Guilty Pleasures is a horror/mystery/erotica novel by Laurell K. Hamilton, and is the first novel in the Anita Blake series. It introduces the character of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter and Animator as well as her world. An alternate history where magic, vampires, shapeshifters and many other supernatural elements are known to exist. Anita Blake, a zombie animator (who works for Animators, Inc.) and licensed vampire executioner, is forced to investigate a series of vampire murders, and in the process comes into contact with many of the supernatural characters of her home city of Saint Louis, Missouri. The novel blends elements of supernatural and hard boiled detective fiction.