I picked this book up because it looked like it might be some
cheesy fun.  I wasn't disappointed.  It's a relatively quick read.  I
started it in the afternoon and had finished it by 2:30 AM...luckily 
on a weekend when I didn't have to work the next day.  LKH fans will 
probably enjoy this series.  The writing style is similar, but Sookie 
and Anita are WORLDS apart, personality-wise.  There are similarities 
in the two series, but enough differences to keep this one from 
reading too much like an AB:VH fanfic.  Some of the rules for the 
vamps are different...sort of a mix between LKH and Rice.  
Shapeshifter rules are a little different, too.  You want to find out 
who the shifter is, you'll have to read the book. *grin*  Pretty 
decent murder mystery...it's actually a little hard to figure out 
ahead of time who the real killer is.  Even get a celebrity-turned 
vamp cameo.  He goes by the name of Bubba now...DON'T call him by his 
human name...something went a little wrong when Bubba was brought 
over...probably too many different chemicals in his system at the 
time of death, so Bubba ain't quite right...and he likes cats and 
dogs the best for snacking.  

Sookie has more problems than just trying to keep from hearing every
little thought that passes by her or dating the undead...her 
womanizing brother, Jason, is one of the prime suspects in a series 
of murders that have popped up in their little northern Louisiana 
town...but she's positive he didn't do it, so she has to figure out 
who did, before they kill her next.  

Then there's Eric...Eric is the oldest and most powerful thing in the
book.  He only has a few small bits of page time, but from what I've 
seen so far he's an interesting mix.  Take Damian's age and Viking 
heritage, Asher's golden good looks, and Jean-Claude's power, 
especially when he's really in the mood to be all vampirically spooky-
scary, and you have Eric.  I'd say he's probably going to show up in 
future books, if I'm reading the signs correctly.  Eric is intrigued 
by Sookie, both for her looks and for her telepathy.  And Eric is 
used to getting what Eric wants.

All in all, this book was a fun read.  I'll probably pick up the 
second book, Living Dead in Dallas, sometime in the near future.  
Lyza said there's a third book in the series now, but couldn't 
remember the name. (Its actually called "Club Dead" and will be out this coming May)