Books On Board

Sookie Stackhouse Books in Order

  • 20 Books
  • 2001 – 2017 Published

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Reading order
2 of 2 reading orders shown

Where to Start with Sookie Stackhouse

If you are looking to dive into Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mysteries (the books that inspired the hit HBO series True Blood), there is only one place to start: the very beginning. Unlike some fantasy and sci-fi series with complicated prequels or parallel entry points, Sookie's story follows a linear progression. You should begin your journey with the award-winning novel Dead Until Dark. From there, Sookie's life, supernatural relationships, and telepathic struggles evolve book-by-book. Reading the main novels out of order will spoil major character deaths, romantic pairings, and political shifts in the vampire, werewolf, and fairy hierarchies.

The Chronological Sookie Stackhouse Reading Order

For the absolute completionist, Sookie's journey is enriched by several short stories and novellas. Many of these side adventures explain character backstories and transitions between novels. The list below weaves the main novels and the ten official short stories into a single chronological reading order:

  1. Dead Until Dark (Novel 1)
  2. Living Dead in Dallas (Novel 2)
  3. Club Dead (Novel 3)
  4. Dead to the World (Novel 4)
  5. "Fairy Dust" (Short story) - Set directly after the events of Dead to the World. Sookie is hired by the fairy triplets Claude and Claudine to investigate the mysterious death of their sister, Claudette.
  6. "Dracula Night" (Short story) - Set before Dead as a Doornail. Sookie attends a festive night at Fangtasia where Eric expects a rare visit from Dracula himself.
  7. Dead as a Doornail (Novel 5)
  8. "One Word Answer" (Short story) - Crucial reading! Set after Dead as a Doornail, this story introduces Mr. Cataliades and reveals the death of Sookie's vampire-cousin, Hadley. The events here directly set up the plot of the next novel.
  9. Definitely Dead (Novel 6)
  10. All Together Dead (Novel 7)
  11. From Dead to Worse (Novel 8)
  12. "Lucky" (Short story) - Set after From Dead to Worse. Sookie and Amelia Broadway investigate a mysterious string of bad luck at a local insurance agency.
  13. "Gift Wrap" (Short story) - Set during Christmas following From Dead to Worse. A lonely Sookie finds a wounded werewolf in the woods behind her house.
  14. Dead and Gone (Novel 9)
  15. "Two Blondes" (Short story) - Set after Dead and Gone. Sookie accompanies Pam on a business trip to Mississippi, leading to unexpected trouble at a strip club.
  16. Dead in the Family (Novel 10)
  17. "Small-Town Wedding" (Short story) - Set after Dead in the Family. Sookie accompanies Sam Merlotte to his brother's wedding in Texas, where shapeshifter family drama boils over.
  18. Dead Reckoning (Novel 11)
  19. "If I Had a Hammer" (Short story) - Set after Dead Reckoning. Sookie assists Lafayette with a house renovation that turns out to have a lingering spectral tenant.
  20. Deadlocked (Novel 12)
  21. "Playing Possum" (Short story) - Set after Deadlocked. Sookie deals with a magical threat during a school event involving her telepathic nephew, Hunter.
  22. Dead Ever After (Novel 13 - Final Main Novel)
  23. "In the Blue Hereafter" (Short story) - Set after the final novel. Sookie and her friends enjoy a local softball game in Bon Temps, featuring a crossover appearance by Manfred Bernardo.
  24. After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse (Companion Epilogue) - An alphabetical coda revealing the ultimate fates of over 130 characters.

Main Novels: Publication Order

If you prefer to read only the core narrative without chasing down short stories, you can stick strictly to the thirteen main novels in their original release order. The novels were published as follows:

  • Dead Until Dark (2001)
  • Living Dead in Dallas (2002)
  • Club Dead (2003)
  • Dead to the World (2004)
  • Dead as a Doornail (2005)
  • Definitely Dead (2006)
  • All Together Dead (2007)
  • From Dead to Worse (2008)
  • Dead and Gone (2009)
  • Dead in the Family (2010)
  • Dead Reckoning (2011)
  • Deadlocked (2012)
  • Dead Ever After (2013)

Understanding the Short Story Collections

Tracking down every single anthology where Sookie's short stories first appeared can be a chore. Fortunately, Charlaine Harris consolidated these stories into two primary collections:

  • A Touch of Dead (2009): This compilation contains the first five short stories in the series: "Fairy Dust", "Dracula Night", "One Word Answer", "Lucky", and "Gift Wrap". If you are reading chronologically, pick this up after finishing From Dead to Worse.
  • The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories (2017): This is the ultimate anthology, gathering all ten short stories under a single cover. It includes everything from "Fairy Dust" to "In the Blue Hereafter". This is the most practical way to experience the entire expanded universe.

Caveats, Continuity, and Spin-offs

While the reading order is straightforward, there are a few important details to keep in mind regarding spin-offs and companion books. The novella Dancers in the Dark (originally published in the 2008 anthology Night's Edge and re-released in various formats including 2012's The Layla Collection) features the character Sean McClendon. Sean is a vampire who later appears as a minor security force coordinator in the main Sookie novels. While Dancers in the Dark is set in the same universe, it focuses on Sean and Layla's romance and is not required reading for Sookie's central journey.

Additionally, The Sookie Stackhouse Companion (2011) is a non-fiction handbook featuring interviews, trivia, recipes, and a detailed concordance. However, it does contain the story "Small-Town Wedding", making it a worthy addition to a fan's bookshelf.

Lastly, After Dead (2013) is a short, illustrated book of character updates rather than a story-driven novel. Harris wrote it in alphabetical format to give closure to readers wondering what happened to Sookie, Eric, Bill, Sam, and dozens of minor Bon Temps residents after the final page of Dead Ever After. Some fans found the resolutions divisive, but it serves as the official final word on the series' characters.

What to Know Before You Start

The books are written in the first person from Sookie's perspective. Sookie is a telepathic, half-fairy waitress whose "disability" makes it difficult for her to date humans, leading her into the arms of various supernatural creatures. The tone of the books is lighter, more humorous, and more mystery-focused than the HBO television series True Blood, which took significant creative liberties with the plot and character development. If you've watched the show, expect the books to offer a significantly different narrative path, particularly concerning romantic relationships and Sookie's ultimate destiny in Dead Ever After.

Frequently Asked

What is the recommended starting point for the Sookie Stackhouse books?

You should start with the first novel, Dead Until Dark, as the series follows a strict linear chronology where characters and relationships develop over time.

Are the short stories necessary to understand the main Sookie Stackhouse plot?

Most short stories are optional, but "One Word Answer" is highly recommended because it explains the death of Sookie's cousin Hadley, directly setting up the events of Definitely Dead.

Where can I find all the Sookie Stackhouse short stories in one place?

All ten stories are collected in the single volume The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories, published in 2017.

How do the Sookie Stackhouse books compare to the TV show True Blood?

While the TV show uses the books as a foundation, it deviates heavily in plot, character fates, and romantic pairings. The books feature a lighter, first-person narrative style focused on mystery.

What is the book After Dead?

After Dead is an illustrated, alphabetical epilogue companion that lists the ultimate fates of Sookie and over 130 other characters following the end of Dead Ever After.

Is Dancers in the Dark part of the Sookie Stackhouse series?

It is a spin-off paranormal romance novella set in the same universe, featuring the vampire Sean McClendon, but it does not follow Sookie herself.