Dead Witch Walking (2004) by Kim Harrison is the first book in The Hollows series, a urban fantasy that introduces Rachel Morgan, a tough-as-nails witch and bounty hunter working for Inderland Security (a supernatural law enforcement agency). When Rachel quits her job to go independent, her boss slaps her with a near-impossible assignment: bring in Trent Kalamack, a powerful, charismatic businessman and suspected drug lord—who also happens to be an elf.
Teaming up with her partners—Ivy Tamwood, a living-vampire with a dangerous obsession for Rachel, and Jenks, a foul-mouthed pixie—Rachel navigates a Cincinnati where humans coexist uneasily with supernatural “Inderlanders” after a genetically engineered tomato virus wiped out a quarter of humanity.
Harrison’s worldbuilding blends noir grit with playful humor (Jenks’ one-liners steal scenes), while Rachel’s growth from reckless freelancer to resilient heroine anchors the series’ mix of action, mystery, and slow-burn romance.
For fans of: Dresden Files (Butcher), Mercy Thompson (Briggs), or October Daye (McGuire).
