As the 19th century draws to a close, in Anne Perry's 30th adventure for Thomas Pitt and his clever wife Charlotte, much of Europe is in political turmoil. Adding to the unrest, the controversial Sofia Delacruz has come to London from Spain to preach a gospel of love and forgiveness that many deem blasphemous. Pitt, commanding the elite Special Branch, is charged with protecting Sofia while shielding Her Majesty's government from any embarrassment this charismatic woman might cause—a task made far more challenging after Sofia vanishes and two of her female disciples are found murdered.

"Perry melds the intellectual debates of the day with a suspenseful plot line."—Publishers Weekly