I read somewhere that there will be 8 episodes in season 3 then the series will rest a while then show episodes 9-?? next year
Yup, Season 3 has 16 episodes that will be split up into two smaller arcs. Episode 8 is the mid-season finale that will air on December 2, 2012 and has the episode title of "Made to Suffer," which is the same title used for the Volume 8 compilation of the comics--those who read that compilation know that many more deaths will occur, hehe
The show will return in February 2013 with Episodes 9 to 16.