This is the first book in the Southern Vampire Mystery book series and the basis for the True Blood TV series.  In this book we're introduced to Sookie Stackhouse, a lovable telepathic waitress who falls in love with a vampire.

This is one of the first vampire books I read in which the lead character is not a vampire, but is instead a female woman.

When this series first came out Anita Blake was fierce.  She had a kick butt, take-no-prisoners attitude which I loved.  Later in the series her character changed quite a bit but Hamilton has now returned Anita to her roots.