Burnt Offerings: Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 7

"Burnt offerings", Book 7 of L.K.H.'s "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series" brings Anita, Jean Claude, Richard Zeeman, loyal werewolves and were-leopards against the Nightmare of the infamous "Vampire Council". This book, especially in audible.com format is a real ride. Richard and Anita are fighting, "The Circus of the Dammed" has been taken over by the "Council" and it's pick of hostages for their horrific brand of entertainment and Jean Claude's past catches up with him.
As with all the first nine "Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series" on audible.com books, I listen to them over and over again. Many people have complained about the music and sound effects that come up once in a while during the listen. I listen both on my computer (5 speakers), and on my Android smart phone. The difference is HUGE. Alexis sounds smoother (if that's even possible), the music and sound effects really add to the performance and bring up emotion at critical moments on my computer system.
Most people who do not like the added material are listening to the books on smart phones or MP3 players. I must say, the experience is sad in comparison. Kimberly Alexis (through no fault of her own), sounds a bit high pitched and hollow, but her talent alone saves this kind of audio format. I have to agree that the added sound and music for some reason is so loud on any and all portable devices, it makes you turn down the volume (where you can't here the narrator), or just pull out the ear buds or head phones until it's over.
I hope the people who are complaining will listen to at least one of the books on computer speakers. Even a basic set of two will prove my point about the enhanced experience with music and gunshots.
Hamilton and Alexis are a perfect team of writer and performer. Together they bring "Burnt Offerings" to life in all it's gritty tough as nails,"Anita" against the monsters she hates and holding her own with the monsters she loves in her own twisted way.Great Book!

Doing more then a couple hours of driving a day in rush hour traffic, this is my cure to Road Rage! lol Well... I don't get Road Rage but I had never been a fan of stop and go traffic. These Audio Books make it so I don't mind at all, in fact I sometimes feel I get home too quickly and have to sit in the car for another 5 minutes until I get to a part I can feel good about pausing. hehe Group Hugz

I love Anita Blake, she's always finding trouble, but somehow, amazingly enough she, finds a way to work through it, grown powers scare her but she keeps pressing on, love it...

Although good there wasn't that "punch" that the otheres have. Something was missing but I can't say what.

The first few books in the series I thought were better read then listened to. Kimberly did an adequate job but nothing exceptional. Those times when she would have really shined the music and sound effects got in the way. Somewhere between the first book and this one they learned to tame the music so it was just a faint mood setter as it should be and cut back on the sound effects rather than trying to rely on them. Kimberly has also learned the characters very well and is finally allowed to show just how well she can do. Unfortunately this is where the series reached (I've read them before) a turning point for me as Ms Hamilton adds more and more torture with each book and later adds explicit sex to the point where these two elements begin replacing the plot of the story making them simply disturbing during the torture and boring during the sex. This is simply my opinion and I know others as well as the author herself would disagree with me.