Död tills mörkret faller

Written by Charlaine Harris

Narrated by Åsa Forsblad Morisse

Sookie Stackhouse är inte som alla andra. I alla fall inte som någon annan i Bon Temps, den lilla håla i Louisiana där hon bor. Hon kan nämligen läsa tankar. En del skulle kanske tycka att det är en fantastisk gåva, men för Sookie har det mest inneburit problem. Tänk dig själv att vara i en intim situation med någon du gillar, och så kan du höra vad den personen tänker om dina fel och brister.
Men så kliver vampyren Bill in på baren där hon jobbar. Just det ja, vampyrer lever öppet bland människorna och anses ofarliga eftersom de istället för människoblod livnär sig på ett syntetiskt blod. Och med Bill förändras allt. Det är underbart tyst i Sookies huvud när hon är med honom.
En dag mördas en av Sookies kollegor, och allas blickar vänds mot Bill. Allt var ju lugnt innan han dök upp, och han är ju trots allt vampyr.
Vampyrer och mysterier i en härlig mix, kryddat med heta känslor. Detta är bokserien bakom den populära teveserien True Blood, där bland annat Alexander Skarsgård har fått beröm för sin insats som vampyren Eric.

• Language: Svenska
• Publisher: Word Audio Publishing International
• Release date: Sep 24, 2010
• ISBN: 9789186615093

Reviews for Död tills mörkret faller

[mrshbemis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I almost expected for it to be a growp-ups version of the dreadful "Twilight" series, but was pleasantly surprised at how fun the story is. I like the twist of Vampires being "out of the coffin" and the desire of some of them to want to mainstream. Sookie Stackhouse is a most enjoyable character. You like her because she could be like you and in some respects she is just like you. The characters in this book (with the exception of the vampires) are true to life and that's makes this a series worth reading. I haven't seen the show "True Blood" but if it closely follows the Harris novels, then the show is worth catching.

[laphenix · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed most of the characters and story.

[catalogthis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've only seen one episode of True Blood, but it was enough to spark my interest in the Sookie Stackhouse series. Truth be told, I wasn't impressed by the first couple of chapters. It read like fanfic. Mediocre fanfic. BUT... either it got better halfway through, or I took off my snob hat, because I ended up enjoying this immensely.Overall: a fun mishmash of horror/mystery/romance silliness. The literary equivalent of cotton candy.

[reckshow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Several of my friends watch the True Blood series on HBO that is based on these books, and being more of a "book-person" than a "tv-person", I thought I'd give the books a try.

I'm a little underwhelmed; though the premise is intriguing - vampires trying to "mainstream" and the tensions that exist in both vampire-vampire relationships and human-vampire relationships at all levels, and the plot clever, the dialogue brought this book down. I'm going to give the second book a shot, though, because my interest is piqued enough to see where it goes from here.

[capfox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Somewhere along the way, I ended up being part of the target audience for supernatural romance stories, it seems. I blame a friend of mine for this, really, but at least she does make good recommendations, because there's a lot of crap out there in that genre. This one turned out to be pretty well done, all around, if not great.The plot here centers around one Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic bar waitress in rural Louisiana. In her world, vampires have just announced their existence to the world, and been accepted somewhat reluctantly into the American citizenry. The story starts with one of these new vampires, from the same hometown as she is, coming into her bar. Naturally, this is your romantic couple for the book, although it turns out it's partly due to the way telepathy works in that world.What's enjoyable about this book isn't the plot, really, which is by and large a mystery, trying to solve who's been killing off women who have taken to sleeping with vampires. That's pretty guessable, really. It's the style and the characterization. Harris put a lot of thought into how the world would work, and the best parts have to do with that: would Southern matrons prefer their daughter to be a spinster or be with a vampire? What would a telepath mean to one's social life? The best set pieces are along these lines, as well; my favorite scene in the book was Bill the vampire talking to a Civil War veteran descendents group.The style was pretty folksy, first person narration stuff, but it works for this world, and the lead pair of characters felt pretty real. The supporting cast wasn't quite as strong, but they weren't terrible, either. All around, it's a pretty good read, but not great. If you're a fan of the genre, this one's worth it, though.

