A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect ?monsters? are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, U.S. Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer. <br /> <br />But some monsters are very real?and even to speak their name can earn you a death sentence. The bogeymen of the vampire world, The Harlequin, are here in America hunting weretigers and human police. But Edward thinks the serial killings are just a trap?to lure Anita ever closer to the most dangerous vampire they?ve ever hunted? <p></p>