Sucker Punch finds Anita Blake flying to Michigan to work a case with fellow U.S. Marshal Win Newman but what she doesn’t expect is for fellow Marshal Otto Jefferies to show up on the scene. Anita begins to investigate the case she was called in because time is of the essence and there is more than one thing that doesn’t up on the case. When supernaturals came to light and the warrant system was put into place there was nothing written to anticipate a case that has discrepancy making this one of the hardest cases Anita has worked on.

To make matters worse, Olaf wants to have the conversation so he can date Anita which isn’t at the top of her list of priorities and she would prefer it was a never have conversation. Olaf’s list of fun things to do with a woman is less than stellar and something Anita must avoid at all costs.

I really liked the way this book unfolded. It was more about the storyline than Anita’s sex life which made it a particularly good read. If you’re an Anita Blake fan do not miss this book.

I know a lot of people have given up on the Anita Blake series, but it’s one of the first urban fantasy series that I discovered and I’m still very curious to find out what’s going to happen, see the author’s ideas. I must say that I had a good time.

Anita was called by another Marshal to advise on an execution order for a man who killed someone he considered as a father. But then, as soon as she arrived, Anita realized something is wrong. If she’s trying to figure out exactly what’s going on to determine Bobby’s guilt, she doesn’t expect to uncover so many revelations. Yeah, because the investigation is the main thing in this novel.

I have to say I was really happy to see Olaf and Edward in this novel because I wasn’t expecting it and Olaf’s presence always brings a big plus for me! He’s such a psychopath that I’m always intrigued to see how he’s going to react with everyone, especially Anita.

It was a very nice new novel and there wasn’t a single sex scene, which was nice. Of course, there is a lot of discussion about Anita’s relationships, but that didn’t bother me and I had a great time with this volume!

SUCKER PUNCH is the twenty-seventh book in Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake” series. I love this book, and there are several things that appeal to the English major in me. Although the setting for this story is Michigan, for me SUCKER PUNCH is reminiscent of so many Southern Gothic novels. I could almost feel the heat and humidity as I was reading along. Ray Marchand is murdered by being torn apart and his nephew, and surrogate son and wereleopard, is the natural fall guy. It doesn’t help that there is a hefty inheritance involved, and that several family members as well as the local cops are all pointing the finger at Bobby. Marshal Winston Newman calls in fellow Marshal Anita Blake for her expertise and advice. His instincts say that Bobby is innocent, but he’s up against an execution warrant with a time limit. The tension is excruciatingly tight because of the deadline and the open hostility directed toward Bobby and Anita. This is like so many classic books or films with characters racing to prove a condemned person before being put to death.

Anita’s helpers in SUCKER PUNCH include her occasional Marshal combo of her BFF Edward and her unwanted and creepy admirer Olaf aka Marshal Otto Jeffries. Among her friends, lovers, and protectors, Nicky, Angel, Ethan, and Pierette pitch hit for Anita’s main squeezes Nathaniel and Micah. While Sheriff Leduc and a few of his deputies are like something out of a hardboiled detective novel, Captain Dave Livingston is a state cop that works with Anita and her team rather than against them. Although the author details why Sheriff Leduc is the way he is and what motivates him, I still wish an anvil would have dropped on him a couple of times, rather than listen to any more of his anti-paranormal rants. Jocelyn Marchand remains something of an enigma for a good chunk of the book and her motivations are an important part of the puzzle for investigators to work out. Ray’s greedy and grasping relatives are the obvious villains, but it remains to be seen until the very end what they may or may not be guilty of. Olaf’s odd infatuation with Anita accounts for some equally amusing and strangely electric scenes that break of the suspense over the race to save Bobby.

SUCKER PUNCH has fabulous storytelling in the Southern Gothic tradition and should be a must-read for readers. This is one of my all-time favorite Anita books. It’s just so deliciously evocative, compelling, and a well-rounded story. The scene with the taxidermy is ghoulish for a few reasons – it’s at the site of a murder, echoes Norman Bates and PSYCHO, and because so many of the main characters are part animal. I eagerly await Laurell K. Hamilton’s next Anita Blake book.

