Title: Sucker Punch
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Publisher: Berkley
Pub date: August 2020
Series: Anita Blake, book 27
Genre: Urban fantasy
The latest Anita Blake book returns to form. Sucker Punch focuses on Anita investigating a crime and the flaws inherent in the preternatural warrant system.
My thoughts
I started reading the Anita Blake series back in the early days when it was PBO(paperback only). While other books like Charles deLint’s Newford books or Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks are credited with giving birth to urban fantasy, the tropes of a first person POV, badass woman involved in the supernatural/paranormal community started with Anita the Vampire Slayer.
I loved the books because Anita was flawed and conflicted but still managed to kick evil’s ass and save her friends and allies. She didn’t immediately fall to the charms of the scorchingly hot, strip club owning, French vampire who courted her with roses.
I also enjoyed that the books involved a mystery to solve along with the characters’ developing relationships.
And then.
The books took a turn for the sexual. Anita went from the woman who waited to have sex with one partner to the woman who slept with a lot of people, a roster actually. And discovered BDSM, some involving fairly graphic rough sex, described in detail where previously, the books faded to black when the sex happened.
Now, I’m not a prude. I regularly read romances of the scorching variety, even romances of a nontraditional variety so it’s not like I’m squeamish about intense sex scenes.
But I don’t want orgies involving a character in high school having sex with an adult or scenes where someone is choked out during sex. Not my cup of tea, thanks. And the sex scenes began to dominate the books. Some books barely having a mystery.
So the series became one in which I borrowed the new book from the library, reading the nonsex parts to keep up with favorite characters.
About
Sucker Punch feels more like the early books. While relationship discussions occur, they aren’t the main focus of the book which is welcome relief.
A murder’s been committed, the local police have arrested the only local were and a warrant’s been issued for his execution. But the marshal with the warrant doesn’t believe that the jailed were is guilty. With time counting down to the execution, Anita gets called in to assist with the investigation.
This was small town politics, classism, politics and what greed does to people wrapped around a murder. We get to see badass Anita handle things with her usual take no prisoners approach. What’s nice to see is that LKH shows how therapy is helping Anita cope wit her issues. Her go to solution isn’t to have a “whose gun is bigger?” contest with other men on the investigation as it has been in the past.
Even creepy Olaf/Otto has been allowed to grow into something other than a psychopath.
It was enjoyable to read a mystery which didn’t require Anita to use sex to solve it. While Jean Claude, Micah, and Nathaniel were mentioned, none made an actual appearance so no recreational boinking either. Just some serious smooching.
If you’ve taken a break from the series, pick up Sucker Punch for a return to the good old days. Fan of urban fantasy mysteries but you’ve never tried the series, start at the beginning with Guilty Pleasures and enjoy the ride.
This book was a reminder about why I fell in love with the series.
Thanks to NetGallet and Berkley for the DRC.
Other books
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Read Guilty Pleasures for the start of Anita’s story.
For urban fantasy series about other kickass women, Try the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs. Moon Called is the first book about the coyote shifter. Or try the Kate McDaniels series by Ilona Andrews about a magic using mercenary. Magic Bites is the first book in the series.
Share your thoughts
Tell me what you think about the Anita Blake books below.
About the author
Laurell K. Hamilton’s New York Times-bestselling Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series centers on Anita Blake, a professional zombie raiser, vampire executioner and supernatural consultant for the police, which includes novels, short story collections, and comic books. Six million copies of Anita Blake novels are in print.
She’s involved with a number of animal charities, particularly supporting dog rescue efforts and wildlife preservation.
Laura Reads Books 