A demon buried in a plague pit. A murder disguised as history. And a killer who's been getting away with it for years.

I'm Dr Evelyn Ward, forensic anthropologist at the Arcanum Institute — Newcastle's best-kept secret and the only facility in the north of England equipped to investigate magical murder. When a modern skeleton is unearthed at an archaeological dig, concealed by wards and buried among centuries-old remains, it lands on my examination table. The bones are too dense, the markings too precise, and the magical residue clinging to them tells a story no human anthropologist could read. The victim is a young demon who went missing three years ago, and someone went to considerable effort to make sure he was never found.

DI Joe Shepherd is my new police liaison. He's sharp, stubborn, and still adjusting to the fact that witches, demons, and gargoyles are real — never mind that he's now expected to work cases involving them. He trusts his gut. I trust evidence. We agree on almost nothing, which would be less of a problem if I didn't keep noticing things about him that have nothing to do with the investigation.

But this case doesn't leave room for distractions. The deeper we dig, the uglier this gets. A stolen artefact. A black market in magical relics. And a suspect who is careful, methodical, and always one step ahead. This wasn't a crime of passion. It was calculated. And whoever did it doesn't leave loose ends. I read bones for a living. He reads people. Together, we might just crack this case — if we don't kill each other first.

Discover the Arcane Forensic Files — supernatural crime meets forensic science, featuring a snarky heroine with secrets to keep, a detective who's equal parts infuriating and irresistible, and a slow-burn partnership that's only just getting started. Perfect for fans of Heather G. Harris and Bones.

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