Description
Book SynopsisIrresistibly drawn to mysteries, if only to debunk them, reporter Lionel Page exposes supernatural frauds, swindlers, and charlatans. His latest case is an obsession—at least for an ancient and wealthy heiress: verify the authenticity of a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript circulating through New York City’s literary underworld. But the shrewd Regina Dunkle offers more than money. It’s a pact. Fulfill her request, and Lionel’s own notorious buried past, one he’s been running from since he was a child, will remain hidden. As Lionel’s quest begins, so do the warnings. And where rare books go, murder follows. It’s only when Lionel meets enigmatic stranger Madison Hannah, his personal usher into the city’s secret history, that he realizes he’s being guided by a force more powerful than logic…and that he isn’t just following a story. He is the story. Now that the true purpose of his mission is revealing itself in the most terrifying ways, it may finally be time for Lionel to believe in the unbelievable.
Trade Review“The writing is vivid and quick, and a romantic subplot sheds light on Lionel’s many dimensions as a protagonist, including his sharp wit. Dark fantasy readers, especially fans of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, will appreciate the complex world-building and layered mythologies. Schaefer is an author to watch for in this genre.” —Booklist “This urban fantasy can make believers out of skeptics; its witty, fast-paced prose will attract all kinds of speculative fiction readers.” —Library Journal
