Guilty Pleasures - Book 1 of the Anita Blake series

Author: Laurell K Hamilton

I seem to have come late to the Laurrell Hamilton band wagon. When e-Mo told me that she'd read a review and it sounded just my thing, I assumed Laurell Hamilton was a new author but no.

Totaling 15 novels in her Anita Blake series alone and a thriving online fan club, I think it's fair to say that Ms Hamilton has proven herself in the world of horror/fantasy writing.

"Guilty Pleasures" is the first in the Anita Blake series. It tells the story of vampire hunter and animator, Anita Blake, who is hired through Animators Inc to look in to the recent murders of several high powered vampires.

Though the story is set in St Louis, the writing does not dwell needlessly on it's location, though does give little nudges to the feel of the place, mentioning the small streets and oppressive heat, and unlike some books does not read like a tourist guide!! Instead the story concentrates on two things: characters and action.

All the characters are unusual, from the dangerous yet sensuous vampire Jean-Claude to Anita's business headed boss, Bert Vaughn. But it is our narrator and heroine who steals the show.

One of the best things about Anita Blake as a character is, unlike so many heroines I've read, she's so believable as a character - well, she's a vampire hunter who can raise the dead I'm not entirely sure believable is the right word here... try, and yes I note the irony here, human!

She's tough, but not a super hero, witty without being caricatured and able to show emotions without seeming insipid or weak. Perhaps it's me but I find it easier to believe a character, male or female, that gets cranky when they don't sleep, aches after having the crap beaten out of them and get scared when confronted by a room full of angry vampires.

The story is twisting enough to keep you guessing and unusual enough to keep you interested. Hamilton's writing manages to maintain a fast pace without losing its relaxed style, that feels like the reading equivalent of pulling on your favorite woolly jumper - it's practical yet comfortable and easy to slip in to when you want to escape.

If, like me, you scare easy don't worry. Though classified as a horror novel there is no way I'd put this in the same section as stuff by Stephen King or Dean Koontz. In fact many shops classify the series as anything from romance to crime and in truth it does read more like a supernatural crime thriller then a horror - which suits me fine.

It would be nice to think that all 15 of the Anita Blake series will maintain this fast paced, easy to read vibe but I'm not holding my breath. I've read reports that the later books amp up both the gore and the sex content, which I think - if true- will be sad.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves, whether you plan to work your way through the series or simply want a one off good read I would thoroughly recommend "Guilty Pleasures". This book is fast and fun and great addition to vampire genre.


4/5