Metal is waking, and nature's not backing down.
In the old, strange heart of York, someone's stolen a charm - one that can raise an army of iron monsters capable of levelling cities.
Heather, near-goddess of tree and root, isn't waiting for the thief to make the first move. She'll flatten York herself to find them, and never mind the cost.
The only thing standing in the way of the collision is DI Adams, who did not sign up for this. She can't exactly arrest a clockwork cat, can she?
Not that she has a choice.
Armed with an invisible, caffeine-addicted dog, a duck, and some ethically flexible allies, Adams plunges deep into York's magical underworld. Between deceptive Folk, ravenous beasts, dodgy physics, and a growing need for people skills, she could be out of her depth this time.
But she can't fail. The guardians are waking. The roots are rising. And if Adams can't stop the chaos, York will just be the beginning ...
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This is book four (when counting the prequel) in the DI Adams Mysteries, which began somewhat further south with What Happened in London, before heading to Yorkshire in All Out of Leeds.
The DI Adams Mysteries contain no graphic violence, scenes of a sexual nature, or strong language, but they do contain some blasphemy, as well as a truly disturbing level of caffeine consumption.