A freelance exorcist helps a grieving couple find their daughter’s ghost in this supernatural thriller by the author of The Girl with All the Gifts.

“Carey juggles characters and bits and pieces of plot like a man with a thousand arms, catching each word and positioning it in exactly the right place in this deftly crafted, can’t-turn-the-page-fast-enough read.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Felix Castor has reluctantly returned to exorcism after a successful case convinces him that he really can do some good with his abilities—“good,” of course, being a relative term when dealing with the undead. His friend Rafi is still possessed, the succubus Ajulutsikael (Juliet to her friends) still technically has a contract on him, and he’s still dirt poor.

Doing some consulting for the local cops helps pay the bills, but Castor needs a big private job to really fill the hole in his bank account. That’s what he needs. What he gets is a seemingly insignificant “missing ghost” case that inexorably drags him and his loved ones into the middle of a horrific plot to raise one of hell’s fiercest demons.

When satanists, stolen spirits, sacrifice farms, and haunted churches all appear on the same police report, the name Felix Castor can’t be too far behind . . .

“A treat for fans of supernatural fiction and of private-eye yarns. Genre-bending at its best.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Readers who enjoy truly superb urban fantasy should check out Vicious Circle and the previous, The Devil You Know. You won't be disappointed.” —SFRevu