[1] The novel was released on May 4, 2010 by Ace Books and follows Sookie as she deals with her increasingly more complicated romantic and personal relationships with the supernatural creatures around her.

When the novel begins, Sookie Stackhouse is still recovering physically and emotionally from the torture she received at the hands of demented fairies Lochlan and Neave in the previous book (Dead and Gone).

She has finally settled into a relationship with the Viking vampire Eric, and her errant brother Jason seems to have his life in order, too, with a solid new girlfriend, Michele.

But Sookie struggles with the idea of killing Victor in cold blood, rather than in the heat of battle or in self-defense.

Sookie's cousin Claude comes to live with her, claiming he suffers without the company of other fairies (his triplets, Claudine and Claudette, are now deceased).

Sookie's mad half-fae uncle, Dermot, has been wandering the property for reasons unknown, as has another unidentified fairy.

Sookie attends a trial by the Shreveport pack, to learn why the body of Basim, a new were, was found buried on her property.

[4][5] Tor.com gave a mixed review for Dead in the Family, praising Harris for creating an interesting world and characters, but stating that "even she is getting tired of these people".