1995 Ace mass-market paperback (12th printing) received in the mail from Niskayuna, New York, USA, through PaperbackSwap. I loved the first two book in this series, Guilty Pleasures and The Laughing Corpse, so I can't wait to read this. Read more at laurellkhamilton.org.

From the back cover
Featuring Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, the novels of New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton introduce readers to a world of supernatural pleasure--and pain. When a powerful, centuries-old vampire hits town, a battle of the undead ensues, with the soul of the city--and Anita's life--at stake . . .

"So I was afraid; so what?
I had to go, and the sooner I left, the sooner I could come home. If only I believed that Jean-Claude would make things that simple. Nothing was ever simple where he was concerned. If I learned anything about the murders tonight I'd pay for it, but not in money. Jean-Claude seemed to have plenty of that. No, his coin was more painful, more intimate, more bloody."

I love the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series! This book introduces another preternatural creature, and answers a question I had re: how Anita & Jean-Claude's relationship could possibly be stretched out for 14 (and counting) books. Now to find the next book in the series, The Lunatic Cafe!