Bullet - Laurell K. Hamilton

Bullet
Laurell K. Hamilton
Berkley Hardcover
Copyright: June 1, 2010
978-0425234334

The amazon.com product description:

The all-new novel in the #1 bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series.

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.

To be honest, I'm actually not sure what I think of the story in the latest Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novel. I know this much though, it was a captivating read. I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it last night, and at times, I was even reading as I walked. And yet, it didn't strike me as "the new favorite" of the series the way some of the other books did the first time I read them.

Perhaps it's just that when the story ended, it was clear that things were still building up for the next book, not that things were resolved. This was definitely a book of changes, both political and personal. Asher plays a big role, as does Richard. Given their roles in earlier books, it's kind of nice seeing them back, and, in Richard's case, not just to fight.

There's plenty of excitement to the story too though: the Vampire Council, assasains, the Harlequin and some major interpersonal conflicts are all major elements of the story and worked together with some very gruesome crimes to keep me riveted to the book.

At the same time, we learn quite a bit about some of the characters from earlier books and their backgrounds. Valentina was one of those, as was Asher. There's also some interesting snippets of facts about vampires and the various weres of Anita's world.

On the other hand, I found myself slightly lost on some of the aspects of the book. I just couldn't remember who certain characters were/where they came from. Guess I need to re-read some of the earlier books in the series.

Overall, Bullet was a book that I quite enjoyed reading.