[mrsdanaalbasha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In Dead Until Dark, Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress who lives in a world where vampires have recently come out to the public and become legal citizens, following the development by the Japanese of a synthetic blood. This makes it possible for vampires to live in the open without the need to hunt humans for sustenance. Sookie lives with her grandmother, Adele Stackhouse, and has an older brother, Jason. She is also, secretly, a telepath, able to read the minds of all people she meets, which causes her to act a bit strangely and consequently to be thought crazy by many of the people in the town.

One day a vampire, Bill, comes into Sookie's bar, and she quickly falls for him, in part because she can't read his mind, and in part because he is different from normal people, as she is. The vampire Bill Compton is a Civil War veteran. In his first visit, Sookie saves him from the Rattrays (vampire drainers), and Bill returns the favor the next night when the Rattrays attack Sookie.

In the meantime, there are several murders in Bon Temps, and people believe that vampires are behind the murders because many of the bodies are of women who have been known to hang out with vampires, and most have been bitten. One of the victims is Sookie's grandmother, Adele, presumably because the killer was interrupted in her house as he searched for Sookie. The Bon Temps police suspect Sookie's brother Jason and arrest him because he has been romantically linked to two of the victims. Sookie wants to help her brother, so starts hanging out with vampires and "fangbangers" (people who like hanging around vampires). Bill takes her to a vampire bar, Fangtasia, in Shreveport. This begins Sookie's immersion into the world of supes. She discovers that her boss Sam is a shape-shifter when she lets a stray dog sleep beside her and finds a naked Sam in the morning.


Fangtasia is owned by Eric Northman, the local vampire official (i.e., sheriff) who is much older and more powerful than Bill. Eric soon discovers that Sookie can be useful and orders Bill to have her use her telepathic ability to determine the identity of the person who has been stealing from his bar. Sookie finds out that Eric's partner, Longshadow (a vampire), has been stealing money, and she almost gets killed in the process. Eric saves Sookie's life by staking Longshadow when he attacks her.

Bill, concerned with Eric's power over himsef and Sookie, asks a local vampire, Bubba, to protect Sookie. Sookie discovers that the murderer is her brother's friend Rene Lenier. He almost kills her, but she fights back. Badly injured, Sookie wakes up in the hospital and finds Bill by her side. Bill tells Sookie that he has become his area's investigator, working under Eric.

[joe73-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What bunch of fluff. Maybe that is what some people want. This series gets better as it goes, but this first book reads like a kindergarten pop up book. You can tell it tell it was written by a bored housewife who just wanted to cash in on the Vampire fad. It is very obvious that Harris had no clue how to write a book.....but she gets better and learns her craft as the series progresses. I will giver her that. If you want real vampires.....Read a Brian Lumley book. Either way it's better than Twilight.....this is fluff.....those are trash.

[4everfanatical · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of all, I am a mad fan of the TV series True Blood and I always wanted to read the books that the show was based on. I heard that the books were different to the show and I wanted to read them to get a different perspective of the characters and the way the story would have gone if the books were followed.

The first book of the series follows the first person perspective of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a small southern american town, Bon Temps. I felt that a lot of the potential richness of the story was lost through the first person perspective, and although what happens to Sookie is interesting I wanted to go through some of the things the other characters went through and not just hear about it when it was told to Sookie. So first impressions of this book was a little weak. That being said, it is an amazing, imaginative story that is incredibly easy to read. It makes me want to read on and immerse myself in the world of Bon Temps; where Vampires are recognized as fellow citizens and facing all the potential problems that can bring.

My enjoyment of the story was of course dampened by the fact that I knew who the murderer of the girls was because I had watched the show. If i did not know that I would have been shocked and probably would have enjoyed the story a lot more than I did. This book was good enough to make me want to read more into the series and I'm hoping to find a series just as good for me to get obsessed with!

