Krystal109
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« on: January 03, 2010, 03:40:59 AM » |
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Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
Written by Krystal
Sam came to give Sookie the news that the police intended to arrest Jason the minute he came to and she was filled with emotion. Crying, she thought about her brother, poor Amy, the stupid police and above all, Bill. Picking the phone up, Sookie dialed the Blood in the Quarter to leave a message for Bill about Jason. Deciding it was probably better to call Sid Matt, Jason’s lawyer; Sookie made the call and then headed down to the hospital. When they would not let her see Jason, Sookie headed home to contemplate her naiveté which was the cause of Jason’s arrest.
Later that afternnon, Sid Matt came to tell Sookie that they had indeed arrested Jason and were charging him with first degree murder. Jason, of course, admits that he was at Amy’s house, but that she had picked him up. That she was acting strange all night and remembered having sex and a drink and waking up in the hospital. Sookie gathers that someone must have set Jason up; there was no way he killed their grandmother. When Sid Matt inquires why, Sookie explains that her brother could have any girl he wanted and someone was obviously envious. She wanted her brother out of jail though and asked Sid Matt to find out what she needed to do. She also wanted to see Jason, but he didn’t want to see her. This hurt and she wanted to end this conversation quickly and let Sid Matt on his way.
When it was fully dark, Sookie walked outside to check on Bubba and then went back inside. Bill never called her back and this added more frustration to Sookie’s life. Killing time the rest of the evening, Sookie finally went to bed at midnight.
In the middle of the night, Sookie heard a shriek and Bubba yelling at someone. When she hadn’t heard sounds for a little bit, she stuck her head out to ask what had happened. Apparently, someone was sneaking around her lawn and Bubba had chased them off, not getting a good look at them though. She thanked Bubba and a swell of love for Bill came into her as she thought about him hiring her protection.
The next day Jason made bail and Sookie was there waiting when he got out. Jason’s mind was a mess and they had little to say to each other before they parted ways and Sookie headed to Merlotte’s. After staring at every customer who came in, Sam eventually kicked Sookie out and she headed home. As she got ready for bed, Sookie heard a yowl and went to investigate.
The air outside was still, too still, and there seemed to be something lurking in the forest. She tried to call the police, but all the lines were dead. Sookie immediately turns out all the lights and considers her escape options. Grabbing Bill’s house key, a pocket knife, and a small flashlight, Sookie went to the closet to retrieve her father’s rifle; it was gone. Sookie tried to think of everyone who had been in her house, but she needed to concentrate on escaping for the moment and pushed it aside. She quietly creped out the back and made her way from one object to another. In a hurry she fell to the ground noisily and someone came for her. She got up and rushed to the wood, hiding up a tree branch until the killer was gone. She silently and slowly made her way toward the cemetery where she found a dead drugged cat and Bubba unconscious. Someone had known he liked to drain cats and then a crackle made her hide. Her only defense was to get inside the killers head and Sookie dropped all her guards. She saw the deaths of all the women who had been strangled and finally Arlene’s kids and herself. It was Rene and he was out to kill her.
She rushed through the cemetery and hides behind one of the old tombstone and scanned Rene’s mind again. Then it came to her. Rene had killed his own sister and had sex with her afterwards. Sookie staggered at the darkness of Rene’s thought and when she came to, he was on her. After an agonizing struggle, Sookie found the knife on his belt and stabbed him in the waist. She watched as Rene fell to the ground and then made her way to Bill’s house where she dialed 911 and passed out.
When Sookie awoke she was in the Bon Temp’s hospital and Andy was by her side. She then fell asleep again and awoke to find Officer Kevin Prior by her side. Apparently, Rene had lived and admitted to everything, including the past about his sister. Andy told her the whole story, but she already knew enough. He asked her to recount her side of the story as he tap recorded her. Eventually the doctor came in to kick Andy out and after an assessment of her condition, JB showed up to comfort her. After managing to get JB to leave, Jason appeared and so did Arlene. Everyone was grateful she was alive and shocked at the killer being Rene. She finally got a nap in and when she woke up flowers were being delivered. Of the three, the most interesting by far, was an arrangement around a red blossom which was from Eric.
Sookie watched some TV and eventually fell asleep, only to have a nightmare involving Dawn, Maudette and other dead people. Then a familiar voice came to her and she woke startled. Bill had finally arrived, but what he found was almost more than he could handle. He wanted to kill Rene, that much was obvious, but he gathered himself and inspected her wounds. He insisted on taking her home, but she refused and asked what happened in New Orleans. Bill had attended a meeting to become an official, in hopes that it would prevent Eric from interfering in their lives. Happy, Sookie gave him a hug and noticed not only a Collie in the hall, but Eric’s white face outside the window. Would things ever be normal again?
Characters Involved
Sookie Stackhouse
Sam Merlotte
Sidney Matthew Lancaster
Detective Andy Bellefleur
Bubba
Rene Lenier
Officer Kevin Prior
Officer Kenya Jones
Dr. Sonntag
JB du Rone
Characters Mentioned
Jason Stackhouse
Amy Burley
Bill Chompton
Adele Hale Stackhouse
Arlene
Hoyt Fortenberry
Dawn Green
Maudette Pickens
Cindy Lenier
Elva Deene Lancaster
Eric
Charlsie Tooten
Places Visited
Sookie’s House
Police Station
Merlotte’s Bar and Grille
Bon Temps Cemetery
Bon Temps Hospital
Memorable Quotes
Receptionist: “Bloooooood… in the Quarter,” announced a deep voice dramatically. “Your coffin away from home.” (Page 262)
Sookie: Nothing on TV was good, at least not tonight. I thought I might watch Braveheart again: Mel Gibson in a kilt is always a mood raiser. (Page 271)
Rene: Rene screamed. “Aw, Jesus, woman! What you done to me? Oh. God, it hurts!” (Page 278)
Bill: “Your nose is broken,” he observed.
Sookie: I rolled my eyes. “Glad you spotted that,” I whispered. “I’ll tell the doctor when she comes in.” (Page 288)
Questions for consideration:
Were you surprised to learn that Rene was the killer?
How do you think Eric learned Sookie was in the hospital? Why do you think he sent her flowers and was outside her window?
What new responsibilities do you think Bill’s job will entail and is it going to affect their relationship?
Are you looking forward to the next book? Who do you want to learn/see more of?
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