Christmas in Los Angeles should mean twinkling lights, last-minute shopping, and maybe a little holiday cheer.

Instead, bookseller Adrien English finds himself dealing with death threats, a possible Satanic cult, and a disturbingly charming university professor with an unsettling interest in him.

And then there’s LAPD homicide detective Jake Riordan.

Adrien’s relationship with Jake has always been complicated—equal parts attraction, frustration, and heartbreak. But when murder enters the picture and the threats against Adrien grow more serious, avoiding each other may no longer be an option.