Steve McHugh

Lucas Rurik returns to face the wrath of ancient powers and pure chaos as he once again contends with rift energy and formidable foes in the fifth installment of this thrilling urban-fantasy noir from the author of the Hellequin Chronicles.

A vampire and a journalist team up to stop a witch on a rampage in the third book of this urban fantasy from the bestselling author of the Hellequin Chronicles.Undead investigator Miles Watson has seen his share of violence, but after his last case left a trail of dead bodies in its wake--some of which had belonged to people he actually liked--he's decided to take a break from policing the tenuous peace between vampires and humankind. Unfortunately, the powers that be aren't keen on him going off the grid, and the new mission they bring to his door isn't the kind that's easily ignored.It seems a rogue human has his hands on some powerful chaos magic, and he's strayed right into the midst of one of the most dangerous lands in the world: Maine. It's filled with deranged, hungry desolates and has become a hotbed for political squabbles between various powerful factions. The former US state is exactly where you don't want a newly minted--and very homicidal--witch running amok.Now Miles will have to venture into seriously dangerous territory to play babysitter to the one witch who can bring monsters to justice. Because if the menace isn't stopped soon, the consequences for humans and vampires alike could be apocalyptic.Pairing quick-witted dialogue and unparalleled world-building with classic noir and horror elements, The Pilgrims of the Damned is the edge-of-your-seat continuation of a series that will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go until the very last page.

An undead investigator hunts a recently turned vampire with a lust for violence in this dark urban fantasy from the author of the Riftborn series.The peace between humans and vampires balances on a knife's edge, ready to descend into murderous chaos at any moment. It's up to the Assembly to discreetly clean up conflicts and track down criminals before bloodshed becomes a cause for concern. That's where Miles Watson comes in. As an Arbiter, he has free reign to find, adjudicate against, and punish perpetrators. And he operates just far enough outside the law to make sure those who break it get what's coming to them.But even with unlimited scope and centuries of experience, Miles's latest case has his back against the wall. A series of murders are sweeping through the streets of London, and all evidence points toward a new, young vampire as the perpetrator. The only problem: the vampire in question is also the son of a very powerful businessman backed by the Assembly.Now Miles must navigate not only the Assembly's usual red tape but also a twisted web of politics, underground crime, and dangerous alliances to stop the villain before the body count gets too high-or the powers that be catch wind of what he's up to.Bestselling author Steve McHugh blends the best of horror with classic detective noir in this unforgettable continuation of the blood-curdling adventure that began with Those Who Dwell in Darkness.

Political plots, ancient foes, and old grudges lead Lucas Rurik on a dangerous mission through the Rift in the fourth book of this thrilling urban fantasy.Lucas Rurik, sole living member of the Raven Guild, hoped that killing the deranged Dr. Callie Mitchell would end her plot to stir up trouble between the Rift and Earth, bringing peace to both lands. And it did--for exactly three weeks, four days, seventeen hours, and eleven minutes. But then it all went to hell.Two years later, things still haven't gotten much better. Tears of rift energy are slashing through the sky much more frequently--and more powerfully--than ever before, unleashing all sorts of new fiends and horrors upon the world. And just as Lucas thinks he's uncovered an important clue as to what's been causing the chaos, he's dragged back into the Rift to make good on an old favor and help hunt down someone who's been destroying riftborn settlements.Now Lucas must contend with governmental conspiracies involving Earthly cults, dangerous coups orchestrated by ancient powers, and heartrending secrets kept by those he most trusts--and fast. Because it seems there's a new guild on the rise. And it's members are intent on eliminating the Raven Guild once and for all . . .Praise for The Last Raven "McHugh's pithy prose energizes the narrative, even when there's no superpower on display, and builds intrigue with gradual reveals of Lucas' rift-derived skills and backstory. This slick introductory supernatural tale will leave readers eager for a sequel." --Kirkus Reviews "The Last Raven has the appeal of a great action movie. There is a nice mystery, a compelling lead, strong support, and enough adrenaline to leave you with a pleasant high afterward. . . . Eagerly looking forward to the next installment." --The Cosmic Circus "If you have a friend who loves both speculative fiction novels and thrillers, this is the perfect gift." --Medium, "10 Chilling Books for Mystery/Thriller Lovers This Winter"

