was seriously underwhelmed, but I do want to know what happens.Sookie is trying to learn to deal with her bond to Eric but then gets caught up in other events when Merlotte’s is firebombed. Initially Sookie and Sam think it is because Sam is two-natured, but then Eric and Pam reveal that they are in a silent war with Victor. As Eric’s wife (in vampire law) she ends up drawn into the whole mess and has to help figure out a way to get rid of Victor forever.There are a ton of little things going on in this book which makes it very unfocused. Sookie also has Claude and co stopping by quite often, so those faeries are definitely up to something. A bit more is revealed about the fairies and how it further ties into Sookie’s past.There isn’t a ton of talk about repercussions from the two-natured (shapeshifters) coming out. It is mentioned in the beginning and then kind of goes away. Although there is a lot of worry about the lack of business at Merlotte’s because of Victor’s two new competing bars. There are a ton of other small things woven into the story as well. Baby showers, attic refinishing, Bill and his current SO, and Pam’s drama with her current SO. Just a lot of little stuff going on that I am not sure really has a purpose.The majority of the story focuses on Victor and what Pam and Eric have to do to deal with him. Of course Sookie is sucked into all of this because of her closeness to Eric. Still the story felt scattered like a lot of little things are being thrown together.The heat between Sookie and Eric is lacking; they are at odds for vast portions of the book. Much to my disappointment Bill is creeping back into the picture; I wish we could just settle on one guy and let Sookie have some peace. I mean seriously. Many of the characters just feel tired and feel like they are going through the motions.The quality of writing is similar to the last couple books, but seriously worse than the beginning of the series. There are a number of places where there is awkward sounding dialogue. I had to go back and re-read a few places in the book to figure out what was even being said...again this points towards poor editing/writing for this book.This story never grabbed me, I finished it but the whole time just kind of felt blah about it all. This book didn’t have the energy, the mystery, or the creativeness of earlier books in the series. Basically reading this book reminded me why I stopped reading this series. It has gone seriously down hill in the last few books. Really if you liked this book you need to go back and reread the earlier ones and compare...because these last couple books haven’t been near the quality of the earlier ones in this series.Overall definitely not the best book in the series. Pretty much on par with the last couple books; the plot is scattered, the characters are tired, and the quality of writing is poor. I do enjoy these characters, but I wish that Harris would just end it and stop dragging the characters through these poorly put together stories.

[texasbooklover7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 ... this left me very unsatisfied! I will have to keep reading to know what happens...ugh!!!!

[thebookhammock · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed the book. It wasn't as good as previous books in the series, but I enjoyed it.
I was disappointed by Eric and Sookie's relationship being shot down to the gutters. I wonder what's going to happen with his betrothal and whether or not Sookie and Bill will be given a second chance.