I've now read all 17 of the Anita Blake books and I have to say that I'm hooked. Admittedly I didn't start out that way, but it seemed to me that as I moved through each book my connection with the characters increased. It just seemed like each book was better than the one before. Be aware, however, that after about book 10 each book also becomes significantly more sexual (with a couple of exceptions).

If I have a negative about these books its a point that I find tedious in the genre in general - the females being "unwilling" "unable" or "unready" to "face their issues" or "see what is right in front of them" is a tired and worn out plot device and inevitably reduces respect for the character. Anita Blake is no exception. After 17 books, use of terms like "I pushed it away to examine later - much later" and intentionally feeling anger because embarrassment is too uncomfortable, and other "get a therapist already" motifs ad nauseum, aren't plot devices they are author cop outs.

All that notwithstanding I really do love these books and characters, and mad props to the author for her world building. I've even got characters I love to hate in here and his inner conflict be damned.

Good stuff. The first four or five are good, but they really do get much better after that.