Cordelia Carstairs' romantic dreams must be put on hold when a serial killer begins targeting the Shadowhunters of London, sending the Merry Thieves on the trail of a knife-wielding killer.

Engaged to marry James Herondale, Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. But James and Cordelia's marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia's reputation. James is in love with Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. The sword Cortana burns Cordelia's hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. And everyone is keeping secrets: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial... and that he himself may be the killer they seek. -- adapted from jacket