by Anne Rice
First published 1996
Azriel exists as both ghost and angel-demon when he sees a young girl killed violently in modern New York City. Her death pulls him into her story. He swears to get revenge for her murder. Azriel moves through the dangerous parts of the city searching for answers. His supernatural abilities create problems he must solve. A secret group wants to control his powers for their own dark purposes. They work against him as he investigates. Time runs out as Azriel digs deeper into the murder case. He must learn who killed the girl and why. The search forces him to examine what he really is. Azriel struggles between his ghostly nature and his angelic and demonic sides. The truth about the murder connects to larger forces that threaten him. He faces a choice about his own identity and purpose while fighting to deliver justice for the dead girl.
Genres: mystery, fantasy, supernatural, adult, adult-fiction, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, gritty, haunting, introspective, suspenseful
Tropes: chosen-one, identity-discovery, revenge-quest, supernatural-powers
Setting: New York City
Period: Modern/Contemporary
Random House Large Print
Content warnings: death, murder, violence