Anita Blake

Origin

Anita Blake was raised in Indiana. Her mother was Mexican and her father was of Germanic decent. Her skin has been described as “almost vampire-white” because of her Anglo heritage. Her black hair and nearly black eyes, however, are inherited from her mother and are very striking against her pale skin. Anita’s mother died in a car accident when Anita was only 5 years old. She has still not recovered from the trauma of not having her mother around. This is one of the main reasons why Anita is blunt, stubborn, and tough. She is rarely ever caught without a gun. Her favorite is her Browning Hi-power 9mm, which always has silver-coated bullets loaded. At only 5’3″, Anita has to be tough to “play with the big boys”. This is also another reason why she has such an attitude.

Anita graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Preternatural Biology. After graduation she was immediately offered a job by Bert Vaughn at Animators, Inc — a local St. Louis zombie-raising service. She was trained by Manny Rodriguez, a fellow animator.

Anita still works for Animators, Inc. and is also a legal vampire executioner. She is known in the city, especially by vampires, as “The Executioner”. She will not hesitate to shoot someone if threatened. Anita doesn’t take threats very well. She is also a sort of honorary member of the Regional Preternatural Investigation Taskforce, also known as “RPIT” (pronounced Rip-It) or “The Spook Squad”. RPIT is led by Sergeant Rudolph Storr.

Anita is also constantly pestered by the master vampire, Jean-Claude, a nearly 400 year old vampire who only wants to “woo” her. She is annoyed by the fact that he always calls her “ma petite” which means “small one” in French.

Guilty Pleasures

Anita is asked by her old friend, newly turned vampire Willie Mccoy. To investigate vampire murders that have been happing in a place called The District for his boss. But decides instead to decline his offer, despite all the money she was offered.

When Anita attends a bachelorette party for her friend Catherine and Monica at a club called Guilty Pleasures. She meets Jean-Claude the manager. When Anita senses that the vampires are playing mind games with the customers, she leaves and promises her friends that she will come back later to get them. When she returns to pick her friends up she sees Catherine is on stage under mind control from the vampire Aubrey. Anita gets Catherine off the stage, but when Aubrey challenges her immunity to mind games. A fight breaks out between the two and Anita comes close to killing him. Jean-Claude then steps in and controls Aubrey. When Anita goes backstage to talk to Jean-Claude she finds that Aubrey has completely “rolled” Catherine into his control. He black mails Anita, telling her that she must work for Nikolaos; the master vampire of the city if she wishes her friend to be free again.

Jean-Claude and Aubrey lead Anita to see Nikolaos. When they arrive it is reveled that the women she mets isn’t Nikolaos, but rather on of her servants Theresa. Soon things get messy and Anita is knocked unconscious by Aubrey.

Anita then awakes up in a dungeon and learns that Jean-Claude had saved her life and in doing so, completed the first step in making her his human servant.

Anita soon escapes with the help of the Wererat king and Jean-Claude. But not before she meets the real Nikolaos, a very powerful vampire in the body of a teenage girl. Another animator Zachary brings back a zombie who was a witness from the vampire murders, but he fails to hold the zombies mind together.

When she arrives home she finds old friend Edward waiting for her and questions her about the daytime resting place of Nikolaos. But she refuses to give him information.

She and Philip have a meeting with Rebecca Miles, who knew one of the first victims that was murdered at a “Freak Party” they decide that they will go to the next party to get information on the deaths.

She goes to Dead Dave’s Bar the next day to talk to Philip. She gets a call from her friend Ronnie on the possible suspects for the vampire murders. A group called HAV “Human Against Vampires”.

When her and Philip go to the freak party she sees Edward there trying to get his own information on Nikolaos resting place. Anita later goes outside and is confronted by a group of vampires, Theresa and Willie being one of them. They try to kill Zachary for not being able to summon a zombie. Anita stops them from killing him and raises the zombie herself, and leaves with Willie and Zachary.

The Laughing Corpse

Animator:

Anita’s vacation was cut short when her manager Bert and her visit Mr. Gaynor’s home to hear his business proposition. Anita’s animator skills are asked to be used to raise a 283 year-old corpse which would require a human sacrifice to do so. Anita shoots down the proposal immediately to Burt’s displeasure. When Anita explains to Burt that in order to complete this task, a human sacrifice would have to be made, Burt joins Anita by saying they are unable to perform this task. Mr. Gaynor offers to raise the amount of money for the job but Anita and Burt’s answer remains the same. After leaving Mr. Gaynor’s, Anita stops for her final fitting for her bridesmaid’s dress for her friend Catherine’s wedding. Anita tries on a pink dress and a pair of gloves to hide the scars on her arms. The store employee also offers Anita a collar to wear around her neck to hide the scar. Anita expresses her displeasure towards the collar but finally gives in when she realizes that there is no other option to hide her scars. Anita gets a call from agent Dolph Storr who asks her to come down to a murder scene. Dolph tells her that whatever did this wasn’t human. When Anita arrives, she is met by Zebrowski who annoys her momentarily. Anita meets Dolph in the other room and investigates the remains that lie on the floor. She could feels bones and ribs under the flesh and deduces that whatever did this was done by extreme force. No knives or weapons but instead the corpse was ripped apart by hand. Dolph leads Anita into a second room where a small bloody handprint of a child is seen on a dresser as well as blood on a teddy bear. Dolph tells Anita the child’s body has yet to be discovered. Both Anita and Dolph head into the kitchen wear a plethora of broken glass covers the floor.

