Lillith Shadow has become the new ruler of Gehenna following the murders of her family. Her country is surrounded by enemies and the only way to save it is to practice the magic of the undead, but it forbidden to women. A sudden death brings her and the executioner’s servant together and inspires them to break the rules and save her home.
Mattie Gokey has big dreams of one day going to college, but little chance of realizing them. She has to stay behind and protect her sisters and entire family from financial ruin. Desperate for money, she takes at the Glenmore, a hotel for high class people vacationing nearby. There, hotel guest Grace Brown entrusts her with a packet of letters to burn for her. But when Grace’s drowned body is discovered in the lake, Mattie realizes the letters could reveal the dark truth behind a murder.
Some kids are identified by their parent's profession: the preacher's kid, the doctor's kid, the principal's kid, the mayor's kid. Jazz is defined by his father's profession: serial killer. Billy Dent is the most notorious super-serial, claiming 123 victims in his decades long spree. Worse than being the serial killer's kid was that every day was take-your-kid-to-work day for Billy. Jazz learned how to separate a hand from it's fingers, how to stalk a victim, and how to commit the perfect crime without getting caught.