The writer I fell in love with is back! And the Executioner is BACK. Ms. Hamilton adds heat to the summer with a great new addition in her Anita Blake Series. For those who loved Obsidian Butterfly, Sucker Punch is closer to that plot. As in, the focus is around Anita's job and her personal life enhances the story.

For someone who lives in Michigan and has been to the UP, reading about Anita going around my "neighborhood" helped me connect even more with the book. In addition to the appealling location, I enjoy the sleuthing in her work as a Marshall. I love seeing Edward show up and disturbing Olaf flirting with Anita. I am not sure how Olaf and Anita will end up, but I'm ready to ride that crazy train into a major wreak with who knows how high a body count.

Anita as a character is maturing nicely. She understands her knee jerk reactions are detrimental to her posse. Now, her responses to aggravating situations is surprisingly calm and balanced. I also like how she had less of a chip on her shoulder and is able to focus more on the homicide scene instead of proving she has a bigger dick than the male LEO she meets.

The story itself is rather depressing. Ms. Hamilton does a great job of placing plausible red herrings through the first half of the book. Around the second part, I start having doubts and question the information provided. The ending is definitely a sucker punch. For those who expect a happily ever after, today is not that day. I'm still pleasantly surprised and happy about the bittersweet ending. It is more realistic to life. There are no easy answers and sometimes, all the options are terrible ones. The choice becomes, what can you live with?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. This book is recommended to old school Anita Blake lovers who enjoy the thrill of the hunt and solving mysteries.

It's most assuredly a sucker punch.

I got an Advanced Reader Copy for my review.

I want necro Anita back not nympho Anita again and again and yet again.

The book started out like old time Anita Blake but yet again we get dug along thru page after page of Anita's complicated love life. I honestly can't keep it straight any more. I could have dealt with all that but the ending left me sucker punched. That was such a disappointment.

I absolutely love this series and this book just reminded me why I do.
Anita is off on her own in this one or at least she thought she would be. She is off to help another Marshall with a murder.
What she doesn't know is Marshall Jeffries is nearby so she calls in Edward.
Once meeting the person - wereleopard who is to be executed Anita has to call Micah for help. He sends help her way for a few reasons.
Can the Three Horseman figure this one out and keep Anita in one piece? Will Otto finally give up on Anita?
We get more cop work and some deeper talking in this one.
Can't wait for the next one.

I used to be an Anita Blake fan and then the books took a turn into unenjoyable soft porn. I’m all for well written erotica but it was a slog to try to get through Anita and her many, many lovers and I gave up on the series. I thought this book might be a return to the old Anita Blake since she’s actually working a case and physically separated from the many, many lovers. It was just so boring. Anita stands around thinking so much that other characters actually ask her what’s wrong. She seems to have forgotten all her investigative skills and she’s still bringing up all her past baggage. The book was boring and I gave up.

4.5 Stars!
Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton is the 27th book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. And author Laurell K. Hamilton continues to deliver an original, fast-paced, captivating story. It is edgy, twisted, suspenseful and touches on quite a few emotions.


I love Anita. I have from the start. She has changed some. Grown, but author Laurell K. Hamilton stays true to her character. To all of them. I love the dynamic between Anita, Edward and Olaf. It is intense.


In this installment, Anita is called to help a fellow Marshal with a warrant. But things aren’t what they seem. Clues discovered, secrets revealed, plot twists galore make for a perfect cat and mouse game. Time is not Anita’s friend as she tries prove guilt or innocence of the accused, with the help of Olaf, Edward, Jim and others. The secondary plot involving Anita and Olaf is fantastic. It provides some comic relief and morbid fascination.

As with all Anita Blake novels, we have many of our beloved characters of her entourage trying to help her. I love being in this world.

Sucker Punch is intense, gritty, seductive and a little heartbreaking. It is what I expect and have come to love about this serial. Looking forward to the next one.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
No sex. Really. This is an Anita Blake book without any on page sex. It’s an out of town police procedural with an edited cast – and it’s really rather good.

