I bought the boxed set of The Southern Vampire Mysteries when HBO announced that the show would be premiering. Having recently read Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series and Alyxandra Harvey’s Drake Chronicles, the idea of delving into a new kind of vampire lore was tempting. Plus, I liked the mix with different supernatural beings and a variety of books sounded like fun.
And with a bit of research and trusting that I would like Charlaine’s writing, I bought all her other books that were available, like her Lily Bard (Shakespeare) and Harper Connelly (Grave) series.
Clearly, it was a one-way street.
I love the different universes that are created for the series, with some more realistic than others, yet all dealing with subplots in a nuanced way and presenting a variety of conflicts.
As for the plots, they all involve different obstacles that need to be overcome. The books don’t feel repetitive (not within one series, as there are clear developments and growth between them, or between different universes). Of course, with The Southern Vampire Mysteries (a.k.a. the books True Blood is based on) having so many characters, setting, and complex universes (with magical beings, fairy godparents, weres, and so much more), Charlaine allowed for the series to expand without it getting boring. And her creations gave way to more than the famous adaptation. There are cookbooks and a companion, short story and novella collections, plus a whole lot of merchandise for fans. (I’m not saying that I had a “Team Bill” t-shirt, but…yes, okay, I did.)
I also like how there are different books for different interests. If you’re not into vampire lore, you can still get some fantasy and mystery with the Harper Connelly series, but if you prefer more realistic depictions, you can go for the Lily Bard series, as well as Sweet and Deadly and A Secret Rage and a few more. And if you want just a little bit of magic without committing to 15 main books, the Midnight, Texas series are a pretty great option (and it’s just a trilogy).
No, I’m not receiving a commission from Charlaine. I just genuinely enjoyed losing myself in the stories, getting to know the characters, trying (and failing) to figure out who committed the crimes, and learning about the rules of the supernatural universes.
And I haven’t even mentioned Aurora Teagarden! Who doesn’t want to solve mysteries with a librarian and follow her as her personal life changes, she meets a variety of interesting characters, and goes through very real human conflicts?
See? There’s something for everyone (who’s interested in mystery).
