The Tale of the Body Thief

by Anne Rice (Knopf, 1992)
by Jenn & Traci

As faithful readers of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles un-doubtedly know, she has put out a fourth book of the adventures of Lestat and company. Yes, Lestat is up to his old tricks and lamentations once again. He hooks up with Raglan James, a black sorcerer with the power to take possesion of any body he chooses.

Through the centuries and around the globe, Rice takes us to exotic places, and discovers the morbid innocence of our own American cities. Lestat, in this book, stays mostly in the present. Although, we continue to do a lot of heavy traveling.
In this latest of the Vampire Chronicles, a darker, more vicious, and yet vulnerable side of the glamourous lifestyle of Lestat is exposed. He nearly dies a few times. Once, by switching bodies with Raglan James, who posesses a human body with pneumonia (if you can believe that!). Earlier in the book, he is denied by his fellow nightwalkers for living inside the body of what used to be a human being, so in anger they refuse to help him in times of need.

This book is more grisly than the other, more seductive, tales. Lestat now kills innocent victims and rapes a woman by “accident.” If you enjoyed the previous books, then this is a must read. If you have not yet read Interview with a Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and Queen of the Damned, you’ll not fully appreciate this book and toss it aside with puzzled disgust. Don’t blame me because you neglected to read the prior chronicles.