One of the best-known and best writers of the new American mythology is Charlaine Harris. Dead to the World is the fourth novel in her Anthony Award-winning Southern Vampire Series It continues the story of psychic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who has fallen out with her undead lover, Bill. Bill has no sooner departed for Peru, than Sookie finds the head vampire, Eric, running naked and terrified through the rural night. She helps Eric, and discovers that a coven of unscrupulous, astonishingly powerful witches are offering a huge reward for Eric. Sookie tries to hide Eric, as she finds herself caught in a war among witches, vampires, and werewolves.