The Harlequin, by Laurell K. Hamilton. Berkley, 2007

It was with trepidation that I picked up this, the latest in Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. I've been so disappointed with the recent installments that they had become mere habit. But habits are hard to break, and hey, this one was supposed to have Edward in it- Edward, the cold blooded killer and one of the few men in Anita's life that she hasn't had sex with. Maybe, just maybe, this one would have an actual plot to it, and some action that doesn't take place in bed. Not that I have a problem with bedroom action, but I expect a fantasy novel to have more to it than that.

To my happy surprise, this book is closer to the what the series used to be. There is a threat that is dealt with throughout the book, rather than in just the last 40 pages. Tension builds as the threat is revealed, piece by piece. When Anita begins to feel that she and the supernaturals cannot handle the threat adequately, she calls in Edward. Edward the steely eyed hired killer.

And here's the first annoyance. Edward brings along his teen aged almost step-son. That's not the problem. The problem is that Edward and Anita spend page after page debating the wisdom of this, and other facets of Edwards home life, like they were having a real Oprah moment rather than almost being killed. Edward has become Edward Lite, less dangerous and less filling. The next annoyance is that, in the end, Edward doesn't play any necessary part in the action, and I have the feeling that he was just brought in to appease those of us who were wanting a return to the old days but Hamilton couldn't figure out any real use for him.