Second book in a compelling new urban fantasy series set in Camden, featuring Alex Verus

A day in the life of Alex Verus:

Run shop in Camden
Train apprentice
Avoid Council
Dodge assassins

A spate of mysterious attacks calls for Alex's expertise - someone is dabbling with the forbidden. Fine, until Alex's friends are threatened. That makes it personal.

It's still damn inconvenient though - especially when seductive distractions are thrown into the mix. But is walking away really an option? And just how dangerous is the curse of the monkey's paw?

Sure, it pays to be able to see the future. Literally. But some days are just better spent in bed.

Things are going well for Alex Verus. He's on moderately good terms with the Council, his apprentice is settling in and his shop in Camden is gaining quite a reputation.

But when a mysterious woman bursts into the Arcana Emporium one night with an assassin on her tail, Alex is thrown into a plot to revive a long-forbidden ritual. His old enemies are after the secret, as well as a Council mage named Belthas and a mercenary named Garrick, and at least one of them is trying to get Alex killed - if he only knew which.

He can see the future, but knowing who to trust is something else.