"All life is a gamble . . . We go to sleep every night comfortably betting that the next day we'll wake up."

Demons. Sorcery. Magical playing cards. It's anything but a fairy tale. Armed with her choice deck, her beloved book, Hoyle's Guide to Poker and Parlor Tricks, and the skill that led her to throw away her college fund, Lilah gambles with her life-and with the lives of those around her.

Elsewhere, other players have a different idea of the rules of the game. And investigating the bizarre chain of events is Middleton PD's finest, Detectives Dana Deupree and Walter Conway.

It's anyone's game. The cards have been shuffled and the stakes are high. The call has gone around the table. Others may fold, but not Lilah.

She plays for keeps.