The Lunatic Cafe 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 supernatural 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 Cafe , 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 shapeshifter 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 Cafe , 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 Cafe 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.
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