Night Shadows — Richard Dawes

Late one fog-shrouded evening, Dirk Hammond, an ex-magician of great talent who is now working as a private detective, is called to the mansion of Baron Vladimir Cardula. A series of grisly murders are sweeping the city of San Francisco and the baron, fearful that he is slated to be the next victim, asks Dirk to enter the investigation.

Sensing the play of dark powers beyond his abilities to cope, Dirk hesitates, but the lure of $50,000 and the baron's fiery daughter, Talia, finally convince him to take the case.

The corpse-littered trail leads Hammond to a diabolical cult indulging in human sacrifice, a beautiful assistant district attorney with secrets of her own, a clandestine organization of blood-thirsty vampires, and a group of wealthy businessmen with their own ideas about how to save the world from itself.

In a startling finale, Dirk confronts the murderer in a form he least expected and is forced to call upon all his magical powers to prevail. A final horrifying surprise awaits him, however, when he meets the Devil himself and is introduced to the real meaning and significance of evil.