Death Stealer — J.C. McKenzie

I'm not sure what I expected when I showed up to my first crime scene—certainly not rainbows and donuts—but as a necromancer who mainly works to help the rich get richer, I hoped to find redemption. Instead, I discover a heartbreaking murder, two detectives with a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and a stubborn soul who refuses to speak without her cat present. If I'm going to prove myself as a valuable asset to the Victoria Police Department, and hopefully claw my mother out of medical hardship and the grip of her debilitating disease, I need to solve this mystery before I become the next victim.  Death Stealer is a short story prequel to the Lark Morgan trilogy and takes place six years before Death Maker, Book 1 of the trilogy. This book contains explicit language, ghosts, spirits, souls, skeletons and bones, violence, blood magic, necromancy, and animal sacrifices (off-the-page as much as possible). This story is intended for mature readers.