Sucker Punch

Written by Laurell K Hamilton

Narrated by Kimberly Alexis

A brutal murder, a suspect in jail, and an execution planned—but what if the wrong person is about to be killed? 

When a fellow U.S. Marshal asks Anita Blake to fly to a tiny community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on an emergency consult, she knows time is running short. When she arrives, there is plenty of proof that a young wereleopard killed his uncle in the most gruesome and bloody way possible. As the mounting evidence points to him, a warrant of execution is already under way.

But something seems off about the murder, and Anita has been asked for her expert opinion on the crime scene. Despite escalating pressure from local cops and the family’s cries for justice for their dead patriarch, Anita quickly realizes that the evidence doesn’t quite add up.

Time is against Anita, as the tight-knit community is up in arms and its fear of supernaturals is growing. She races to uncover the truth and determine whether the Marshals have caught the killer or are about to execute an innocent man—all in the name of justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Aug 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9780593215289

Laurell K Hamilton

Laurell K. Hamilton is the bestselling author of the acclaimed Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Novels. She lives near St Louis with her husband, her daughter, two dogs and an ever-fluctuating number of fish. She invites you to visit her website at www.laurellkhamilton.org.

Reviews for Sucker Punch

[library_breeder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't care what others think, I still really like this series. I also liked this book because it brought out the mystery side of the series without the relationship drama. I always like it when "The Four Horsemen" get together. Even though it was mostly Anita and Otto (Olaf).

I always love it when the "bodyguards" show up on various hunts that Anita goes to. Nicky and some others made it out to the "crime".

Unlike most other books with the mystery going on, there is no hunting in this book. The supposed killer is already caught and behind bars. The mystery was the fact that Nueman (a character from an older book who was just fresh out of preternatural academy) doesn't think that Bobby (the werejaguar in question) actually committed the crime of murdering his adoptive father. So, he calls in Anita to help him figure out if the warrant that has the execution order should be followed or if there is something else to be done. The questions are first - did Bobby do the deed? If no, then who did the deed?

This was the book. Meanwhile we have Olaf who was already in the area making an appearance when he discovered that Anita was there, and doing his level best to be on his best behavior so that he might actually get that chance to date and bed Anita. Meanwhile Edward is taking his time (so it seems) to get to the scene.

Anita and Edward have both come to the conclusion that the time to put up or shut up regarding dating and bedding Olaf is nearing. Since he is doing the things that Anita said he needed to be doing before she would even consider him, she is finding that it is harder to not say not to him. Oh, she WANTS to say no, Hell NO, but she can't find any more excuses to give him that he would accept. No one wants Olaf to realize that his dreams of him and Anita becoming the happy serial killing couple won't come true because that would change him into the serial killer who just wants Anita to be his best victim.

So, while the murder mystery is being unwound, we have the whole Anita and Olaf dynamic which did get a bit squicky and tedious. However, having the other characters show up made it more palatable.

Out of all the boyfriends, I think I like Nicky best behind Jean Claude and Mica. I am getting tired of Nathanial being a bit too demanding. He needs to tone that down. He isn't in this book but for a single text and even that text has Anita feeling a bit like it's a nag.

I have to add a bit of a complaint here. I noticed that most of the reviewers were stating that they had stopped reading Anita Blake books some time ago, but they are reviewing this one.

If you have stopped reading the series, then you won't be up to date with the character interactions that make the newest book good (or bad). I mean, if you remember one character from when the series started and haven't read about their growth through the series, then how can you understand where they are in this book?

If you plan on reviewing a series, please have read the current books before offering a review. It only makes sense in a long series where the characters are long term and grow and change for the better or worse. I understand how readers got a bit tired of the changes in this series where it went for straight police procedural to whatever the hell it is now, but all of the characters went through some changes over the books and those changes are now being reflected in this book.

[ggmasheila · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book reminds me of the older Anita Blake stories in that there is little sex and/or angst about sex. The end was a bit of a shock but always like some surprises in my stories. I do feel as though there was some repetition that could have been written tighter. All in all a good read.

