This dryly humorous hard-boiled fantasy is the third, chronologically, in the timeline of the VLAD TALTOS series, although it was the second to be published. Assassin and petty crimelord Vladimir Taltos engages in a territory dispute with another crimelord. Investigation reveals that the bloody turf battle has wider implications than he could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, during the course of the dispute, Vlad is killed, and then falls in love with the woman who assassinated him (yes, in that order).
Back when I bargained for the wise mouthed reptilian who sits perched on my shoulder, his mother wished me Long life and Good Hunting. I told her I was not a hunter She said You will be...She was right.
My name is Vland Taltus, I am an assassin. And this is the story of my early days i the House Jhereg, of how I found myself in a Jhererg war and how I fell in love with the woman who killed me...