Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton

Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton - 576 pages
Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Book #24

This is another foray into character dissection of Anita Blake.  There is no plot to speak of and not much happens over all.  These books have been therapy on a page for many years and I personally am ready to walk away from this series.  I really don't care about Anita's detailed sex life and interpersonal politicking any more.  Hamilton seems to be using this series for very thinly veiled social commentary at the expense of any kind of engaging plot. 

Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton

Affliction by Laurell K. Hamilton - 576 pages
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book 22

I have a friend who calls these books "therapy on the page."  Hamilton spends an awful lot of time psychoanalyzing her characters every thought and action.  I continue to read out of loyalty to the franchise and wanting to find out what happens to the characters I've invested in over the course of 20+ books.  This book has about three or so days of actual plot and a lot of dialogue and her trademark sex scenes.  The action is compelling and the characters are strong so I read on...

Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton

Kiss the Dead by Laurell K. Hamilton - 367 pages

I wanted to like this book.  I really did.  I loved the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series when it first came out.  The author is from St. Louis and it features my hometown - what's not to like?  I'll tell you.  The series has degenerated into what my one friend calls "therapy on the page."  Hamilton's characters are way too self aware and spend endless amounts of dialogue analyzing their relationships and themselves when they aren't engaging in lots of sex that has no impact on the overall narrative.  This book has about two days of plot and its not a very interesting two days at that.