The second book in Hamilton’s Vampire Hunter series sees Anita Blake raising and chasing zombies. This chilling thriller, first published by the Penguin Publishing Group in 1994 and made accessible in audio format by Penguin Audio in 2009, is available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook formats, as well as at your local library and through the Libby app. The audiobook, read by Kimberly Alexis, is terrific, as she beautifully embodies Anita’s persona, and the added audio effects take this listening experience to another level, fully immersing the listener in each scene.

Hamilton brings her readers and listeners into the perilous life of Anita Blake, animator, the woman vampires call the Executioner, and who works on retainer with the St-Louis Police Department, along with Dolph Storr and Sgt. Zebrowski. When a wealthy client, Harold Gaynor, offers Anita a million dollars to raise a three-hundred-year-old zombie, knowing it would require a human sacrifice, Anita refuses the job. Then dead bodies start to pile up, and she must intervene with the spook squad of the police department to stop the killer zombie, and Anita has to find out who raised it and pit her powers against the voodoo priestess who controls it.

Anita learns about her necromancy abilities and must discover how to unlock her voodoo powers if she wants to stand a chance against the Queen of Voodoo, Dominga Salvador, who sends nasty, monstrous things to kill Anita. Hamilton shows her audience a genuine night-and-day relationship with Jean-Claude’s continuous pursuit of Anita throughout the book; their hot-cold dispositions and Anita’s almost repulsive responses toward Jean-Claude are a stark contrast to his patient, polite, and blatant flattery. The imagery doesn’t get lost on her readers and listeners. Edward returns to town, and his assistance with the killer zombie and voodoo queen proves helpful.

Hamilton keeps up her fast-paced, action-packed, gripping, tension-filled, fear-gnawing storytelling. These unearthing secrets should have stayed buried, and she delivers them through a strong-willed, opinionated female lead full of sass. Making this an excellent 4-star read or listen.