Dead Until Dark

Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress at Merlotte's in Bon Temps, hears thoughts, which keeps her pretty isolated. That changes when Bill Compton, a vampire, walks into the bar and she can't hear his mind. Sookie saves Bill from a couple out to drain him, and they grow close. Women who dated her brother Jason start turning up dead, and Jason becomes a suspect. Sookie's grandmother is murdered too. Bill takes Sookie to Fangtasia, Eric's vampire bar in Shreveport, where she lends her gift to the vampires. In the end, Sookie learns the killer is René Lenier, who targets women who mix with vampires, and she survives his attack.

1. ChangeNo Jessica

   Jessica Hamby was created for the show. In S1, Bill is forced to turn her as punishment; she isn't in the book.

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2. ChangeTara gets bigger

   On the show, Tara Thornton is Sookie's best friend and a lead from episode one. In the books, Tara is a school friend with a much smaller role.

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3. ChangeOutside Sookie's head

   The book is narrated by Sookie in first person. The show opens up to Jason, Tara, Lafayette and Sam, with plots Sookie never sees.

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