The Gumshoe, the Witch, and the Virtual Corpse

In a near-future America on the verge of civil war, a gay detective and his Wiccan partner investigate ritual killings, conspiracies, and what might be black magic.

In the summer of 2035, Atlanta is a city on the verge of panic. A killer is stalking her people, leaving behind eerily beautiful crime scenes painted with occult symbols. Is he an insane artist, carving his work out of flesh and blood? A satanic sorcerer, hoping to bring about the end of days? Or a political operative, trying to terrify the electorate into voting for his party?

A handful of people have the pieces to the puzzle, but they are scattered through the city’s subcultures: A black cop, trying to use high-tech forensics to solve crimes that seem to be right out of the Middle Ages. A Wiccan journalist who employs scrying spells and search engines with equal skill. A televangelist with an eye on the White House, and the Christian rock star who wants to take him down. A transgendered Cherokee shaman trying to right a wrong from the 1800’s. A street-smart gay detective hunting for his missing partner.

And Benji, the fourteen year old boy at the center of it all. Who thinks that his biggest problem is what will happen when his strict Baptist parents find out that his new girlfriend is a witch.

Together, they might be able to stop what’s coming. If they can stay alive long enough to find each other.

- Winner of two Spectrum Awards for LGBT-themed science fiction. -



- A double finalist for the Lambda Literary Awards in the Mystery and Speculative Fiction categories -



"There's a great SF premise here...the writing is tight, the drama tense." -- Locus


"Hartman's character's are smart. His world-building is broad, convincing, and exciting: his choice of detail is exquisite. Compelling and engrossing, this book grabbed me and didn't let me go until long after the end." -- Nina Kiriki Hoffman, winner of the Nebula and Bram Stoker Awards.

"Like his hero, loved his plot, and envied his style." --Mike Resnick, five-time winner of the Hugo Award.