First off, let me say that Charlaine Harris‘s A Touch of Dead is a bit too expensive since it is only slightly longer than 200 pages and printed in a larger font that you typically find in other books. But I won’t feel too guilty about the purchase because I got it at 30% off with an additional $5 off with a coupon. That said, I certainly felt compelled to buy it anyway because completes my Sookie Stackhouse collection. And it’s a nice little piece of material to help bridge the time we have to wait for the 10th Sookie Book (Dead in the Family) and True Blood season 3, which won’t be airing until June.

Harris writes a brief foreward to this collection of short stories that confirms just where each one fits into the chronology of the Sookie novels. The stories are also arranged in order of that chronology. A brief blurb from me on each story:

Fairy Dust. This wasn’t was what I was expecting. It is essentially one long scene and there’s nothing wrong with that, I guess I just thought that we would learn more about the third of the fairy triplets. Instead it was Sookie using her telepathy to draw out Claudette’s killer. Still, it was an interesting backstory as to how Claude and Claudine came to own the strip joint, Houlihan’s, as well as a good introduction to Claude.

Dracula Night. I had read this one before. And I read it again because it’s the only short story that features Eric. And Eric, of course, is always a treat to read! Especially when he is as giddy as schoolgirl! This is an unusual Eric to experience, indeed, as he readies Fangtasia for an unlikely visit from the Prince of Darkness himself, the infamous Dracula. This is a fun, little one-shot that treats us to a spunky, disinterested Pam and an ever-clever Sookie.

One Word Answer. The lost story! The one that bridges books 5 and 6. When I started book 6, Definitely Dead, I had to jump online and see if I had skipped a book. It was clear I was missing some vital information. That information is this short story in which Sookie learns of her cousin Hadley’s death. It’s also the first peek at Queen Sophie-Anne. Of all the short stories, it seems to be the most serious and dramatic. As well it should be, I suppose, when dealing with the (final) death of a loved one. Of course, this features Sookie being clever once again. I really enjoyed this one and if you are a fan of the books and not so interested in the one-shot stories, you should at least give this one a read. It fits directly into the Sookie books.

Lucky. I also read this one before. And I didn’t feel like reading it again. It’s a nice one-shot with some good Amelia action and a central mystery element. But I just didn’t feel compelled to give it another read. I don’t have much more to add to that.

Gift Wrap. I was pretty spoiled for this story and so it didn’t come as quite a shock to me. Still, I don’t understand the controversy surrounding it. It’s not that out of the realm of possibility. And in any case it shines a light on Sookie’s deep loneliness, something that tends to get sidelined in the novels because she’s always involved in some strange supernatural or another. And on Christmas of all days! And ltet’s face it, Sookie is rather empathetic and likes to help others. There’s no reason she would not have done so here. I’ll admit that this “relationship” was fast and hasty but the ending explains it all, AND manages to give us more insight into the elusive Niall. He has done a good thing, in his own mind. Perhaps our morality differs from ours is all. And when you take into account the Sookie was essentially stripped of her free will, how can you really be annoyed by her behavior?

So, that’s it. Recommended for Sookie Stackhouse Series fans. But if you’re not a fan of those, these are certainly still accessible and easy to follow.