• Guilty Pleasures

  • An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel
  • By: Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Narrated by: Kimberly Alexis
  • Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (5,316 ratings)

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Guilty Pleasures  By  cover art

Guilty Pleasures

By: Laurell K. Hamilton
Narrated by: Kimberly Alexis
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Publisher's summary

Published almost 10 years ago, Guilty Pleasures marked the debut of a writer who was destined to grow from cult favorite to a major best-selling author. Now, for long-time Anita Blake aficionados and newfound fans, Guilty Pleasures makes its debut in downloadable audio.

Listeners will learn how Anita Blake started raising the dead - and killing the undead. And how she met Jean Claude, the master vampire destined to become not only her biggest nemesis but her greatest lover.

Love in vein: listen to more tales of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter.
©2009 Laurell K. Hamilton (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Hamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field.” (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris)

“A sex-positive, kick-ass female protagonist." (Starburst)

“Number one New York Times best seller Hamilton is still thrilling fans...with her amazing multifaceted characters and intricate multilayered world, a mix of erotic romance, crime drama, and paranormal/fantasy fiction. Her descriptive prose is gritty and raw, with a mosaic of humor and horror to tell this complex, well-detailed story. But it’s her enigmatic stable of stars that continues to shine, managing their improbable interpersonal relationship dynamics." (Library Journal)

Featured Article: The 25 Best Vampire Audiobooks to Suck You In


Vampire stories have fascinated people across cultures for generations. From gothic Transylvania to early-aughts Washington, it seems like vampires have taken every form in every culture and every country around the world. From all of these options, we’ve selected 25 of the best audiobooks from the pack—those with the most captivating characters, creepiest settings, and, perhaps most importantly, the best vocal performances available.

What listeners say about Guilty Pleasures

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,471
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Narration is just plain awful!!!

Let me first say, that I love the Anita Blake series as a whole. Though this book is not my favorite book in the series, it's still a really good read. It is, however, the worst audiobook in the series so far.

I completely dislike the narrator change(I can't come up with stronge enough words). She sounds way to macho to be the sexy necromancer, we've always known. She completely ruins Jean Claude's accent. I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry, because she has ruined something that I hold dear to me.

There also is this awful menacing music that plays randomly through out some scenes. It's really annoying and distracting.

I was happy when I found out that they were releasing the early Anita books in audio format, but this has been a massive let down. I'm pretty sure this will be my last Anita Blake audiobook purchase with this narrator change. Save your credits, but buy the book. You'll be happy you did!

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82 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I Disagree!!!!

I love, love, love the new narrator. Jean-Claude has an actual French accent. Hurrah!!! And as you go on to the other three older books with this narrator, Richard doesn't sound like a cranky old man. Can't wait till the rest of the older books are on Audible. Did I mention how much I love the new narrator??

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Book 1 in the Anita Blake series

I so like Kimberly Alexis narrtion better than Cynthia Hollway in the later books, but oh well, a good series, 18 in all, it starts off slow, but ends with a bang...keep listening, their worth it...

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Didn't care for the style

Although this book had potential, I kept getting annoyed by the sarcasm.
"How are you?" answer: "Just peachy..." then statements like these: "Bully for me..., Point for me..., Point for him..."
These statements were a little repetitive and frankly I was contemplating deleting it from my ipod before I finished. Fortunately or unfortunately, however you choose to look at it, I was stuck in traffic and ended up finishing it.
Now I wonder, does the first book in the series lay the foundation for some good reading in the rest of the series? I am afraid to buy one and find out. So many people raved about this book and Amanda Blake. She seemed too macho for a woman and came across a little bit unconvincing.
As a side note there were a couple moments in the story when I did actually laugh out loud at something funny that happened. However, I wouldn't recommend this book.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Start with this one, and you're hooked

This is the first of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, series. Once you read or listen to this book, you're hooked on the series. Love the narrative of the book, and the narrator, Kimberly Alexis really does a good job. Anita tells the story, somewhat in a Joe Friday way. Has a lot of action and suspense, with a hint of sexual tension.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Read this one yourself

I love the Anita Blake series and have read all the books more than once but I could not listen to this version. I don't like the narrator or the way the narration is staged. I would advise reading these the old fashioned way.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Audio Didn’t Do This Any Favors

The story was somewhat interesting— a different premise than other undead tales— but the antagonist’s voice was cloying and unbearable. Not really the narrator’s fault, though, because the character was written to be that way. Regardless, I couldn’t get past being taunted with hideous violence by what sounded like Chucky in a tutu.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

still my favorite series ever.

I started reading these in 6th grade. one day my father looked through a book and took em all away from me cuz I was way to young. That definitely didn't stop me. I'm re-reading on audible so I can show my husband how good they are. He's not a reader but he loved this. He can't wait for the next one. LKH u are amazing, have a ways been amazing, and still are amazing!! x0x0 😚

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Jo
  • 10-18-10

Much better reads elsewhere in the genre

I enjoy this genre: - modern, dark, fantasy detective stories with a film noir edge, including: Dresden Files (Jim Butcher), Mercy Thompson books (Patricia Briggs), True Blood books (Charlene Harris), Blood Ties series (Tanya Huff), plus these and similar TV series and movies, but I found this book, my first foray into Laurell Hamilton, hugely disappointing.

Firstly, the book is so overwritten, stuffed with adjective after adjective - describing the darkness of the room (just an apartment building, not even of a crypt) about four times. Secondly, its just not as fun as the other titles, it feels cliched and tired. I'm half way through, and don't think I'll finish it - I suggest you choose one of the other authors recommended above instead.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

GREAT Read

What made the experience of listening to Guilty Pleasures the most enjoyable?

The story moved along. I listened to Danse Macabre first. I had never ever listened to this author or even liked this type of books or movies(hate scary movies) I found myself laughing like a mad woman in my garage after l arriving home and listened to the first CD.I was hooked. I started searching for the other books online to find out how Anita got involved with a vamp.(Gulity pleasures) I have now check out, downloaded or purchased several of the books in the series.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Guilty Pleasures?

Anita running out of the circus being chased and Jean Claude giving Anita the second mark(eyes)

Which character – as performed by Kimberly Alexis – was your favorite?

Anita

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No..

Any additional comments?

Love the series so far. Not to cool on all the sex Anita has, but she kick's butt and I hope learns to control the adure thing I hope Ms Hamilton stays clear of under aged sexual involment with Anita. The 16 yr old boy was a bit over the line.

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9 people found this helpful