Cyrus Barker is undoubtedly England's premiere private enquiry agent. With the help of his Welsh assistant Thomas Llewelyn, the Scottish detective has developed an enviable reputation for discreetly solving some of the knottiest cases in Victorian London. But in this sixth book in the series (following Fatal Enquiry), Barker is brought in by Scotland Yard to look into a series of grisly murders in the Whitechapel area. He is to be named temporary envoy to the Royal Family with regard to the case while surreptitiously employing his investigative skill. Barker and Llewelyn must navigate every strata of Victorian society, high to low, public to secret, each with its own agenda and concerns regarding the murderer who will one day be known as the Ripper.