Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

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Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Pub. Orbit. 266 page paperback. Price £5.99 (UK). ISBN 1-84149-046-6

Check out website: www.orbitbooks.co.uk

Not all of us have yet experienced the pleasure of reading a good Raymond Chandler book. Many more have read the homely little tales of Agatha Christie or the more modern puzzlers written by Ruth Rendall. Both of these authors are undeniably skilled, but they do nothing to please that little voice of nihilism inside us all.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton When you read a novel by Chandler, the joy comes from knowing that all of the characters are, by the end of the book, going to end up well and truly stuffed. This is the main premise of what people have come to call the 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction.

Now think to yourself, wouldn't my nasty little inner goblin be even more pleased if we threw a few vampires and werewolves into the mix?

It is from this basic concept that Hamilton has created the world of Anita Blake, vampire hunter.

At the start of the novel, Hamilton cleverly introduces us to Anita at her place of work, the offices of Animators Inc. An Animator is someone who can raise the dead in zombie form, which is an act performed for various reasons. Imagine if you could resurrect the victim of a murder and then get them to point the finger at their killer. In Anita's world, this is an everyday occurrence.

Anita is then shown to be talking to a potential client, who just happens to also be a vampire. This is the other major diversion from reality as we know it. In Hamilton's book, vampires have been given equal rights to the living, in effect meaning that humanity is no longer allowed to destroy them on sight.

Many vampires have begun to set themselves up as pillars of the community and others hold regular jobs, although the nightshift is an unsurprisingly popular choice amongst them. The status quo is in trouble though, as a serial killer is roaming the streets. His targets? Vampires, of course. Anita is asked to investigate the crimes.

The significant problem is that she hates the bloodsucking monsters.

It is in this fascinating idea of vampires and humans living together in (relative) peace that the book displays its strongest and weakest features. As we follow Anita into the mean streets of St Louis, we are treated to a wonderfully noirish cocktail of depravity and danger.

The constant narrative voice provided by Anita quickly draws us in as we share in her doubts, fears, and her wry sense of humour. The sections in the District (the vampire ghetto) most clearly demonstrate this, highlighting Anita's simultaneous attraction and revulsion to the creatures of the night.

At all times Hamilton keeps the action flowing, which is desperately important in a novel so heady in its atmosphere.
On the negative side, the idea of the vamps living together with us in harmony does leave some gaping plot holes. For instance how in God's name did these laws get passed!

What government would knowingly grant freedom to a group of undead creatures skilled in mind control with an advanced degree in 'Being Bloody Difficult To Kill'? They know the vampires need human blood to survive and when they're that tough could you really rely on them to ask politely when they want a drink?

These things aside, this book really does suck you into its world and you will go willingly. Don't expect any 'candlestick in the library' style plot developments though, this book is not about the end, it's about getting there.

When you arrive look me up. I'll be staying in Blake country for a long while yet.

Paul Skevington

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