After years in exile, Edgar Le Compte has returned to the island of Thaxos - and the locals tremble at the sight of him.

The last heir of an ancient vampire bloodline, Edgar can no longer ignore the prophecy that has shadowed his family for centuries. Something old and hungry is stirring beneath the island, a power poised to challenge the Le Comptes and reclaim Thaxos in blood.

Kate Langley arrives seeking nothing more than sun, sleep, and a quiet escape. But serenity is the last thing she finds. From the moment she steps onto the island, she is pulled into Edgar's orbit and into a world of secrets the islanders refuse to speak aloud. A monstrous presence stalks the night, and a dying old woman in the harbour whispers warnings of a catastrophe long foretold.

As the dead begin to rise and destiny tightens its grip, Kate must confront the truth about Edgar - and the part she may play in the prophecy he fears. Can she break free from the vampire who watches her every step? Can Edgar defy the fate written in his family's blood?

On Thaxos, the past is never buried. And vengeance always finds its way home.

This is the first book in the long-running Dead Souls saga. Each book ends with a cliffhanger, and readers are advised to start at the beginning.