Omnibus of: Guilty Pleasures (1993) + The Laughing Corpse(1994) + Circus of the Damned (1995.) All 3 of these were paperback originals - so this SFBC omnibus edition is the first hardcover appearance for any of them.

Guilty Pleasures was Hamilton's second novel, and shows such discipline and focus compared to her first book - it is hard to believe they were written by the same author. Her world of vampires recently legalized is logically developed, she has a knack for snappy/sarcastic dialog, and she does her research. The accurate gun lore and a strong "sense-of-place" give a solid background for Hamilton's fantastic elements. The next books develop and explore this world - making us want even more. Anita Blake is not just an animator (one who raises the dead) who "moonlights" as a police consultant - she is a necromancer.

In some ways, Anita Blake's sarcastic and world-weary "attitude" reminds me of Roger Zelazny's Corwin (of Amber.) These books are certainly as addictive or compulsively readable as the Amber series, and I will cheerfully recommend the first dozen books in this series.