When a vampire asks Nick St. James to investigate his friend's murder, the answer should have been easy, right? NO. Okay, not so easy. How do you say no to a friend like Felix? Besides, with Thelma by his side, what could go wrong? She's got that, umm ... cute pink backpack of Voodoo magic. Of course it hurts that she manages to look good even when she accidentally conjures and gets possessed by a drunk loa. No, it won't be at all distracting to have her along. Since no good deed goes unpunished, a crazy man with starry eyes jumps out of the shadows at the victim's apartment and pummels them. Their attacker doesn't just beat them up but also infects them with some bad mojo that's killing Thelma and making Nick angry ... angrier. If the trail to the suspect-the Green Man-is any indication, they'll be killed before the poison finishes the job. The old gods are more dangerous than helpful. The Watchers-even the one who seems to have a brain-are always a hazard. And what's with the all the minions? Who has minions anymore? Not to mention the rapid progression of the infection that quickly upgrades Nick's condition to 'blind-rage-filled.' Why couldn't Felix have just asked Nick to help him move?