Anita and Dolph contemplate possible scenarios that could have occurred. As they move into the living room, they come across another corpse on the couch that is torn in half. As they walk outside together, they talk about what possible creatures could have done such a thing. Dollph asks if a zombie is capable of such atrocities. Anita informs him that only a powerful animator could make a zombie kill. Dolph asks for names of people with such capabilities. Anita refuses to give Dolph any names. Finally Dolph breaks Anita and she tells him of a lady named Dominga Salvador who is a voodoo priest. Anita tells him not to send the police there or she wont talk. Dolph agrees and sends Anita to talk to her instead, hoping for some answers. Anita awakes the next day and shortly later, Manny Rodriguez knocks on her door. The two share a cup of coffee together before setting off to Dominga Salvador’s home. When the two arrive they are greeted by Antonio, Dominga’s grandson. They enter inside and talk with Dominga who plays cavalier. Anita asks if Dominga has raised any zombies recently. Dominga informs her she has. As they enter the basement, Anita comes across two zombies who still appear to have their souls.

Anita asks Dominga how she was able to raise zombies who still had their souls. Dominga offers to teach her but Anita refuses. Anita deduces that Dominga captured their souls, then raised the bodies and then put the souls back in. Dominga explains that the soul may be removed and put back into the body as often as she pleases. Dominga plans on making profit off her discovery and had hoped for Anita’s cooperation in assisting her. Anita refuses and learns that Manny used to assist Dominga in human sacrifice. Dominga agrees to help search for the killer zombie. Anita vows to stop Dominga no matter what it takes. After exchanged threats to one another, Dominga tells Anita to call her after she receives her gift. Anita and Manny leave. They end up talking to each other in the car about what just happened. Manny asks if Anita is going to tell his wife. Anita tells him she wont. Later when Anita is at home, Tommy knocks on her door. Tommy shows up on behalf of Mr. Gaynor and offers her the same deal as before. This time he offers more money. Anita still refuses and when Tommy becomes angry, Anita pulls out her gun on him. Tommy leaves but claims one day he’ll find her without that gun to see how tough she really is. Anita attends Pete Burkes funeral where Rosita, Manny’s wife tries to set Anita up with her cousin Albert. Anita becomes acquainted with John Burke, Peter’s brother. After talking with John, she thinks he may be a possible suspect. Back at home, Anita receives a phone call from Dolph saying he found the boys body. Anita meets Dolph at the cemetery an looks at the child’s body. Dolph asks if Anita learned anything from Dominga. Anita tells Dolph of her suspicions of John Burke. Anita and Dolph decide to come back to the cemetery later on at night time hoping to find some clue.

Knowing that Harold Gaynor wasn’t going to take no for an answer, Anita decided to find out a little more about him. She went to a reporter named Irving Griswold who was a lycanthrope. She offered him an article on the new zombie legislation in the works in exchange for the information she desired. Irving decides to play hardball, as he is seeking an interview with the new master vampire of the city. They finally come to an agreement and meet at Dead Dave’s a couple of hours later. The bartender had a message for Anita from the master vampire. He wanted to talk to Anita. This caught the attention of Irving who relentlessly continued to ask what the master vampire could possibly want with Anita. Finally Anita is able to avert his attention to other matters. Irving shares the file on Harold Gaynor with her. Anita finds out Gaynor likes crippled women and while he hasn’t been charged with any crime, he is suspected and the rumors sound ugly. As Anita and Irving leave, they run into Jean-Claude on the street outside. Anita and Jean-Claude argue and decide it isn’t the best time for the conversation. They decide to meet up the following night. Irving wants an interview with Jean-Claude but Anita is worried something may happen to Irving. She makes Jean-Claude promise her that he wont do anything to him. Anita leaves to meet up with Dolph and his team who came equipped with flamethrowers at the cemetery. Anita recalls a memory from her past when her dog died. She and her father buried it in the back yard and a week later she woke up in the middle of the night to find it lying next to her.

As Anita walked though the cemetery she passed over a grave and a ghost grabbed her. As she comes upon another grave, she informs Dolph that a zombie came out of it. She takes a sample of the soil with her to bring to Evans. Anita and Dolph notice the tombstone was damaged and wondered what they were trying to hide. Anita heads to Evans trailer park to see if she can get any help. Anita knocks on the door and Evans opens it and from the moment Anita saw him, she knew something was off. She asked for his help and be immediately said no. Evans claimed he doesn’t do that sort of thing anymore. Anita asks to see his hands. She tells him she needs his help with a murder but he still refuses. Finally Anita is able to convince Evans to help so he holds out his hand and Anita dumps some of the sample she took into his hand. Evans begins to have a psychic vision and repeats what he see out loud. Evans claims to have seen a woman’s throat slit and blood smeared on a tombstone. Terrified, he yells at Anita to leave his house. She pleads to Evans for him to describe the woman or give her anything else that could help. Evans describes a bracelet on her left wrist and the charms upon it. Anita thanks him and departs. Anita was asleep at home reliving a nightmare she often had. As she awoke, she found a zombie in her room sent by Dominga Salvador. Anita grabbed her gun and shot the zombies arms off and then went for the legs. Another zombie grabbed Anita from behind and bit her. She managed to shoot the zombies arm and then shoot it in the face. The cops arrived and began to shoot the zombie. Their bullets had no effect. Anita began to shoot the zombie more but ran out of bullets.