Boost the flavor of any meal with this definitive guide on cooking with pickles, jams, preserves, sauces, and more--whether you make them from scratch or use store-bought ingredients--featuring 150+ recipes for everything from quick weeknight meals to Sunday suppers. The secret to six-time James Beard Award finalist Steve McHugh's success comes down to one word: curing. To cure something is to transform it, allowing it to emerge as something new. Steve himself was transformed after battling lymphoma when he was just thirty-three; he came through that experience wanting to prolong moments of joy in everyday life. That philosophy extends to how he approaches food and cooking, sourcing the best ingredients when they are at their peak and then curing them to enjoy later. He intensifies their flavors, changing them into charcuterie, pickles, mustards, and more, making his seasonal favorites available year-round. And with Cured, you can have access to this arsenal of flavor as well, whether it's making your own preserves from scratch or using store-bought ingredients in your daily cooking. An invaluable guide, Cured explains both how to easily preserve foods and why you should embrace this popular technique in your own home. Whether a beginner or seasoned preserver, you'll discover how to make preserved lemons, then use them in a bright, beautiful bowl of Israeli Couscous with Preserved Lemon, Bacon, and Greens. Learn to use sugar as your curing method to make Cherry Orange Marmalade, then use it later in the week to make yourself a Mix-and-Match Jam Cocktail. Or maybe make some Smoked Nuts to use in the Smoked Nut Chocolate Tart. The possibilities are truly endless. Steve leads you through how to make preserves, and also gives you recipes for when you bought a jar or bottle at the market that you can't decide how to use. Filled with bright and colorful photography, Cured will make you want to experiment with whatever fresh produce you have on hand. Whether you dabble in making your own preserves from scratch or want to learn how to use what you already have at home, these 150+ recipes will become hundreds and thousands as you start to mix and match the ingredients with your own favorites, prolonging the joy in your everyday life and meals.

The hunt for a serial killer leads a vampire agent to uncover a terrifying conspiracy in this dark urban fantasy by the author of the Hellequin Chronicles. Vampires and humans live side by side thanks to an uneasy peace maintained by the Assembly. As an Arbiter for the powerful organization, Miles Watson is authorized to act as judge, jury, and executioner for anyone-living or undead-who breaks the law. But now Miles is up against a threat more sinister than anything he's seen in his centuries as a vampire. A criminal network in London is offering wealthy humans the chance to become vampires without the Assembly's consent. When the process goes disastrously wrong, the Boss wants to eliminate any trace of the fiasco. But a rogue enforcer refuses to play along, and trouble quickly escalates out of anyone's control. As Miles sets off searching for the illegal vampires, he finds himself on the trail of a monstrous serial killer. The twisty investigation takes him from London's deadly underworld to the rural backwaters of the Pacific Northwest-where an even more devious criminal enterprise threatens all of vampire-kind . . . Known for his terrifying tales of urban fantasy, author Steve McHugh goes even deeper into the shadows with this noirish vampire thriller, which masterfully combines suspenseful plotting and intricate world-building.

Lucas Rurik faces unwanted celebrity, ancient enemies, and dangerous zealots in a thrilling urban-fantasy noir from the author of the Hellequin Chronicles. Centuries of life experience inside and outside the Rift couldn't prepare former Raven Guild member and riftborn detective Lucas Rurik for his latest set of challenges. First, when his capture of a prominent political figure "trends" on social networks, he finds himself the target of both the media and the public. Then, Noah Kaya, an Ancient, tracks him down for help on a job. As a rule, Lucas doesn't trust the Ancients; they always seem to have an ulterior motive. But something about this gig just won't let Lucas say no. It seems one of Noah's close friends disappeared right after becoming the lead suspect in a murder case. The problem is the guy in question isn't the type to knock someone off. Not to mention a whole lot of rift-walkers have recently gone missing, the crime scene reeks of pure rift energy, and a deranged killer who Lucas thought was long deceased might not actually be dead after all. Soon, what was originally a simple search for a missing person devolves into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an age-old enemy-and it could bring Lucas face-to-face with Dr. Callie Mitchell, the depraved scientist he's been hunting for months . . . Praise for The Last Raven "McHugh's pithy prose energizes the narrative, even when there's no superpower on display, and builds intrigue with gradual reveals of Lucas' rift-derived skills and backstory. This slick introductory supernatural tale will leave readers eager for a sequel." -Kirkus Reviews "The Last Raven has the appeal of a great action movie. There is a nice mystery, a compelling lead, strong support, and enough adrenaline to leave you with a pleasant high afterward. . . . Eagerly looking forward to the next installment." -The Cosmic Circus "If you have a friend who loves both speculative fiction novels and thrillers, this is the perfect gift." -Medium, "10 Chilling Books for Mystery/Thriller Lovers This Winter"