As much as I do enjoy a good supernatural orgy, I also love Anita’s growth in her role as a US Marshal. This book is more of a conventional murder mystery than anything I can remember previously in the series. Fans of the series will find the slightly Agatha Christie style investigation (including a mansion and a dysfunctional wealthy family full of suspects) fairly surreal. But I’d urge readers to give it a chance. I really enjoyed this.

I think the highlight of this book is the way it questions the ethics and morality of policing and the dangers of ‘othering’ communities to the point where the law considers a human life of more value than a supernatural life. I may be guilty of reading too much into this series from the start, but the questions Anita asks, the positions various law enforcement officers take, and the various perceptions of justice in this story seem terrifyingly poignant at a time when America is grappling with racism, the ‘othering’ of very human communities, and horrific police brutality. There aren’t easy answers here but there are some passages that really made me stop and think.

I always love the books which focus on Edward and Olaf and both are great here. And while we don’t get any on page sex – of course, there are lengthy discussions and several long internal monologues explaining all of Anita’s preferences, proclivities, and emotions. And while some of this is repetitive and tiresome, by book 27 readers either love Anita or they’ve given up on the series. Personally, I love the many twists and turns this series has taken and I've come to terms with my slightly unhealthy but completely unconditional love for Anita.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 Olaf Stars. Seriously, just give Olaf all the stars.

Olaf "Otto" Jefferies, the ultimate scene-stealer.

Sucker Punch is the 27th installment in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. Can it be read as a standalone? No. Can it be read out of series order? Also no. Do you have to read the 26 installments prior? No. But I'd suggest you better have read around the first 20 or so.

Okay, so readers only want to know two things.

Is Sucker Punch an LKH erotic orgy of a sex-fest or a police-procedural? I'd add vampy politics to the list, but that generally goes hand in hand with the sex-fest.

Police procedural. Full stop. Angsty overthinking and too many in-depth conversations (but that is classic LKH). There was zero sex, not even metaphorical sex. You read that right. No sex. None. Nada. Just kissing. Mostly chaste kissing.

Are you feeling Sucker Punched by that? I know I was.

Does Edward "Ted" Forrester, aka Death, show up on scene?

Oh, yes! Mr. Mentor was there, more in the background. But his comforting, reassuring, mentoring, logical presence was a cool wash of sanity. Fingers crossed we see his family in the next installment. I want to see how Peter is growing up.

I won't go into detail over the plot, simply because it's a whodunit. A leopard is caught up in the murder of his uncle-pseudo father figure, and Anita and company try to discover the truth of who killed the billionaire patriarch, refusing to be used as the weapon employed by the true murderer to execute the person they framed, the person in their way to inherit billions.

Tons of back-and-forth cop posturing, which can become tedious. But it was so classic LKH that I loved every second of redundancy.

Now... onto the shock, probably the sucker punch, if you will, but I assume that twist at the end is the true sucker punch.

Olaf.

Olaf and Anita.

Olaf behaving.

Olaf the lion to Anita's lioness.

I've never experienced such a chaste Cat vs Cat hunt before, with Anita the prey to Olaf's predator. The sexual tension was off the charts, not smoldering but slow-burn that ignites. I want more. Gimme more, Laurell K. Hamilton. Please, give us more.

Never thought LKH was hilarious, but I've spent hours chuckling in discomfort and second-hand embarrassment blushing, in a shocked combination of "Holy Hell, what am I reading?" and "How the Hell does Anita have such chemistry with Olaf, reminiscent of the first few books where she battled Jean Claude's creepy affections?"

What I didn't enjoy, other than the predicable mystery sleuthing (but it was fun in a frustrating sort of way) is that we didn't need Nicky to bring Ethan, Angel, and the others. Death, War, Plague and others were on the case, there was no need, not even metaphorically. Their intrusion was unnecessary, and it was more than a speedbump, more like a roadblock. It tore me from the story, took away most of the "What am I reading? excitement and just made it chaotic, with too many characters on scene, none of it necessary, muddying up the entertainment I was experiencing. I like Nicky, that's isn't it. It just wasn't needed and changed the pacing and the flow of the story.