4 stars!

[fromthecomfychair · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is one time I have to say that the TV show is better than the book! The cast on the HBO series really breathed life into the flat characters in this book. I don't think I'll be continuing on with this series.

[greymowser · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not bad. An interesting take on the vampire thing. Really like the Sookie Stackhouse character.

[alchemie_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I resisted reading these books for quite some time, because I so dislike the majority of urban fantasy and vampire books being published these days, but I ended up enjoying it much more than I thought I would. To be sure, this isn't deep material, and the plot and characters never move beyond the realm of exactly what you think they're going to be. There is no challenge here for the reader. But it's harmless, light fluff and nowhere near as terrible as many other examples I've seen in the genre.

[filoma-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Target Audience: AdultGenre: Paranormal RomanceSteam Level: 2/5 fansRomance: Kissing, non-graphic sex on page (not quite fade to black but along that lines)Violence: MediumCW: Assault, death of a family member, discussions about child abuse in the past, reference to sex with a dead personTropes: Virgin, Small TownMFC: Sookie StackhouseMMC: Bill ComptonSide Characters: Jason Stackhouse, Gran (aka Adele Stackhouse), Sam Merlotte, Arlene, Rene Lenier, Lafayette, Andy Bellefleur, Pam, Eric and BubbaStory told in 1st person and set in Bon Temps, LouisianaThe story follows the day-to-day living of Sookie Stackhouse, at home and work, and who is a telepath who gets involved with a vampire named Bill Compton. Sookie believes her telepathic skill is a disability due to the struggles she had growing up and feels she continues to experience as an adult. Sookie has learnt to control her 'ability', but she finds that she cannot 'hear' Bill's thoughts, which she finds comforting and quite novel, as she's never had that before.Sookie works at Merlotte's Bar, named after the owner, Sam. It's at Sookie's workplace that we meet the majority of the characters. Her fellow waitresses Dawn (in name reference only) and Arlene, Lafayette the cook/chef, as well as people who like to frequent the establishment Jason Stackhouse, Rene Lenier and later on Andy Bellefleur, Bon Temps police officer.As we learn about Sookie and her daily living, murders of women who have had sexual relations with vampires start happening in Bon Temps. This is unusual for Bon Temps and suspicion soon falls on Bill, as well as Sookie's brother Jason, because he has had sex with each of the women who have been murdered. With Bill's help, Sookie starts to do some investigating, which leads them to Shreveport and a bar called Fangtasia. While there, Sookie meets vampires Eric and Pam. Eric is described like a Viking and almost royality in the vampire world. Bill remarks how much older Eric is to himself. More murders take place and unfortunately Sookie's Gran is one of them, but she was murdered by mistake, as we soon learn that Sookie was the intended target.The story continues with Sookie going between home, work and spending time with Bill. Eventually Bill has to go out of town for vampire business and brings in Bubba to protect Sookie in his absence.During this time Sookie is attacked by the murderer, but manages to save herself, but not before she is beaten pretty badly. However, she also manages to inflict quite a bit of injuires on the assailant.The story wraps up with the murderer confessing to everything they've committed and why they committed the crimes. During this time Sookie is in hospital recovering with Bill eventually appearing by her side. There is a moment where Eric appears 'flying' outside Sookie's hospital window, which implies Eric is going to play more of a role in the future. I liked all the characters in this story. I found Sookie to be strong though naïve. I did struggle a bit with Sookie and Bill's relationship as there didn't feel to be any real depth of feelings between them and they were professing their love for each other in what felt really early in their relationship. I do acknowledge that the lack of passion between them may also be attributed to the vampire's cold nature.This was a reread for me, having first read the book 18 years ago. I really liked it then, but didn't rate it. In rereading it was almost like reading it for the first time as I had forgotten the majority of the story so I enjoyed going on the journey with Sookie. I didn't quite pick the murderer, though I did suspect the person at one point. However, in hindsight, it was pretty obvious with all the clues and nuggets of information given.This is a story I would recommend to people who like paranormal romance, or a paranormal mystery.