Necromancer:

The police help restrain the zombie in Anita’s apartment and carry it off. After the zombie has vacated her room Anita begins to cry as she looks at all the blood around her room and the blood that has stained her collection of stuffed toy penguins. She goes into the bathroom and attempts to wash the blood from them. Afterwards, she walks into the kitchen, puts on a pot of coffee and talks with Dolph Storr and Zebrowski about what happened. Dolph asks if Anita thinks Dominga was responsible for this. Anita tells him yes, so Dolph informs her that he could probably get a search warrant for her place within 48 hours. After Dolph and Zebrowski leave, Anita checks in at a hotel. After heading to her room, she immediately takes a shower. After she gets out, she reviews the file on Harold Gaynor but none of the information was of any help to her. She calls Irving to make sure he was alright after his interview with Jean-Claude. Anita’s friend Ronnie came over for one of their regular jogs. While out running, they come in contact with a couple of thugs who want them to go somewhere with them. One of them slaps Anita around but she manages to pull a gun on him. Ronnie manages to escape from the other guy and takes his gun. Anita finds out who sent them and the location of where they were suppose to be taken. Anita lets the two men leave and continues walking with Ronnie.

Anita heads to the Laughing Corpse, a new vampire club where she’s meeting Jean-Claude. After having minor difficulties at the front door, she manages to get in and meets Willie who walks her to her table and informs her Jean-Claude will be arriving shortly. While waiting for Jean-Claude, Anita witnesses an act proceeding on stage. A man is making jokes at the expense of the zombie next to him. The zombie grabs the man by his neck forcing Anita to take action. She approaches the zombie and demands he let the man go. After the zombie does so, she tells him to follow the man and obey every request he gives. Anita finds out that Willie has a fear of zombies after which he begs Anita not to inform Jean-Claude of. Willie escorts Anita downstairs to Jean-Claude’s office. The two argue for some time. Jean-Claude continues to annoy Anita by calling her “ma petite” which she hates. He also claims Anita is his human servant which she denies. After threats are exchanged, Anita leaves his office.

Charles was going to accompany Anita down to the Tenderloin to find the prostitute who used to date Harold Gaynor but his wife had to go to the hospital so he was forced to leave Anita. Forced with no other option, Anita went back to Jean-Claude’s office and asked him to accompany her down there. When they arrive, a prostate confronts them and hits on Jean-Claude. Anita asks someone where Wheelchair Wanda is and finally find her. Once they do, Wanda was willing to do whatever either Anita or Jean-Claude wanted. Anita asked if they could talk and Wanda agrees for $350. They head to Anita’s home and when they enter, Wanda realizes Jean-Claude is a vampire. The very thought frightened her. Anita asked Jean-Claude to leave the two of them alone. Once he departs into the other room, Anita presses Wanda for information on Harold Gaynor. Wanda was extremely reluctant at first but after Jean-Claude appeared behind her using his powers to overcome her hold, she was willing to talk.

Anita assures Wanda that she wont let Jean-Claude hurt her. She also assures her that she wont tell Harold Gaynor that she talked to her. Wanda explains to Anita about Harold’s sexual preferences and talked about when he left her for Cicely, the deaf girl. After they finish, Jean-Claude carries her downstairs to the taxi Anita called. Jean-Claude departs leaving Anita to head home. She awakes as the phone rings. Dolph informs her of another murder scene. Anita begins changing and checks her answering machine to hear a message from John Burke asking her to call him back. Anita arrives on the scene to view a similarly horrid display of corpses as last time. Anita has to turn the scene into a game in order to work so she makes a bet with an agent by the name of Merlioni. Moments later, Anita realizes the scene is still very fresh meaning that the zombie is hiding somewhere nearby since it’s daytime and zombie don’t like to come out in the light. Dolph heads out to set up a perimeter and begin sweeping the area for the zombie.

Anita heads to the morgue to meet John Burke to inspect the personal effects of his deceased brother. They find a charm that enables a less powerful necromancer to raise older dead. Anita asks if there’s any way to trace the charm back to who made it. John says a part of the the persons soul who gave it to his brother is inside the charm. If they get in the same room as that person the charm will crawl towards that individual. Anita hopes this will be enough to convict Dominga for her chimes. John wants to know who Anita suspects but Anita is reluctant to tell John. She claims she wants to take this suspect down by following the law and thinks John may take matters into his own hands. After John gives Anita his word, Anita shares her suspicions towards Dominga. Anita invites John to tag along during the search of Dominga’s house later on. Anita, Dolph and John enter Dominga’s home to find her playing with her grandchildren. They put the charm on the ground to see what will happen.

Executioner:

As the charm begins to move towards Dominga, the tension in the room increases. Dolph tells Anita to stay put while he goes downstairs to investigate. While Dolph is gone, threats are exchanged between Anita and Dominga resulting in Dominga absorbing the charm back into herself now leaving Anita and everyone with no evidence. Dolph returns and informs everyone that everything downstairs is gone. A few more threats are made and an angry Dominga spits on Anita which burns her hands. Anita, Dolph and Zebrowski head outside and contemplate possible places the zombie could have disappeared to. Anita tells everyone to search the garbages and the zombie is found. Anita chases the zombie after it injured a female officer. Anita corners the zombie who then jumps on Anita. Anita is forced to shoot the zombie who then flees. Dolph and a couple of officers catch up to Anita and set out searching for the zombie once again. The zombie jumps out of a tree at Anita who empties her gun into it. Anita passed out due to the zombies hold around her neck. When she awoke, two officers were scorching the zombie with flamethrowers. Anita is taken to a hospital to recover. Dolph and Zebrowski meet her there. Anita then receives a ride home from a couple officers and when she enters her apartment, she is attacked from behind by a man. Another man enters the room with a syringe and knocks Anita out with a sedative. She awakes next to Harold Gaynor who once again attempts to convince Anita to do his bidding.