[glennis.leblanc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I admit that I haven’t been loving this series for a long time now but I still read it hoping I will see what first got me into the series and this book was the payoff after reading so many that left me disappointed. The plot has Anita providing backup to another US Marshall that thinks the were he is supposed to execute is innocent of the murder of his father. To complicate matters, it is in a small town and everyone knows everyone else so the Marshall is loath to kill the were. There was sexual tension but no emergency feedings which was a real plus. The book was padded out bit but it was nice to see the mystery taking front and center for a change. With all the details about the Marshall service, I wouldn’t be surprised if more books have the old vs new Marshalls going head to head or have Anita do some schooling for the new kids. And maybe she will actually get some more crime solving tools in her skill set. Fans of Olaf and Edward will be happy with this book.


Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another solid entry, but disappointing. Anita gets called in on a problematic execution. But Bobby just doesn't look guilty and the more they find out the more framed he looks. A good story but she needs to spend more time on the storyline and less on the relationships. Also, everyone seems to have forgotten that Anita started out as a necromancer. Why didn't she just raise Ray Marchaund or one of the other murder victims? It could have been a much more interesting storyline if she had not forgotten Anita's background (and why didn't one of her backup suggest it?). Anita's also got to grow up and accept her feeding requirements -- she should be more pragmatic about them by now.

[twilightblue · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More police procedural than romance related this one.
Although some of the sex talk was just plain creep-tastic. Not because of the talk itself but who was involved in the talking.
I didn't like the ending. I was hoping there was more chapters before the wrap up chapter.
Now I would like a Merry Gentry novel please.

[carol420 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I haven't read a book in this series in at least five years. I was intrigued with the series and the characters so when I needed a fantasy book for a challenge I thought this would be a good time to catch up with Anita and the strange people/things that she hangs out with. You can imagine how surprised I was to discover that either Anita Blake had changed...or I had changed. A good change was that this one actually had an honest to goodness plot and a pretty solid murder mystery. For that it will get a reluctant 3 stars from me. However that isn't what I had read the series for in the past. In the past Anita was a wild card and her numerous boyfriends were scary and unpredictable. Something was always happening...going to happen...shouldn't be happening...who knows how it will happen... but now Anita is almost boring. The book served it's purpose but I think I will let Anita retire now. Rest in peace, Anita.

[chutchi-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

”. As a U.S. Marshal in the Preternatural Branch, she is contacted by a fellow Marshal asking for help with an investigation. The murder site takes her to rural Michigan, where she meets the wereleopard who is being held for his uncle's death.
Anita quickly realizes that this is not a typical murder. The moon was not out to make the wereleopard change. He is also a weak Lycanthrope that is young. As she calls in reinforcements, the clock is ticking. An Execution Order has been put on the wereleopard and he must be killed within 72 hours. Anita begins by talking to the wereleopard, Bobby. Out of his mind with grief, Bobby starts to shift in his cell. Anita must reveal her true strength when she knocks Bobby out cold. Sometimes to hunt monsters, you must become a monster. Anita often thinks this mantra in order to keep her sanity and accept her strength. Having been attacked by Lycanthropes in the past and having a relationship with a master vampire has given her extra abilities that she must accept.
Anita’s stress level rises as a new monster arrives at the scene, Otto. A fellow Marshal who specializes in binding, torturing, and killing women. Now Anita’s focus must shift between two threats, Otto and the local cops who want the wereleopard killed so they can be done with the whole thing. Her bodyguards and other support Lycanthropes sent by her vampire fiancé arrive, much to the sheriff’s dismay. Their goal is to make sure Anita has enough food to eat and feed the Ardeur that she has developed by being with a vampire. Anita finds herself longing to feed off the anger of Otto when she does not allow him to touch her. Instead, she goes to a club to eat and accidentally bewitches the waitress.
After Anita eats and clears her head, she and the other Marshals finally determine the true killer. Will they be able to prove it before the execution order deadline? The final chapter of the book leaves you wanting more.
This book is full of twists and turns and Laurell K. Hamilton addresses the importance of taking care of your mental health and respecting the diversity of others through her characters. This book can be read as part of the series or as a stand-alone book.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Generally I've liked Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series, especially the earlier books. But lately I've been giving them a pass. I thought I'd try again. I got about 25 percent into this book and that was as far as I could go. Tedious. I checked the last 2 chapters to see if that would make me want to finish the book. Nope. I just couldn't bring myself to continue. Griping, boring characters, stereotypes, just not fresh or engrossing. The mystery had several obvious clues that were not followed up on. I think this series may be played out. I liked the Merry Gentry series -- I wish there could be more of it.