[funstm · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'd been hearing rave reviews about the television show when I decided that before I dived into the show I'd read the books. What I failed to realise was the book is simply erotica dressed up as a vampire story. The plot is pretty much non-existent beyond she finds vampires hot and lo and behold she finds one and sleeps with him. The end. I won't be continuing with the rest of the series.

[jennybeast · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have been wanting to read about Sookie Stackhouse for a while and she did not disappoint. Excellent, humorous characters. Interesting plot. More, uh, realistic attitude to what a vampire is than most.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read this for the first time in 2008, when it came out, but find I don’t have any notes or reviews of it; obviously I was only lurking and shelving on GR back in 2008. I remember really liking it back then, and I’ve read all but the 13th and final novel since.However, upon a second read many years later, I find the writing doesn’t hold up. Sookie is naive and a bit simple (not simple-minded), as she is supposed to be, but the writing too feels naive and simple, which left me impatient.It’s possible later books are better written, but so far I have not the urge to find out.

[crtsjffrsn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries definitely showed me why this series became so popular and was adapted into a television series. As a fan of the show "True Blood", I still found this book very enjoyable. There were enough similarities to still connect with the characters I've come to love, but also just enough difference to keep me interested - I did not know exactly how events were going to play out. The book also strengthened my understanding of some of the events in the television series that were not fully explained.

The narration, which is in the first person from the perspective of the lovable Sookie Stackhouse, reads very easily and conversationally. At the same time, though, plenty of detail is provided to build a descriptive picture for the reader of the events taking place in small-town Louisiana. A recommended read for people who like vampires and paranormal fiction (this ain't your little sister's Twilight, though, thankfully) and for fans of the show who want to immerse themselves more into Sookie's world.

[booksandliquids · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I listened to the audiobook because of the hype and must admit, I'm not very big on romance novels.
My experience with this book was a lot like my experience with the TV-show based on it. The story itself could be pretty good, the vampires coming "out of the coffin" thing is an interesting idea with lots of potential... if you just cut the two main characters. Granted, Sookie is a more coherent character than other romantic "heroines", but she still acts stupid every time the author felt the need to have her protected by one vampire dude or another. Bill is the brooding, "I constantly have to tell you how dangerous I am for you and yet I'm not going to leave you alone", absolutetly boring type of guy. Also, there are endless detailed descriptions of people's clothes, looks and Sookie doing random everyday stuff.

The romance is boring and seems forced, the sex scenes are really bad and I just don't get why romanticised violence is apparently seen as something good and desirable. Also, it's a really boring plot device.
Although Sookie is the main character, Bill's man pain is constantly considered more important than her feelings, e.g. when she fears she will be raped and instantly starts to worry about how it would affect him or when her friend and secret shapeshifter gains access to her house in the form of a dog, watches her undress and then proceeds to sleep next to her naked and when she wakes up and finds out she starts to worry that Bill will kill him, barely touching on her own feelings towards his betrayal.

That being said, although I haven't read many romance novels, I have read worse, so this gets two stars. Mainly because of the story you get when you cut the romance and because it works well as an audiobook you can listen to while cleaning or something. I don't know if I will continue with the series, as I fear the interesting male characters will also start falling in love with Sookie and proceed to act totally stupid because of it.

[kittycunningh-815148 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was fun. I recommend it for entertaining light reading.

I won't need to reread it, but I don't feel like my time was wasted.

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

This is the first book that started the whole Sookie series. I remember when I first read this, I enjoyed the world that Harris had built. At the time I don't remember reading a plot like this. I liked the aspect where vampires are out to the world and they intermingled with humans. I loved Sookie and that she is a telepath and that she was just innocent and a kind soul.

