| The Killing Dance | |
| Author: | Laurell K. Hamilton |
| Cover Artist: | Lee MacLeod (Ace edition) |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Series: | Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter |
| Genre: | Horror, mystery, erotic |
| Publisher: | Ace Books (Ace edition) |
| Release Date: | 1997 (Ace edition) |
| Media Type: | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages: | 387 (Ace edition) |
| Isbn: | 0-441-00452-0 |
| Isbn Note: | Ace edition |
| Oclc: | 36914737 |
| Preceded By: | Bloody Bones |
| Followed By: | Burnt Offerings |
The Killing Dance is a horror/mystery novel by American writer Laurell K. Hamilton, the sixth book in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series.[1]
A gruesome scene unfolds in St. Louis, the body of a young woman found drained of blood, with strange symbols carved into her chest. Anita is called to the scene by the police, alerted by the unsettling ritualistic elements. She quickly identifies the symbols as belonging to a long-forgotten cult known as the Dance of the Dead, a ritual designed to raise the dead and create undead warriors, has been dormant for centuries, but its reappearance spells danger for the city.
Anita dives into the investigation, encountering familiar faces: Officer Brady and Detective Branswell on the case, along with her partner-in-crime, the enigmatic vampire Jean-Claude. She discovers evidence of a resurgence of necromantic activity, linking the ritualistic murders to a mysterious organization called The Shadow’s leader, revealed to be a powerful necromancer known as The Maestro, has been manipulating events from the shadows, orchestrating the resurgence of the Dance of the Dead for unknown purposes.
Meanwhile, Anita faces personal turmoil her relationship with Jean-Claude is strained, their differing worldviews causing friction. Her loyal werewolf, Asher, is haunted by the return of his old foe, Jamil, a dangerous werewolf with a grudge against Asher and Anita. The investigation takes an unexpected turn when Anita discovers that her old friend, Sylvie Barker, is deeply involved with the Shadow, as is her werewolf lover, Sebastian. This revelation forces Anita to confront the reality that some of her closest allies may be working against her, adding an emotional weight to the case.
The Maestro unleashes a wave of undead upon the city, turning St. Louis into a battlefield between the living and the dead. Anita must race against time to stop the Maestro and prevent the resurrection of a powerful and ancient entity, the Dark Mother, who is said to possess the ability to control the dead. The Shadow, having infiltrated several key positions within the city, including the police force, becomes increasingly difficult to infiltrate. Anita's network of allies is tested, leading to betrayals, alliances, and intense clashes between forces of good and evil.
Despite the obstacles, Anita rallies her allies, including her trusted team of weretigers, led by Christine, and the enigmatic vampire, Dominic Dumare. She receives unexpected help from the vampire, Edward Forrester, who provides crucial information about The Maestro and the Shadow. A surprise alliance with the rival werewolf pack, led by Stephen, brings unexpected support against Jamil's growing influence.
Anita discovers that The Maestro is the long-lost descendant of a powerful necromancer who sought to control the Dark Mother. He is driven by a desire for power, seeking to use the entity to rule both the living and the dead. The battle takes place within the abandoned catacombs beneath the city, where The Maestro has gathered his army of undead. Anita must face her fears and confront The Maestro in a battle of shadows, utilizing her necromantic abilities and her allies' strength to defeat him and prevent the return of the Dark Mother.
After a bloody battle, Anita and her allies emerge victorious, but the city of St. Louis bears the scars of the conflict. The Shadow is dissolved, but its influence lingers, leaving Anita and her allies to face the long process of rebuilding and restoring order. The personal cost of the conflict is heavy, with the loss of lives, both human and supernatural, leaving Anita haunted by the events. The story ends with a sense of bittersweet triumph, a reminder that the battle between good and evil is never truly over, leaving the door open for future accolades.
The Killing Dance features the following major characters.
Recurring characters in The Killing Dance include:
Non-recurring characters include:
The death toll in The Killing Dance includes: