Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) by Charlaine Harris

Vampires and werewolves and Sookie, Oh My! Sookie will need to utilize all the favors owed her if she wants to live though the week.

Sookie Stackhouse is a waitress at Merlottes bar in the small town of Bon Temps. The world has evolved in the past few years; vampires are welcomed into society. They revealed themselves to the public nationally a few years ago. Sookie has shared blood with the local vampire master Eric several times, so she is blood bound to him. But then he has her bring him a velvet wrapped package one evening, and Sookie finds herself bound even closer to him.

Sookie's boss Sam is a shape-shifter. Sookie has known this for quite some time, but it causes a ripple of shock and dissention to the bar clientele when he shifts shape directly after a news broadcast. The werewolves and shapeshifters thought since it went pretty well for the vampires, they'd reveal their presence to the public as well. Most folks adjust rather quickly to this new phenomenon, but there are many people who just hate the the thought of living with animals.

When Crystal, Sookie's pregnant sister-in-law, is found crucified behind Merlottes, it's believed to be a hate crime. Sookie is determined to prove her brother Jason couldn't possibly of killed his own baby, so she decides to do some checking of her own. Sookie has a rare talent of being able to read people's thoughts. She's learned how to block out much of the noise over the years so she is a bit startled when she removes the block. She learns many interesting facts from the clients of Merlottes, but not who the killer is. Sookie starts looking in the werewolf community. However, another mystical race unrevealed to the public is gathering forces for a war, and Sookie finds herself fighting for her life.

Another grand slam for Charlaine Harris! DEAD AND GONE (SOOKIE STACKHOUSE, BOOK 9), retains the careful world building of the previous Stackhouse books. Sookie shines as she pivots and hurdles every roadblock in her undetermined path. Well-defined characters, a mystery to solve and a splash of romance all put together for pure magic. Loved it!