These books used to be fun, snappy, full of genuine character concerns for the lead, Anita, which did not boil down to simply, sex. They used to have actual plot. God knows I've kept trying, but this could be the one that means I just can't be bothered with Anita Blake anymore. Danse Marcabe was the worst of the recent bunch but this one is just plain dull. Anita used to have a job, there used to be the interest of a mystery to solve. Now it's just wheel on the next sexual partner and LKH simply arranges the rest of the story around it like so much limp set dressing. It saddens me to feel that these books are now just one big Mary-Sue exercise. Perhaps they always were, but at least we got some story for our pains. Blood Noir is just a low rent soap opera with endless sex thrown in. Up to 'Blue Moon', it's worth reading the series. Of the recent ones, only 'Obsidian Buterfly' is worth your time. And these UK book covers are totally and utterly dreadful.