• The Harlequin

  • An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novel, Book 15
  • By: Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Narrated by: Cynthia Holloway
  • Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (932 ratings)

Prime logo Prime member exclusive:
pick 2 free titles with trial.
Pick 1 title (2 titles for Prime members) from our collection of bestsellers and new releases.
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
Your Premium Plus plan will continue for $14.95 a month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Harlequin  By  cover art

The Harlequin

By: Laurell K. Hamilton
Narrated by: Cynthia Holloway
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $24.75

Buy for $24.75

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Into Anita Blake's world - a world already overflowing with power - come creatures so feared that centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names.

©2007 Laurell K. Hamilton (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Featured Article: The 25 Best Vampire Audiobooks to Suck You In


Vampire stories have fascinated people across cultures for generations. From gothic Transylvania to early-aughts Washington, it seems like vampires have taken every form in every culture and every country around the world. From all of these options, we’ve selected 25 of the best audiobooks from the pack—those with the most captivating characters, creepiest settings, and, perhaps most importantly, the best vocal performances available.

What listeners say about The Harlequin

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    750
  • 4 Stars
    130
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    590
  • 4 Stars
    133
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    32
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    708
  • 4 Stars
    104
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Where’s Kimberly Alexis or someone of her caliber?

I almost never write reviews but I felt compelled to write one this time. I have read all of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake novels and LOVED all but 1 (Jason) and this one (The Harlequin) is one of my favorites.

I was repeatedly warned not to purchase this Audio version because the narrator (Cynthia Holloway) was bad. Several of the reviews has the same warnings but I like to give things a chance and form my own opinions.

BOY I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED! This narrator was BAD!

I try to add the mix good and bad so that the review doesn’t sound like a bashing session but in this case I can’t.

This narrator continually throws me because she can’t say Were (as in werewolf) correctly, (she pronounces it we’re as in we’re heading to the store) she pronounces Adeur wrong ( that she says ahder) her interpretation of Jean Claudes voice is distractingly bad, and she has very little range in her character voices (they all begin to sound the same).

I decided that I was better off reading it again instead of listening to it. I will not purchase anymore audio books that she narrates. I feel that if she’d listen to Kimberly Alexis before she recorded ANYTHING then perhaps she would do a better job. I don’t have much faith in that but it’s a start.

I turned it off after Anita and Nathaniel’s date (not even 1/5 of the way through the book) because I just couldn’t take anymore. It’s really a shame because I was so looking forward to the missing books in the middle coming out in Audio format but now not so much since she’s one of the new narrators.

Please please bring Kimberly Alexis back, or someone more competent.

What a shame,
123 ELM ST.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not Kimberly Alexis

Very sad the narration is not Kimberly Alexis. Cynthia is just not up to the job. The rhythm and tone just isn't great, not a fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

where is blood noir?

every time you find a good series audible is lagging and slow and usually missing one out the Middle where is blood noir?
all these books are awesome and great and really worth a listen... if Audible would get the middle damn book it's missing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Assassin challenge

How great to have these missing audiobooks available again! Thank you, Audible and cohorts!
Note: This series is for mature adults who aren’t twisted into believing sex is evil, or that it’s as meaningless as scratching an itch. But it is part of the human condition. Like all the best parts of being a grown up, it is both a privilege and a responsibility.
The supernatural world’s most elite corps of assassins has come to town and is messing with both the Church of Eternal Life and Jean-Claude’s people. Anita’s powers and second Triumvirate are major game changers. That power increase also starts the jockeying of shifters for their place in the ‘inner circle’; and the first approach of the Council members who are preparing against the Mother of Darkness awakening.
Young Peter comes to town with Edward and Otto to back up Anita.
The end scene with Anita and Otto is one of the most memorable and macabre written by Hamilton. I’m not a fan of horror fiction, but I have to appreciate the humor and horror of that scene;;) I wonder if the Wicked Truth can teach her their beheading technique?
Decent narration. Recommend

Um, Audible, what happened to the audio for Blood Noir?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My life is MADE.

My fave by a LEAGUE! It's basically old home week for all and no newbies are going to take over. Just a teeeeensie taste: Edward goes to church and Richard is finally told to stop with the whining.
Tons of good things happen to great characters as well and that makes my heart fluff! Thank you sooooo mucho for ALL OF IT! #bowslowtoqueenLKH

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

book good narrator no so much

bring back Kimberly Alexis. she was much better at portraying Anita.

the story was good. more action and less Sex.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love the series hate this garbage narrator

very jarring to her the mispronunciation of Were(animal) said in the form of WE ARE conjunction instead of WARE like it is supposed to be. during "psychic talking" or "phone talking" narrators voice get's very soft and quiet that even at max volume on my device I needed my noise cancelling headphones to hear what was being said. overall garbage from the narrator and I personally feel all books in this series done by her should be REDONE by the narrator that has done more books than this one as she is much better and doesn't mess up words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enthralling. Mysterious. Epic.

The narration is good. Helps me slip seamlessly into the story.

This is one of my favorite Anita books for so many reasons. The mystery the harlequin brings to the story enthralls me. I absolutely love whenever we get to see Edward, and in this one we get to see some other of my favorites as well. It’s action and adventure but the passion is also high. I enjoy seeing Anita kick ass.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Favorite, authors, and book series

This Author is one of my favorites books has suspense and mystery and very good adult Content . Second time reading through the series and I still love it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story

Finally more story & plot; the reason I loved the series to begin with. A bit to much winging, but the sex didn’t get in the way of the story this time. Love Edward!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!