Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton

This is book four of my eight book binge in 48 hours. I need eight books to meet my 80-book goal. My original goal was one hundred and fifty but Covid-19 gave me moments of wanting to read and weeks where all I did was read. I am making it to eighty though. Okay short rant over let us get on to Ms. Blake.

For fans of the “old” Anita Blake, the one where she solved crimes more than she had sex, this is a great transitional book for Ms. Hamilton to move away from the relationship- and vampire-politics-based writing that’s dominated most of her recent novels. Additionally, the writing was first rate. Tight in a way I had not even known I have been missing. Every chapter ends with a punch (no pun intended) something quotable, something memorable. I just can’t stress how much I enjoyed the level of writing in this book. Maybe if I mention that towards the end I found a typo and it threw me out of the story in a very jarring way will illustrate how deeply I’d fallen into the story, because typos always throw me out of a story, but this was the only one I noticed.

That said, I found some of the content problematic. Not in the way that prudes would, not in the violence and killing part that most people might object to, but in the way that it so clearly illustrates the myth of “only a few bad apples” in the “rest of the cops are good” barrel. I found most the cops in this one outside of Anita’s circle quiet annoying. I will state for the record I am not a fan of Olaf and never will be. If he disappears from the books all together I won’t miss him. Sorry not sorry.

I think it will come as no surprise at all that Laurell K. Hamilton would “back the blue” to the extent that she does, whether intentionally or not, it comes through that she truly believes we are safer with the police than without them. I give her credit that she also shows that the justice system is flawed and in need of change, also that it seems like every change seems to just make a new problem rather than solving everything.

Newman is the new marshal and I feel as though he needs to work in a much more normal job because he doesn’t have the heart to kill anyone. Bobby, I felt totally sorry for. I know you are not allowed
I will say that the case in this book is very interesting and the way it ends. I felt the ending packed a punch (totally intended that time) The way it ends I cannot wait to see what comes next for all characters. On a total personal side note while I loved the crime fighting, I missed her boys just a little.

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Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton