Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris

Since Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has so few living relatives, she hates to lose one - even her cousin Hadley, undead consort of the vampire Queen of Louisiana. Hadley's left everything she has to Sookie, but claiming that inheritance has a high risk factor. Some people don't want her looking too deeply into Hadley's past, or Hadley's possessions. And they're prepared to do anything in their power to stop her. Whoever it is, they're definitely dangerous - and Sookie's life is definitely on the line...

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Sookie continues to prove that she's far more intelligent that most people, including herself, give her credit for with the way she unravels the various mysteries and plots that she becomes embroiled in during a visit to New Orleans to clean out her cousin's apartment. While she receives at least one severe emotional blow during the course of events which knocks most of her remaining naivete out of her, she comes through it a better and wiser person. There is the beginning of what might be a healthier romance for her, though it remains to be seen in future books if it pans out or not. All together, a enjoyable part of a series that continues to get better as it goes on.

• Definitely Dead on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

Small-town cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has had more than her share of experience with the supernatural—but now it’s really hitting close to home. When Sookie sees her brother Jason’s eyes start to change, she knows he’s about to turn into a were-panther for the first time—a transformation he embraces more readily than most shapeshifters she knows. But her concern becomes cold fear when a sniper sets his deadly sights on the local changeling population, and Jason’s new panther brethren suspect he may be the shooter. Now, Sookie has until the next full moon to find out who’s behind the attacks—unless the killer decides to find her first…

Where to Buy

Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
OmniLit

Interesting story that's full of twists and turns that keep you guessing what will happen next.

Edit 10/16/11: Ok, so I wasn't much on writing reviews to start with...lol. I do think this was one of the better books in the series, and is probably one of the points where Sookie started to come into her own even if she's still pretty naive at this point. Charles, the fill-in bartender, is one of the more colorful and entertaining characters in the series, and we are first introduced to Quinn in this book. Some of the things that happen here will break your heart, and give you chills.  Sometimes at the same time.

• Dead as a Doornail on Goodreads
• Charlaine Harris's website