In the Nightside-that hidden area in the middle of London where time stands still at three A.M. and the sun won't rise to refute it-nightmares go walking in borrowed flesh, and not everything that looks back at you with human eyes is really human.

I'm John Taylor, a PI with a knack for finding things, helping those the Nightside has chewed up and is about to spit out. All things considered, my life lately had been bright, even in this shadowy place.

So it was only a matter of time before everything hit the fan. Walker-the powerful, ever-present, never-to-be-trusted agent who runs the Nightside on behalf of the authorities-paid me a visit. He told me he is dying and that he, too, has a job for me. An important job.

His.