(Hands Olaf a couple more stars) I'm a sucker for a sociopath, especially since I'm his victim profile. Snort.

Highly recommended to Anita Blake fans, especially those who enjoyed the first ten novels in the series before Anita picked up the need to feed metaphorically through sex.

This was quite the different kind of book for Anita and the Marshalls, one where they were trying to save a life instead of take it. I don't know if it was the rush to beat the clock or just the different situation, but the investigation didn't seem to fall into place well for me. There also wasn't the thrill of the hunt, of the defeating of the big bad villain, so it just wasn't as exciting overall.

Rather than be focused on the murder investigation, I was more interested in the relationship (for lack of a better word) evolving between Olaf and Anita. It was fascinating to see him trying to curve his serial killer crazy to comply with Anita's preferences. I even felt bad for him at times, which was super weird! I think Anita and Edward were feeling that same conflict. I really look forward to seeing how this is going to play out in future books.

Overall this one was 3.5 stars for me, and 2 flames. Pretty tame on the heat when compared to other books in the series.

We had the honor of not only reviewing this book, but also interviewing the author for our podcast, Genre Junkies. The episode is now live. My cohost had never read a book in this series before. And he was pleasantly surprised how the 27th book in a series could be so approachable. Laurell told us she writes them that way deliberately. Aiming to engage new readers who may just be finding her. We really liked this friendly, non-elitist attitude. We wish more series had such a welcoming vibe!

I have been reading the Anita Blake series since I was a teen. I really like the characters and admire the series (and Hamilton’s) contribution to the book community. In a series so large not every book has been a home run for me. However, I like most of them! I just feel neutral on a handful. This novel is surely a home run.

We felt Sucker Punch was an excellent ride. It’s rewarding that Hamilton is able to keep the series fresh, exciting, sensual, funny, and still have her characters growing and evolving. As long as Anita keeps finding new hurdles to climb, we can stay hooked as readers. Not to mention, it always helps if we have a good mystery to solve alongside her.

Long time fans of the series will appreciate the established characters who make appearances in this book and have something to do with moving the plot forward. We are intrigued to see how Anita and the rest of the cast handle the societal changes towards supernatural peoples as the books go on. Sucker Punch is a wonderful true-to-it’s roots look at the series while also showing us the evolution of Anita Blake and Hamilton alike.

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. I have not kept up with the series, which left me feeling lost. And with it being such a huge book I figured it was better to step away than keep going and becoming more frustrated. I'm not leaving a review anywhere as this is a me thing and not a Ms. Hamilton thing. I should have known 27 books in I would have needed to be caught up.

Thank you for the opportunity. In the future I won't be requesting this series. Maybe Ms. Hamilton will have a new series coming. I so love her writing and would love to enjoy something new from her again.

If you like badass Anita better than boudoir Anita, you’ll like this one. In a throwback to her earlier adventures this one is more about the crime solving & less about the sex. She leaves all of her vampire & wereanimal fiancées behind to travel to Michigan to help another marshal investigate a murder by a wereleopard. It appears to be an open & shut case, however the marshal who is working it is not quite convinced. It then unfolds as a whodunit mystery that is further complicated by the appearance of Olaf. Ted, Anita & Olaf join forces to unravel the mystery. This book was a refreshing change from the metaphysical & vampire politics that has dominated the more recent Anita Blake novels.

What can I say but that I liked this book, but that I still had issues with it? The mystery was clever and twisty with your ideas of the 'who-dun-it' changing with each chapter. I could almost ignore the cons of this book, but I have to discuss those in all fairness. So here is what I'm going to do, I'm going to list the pros and cons to help you make your own decision.

Pros:

Excellent mystery.

No sex. Unless you count kissing and a sort of girl on girl type action.

Interesting, and sometimes sympathetic characters (outside of Anita's usual men and women who were with her).

Otto/Olaf -not his usual self, and I see that his 'issues' will most likely be used to further the storylines of future novels. Otto/Olaf almost comes off as the White Knight at the end of this book.

Cons: (I only have a few, but they are HUGE!)

