Helpful Score: 18
This is the first Anita Blake story, the second I've read. "Guilty Pleasures" is much like "The Laughing Corpse" in structure. Most of the surviving cast continue on in the second title without missing a beat. Makes for a continued fun read. Many like myself enjoy Anita because she is not afraid to swear, carry multiple guns and knives, or make quick work of the bad guy, a la Indiana Jones or any good hard-core detective. Interestingly, she does not drink alcohol.
The first five books:
1 Guilty Pleasures (1993)
2 The Laughing Corpse (1994)
3 Circus of the Damned (1995)
4 The Lunatic Cafe (1996)
5 Bloody Bones (1996)
The first five books:
1 Guilty Pleasures (1993)
2 The Laughing Corpse (1994)
3 Circus of the Damned (1995)
4 The Lunatic Cafe (1996)
5 Bloody Bones (1996)
Nancy N. (nan1970) reviewed Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 1) on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 13
I really enjoyed the first Anita Blake book by Laurell K. Hamilton. Anita is a strong heroine and the world that Hamilton creates is very engaging. If you like vampires, zombies, and werewolves with a strong female heroine and don't mind a little violence, you'll like this series. This series is not funny, airy romantic comedy. These books have punctuations of humor, but are not light romantic reading.

Helpful Score: 10
i prefer the sookie stackhouse series by charlaine harris. i find that heroine a lot more likeable, and the series is overall more humorous and well-planned. the romance is there, but it's more tasteful.
that being said, i am still enjoying this series very much. i thought this book was a clunker, but i'm glad i stuck it out because i'm to book 7 now and the series is really enjoyable. i don't think it's that R-rated and there wasn't even sex until book 6. the crime-solving here isn't as high quality as in the sookie series. a lot of the solutions seem to come from nowhere...
that being said, i am still enjoying this series very much. i thought this book was a clunker, but i'm glad i stuck it out because i'm to book 7 now and the series is really enjoyable. i don't think it's that R-rated and there wasn't even sex until book 6. the crime-solving here isn't as high quality as in the sookie series. a lot of the solutions seem to come from nowhere...
Tonia B. (theblackpearl) reviewed Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Bk 1) on + 44 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I am not a fan of vampire novels and so when a friend recommended this series to me, it was awhile before I ordered the first book in the Anita Blake series. All I can say now is...WOW! I AM A FAN FOR LIFE!!! *laugh I just ordered books 2 - 4 in the series and will order the rest once those arrive. This book has everything: horror, romance, laughs...it's all here! I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the others to arrive. If you're not a fan of vampire reads, trust me - after this one, you will be. And if you are a fan of vampire reads - this one will be a welcome addition to your library.

Helpful Score: 7
This book introduces Anita Blake, hardcore Vampire Killer. I felt it took me about 50 pages to really get into the book, but after that I was hooked. Not fluffy or romantic, this book is more Anne Rice gothic. Anita is one tough vampire killer!