SKIN TRADE *Book 17 Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series* by Laurell K. Hamilton

Publisher: Berkley Books
Date published: June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-425-22772-5
Urban Fantasy/Horror
Hard Cover
Reviewed by Tammy


Controversial urban fantasy/horror writer, Laurell K. Hamilton, is back just in time for summer with the much anticipated 17th book in her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, SKIN TRADE.

When vampire hunter, Anita Blake, shows up at Animators, Inc. for work one day and finds a vampire serial killer has mailed her a severed head, Anita heads to Las Vegas, where the package originated, to aid Sin City’s finest with their investigation. There she is joined by three other federal marshals, Edward (long time friend and sometime assassin), the very frightening Olaf and Bernardo (fans will remember these four working together in Book 9, Obsidian Butterfly). As their investigation leads them in the direction of the local weretigers, Anita is especially grateful to have friends at her back.

Fans of the older Anita Blake books who have been disappointed with all the sex and lack of police work in recent books will be very pleased to see that SKIN TRADE has Anita working closely with the Las Vegas police and the really steamy sex doesn’t come into play until the last third of the book. Laurell K. Hamilton has definitely heard readers’ comments and has taken them to heart.

SKIN TRADE is fast paced and grabs readers from the first page. Edward is a fan favorite and always adds to the storyline. Surprisingly, Olaf and his unusual outlook provide helpful insights (and a few really creepy moments) as he tries to woo Anita in his own sociopathical way. And though this reader never thought she would enjoy Olaf, Hamilton’s odd sense of humor and witty writing style make him a real surprise gem in this book.

We see more of Anita’s ties to the weretigers in this book. And the Mother of All Darkness finally gets tired of waiting for Anita to give in to her and makes what may be her final appearance in this series as she forces Anita into a supernatural showdown.

Though wolf king, Richard, was just about forgotten in this book as were many of Anita’s harem of lovers, Jean Claude, Anita’s main vampire sweetie and third in their triumvirate, does get to play a small but pivotal role which reemphasizes the important place he holds in Anita’s life. SKIN TRADE showcases a more mature and magically controlled Anita. She no longer has to travel with a group of men to keep the ardeur satisfied and she is much more confident of her magical abilities and her place in the supernatural world.

This reader could not have been more pleased with the way Laurell K. Hamilton took all her fans’ comments and produced a more balanced Anita Blake book while staying true to the characters’ continual development as both a person and a leader in the supernatural community. Laurell fans past and present are sure to enjoy this latest adventure with our favorite vampire hunter. SKIN TRADE is a book not to be missed this summer.