After Anita refuses, Harold has one of his men try to rough her up. Anita manages to get the upper hand by dislocating his knee. Once she did that she made a break for the door. In the hall outside she ran into another guy who she overpowered. At the end of the hall Anita was confronted by a wicked monster. Moments later Dominga appeared and revealed she was able to take bits a pieces and meld them together to create creatures that never existed before. Anita finds out that Dominga is being paid by Harold Gaynor to force Anita to help him complete his goals. Dominga informs Harold she needs two hours to complete a spell of compulsion which will force Anita to do whatever she bids.Anita is taken back to a room and tied to a chair. The guy whose knee she dislocated entered the room carrying Wanda who was severely beaten and unconscious. Once the guy leaves Anita convinces Wanda to help untie her. Another man enters the room with a knife asking if Anita is ready to cooperate yet. He puts the knife to her neck and Anita retaliates by sticking her thumb into his eye socket. This allowed her to get completely free and knock him out with a chair. Anita and Wanda leave the room but run into Cicely on their way out. Anita gets shot by her but manages to shoot her back, killing her in the process. They next run into the zombie monster created by Dominga. Anita gives it a command which it obeys allowing them to slip past it outside. As they tried to escape, Anita realized she could no longer walk forward anymore. Dominga’s spell had finally begun to work. Dominga called for Anita who had no choice but to follow. She met Dominga by a tombstone where there was a circle of blood drawn on the ground. After Dominga sent one of her men to retrieve Wanda for Anita to sacrifice, Dominga gives the order to Anita to raise the dead. Instead of killing Wanda, Anita stabs one of the hired men thus allowing her to raise the dead. Once she proceeds to raise group of zombies, she gives them an order to kill Dominga. They attack her and then go after Harold Gaynor next. Wanda begged for her to stop. After the zombies had finished, Anita sent them back to their graves. Moments later Jean-Claude shows up claiming that Anita was calling to him. The next day Anita meets up with Dolph and Zebrowski and claimed to know nothing of what happened to Dominga. Dolph appeared suspicious but didn’t press matters further. Anita met up with her friend Catherine to try on the dress for her wedding. While arriving back at her apartment, Anita found flowers that were sent to her by Jean-Claude.

Circus Of The Damned:

The Charmer:

Anita is in her office meeting with a Mr. Ruebens and a Mr. Inger both of whom are questioning Anita for the daytime resting place of the Master of the city. Anita refuses to give them this information not only because she doesn’t have it, but because she doesn’t want to be an accessory to murder. After the two men leave Anita receives a phone call from Dolph who has another murder victim he wants ANita to come take a look at. Anita drives to the scene of the crime to find a corpse who had bite marks from at least three different vampires. Anita explains the possible scenarios that could have occurred to Dolph. Dolph chooses to investigate the Church Of Eternal Life while Anita meets with the Master vampire of the city. After she leaves the crime scene she heads home in desperate need of some sleep. Before going to sleep she calls her boss Bert to tell him she can’t come in tonight for her appointments. Bert was furious and threatened to fire Anita. After getting off the phone with him Anita finally gets some sleep only to have a dream about swimming through blood. Momenst later Anita was awoken by a phone call from Willie McCoy who confirmed Anita and Jean-Claude’s meeting for later on that night at the Circus Of The Damned. Willie then told Anita to be careful. Anita sensed something was wrong but Willie didn’t give her anything else that was helpful. Anita arrived at the Circus Of The Damned and was greeted by a man named Stephen who she identified as a lycanthrope. He led her through the circus where they came across a performance going on that involved an enormous snake until they finally entered a room where Jean-Claude was awaiting them. Moments after entering, Anita is hostilely greeted by a vampire named Yasmeen. After a few exchanged words, Yasmeen forces herself on Anita by kissing her. Yasmeen’s human servant enters the room screaming. Jean-Claude explains that Anita must now fight Yasmeen’s human servant. Unwillingly Anita quickly defeats the woman by breaking her arm and knocking her unconscious. A naked man and woman appear from behind a curtain adding to Anita’s curiosity about what may be happening in the room. Yasmeen was enraged after what Anita did to her human servant. The naked woman then jumps at Anita attacking her. Anita can tell she is a lycanthrope as well. Yasmeen then grabs Anita but accidentally touches her cross which burns her. Jean-Claude then stops the fight only to be told by a frightened man entering the room who claims the giant snake is out of control. Anita feels compelled to help the innocent people in the crowd. After which she then helps Jean-Claude, Yasmeen, Stephen and the naked man and woman from the room fight against the giant snake. Jean-Claude claims the two can stop it together but Anita doesn’t trust him as she feels he’s trying to get inside her and mess with her. So instead she empties her clip into the snake allowing everyone else to attack it from behind. The naked woman was stabbed by the giant fangs but the rest of the group were able to overcome the snake.

