I am Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman. My only 'superpowers' are that I turn into a 35-pound coyote and fix Volkswagens. But I have friends in odd places and a pack of werewolves at my back. It looks like I'm going to need them.

Centuries ago, the fae dwelt in Underhill. When they were cast out, they left behind their great castles, troves of magical artefacts...and their prisoners. Without the fae to mind them, those creatures roamed freely through Underhill wreaking havoc. Only the deadliest survived.

Now one of those prisoners has escaped. It can look like any creature it chooses and if it bites you, it controls you. It lives for chaos and destruction and can make you do anything - even kill the person you love the most. Now it is here, in the Tri-Cities. In my territory.

It won't - can't - remain. Not if I have anything to say about it.

Mercy Thompson returns in another thrilling instalment from number one New York Times best-selling author Patricia Briggs.

Books by Patricia Briggs:

The Mercy Thompson books

• Moon Called
• Blood Bound
• Iron Kissed
• Bone Crossed
• Silver Borne
• River Marked
• Frost Burned
• Night Broken
• Fire Touched
• Silence Fallen
• Storm Cursed
• Shifting Shadows (Stories from the world of Mercy Thompson)