I finally broke down and read the first book in the Anita Blake series. I feel like I am the last person standing who hasn’t read these books. I had heard a lot of good things about this series, but I am reading so many different series’ right now it is a challenge to fit a brand new one in. Well, I found the time and read Guilty Pleasures. I am glad I finally jumped on this bandwagon.
We are introduced to Anita Blake in the midst of a negotiation with a vampire for her services to find a serial killer killing vampires. We find that she is a Necromancer or “Animator”. She raises the dead for the company she works for called Animators, Inc. From here Anita Blake is dragged into finding the culprit of a horrendous vampire killing spree by the most powerful vampires in St. Louis. We meet many different creatures while following Anita. Anita’s world is seedy and dangerous. Her life and that of her friends are being threatened if she does not bend to the will of her tormentors. As Anita is dragged into this world further and further as she is then attached to one of the strongest vampires in town, Jean-Claude. Jean-Claude her only ally (reluctantly so for Anita) is soon AWOL and she is left fending off vampires and ghouls with very little help. You very quickly learn why she is known as the Executioner.
This was a very smoothly written book. I was impressed with how well written and informative this story was all the while the information didn’t slow the story down. For a first book in a series it sets up the series without dragging down the story. I would say that this was not much of a Paranormal Romance if that is what you are looking for. It is suspenseful and thrilling and you really do want something romantic to happen for Anita, but alas it does not happen. I do foresee that things will happen further into the series.
I would highly recommend this series. If you like Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson then you will like Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake. The structure of the stories are similar and both keep you guessing about what may happen next. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series, Laughing Corpse.
For additional information regarding Laurell K. Hamilton’s books check out her website at www.laurellkhamilton.org. All of the Anita Blake series can be found at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and any other book retailer.