Christine Starlight has returned to Berlin after a long absence. Accompanied by her lover Jude, Christine attempts to lay to rest the demons of her past. Jude, a painter, has accepted a fellowship in Berlin. His sponsor is a wealthy and renowned sculptor called Mandy Z. Christine, and the artists who live under Mandy's auspices, both pity and despise Mandy. His very presence disturbs those around him. And with good reason. Mandy Z is a serial killer. His victims, not human, are only those of the fairy race. Killing fairies and sculpting their bones into his magnum opus is his life's work, his "Bone Wife."

Christine's life has been largely defined by two tragedies in her past. The death of her rock star parents in an auto accident and the kidnapping/murder of her childhood playmate May. Christine's life takes an astonishing turn when May suddenly reappears; not the victim of murder after all, but rather payment to the Faerie Queen for a service rendered to her human parents. She's been alive and well all these years in Ewigkreis, a magical land where all the fair folk, from what we call Germany in the Real World, abide. May crosses over to Real World because of her strong connection to Christine, where she attracts the attention of everyone in her sphere -- including Mandy Z. The artists think Mandy has a "crush" on May. No one realizes something much more sinister is going on. Mandy's intent, of course, is that May be his next victim.

Christine and May travel back and forth between Ewigkreis and Real World. May has become enchanted with the sights and tastes of Berlin and Jude, with whom she's fallen in love. Christine in turn craves the quiet joys of the fairy world. Mandy Z comes to realize that Christine has the ability to go back and forth between the worlds at will and begins to watch and follow her. Unwittingly, the two women unleash a vicious killer into Ewigkreis, where he's free to prey on a world of unwitting fairies.

Although not well known (yet) in the US, Kim Wilkins has published a number of other titles that are available in Australia and the U.K. THE AUTUMN CASTLE is the first book of her Europa Suite series and the only book now available in the US. The second book, GIANTS OF THE FROST, is currently available in the U.K. in hardcover and will be published in the U.S. in January 2006. THE AUTUMN CASTLE is one of the best things I've read in ages -- an exciting book that kept me up until 3:30 am because I couldn't go to bed not knowing how everything worked out. Mandy is truly evil and his near-misses with justice practically had me jumping up and down. A large, well-defined cast of secondary characters, both in Real World and Ewigkreis, add so much dimension to the story. I can't say enough about Wilkins storytelling abilities. She has a convert in me. I couldn't wait to wait to read GIANTS OF THE FROST, so I ordered it from Amazon U.K., and I'm sure I'll do the same with the third volume, THE SNOW WITCH. One note of warning -- if you choose Amazon U.K., remember the pound is strong right now in relationship to the dollar. Check the exchange rate before you order. I ordered anyway. No chance I want to wait until next January.