A montage of his life flickered before my eye. I sensed every joy, heartbreak, triumph, and defeat. And then there was clearly nothing but terror .

For years, effective empath Vesper Tallinn has kept herself isolated from all of those other world. Because of her capability to manipulate emotions, she has the inclination to draw dangerous people to her. She can count the amount of people she trusts similarly, because in her experience, it’s altogether safer to be alone. Not just that, but keeping her mind about GRIT down helps to keep her from the radar from the Remnant Gods, effective and ancient beings whose behavior is normally unpredictable at most effective.

But because of Corbin Troy, her police detective best friend, Vesper is pulled into an exceptionally disturbing murder investigation. Bodies keep turning up, and the feelings Vesper senses are terrifying and dark, oozing with cruelty and malice. Both the culprit and motive remain a secret, but a very important factor is obvious: the Remnant Gods are somehow involved. But are they the victims? Or the perpetrators?

Vesper sees herself caught inside a web of intrigue and magic, leading her on a search through pubs and sex clubs, crime scenes and sites, as she tries to locate a killer . . . as well as the mystical Lord Grasp, who might hold the hint to the complete case.

Over the course of the investigation, Vesper finds herself drawn to Deimos, the most powerful, enigmatic man in the city. He’s clearly more than human and it’s apparent he’s tangled up in the event. Deimos has no interest in talking about it with Corbin, because in his opinion, that is a matter for the Remnant Gods. Vesper, though, is definitely another matter. Deimos is fascinated by her and seems intention on having her in his life . . . and his bed.

Which begs the query: Is he friend or foe?

And just how much is Vesper willing to risk to learn?

Contains mature themes.