Excerpt from Ruler of the Night by David Morrell, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Harcourt knew the practical reasons for this arrangement, but his face was nonetheless covered with perspiration, since he didn't think of this as a train compartment. With its barred windows and locked doors, it felt like a prison cell.

The man who shared the narrow enclosure stood. He shifted past the armrests and sat opposite Harcourt, their knees almost touching.

What unmitigated rudeness. Harcourt thought. Is he a speculator? Does he hope to sell me something?

Peering resolutely toward the darkness beyond the window, Harcourt ignored the man.

"Good Evening, Mr. Harcourt."

How the deuce does he know my name? Unable to resist, Harcourt turned his gaze in the stranger's direction.

The stranger had kept his head down when he'd entered the compartment. But now he raised it and looked into Harcourt's eyes.

"You!" Harcourt exclaimed.

As the man lunged, Harcourt grabbed his umbrella, hoping to defend himself. But the man yanked it from his grasp and threw it on the floor. Squeezing Harcourt's throat with one hand, he drove a knife toward's Harcourt's chest with the other.

The knife his something solid and slid off.

The attacker cursed. Harcourt gasped, struggling to psuh away the hand that choked him.

Hell began.

Excerpted from Ruler of the Night by David Morrell. Copyright © 2016 by David Morrell. Excerpted by permission of Mulholland. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.