Werewolves and witches and vampires, oh my! There are some stains you just can't get out - coffee, red wine, demonic possession*. It's that last one, you're about to discover, leaves the worst mark. As a child Russell McLachlan was kidnapped by a secret cult to be the vessel for their demon lord. Stained by the demon, McLachlan has been after the cult ever since. Now several years later an artifact from that ritual surfaces has surfaced...he wants it. Despite the better judgment of his friends, Matteo - the werewolf Pack Lord, and Rowan, a pure of heart Wiccan. Meanwhile, Rebecca Miller is working the midnight to dawn shift at NYU's college station trying to get her life back in order. Which would be great if she hadn't developed an interest in one of her audience members. That being the mysterious yet funny Russell McLachlan. Building a Mystery follows both of their stories, introducing friends and enemies as McLachlan tries to recover the artifact and Rebecca struggles to regain a healthier sense of herself. Their stories are intercut with flashbacks of McLachlan's youth, and his journey through adolescence as a troubled boy. All the while, keeping up a steady stream of banter and urban adventure, as McLachlan protects modern day New York from things that go bump in the night.This is the first book in The Cups Triptych where the Cult of Eighth House re-enter McLachlan's life at the same time as he wants to start living properly. Feeling like she has lost her voice in the world, Rebecca wants to be heard. And not just by those who tune into the radio show. *Please note: this book is not a domestic guide to stubborn stains and the perils of misunderstanding those laundry symbols on clothing tags. Just thought I should clear that up.