Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton

I feel like I sort of have an abusive relationship with Laurell K Hamilton. The first book I read of hers was Obsidian Butterfly, and it was perfect. A great balance of suspense, eroticism, and supernatural characters. Then I read her other books... Some of her more recent books have been more supernatural porn than anything with a plot. I stopped reading her books at one point because I couldn't handle one chapter of plot and four chapters of pointless sex - some of which is extremely graphic. But I keep going back because I keep hoping her books will reach that perfection again.

Before I started this blog, I picked up her most recent Anita Blake book, Skin Trade, which was supposed to be only about Anita and Jason. I thought "Wow, only one male character, there might actually be plot rather than 8-somes." And it was good. There was plot again, not as much sex, and more insight into one of the more interesting characters. So when the newest Merry Gentry book, I decided to give it a go thinking the trend would translate to her other series. I was wrong.

Despite the fact that Merry is now pregnant, and is no longer on a sex-spree trying to make babies, Divine Misdemeanors still disappoints in that it has a very vague cursory plot. There is a serial killer on the rampage killing fey in L.A, and Merry is the lead consultant on the case but that doesn't stop her from having sex with a different man in every other chapter. I feel like one of those guys who read Playboy exclusively for the articles. Of course they catch the killers, with no real effort exerted by the main characters, except worrying a lot.

And in the Merry Gentry books, LKH has this thing she does where she tries to be subtle but is afraid her readers are too stupid to catch on, so she repeats a piece of information several times until it ceases to be subtle and becomes annoying. She does this several times in this book, but the instance that stands out most in my memory is whenever Merry refers to Queen Andais in the first couple books in the series:

1. She points out that Merry must remind the Queen that they are kin so she isn't killed.


2. Merry says "Aunt Andais...."


3. The Queen points out "Merry, you're clever for reminding me of our relationship. Are you afraid I will kill you?".

I hate that. Hopefully, by writing all this about LKH, I'll remember not to read her next book, despite my hopes for her eventual improvement.