Sharp sticks, garlic, crosses, and courage. That used to be enough for anyone to kill a vampire. Not anymore. Now you need a stoker.

Stokers, the trade name for those engaged in vampire population control, no longer rely on such antiquated methodologies. Effective regulation requires the assistance of modern technology. Indeed, for stokers, applications accessed via smart phone have become the great equalizer against undead foes. But equal doesn't mean safe. In truth, stoking remains about as safe as nitroglycerine, especially for the most skilled stokers, who are employed to eliminate the most lethal vampires.

In New York City, there is no more dangerous assignment than stoking Safkinsop. Perils await his pursuers. Nevertheless, a renowned stoker and his ambitious apprentice are determined to drag the undead into daylight, even if it means they could be dragged further into the dark, further away from the living, where the line between predator and prey is thinner than the gossamer silk Safkinsop spins when he shapeshifts into a spider.