This is the 7th book in the Amber series. The book opens with Merke Corey (Merlin, son of Corwin) in San Francisco, with a dead Ex-girl friend and dog like beast ready to attack him.
The plot thickens.. this one was quite interesting, though the ending was a bit convoluted. Still, I am interested in these new/old problems rising against the House of Amber. Merlin is a good character, though I do prefer Corwin (will we ever find out what happened to him?!).