Alchemy. Woe. Deliverance.
In NYC, Penelope Paws, expert pet sitter and accidental sleuth, chases precarious trails through the city's shadowlands. Her best client was murdered, and his legacy lingers-a mysterious potion everyone wants, but none understand. Secrets screech louder than subway brakes. Potion vials vanish, talking animals wrangle, and murder leaves a messy pawprint. One vial could topple the evil Ivory Trail, or unleash chaos fit for a city zoo. Armed with wise-cracking Edgar the crow, elegant Midnight the tuxedo cat, and the offbeat Night Owls, she darts down brownstone streets and forgotten tunnels. Treacherous criminals, cryptic clues, and animal mischief hound her every step, as danger circles ever closer. To save the city, Penelope must outwit its most cunning predators-both human and ethereal-and risk everything for her loyal friends. But every victory demands a sacrifice. Edgar's bravery may cost him everything, leaving Penelope to grapple with a city saved but a heart forever changed. Some mysteries heal, others haunt-and the darkness under Manhattan never forgets.