Anita calls the police who arrive on the scene moments later and begin questioning Anita. Anita becomes acquainted with the naked man who informs her that his name is Richard Zeeman. After answering questions and waiting around for several hours, Jean-Claude emerges from being questioned and begins to argue with Anita. Dolph appears and tells everyone they can leave but asks Jean-Claude if he could ask him a few more questions. Richard asks Anita if she can give him a ride home. She agrees and the two make small talk during the car ride which results in Richard asking Anita out on a date. When Anita arrives at her apartment, she finds Edward waiting outside for her. She invites him in for coffee and talks about what happened to her tonight. Edward the informs her that he was following her because he’s been hired to kill the Master of the city. He asks her who that is but Anita refuses to tell him. Edward leaves but not on the greatest terms. Anita goes to sleep and dreams only to find that Jean-Claude has entered her dreams. The next day Anita goes to the gym with her friend Ronnie who it turns out knew the murder victim. Anita shares the information she learned from Ronnie with Dolph later on. Anita calls Richard and asks if he wants to go with her to her friend Catherine’s Halloween party on Saturday.

Other Media

Novels

Guilty Pleasures (Book One)

“My name is Anita Blake. Vampires call me ‘The Executioner’. What I call them isn’t repeatable. Ever since the Supreme Court granted the undead equal rights, most people think vampires are just ordinary folks with fangs. I know better. I’ve seen their victims. I carry the scars… But now a serial killer is murdering vampires—and the most powerful bloodsucker in town wants me to find the killer… In a world where vampires, zombies and werewolves have been declared legal citizens of the United States, Anita Blake is an ‘animator’ – a profession that involves raising the dead for mourning relatives. But Anita is also known as a fearsome hunter of criminal vampires, and she’s often employed to investigate cases that are far too much for conventional police. But as Anita gains the attention of the vampire masters of her hometown of St Louis, she also risks revealing an intriguing secret about herself – the source of her unusual strength and power.” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, October 1993), ISBN: 0-441-30483-4 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13449-X Hardcover (Berkley, October 2002), ISBN: 0-425-18756-X Audio Book (Penguin Audio, August 2009), ISBN: 0-143-14401-4

The Laughing Corpse (Book Two)

“The novels of New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton take readers into the dangerous life of Anita Blake, animator and vampire hunter—a woman as good at raising the dead as slaying the undead. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter for Animators, Inc., is offered a cool mil to raise a 283-year-old corpse. But she knows that ‘the older the zombie, the bigger the death needed to raise it’. Only a human sacrifice is ‘big’ enough to raise this old soul–and Anita’s no murderer. Now, a creature from beyond the grave is tearing a swath of murder through St. Louis. And Anita will learn that there are some secrets better left buried—and some people better off dead… After a few centuries, the only death ‘big enough’ is a human sacrifice. I know, because I’m an animator. My name is Anita Blake. Working for Animators, Inc. is just a job – like selling insurance. But all the money in the world wasn’t enough for me to take on the particular job Harold Gaynor was offering. Somebody else did, though – a rogue animator. Now he’s not just raising the dead … he’s raising Hell. And it’s up to me to stop it …” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, September 1994), ISBN: 0-441-00091-6 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13444-9 Hardcover (Berkley, December 2003), ISBN: 0-425-19200-8 Audiobook (Penguin, October 2009), ISBN: 0-143-14402-2

Circus of the Damned (Book Three)

“I’m Anita Blake, expert on creatures of the night. I’ve dined with shapeshifters, danced with werewolves, and been wooed – but not won – by Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of the City. And now a darkly dangerous vampire named Alejandro has hit town. He too wants me for his human servant. A war of the undead has begun. Over me. I would be flattered. If my life weren’t at stake… A rogue master vampire hits town, and Anita gets caught in the middle of an undead turf war. Jean-Claude, the Master Vamp of the city, wants her for his own – but his enemies have other plans. And to make matters worse, Anita takes a hit to the heart when she meets a stunningly handsome junior high science teacher named Richard Zeeman. They’re two humans caught in the crossfire-or so Anita thinks. When a dangerous vampire named Alejandro hits town and claims Anita Blake, an expert on creatures of the night, for his human servant, a war of the undead breaks out and puts Blake’s life in jeopardy.” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, May 1995), ISBN: 0-441-00197-1 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13448-1 Hardcover (Berkley, April 2004), ISBN: 0-4251-94272 Audiobook (Penguin, October 2009), ISBN: 0-143-14514-2

The Lunatic Café (Book Four)

“You get two preternatural experts in one with Anita Blake, animator and vampire slayer. She’s one of the good guys in a world full of bad things. A world that Laurell K. Hamilton makes spin in her New York Times bestselling novels. Now, Anita has fallen for the leader of a local pack of werewolves. She’s survived a lot, but this love thing may kill her yet…” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, January 1996), ISBN: ? Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13452-X Hardcover (Berkley, March 2005), ISBN: 0-425-20137-6 Audiobook (Penguin, October 2009), ISBN: 0-143-14516-9

Bloody Bones (Book Five)

