R. M. Ridley

A "practitioner" of magic, Jonathan Alvey serves countless struggling souls in his profession of paranormal private investigator. However, nothing good ever comes for free, and magic demands a terrible toll. Jonathan is slowly losing his humanity as magic slowly alters the very make-up of his being. Every addictive high (riding the White Dragon) is followed by a soul-searing low (the Dragon Black). Despite his repeated vows to give up magic for good, there is always someone in dire straits, a wretch in need of rescue, and the world to save. It all will someday demand the ultimate price. But, Alvey is no saint. A bourbon-swilling, chain-smoking wreck of a man, he relies on the help of his few friends to keep himself together, often as loosely toggled together as the junker he drives, and just as likely to break down. Even so, he's the best the City of Hades has to offer, and he's perfectly suited to its rough streets and haunted abandoned buildings. R. M. Ridley weaves an amazing world in his White Dragon Black series, one that creates avid fans of its readers. (Tomorrow Wendell, Bindings & Spines, and Blondes, Books & Bourbon.)