Book Review: Sucker Punch by Laurell K. Hamilton

Sucker Punch
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Series: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Book 27
Publication: Berkley (August 4, 2020)

Description: 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.

My Thoughts: 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. 

Favorite Quote:

There are three types of people in this world: those you protect, those who fight with you, and those who fight against you. You killed to save those under your protection and to defend your own life and the lives of the people who fought beside you. It was simple math until the monsters became your friends and the people who were fighting beside you still wanted to kill them. Then it all went to hell.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.