“When Anita Blake’s boss at Animators, Inc., informs her that she’s expected to raise 300-year-old zombies from a field of jumbled bones just to settle a land dispute, she’s understandably annoyed. But as soon as she arrives in Branson, Missouri, to do the deed, the job gets more interesting. A psychotic sword-wielding vampire starts committing multiple murders in the area, and Anita must call on Jean-Claude, her powerful fanged suitor, for help. As always, Anita prevails over the undead, keeping Jean-Claude at arm’s length, clearing the cemetery land of an ancient enchantment, and nailing the vampiric killer in one fell swoop. First, there were the dead in the graveyard – two-hundred years dead. I’d been hired to raise them to settle a dispute over who owned the land they were buried in. Then there were the three dead teenagers in the woods, slaughtered in a way I had never seen before. And then they found the dead girl, drained of blood and left in her bed. I knew what that meant, all right. It didn’t take a degree in preternatural studies to figure out that something was very wrong in and around Branson, Missouri. My name is Anita Blake. Welcome to my life…” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, October 1996), ISBN: 0-441-00374-5 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13446-5 Hardcover (Berkley, November 2005), ISBN: 0-425-20567-3 Audiobook (Penguin, January 2010), ISBN: 0-143-14405-7

The Killing Dance (Book Six)

“The first hit man came after me at home, which should be against the rules. Then there was a second, and a third. Eventually, I found out that the word on the street was that Anita Blake, preternatural expert and vampire killer extraordinaire, was worth half a million dollars. Dead, not alive. So what’s a girl to do but turn to the men in her life for help? Which in my case, means an alpha werewolf and a master vampire. With professional killers on your trail, it’s not a bad idea to have as much protection as possible, human or otherwise. But I’m beginning to wonder if two monsters are better than one…” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, 1997), ISBN: 0-786-51603-8 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13451-1 Hardcover (Berkley, April 2006), ISBN: 0-425-20906-7 Audiobook (Penguin, January 2010), ISBN: 0-143-14428-6

Burnt Offerings (Book Seven)

“‘You can’t trust anyone who sleeps with monsters. That’s what Anita Blake had always believed. But now she was sharing a bed with the Master Vampire of the city. So when an arsonist began to target vampire victims, the creatures of the night turned to their former enemy. For now only “The Executioner” could save them from the inferno… It’s often hard to tell the good from the evil. Just ask Anita Blake. She seems to be developing a soft spot in her heart for vampires-one in particular. So, when an arsonist’s fires begin licking at St. Louis’s undead, it’s up to Anita to save the very monsters she’s sworn to destroy.” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, May 1998), ISBN: 0-441-00524-1 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13447-3 Hardcover (Jove, December 2007), ISBN: 0-425-21884-8 Audiobook (Penguin, January 2010), ISBN: 0-143-14427-8

Blue Moon (Book Eight)

“Richard was an alpha werewolf. It was his only serious flaw. We’d broken up after I’d seen him eat somebody. Still, you never forget your ex-fiancé. And when Richard calls Anita Blake at three in the morning, she knows it won’t be good news. It seems Richard had gotten himself thrown in jail on a rape charge. But Anita knows that though he is a monster, Richard’s no rapist. And it’s up to her to prove his innocence—before the blue moon creates even bigger problems for Richard… Vampire hunter and preternatural expert Anita Blake, must help her ex-fiancé out of a false rape charge. Time is of the essence, however, as Anita’s ex-flame is a werewolf and if he’s not out of jail before the full moon rises he’s in for some big problems.” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, November 1998), ISBN: 0-441-00574-8 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13445-7 Hardcover (Berkley, December 2008), ISBN: 0-425-22383-3 Audiobook (Penguin, March 2010), ISBN: ?

Obsidian Butterfly (Book Nine)

“There are a lot of monsters in Anita Blake’s life. And some of them are human. One such individual is the man she calls Edward, a bounty hunter who specializes in the preternatural. He calls her to help him hunt down the greatest evil she has ever encountered. Something that kills and maims and vanishes into the night. Something Anita will have to face alone… MY NAME IS ANITA BLAKE. I’D LIKE YOU TO MEET EDWARD… Edward was a hit man. He specialized in monsters. Vampires, shape-shifters, anything and everything. There were people like me who did it legal, but Edward didn’t sweat the legalities or, hell, the ethics. He was an equal opportunity killer. I may be one of the few friends that Edward has, but it’s like being friends with a tame leopard. It may curl on the foot of your bed and let you pet its head, but it can still eat your throat out…” Editions Paperback (Ace Books, 2000), ISBN: 0-441-00781-3 Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13450-3 Hardcover (Ace Hardcover, January 2000), ISBN: 0-441-00684-1 Audiobook (Penguin, March 2010), ISBN: ?

Narcissus in Chains (Book Ten)

“Laurell K. Hamilton, author of the New York Times bestseller A Kiss of Shadows, returns to the series that started it all. Narcissus in Chains, the tenth installment in the ever-popular Anita Blake series, finds everyone’s favorite vampire hunter back on her home turf and delving into the heart of human—and non-human—darkness. Men are men. Jean Claude and Richard are each something else entirely. Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, torn between them, has been avoiding both vampire and werewolf for months. But when a kidnapper targets innocents she has sworn to protect, Anita turns to them for help, which will require harnessing both their powers—and their hungers… Six months of celibacy have made Anita crave the two men in her life like never before. But merging their powers together will give this mortal woman a taste of immortal hunger that she”ll never be able to forget.” Editions Paperback (Berkley Books, 2001), ISBN: ? Paperback (Jove, September 2002), ISBN: 0-515-13387-6 Hardcover (Berkley, October 2001), ISBN: 0-425-18168-5 Audiobook (Brilliance, May 2008), ISBN: 1-423-36226-8

Cerulean Sins (Book Eleven)

