Publisher's Blurb:

"You get two preternatural experts in one with Anita Blake, animator and vampire slayer. She's one of the good guys in a world full of bad things. A world that Laurell K. Hamilton makes spin in her New York Times bestselling novels.

Now, Anita has fallen for the leader of a local pack of werewolves. She's survived a lot, but this love thing may kill her yet..."

Publication Date:

Paperback - January 1996/Ace edition, September 2002/Jove edition)
Hardcover - February 2005/Jove

ISBN:

0-515-13452-X (Jove PB edition), 0-425-20137-6 (Jove HC edition)

Covers and Cover Art:

The above cover was from the 2002 paperback republication of the book. The artist is: Craig White. Additional cover designs for North America and the UK can be seen here.

Synopsis:

In The Lunatic Café, Anita learns of Richard's alpha status in the pack and his conflict in becoming ulfric and gaining control of the pack. She learns from Edward that lycanthropes are making snuff films. Anita discovers that several lycanthropes have gone missing recently. She discovers that witches have used the skins of some of those that are missing to shape-shift. During a date, Richard proposes to Anita and she accepts. Jean-Claude is furious when he hears, but sensing Anita's doubts he agrees not to kill Richard if she will agree to date them both - she accepts. Anita, Richard and Edward are captured by police who want to illegally hunt lycanthropes. Anita is locked in a cage with Jason, a recently turned werewolf. She is saved from being eaten by Richard's alpha dominance over Jason. They manage to kill the hunters and escape.

For a more detailed Summary, see here

Primary Characters:

Anita Blake
Jean-Claude
Richard Zeeman

Recurring Characters:

Ronnie Simms
Dolph Storr
Detective Clive Perry
Irving Griswold
Rafael
Kaspar Gunderson
Edward
Mrs Pingle
Louis Fane
Stephen Dietrich
Dr. Lillian
Buzz
Robert
Zerbrowski

New Characters:

George Smitz
Marcus Fletcher
Raina Wallis
Gretchen
Detective Aikensen
Sheriff Titus
Alfred
Christine
Gabriel
Elizabeth
Jason Schuyler
Elvira Drew
Polly
Javad(naga)
Kate Zerbrowski
Lucille Storr
Carmichael
Feinstein

Character Deaths:

Alfred
Peggy Smits
Detective Aikensen
Sheriff Titus
Carmichael
Feinstein

Important Revelations:

• The Lunatic Café is notable in that it alters the structure of the previous three novels. In each of the original three Anita Blake novels, Anita initially encounters (1) a client or other situation related to her job as an animator; (2) a crime scene related to her job as police consultant; and (3) some dramatic tension relating to her connections to the St. Louis preternatural world, particularly Jean-Claude. Ultimately in the first three novels, each of the situations turns out to be related to a single criminal scheme, which Anita confronts and defeats. In The Lunatic Café, this pattern is altered -- although Anita encounters the usual early events: (1) a request from George Smitz to investigate his wife's disappearance; (2) a person murdered by a shapeshifter; and (3) a demand by Marcus that Anita solve a series of Shapeshifters' disappearances, the events do not turn out to be related. Instead, although Anita believes that they are related, the disappearances and murders turn out to be the result of three unrelated criminal schemes.
• Anita's habit of protecting the weak comes strongly into play in The Lunatic Café, as she extends protection to Irving Griswold and also acts to protect Louie and Robert. This pattern, together with her inability to back down from confrontation, draws her deeper and deeper into St. Louis's supernatural society, often against her will.
• The Lunatic Café is notable as one of the few Anita Blake novels that does not involve Anita's powers as a necromancer. Other than sensing mystical energy, Anita does not use her supernatural abilities in this book.

Explanation of the Title:

Within the novel, the "Lunatic Café" is the name of a restaurant that is operated by and serves as a base for St. Louis area shapeshifters. It is owned by the lupa, Raina Wallis. It is also located near the university campus. It is not an 'outed' shifter hangout.

Information on this Page has been Gathered from the Following Sources:

1. LKH at Penguin Putnum Publishing
2. The Lunatic Café on Wikipedia
3. The novel itself, The Lunatic Café.

Back to the Books Section
Back to the opening page of the Wiki