[andy_dimartino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was very enjoyable, close to the TV show or vice versa. Don't feel a need to ru out and get the next one though

[allandanybooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book was so easy to read it took be less than two days. You can read this book without actually thinking about anything and it was very nice to read something so light for a change. I can already tell I can't help but read all the books in the series and I will do so happily

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

I mostly liked it, but some of the language and a few of Sookie's character traits annoyed me. Apparently it bugs me to see "tartly" used as an adjective to describe speech. Like, bugs me A LOT.

I might just watch True Blood instead of reading more of the books.

[olivermagnus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dead Until Dark features Sookie Stackhouse, a barmaid in the small southern town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie is a very sweet, but naive, working-class southern girl whose life revolves around her job, small-town gossip, and living with her grandmother until a vampire shows up at the bar and someone starts murdering local girls who sleep with vampires. Sookie has her own supernatural talent. She's psychic and can read other people's thoughts unless she's specifically screening them out. When very attractive vampire Bill Compton comes into the bar, his greatest attraction has nothing to do with vampire sexuality; she just can't read his thoughts, which makes him peacefully silent. She considers her ability to be a handicap, not something to be exploited, and mostly tries to hide it and not use it. Her 'disability' makes Sookie a bit alienated from the rest of the town and even more so, when she tries to convince everyone that Bill is not a murderer.

Dead Until Dark is about working-class people in a small town in the south. Sookie and the supporting cast are from a different class than the typical vampire romance characters, with different concerns and a different insight on the world. Sookie may be naive, but she's also brave, determined, and savvy in a way that fits her background and surroundings, and the small-town interrelationships show characters in a more positive light than not.

This is light reading with a pretty forgettable mystery ending that the characters stumble across rather than work out logically. What sets Dead Until Dark apart are the characters and an enjoyably spirited heroine who isn't a stock sarcastic private detective. I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by Johanna Parker, and thought she did a fantastic job. I don't know if I would be interested in reading any more of the series but I might pick up another audio after finding out Ms. Parker does the narration for all of them. One final note......I had no idea when I started the book that the series, True Blood, was based on these books. I've never seen it but I might check it out now just to see how the series portrays the characters.

[cygnoir_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This is, without a doubt, the dullest and dumbest book I have ever read. I cannot even bring myself to waste more time on it with a full review.

[carl_alves_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After having watched the True Blood television show, I decided to start reading the Sookie Stackhouse novel series. Dead Until Dark had a significantly different feel than the show. I generally knew the story already, since season 1 is based on this novel, although it had been a while since I had watched it so I had forgotten much of it, but to make a ten episode season from a three hundred page novel, the show is going to have to have much more time to fill. Therefore, some of the smaller characters had expanded story lines and there were more expanded subplots as well. On the other hand, the novel is much tighter and has a lot less fluff.Charlaine Harris is an enjoyable author to read. The story was light and fun. It wasn’t a comedy, but it didn’t take itself too seriously, even when there were some more serious things going on. The characters were familiar from having watched the show, but it was interesting that Jason Stackhouse was such a minor character in the novel as was Tara. There were some inconsistencies in the plot, but by and large I enjoyed reading it. It had some mystery, some supernatural components to it, and well developed characters. I look forward to reading more in the series.Carl Alves - author of Blood Street

[tshrope · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ok, I admit it I listen to trashy novels on occassion. They are an entertaining no-brainer while I work on complicated needlework. Is the writing great-no, is there lots of soft porn-yes (too much actually), is this chick-lit-yes. But I liked Sookie and I liked the reader, Johanna Parker, albeit her Southern accent was over the top. I don't think I would actually read this book, but it's fine for a diversion to listen to while doing something else. Will I listen to more, probably, but not for a while.

[lilyroseshadowlyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Better than the True Blood TV series

[karenhulseman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good read, slow in parts but not bad enough to not continue series. Lots of character building

[bookworm148 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting twist on vampire mythology. Harris does a great job not giving the reader too much information, but also making sure that they can follow what is happening and pick up on important foreshadowing. The only thing that I wasn't thrilled about was the amount of time Sookie spent crying.

[bcrowl399 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just discovered these. The books are every bit as good or better than the TV show.