“Laurell K. Hamilton, author of last year’s New York Times bestseller A Caress of Twilight, returns to the series that started it all. Cerulean Sins, the eleventh entry in the hugely-popular Anita Blake series, finds everyone’s favorite vampire hunter keeping house and kicking butt. Anita Blake is trying to get her life back to ‘normal’ after a break-up with her werewolf lover. She has settled into a pattern of domesticity, which means that the new man in her life, the leopard shapeshifter Micah, has no problem sharing her with Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City. Things are as peaceful as they ever get for someone who raises the dead, when Jean-Claude receives an unexpected and unwelcome visitor: Musette, the very beautiful, very twisted representative of the European Council of Vampires. Anita soon finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of vampire power politics. To add to her troubles, she is asked to consult on a series of brutal killings, which seem to be the work of something un-human. The investigation leads her to Cerulean Sins, a vampire-run establishment that deals in erotic videos, videos that cater to very specific tastes. Anita knows one creature of the night who has such interests — Jean-Claude’s visitor. But if Anita brings Musette down, the repercussions could cost her everything she holds dear. Once a sworn enemy of all monsters, Anita is now the human consort of both Master Vampire Jean Claude and leopard shapeshifter Micah. When a centuries-old vampire hits St. Louis, Anita finds herself needing all the dark forces her passion can muster to save the ones she loves. Anita Blake returns to find hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.” Editions Paperback (Berkley Books, 2003), ISBN: ? Paperback (Jove, August 2004), ISBN: 0-515-13681-6 Hardcover (Berkley Hardcover, April 2003), ISBN: 0-425-18836-1 Audiobook (Brilliance, April 2003), ISBN: 1-590-86272-4

Incubus Dreams (Book Twelve)

“Anita’s life is more complicated than ever, as she is caught between her obligations to the living and the undead. A vampire serial killer who preys on strippers is on the loose. Called in to consult on the case, Anita fears her judgment may be clouded by a conflict of interest. For she is, after all, the consort of Jean-Claude, the ever-intoxicating Master Vampire of the City. Surrounded by suspicion, overwhelmed by her attempts to control the primal lusts that continue to wrack her, Anita does something unprecedented: she calls for help. Anita is pushed to her limits-both professionally and passionately-when she is called in on what appears to be a case involving a vampire serial killer preying on strippers.” Editions Paperback (Berkley Books, 2004), ISBN: ? Paperback (Jove, September 2005), ISBN: 0-515-13975-0 Hardcover (Berkley Hardcover, September 2005), ISBN: 0-425-19824-3 Audiobook (Brilliance, September 2004), ISBN: 1-590-86274-0

Micah (Book Thirteen)

“RAISING THE DEAD IS EASY. LOVE IS HARD… There are lots of reasons to raise the dead-some private, some public. In this case, the feds have a witness who died before he could speak on the record. They want him raised so his testimony can be taken. So here I am, on a plane to Philadelphia, flying off to do my job. But I’m not alone. Micah is with me. Micah, head of the St. Louis wereleopard pard. King to my Queen. The only one of my lovers who can stir my blood with just a glance from his chartreuse cat’s eyes. I was happy to have him at my side. Until he mentioned that this will be our first time alone together. No Master Vampire. No Alpha Werewolf. Just me and Micah. And all my fears and doubts…” Editions Paperback (Jove, February 2006), ISBN: 0-515-14087-2 Hardcover (Jove, 2006), ISBN: 0-739-46547-3 Audiobook (Brilliance, December 2007), ISBN: 1-423-33366-7

Danse Macabre (Book Fourteen)

“These days, Anita Blake is less interested in vampire politics than in an ancient, ordinary dread she shares with women down the ages: she may be pregnant. And, if she is, whether the father is a vampire, a werewolf, or someone else entirely, she knows perfectly well that being a Federal Marshal known for raising the dead and being a vampire executioner, is no way to bring up a baby. Anita Blake should be concentrating on a dangerous situation: the ardeur, the sexual power that flows between Anita and Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City – and Richard, the volatile werewolf who loves her passionately – is reaching new levels, perhaps evolving into something entirely new. It seems to be choosing new lovers for Anita, acting with a will of its own. The unexpected effect of this is that Jean-Claude’s own powers as a Master Vampire have grown to new levels – and Richard, always unpredictable, is changing too. However, as the days pass Anita finds herself less interested in vampire politics than in an altogether more personal concern. She may be pregnant. And if she is, whether the father is a vampire, a werewolf or something else entirely, she knows full well that being a Federal Marshall, known for raising the dead and executing vampires, is no way to bring up a baby.” Editions Paperback (Jove, March 2007), ISBN: 0-515-14281-6 Hardcover (Berkley, June 2006), ISBN: 0-425-20797-8 Audiobook (Brilliance, March 2007), ISBN: 1-597-37670-1

The Harlequin (Book Fifteen)

“Anita Blake is about to face the challenge of her life. Into her world-a world already overflowing with power-have come creatures so feared that even the powerful, centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names. It is forbidden to speak of The Harlequin unless you’ve been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death. Long-time rivals for Anita’s affections, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, alpha-werewolf, will need to become allies. Shapeshifters Nathaniel and Micah will have to step up their support. And then there’s Edward. In this situation, Anita knows that she needs to call the one man who has always been there for her…” Editions Paperback (Jove, April 2008), ISBN: 0-515-14461-4 Hardcover (Berkley, June 2007), ISBN: 0-425-21724-8 Audiobook (Brilliance, July 2007), ISBN: 1-596-00046-5