The repetition of specific conversations was enough to make my eyes roll my eyes so often that I nearly lost them out of my head. At least 100 pages (lol) might have been cut from this book if it were not for the dead horse beatings! We could have more of the mystery and mayhem!

I would have been a lot more pleased had we not discussed Anita's sexual preferences ad nauseam. I realize that this was to further a plotline that will most likely be used soon...but we shall see.

Does Anita really need that many men and women 'guarding' her?

Back to my review - This book is not like the first half of this series, but it leaned in the correct direction. It had a lot more emotion in it that the earlier books did not have. I had stopped reading this series at...oh... maybe book 20 and by the reviews and what I see in this book I'm glad I stopped. But I will say this book has tempted me to pull out my old copies of this series and reread it. This series has just turned into a vampire and were-animal copy of the Merry Gentry series. And with Merry Gentry, at least you knew what you were getting into -with this series not so much!

*ARC supplied by the publisher and the author.

Sucker Punch is a captivating paranormal fantasy that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Each page you read brings more mystery and lots of unknowns. A well-written read that can easily be read as a standalone novel.

I have enjoyed the previous books but this one just didn't work. It was overly wordy and went too many directions that didn't further the plot, by 50% I was done and it is a DNF for me. I'm sorry, I hate not finishing books but I felt like this book was going nowhere very, very slowly.

SUCKER PUNCH is a bit of a throw back to the older Anita Blake story lines. There is a bit more dealing with a mystery, searching for the truth and getting to watch her in her Marshall business.

SUCKER PUNCH might appeal more to those who are like me and want to see a bit more of the old Anita's world before the "ardeur" went crazy.

Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko, for Fresh Fiction
Complete review may be fund at: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=71194

I have quite enjoyed the last two or three Anita Blake books. Sucker Punch drops you into the action and delivers a twisty, well-written mystery.

I have been an avid Anita Blake fan since I picked up Burnt Offerings on a whim, devoured it, and ran to my local bookstore to find the first six books. I have enjoyed seeing Anita grow and change throughout the books, and liked that Hamilton skewed sex-positive. That said, I am not really a fan of feeling like I need a flowchart to keep track of who means what to whom when.

But that is a minor quibble with what is a solid entry in this series. Hamilton seems to be pivoting back to the roots of the series -- Anita working with/alongside the police. Those are always the stronger of the series entries and I think the series is the better for doing so.

I was provided with a free ARC for my opinion.



#SuckerPunch #NetGalley

I've been on the hunt this year for a good vampire/werewolf story, but this..unfortunately, was not it. *facepalm*

Having DNF'd Crave by Tracy Wolff, which starts off with a lengthy and boring scene at the airport, this wasn't much better to be honest.

I'm sure many will enjoy this one, but it missed the mark for me. Sorry..

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sucker Punch.. I was so happy that this book starts out with Anita flying out to help Marshal Newman with a case.. Ive really missed Anita working with the police and trying to solve some supernatural crime that the locals just don't have the experience to deal with. I also loved getting to see more of Ted, he is one of my absolute favorite characters!. I think the few things I wish we had gotten to see in this book was Jean Claude, and I really want Anita to raise some Zombies..
I also liked that of all the people in Anita's life we only get to see a handful of them on page, and there is no sex in this book..
While Anita is helping Newman investigate a Shifter who has supposedly killed his uncle who raised him like a son she starts to realize that Newman is right and the evidence just doesn't add up.. When Anita and Bobby (the shifter) have a bit of an issue inside the jail, she decides to put in a call to Ted. However before he can arrive Olaf/Otto does.. Which brings in a whole nother set of problems..
Then in turns out that everyone (at least anyone that could be considered a suspect or witness) are lying.. So now the Marshalls have to uncover the lies, in order to figure out what actually is going on within this family..
and how to use that information to help keep Bobby alive.
While I did figure out who the "Bad guy" behind the killing was kind of early on, I definitely didn't see most of what happened coming. It didn't make me like this book any less...
There were twists, and turns, and lots of family secrets that come out. It has absolutely rekindled my love for Anita Blake, and I hope that we get lots more books like this one.
I can't wait to read the next one..

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing group for allowing me to review this book..