Lucas Rurik confronts a cult determined to remake the world-no matter the cost-in this urban fantasy noir from the author of the Hellequin Chronicles. Lucas Rurik is no stranger to navigating the tricky territory between humans and those touched by the rift. After all, as the last surviving member of the Raven Guild, protecting the peace is his job. But that doesn't mean it's easy. As much as Lucas would like to be out hunting for Dr. Callie Mitchell-a deranged scientist with a bad habit of experimenting on the rift-fused-his friends at the Rift-Crime Unit require his expertise on a perilous case. It seems a mysterious kingpin known as the Croupier has been making some shady deals, and revenants, riftborn, and humans alike are winding up dead in the process. Now, with the help of chained revenant Nadia and FBI-agent-turned-revenant Emily West, it's up to Lucas to track down the anonymous crime lord before anyone else is hurt. But as Lucas gets closer to his target, he discovers this is no ordinary manhunt. The Croupier is leading a dangerous group of zealots who want to destroy both the rift and humanity-and they'll stop at nothing to make their so-called Blessed plans a reality . . .Praise for The Last Raven"McHugh's pithy prose energizes the narrative, even when there's no superpower on display, and builds intrigue with gradual reveals of Lucas' rift-derived skills and backstory. This slick introductory supernatural tale will leave readers eager for a sequel." -Kirkus Reviews "The Last Raven has the appeal of a great action movie. There is a nice mystery, a compelling lead, strong support, and enough adrenaline to leave you with a pleasant high afterward. . . . Eagerly looking forward to the next installment." -The Cosmic Circus "If you have a friend who loves both speculative fiction novels and thrillers, this is the perfect gift." -Medium, "10 Chilling Books for Mystery/Thriller Lovers This Winter"

Lucas is a riftborn fighter bent on vengeance in this thrilling urban fantasy/detective noir series from the bestselling author of the Hellequin Chronicles. The peace between the rift and humanity has always been tenuous. It's up to the Guilds to protect it, removing whomever-or whatever-poses a threat, whether human or rift-fused. Lucas Rurik used to be part of the Raven Guild. That is, until someone murdered all of its members-except for him.That was seven years ago. Now, Lucas keeps to himself, avoiding getting too close to anyone lest they become targets themselves. But when one of his oldest friends at the Rift-Crime Unit calls upon him for help with a case that's already taken down people who mean a lot to him, Lucas can't resist stepping back into the fray. Something is killing FBI and RCU agents alike-something unlike anything Lucas has ever seen before, on Earth or in the Rift. Even more concerning, the gruesome assaults seem to be linked to Dr. Callie Mitchell, a depraved and disturbed individual who treats the rift-fused like her own personal lab rats. And when someone Lucas thought he could trust turns on him, he realizes these killings aren't just the random attacks of some terrifying new kind of fiend. They're connected to whoever killed off his Guild all those years ago-and that's something Lucas just can't let lie . . .

He doesn’t need a weapon. He is the weapon.After losing his powers in an epic battle between good and evil, former sorcerer Nate Garrett finds himself living as a humble human in Clockwork, Oregon. While the world thinks Nate is dead, his friends continue to fight against Avalon and the evil it’s intent on spreading.Avalon’s forces turn up in Clockwork, and Nate’s frustration grows with every passing day his magic doesn’t return. He finds himself trying to stop Avalon’s plans while hiding from enemies who would destroy everything in their path to see him dead.Avalon’s darkness begins to threaten the people Nate cares about, and an old nemesis returns; magic or no magic, he has no choice but to fight. But will Nate see his magical powers reborn before the entire town—and everyone he loves—is destroyed?

A powerful sorcerer. A forgotten past. Hellequin is back, and the end is near.A terrible storm is brewing in London, and Nathan Garrett, the sorcerer known as Hellequin, is the only one who can stop it.But his enemies have other plans. Harnessing the power of an ancient stone tablet, they cast Nate and his allies into another realm, where a bloody conflict rages between creatures twisted by magic. Meanwhile, with his friends’ lives in danger, Nate must put centuries of differences aside, and place his trust in one of his greatest foes.Time is running out. Trapped and outnumbered, Nate must use all his wits and power to survive and find his way home before his enemies start a war that could destroy everything he holds close. Welcome to the penultimate chapter of the Hellequin Chronicles.

There are some things even a centuries-old sorcerer hesitates to challenge… When Nathan Garret’s friend seeks his help investigating a bloody serial killer, the pattern of horrific crimes leads to a creature of pure malevolence, born of hatred and dark magic. Even with all his powers, Nate fears he may be overmatched. But when evil targets those he cares about and he is confronted by dire threats both old and new, Nate must reveal a secret from his recently remembered past to remind his enemies why they should fear him once more. Born of Hatred, set in modern London with historical flashbacks to America’s Old West, continues the dark urban fantasy of Crimes Against Magic, the acclaimed first book in the gritty and action-packed Hellequin Chronicles.

It's been almost ten years since Nathan Garrett woke on a cold warehouse floor with nothing but a gun, a sword, and no idea of who he was or how he got there. His only clue ... a piece of paper with his name on it. Since then, he's discovered he's a powerful sorcerer and has used his abilities to work as a thief for hire. But he's never stopped hunting for his true identity, and those who erased his memory have never stopped hunting for him. When the barrier holding his past captive begins to crumble, Nathan swears to protect a young girl who is key to his enemy's plans. But with his enemies closing in, and everyone he cares about becoming a target for their wrath, Nathan is forced to choose between the life he's built for himself and the one buried deep inside him.