Blood Noir (Book Sixteen)

“Jason Schuyler is a werewolf. He’s also one of Anita Blake’s best friends, and sometimes her lover. And right now he needs her—not to be a vampire hunter. or a federal marshal, or a necromancer, or even for her rank in the werewolf pack, but because his father is dying. He needs Anita because she’s a pretty woman who loves him, who can make him look like an everyday guy, who agree to go home with him and help him say good-bye to the abusive father he never loved. The fact that Jason is about as much an everyday guy as Anita is a pretty woman is something they figure they can keep under wraps for a couple of days in a small town. How hard can that be? Really by now, Anita Blake should know better. Marmee Noir, ancient mother of all vampires, picks this weekend to make a move. Somehow she has cut the connection that binds Anita and Jean-Claude, leaving Jean-Claude unable to sense what is happening. Dangerous even as she sleeps, buried in darkness for a thousand years somewhere beneath the old country of Europe, Marmee Noir reaches out toward power. She has attacked Anita before, but never like this. In Anita she senses what she needs to make her enemies tremble…” Editions Paperback (Jove, May 2008), ISBN: ? Hardcover (Berkley Books, May 2008), ISBN: 0-425222-195 Audiobook (Brilliance, May 2009), ISBN: 1-597-37902-6

Skin Trade (Book Seventeen)

“When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin City’s local authorities what they’re dealing with. Only it’s worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slain—paranormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, where’s she’s joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. It’s a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses ‘tiger’ too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.” Editions Paperback (Jove, ?), ISBN: 0-515-14805-9 Hardcover (Berkley Books, June 2009), ISBN: 978-0-425-22772-5 Audiobook (Penguin, June 2009), ISBN: 0-143-14517-7

Flirt (Book Eighteen)

“When Anita Blake meets with prospective client Tony Bennington, who is desperate to have her reanimate his recently deceased wife, she is full of sympathy for his loss. Anita knows something about love, and she knows everything there is to know about loss. But what she also knows, though Tony Bennington seems unwilling to be convinced, is that the thing she can do as a necromancer isn’t the miracle he thinks he needs. The creature that Anita could coerce to step out of the late Mrs. Bennington’s grave would not be the lovely Mrs. Bennington. Not really. And not for long.” Editions Paperback (Jove, February 2011), ISBN: 0-515-14897-0 Hardcover (Berkley Books, February 2010), ISBN: 0-425-23567-X Audiobook (Penguin Audio, February 2010), ISBN: 0-142-42801-9

Bullet (Book Nineteen)

“The triumvirate created by master vampire Jean-Claude, necromancer Anita Blake, and werewolf Richard Zeeman has made Jean-Claude one of the most powerful vampires in the U.S. He’s consolidating power in himself and those loyal to him, doing in America what Belle Morte did in Europe when she was at her height of power. She almost owned Europe, and there was those who are determined that Jean-Claude won’t do the same in America. Jean-Claude’ s motives may be kinder, but as any lawyer will tell you: motives matter, but you’re just as dead. Assassins are coming to St. Louis to kill them all. Anita knows they’re coming, but even being forewarned doesn’t mean you can win.” Editions Paperback (Jove, May 2011), ISBN: 0-515-14949-7 Hardcover (Berkley Books, June 2010), ISBN: 0-425-23433-9 Audiobook (Penguin Audio, June 2010), ISBN: 0-143-14562-2

Hit List (Book Twenty)

“A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect ‘monsters’ are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, U.S. Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.” Editions Paperback (Jove, ?), ISBN: ? Hardcover (Berkley Books, June 2011), ISBN: 0-425-24113-4 Audiobook (Penguin Audio, June 2011), ISBN: 0-143-14563-9

Kiss of Death (Book Twenty-One)

To Be Released June 2012

Strange Candy (Omnibus)

“#1 ‘New York Times’ bestselling author’s Laurell K. Hamilton”s first short story collection-including an all new Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter story. Known for her darkly violent, stunningly erotic Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels, ‘New York Times’ bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton reveals new dimensions of her talent in these fantastical fairy tales and lush parables as she welcomes readers to the far corners of her fertile imagination. From a woman who marries into a family of volatile wizards to a couple fleeing a gang of love-hungry cupids, from a girl who seeks sanctuary in the form of a graceful goose to the disgruntled superhero Captain Housework, readers will revel in the many twists and turns of fortune in these unique, sometimes surreal visions. Hardened vampire hunter and zombie animator Anita Blake gets blindsided by the disturbing motives of her clients in the never-before-published ‘Those Who Seek Forgiveness’ and in ‘The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death.'” Editions Paperback (?), ISBN: ? Hardcover (Berkley Hardcover, October 2006), ISBN: 0-425-21201-7 Audiobook (Brilliance, October 2006), ISBN: 1-423-32732-2 Includes Those Who Seek Forgiveness Selling Houses The Girl Who Was Infatuated With Death

Out of this World (Anthology)

“Love is the universal language. And nowhere is this more apparent than in these extraordinary stories from four of today’s hottest authors. From a futuristic cop caught in a crisis of the heart to a smoldering vision of an unusual love triangle, from the hunger for a human touch on an alien planet to a witch’s desperate search for the love of one man, these tales of paranormal romance will transport you to a time and a place you’ve never been before…” Editions Paperback (Jove, August 2001), ISBN: 0-515-13109-1 Hardcover (San Val, August 2001), ISBN: 1-417-71523-5