[mclane_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This latest entry in Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series is a 600 page novel that would have made a fairly good short story. The large and mostly extraneous cast of characters could be reduced by about 80% without affecting the story at all. While ostensibly it is a tale of Anita's trying to discover the guilt or innocence of a wereleopard accused of murder, more than two-thirds of the novel is a discussion of Anita's love/sex life and whether or not she should "date" a known serial killer, torturer of women, and assassin. The whole story line is fairly disgusting and, at the same time, boring. Not recommended!

[al6vick · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Well, the over all story was pretty good, but the book would have benefited greatly from better editing. There was a lot of griping about issues and therapy, and some of the character's issues were aired over and over, and Anita seemed unable to function on her own. I would have expected Anita and her allies to run a better iinvestigation. Some clues were not run down, some obvious questions were not asked, and some obvious conclusions were not tumbled to by the characters. I know Anita has anger issues, but she seemed to push everyone's buttons without provocation. I was also not pleased with some of Anita's choices on how to deal with Olaf. I really hope the next book is bettter written.

[mrsmich02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read every Anita story to date;this one has me on the fence.
SPOILERS FOLLOW...


While I am quite happy to see a return to field work, there was an enormous amount of dialogue repetition.The three horsemen were outsmarted by a spoiled child; too out of character for them.

I understand the lack of sex in the story, given the main players. I see big setups coming for the next book. The reason why Anita almost rolled the dancer in the club was not made clear enough. Any other time, three people would be trying to get Jean Claude on the phone or he would be reaching out through the marks. I'm not fond of loose ends like that.

The descriptions of Anita's turn-ons was a bit much. Does there really need to be that much detail? Why would Olaf need all that information? She has never found him attractive; why bother? Just my opinion on that though.

Overall, I would recommend it to series or genre readers. A lot of hard work goes into writing this series, but they can't all be five star reviews.

[kmartin802_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Anita is called to assist a fellow Marshal in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she goes to help out a man who she has mentored. She finds a case that should be simple - a wereleopard has killed his adopted father - but it turns out to be much more complicated.

Marshal Win Newman isn't convinced that Bobby Marchant actually killed his adopted father. And once Anita gets a look at him and at the scene, she has her doubts too. But a warrant of execution has been authorized and they have limited time before they are required by law to execute it and end Bobby's life.

Anita and Win have to convince the Sheriff that they need to do more investigating before they'll execute the warrant. They find the victim's estranged sister and her husband looting the house almost before the body had been removed which adds them to the list of possible suspects. Also, there is something very suspicious about the victim's stepdaughter.

Adding to the tension is that Marshal Otto Jeffries shows up to notch up the tension. Otherwise knows and Olaf and a serial killer who has fixated on Anita, Jeffries is trying to convince Anita that they can have a relationship which doesn't end with her tortured, raped and murdered. Anita calls her best friend Marshal Ted Forrester to come help her with Olaf. Anita also calls in some of one of her fiance's people to act as advocates for Bobby and, incidentally, to protect her from Olaf.

Most of this story deals with the mystery and much less of it is concerned with Anita's very complicated love life. There is quite a bit of discussion about her domestic situation but just a couple of kisses for any demonstration of it. Anita's ardeur does rear its head when she accidentally rolls a stripper that she is interviewing but otherwise seems to have it under control.

I liked this story because it wasn't so involved with Anita's sex life. I did miss the presence of Jean Claude, Nathaniel and Micah though. I thought the mystery was pretty well done. I liked the investigation into the victim's death. While the story didn't have what anyone would describe as a happy ending, it did provide a satisfying resolution to the case while leaving a number of issues to be solved in later books.

[anyother-758154 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

So much talk, so little action, and no sex. Almost a traditional murder mystery except for the preternatural element but the mystery takes second place to talk, talk, talk about the possibility of Otto and Anita dating. I appreciated the no sex since that has been way overdone in recent books in the series but talking about it all the time is almost as bad. Definitely a set up for future developments for Otto and different future developments for Edward but a book of this size should be about more than just set up for the next books. I did enjoy seeing Anita out in the world without most of the usual cast of characters -- Jean-Claude, Micah, Nathaniel, Jason, Richard, and so on.

[quondame · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Less sex, no less talking, there is actually some plot and twists, but mostly it is an excuse to play with Olaf/Otto which is just gross, and have girl on girl action. All the absurdities wrapped around something that isn't quite at all absurd, it goes by at the usual spritely/bogged down in discussion jerk pace.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.