Charlotte Parker is a brilliant journalist who writes under the pen name Charles P. Barker for the Pall Mall Gazette. After finding a bloody message to stop writing or else is left on her bedroom wall, she seeks Detective Liam O’Hare’s assistance in solving the case. He immediately takes the case, and along with his trusty sidekick Dr. Johnson, they are led to the back alleys of the brothel known as the Tom Cat, where Charlotte is working on an unofficial story. Liam O’Hare must solve this case soon before the fiend’s threat is carried out.

EXCERPT:

The clock had just struck eight times. My companion sat down his violin and picked up his pipe. “We have a guest, Johnson, if I am not mistaken.” I found out that he was not mistaken. Sure enough there was a knock on our door at 321A Delaney Street. “Come in,” Liam O’Hare stated as we both rose to greet our evening caller.

A young woman, no more than twenty-five, opened the door and entered. Her hair was raven black, and her eyes were the most unusual silver. Her complexion was pale, and although she was composed, her eyes betrayed her inner fear and apprehension.

“I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, but the police recommended me to you.” She looked between us, deciding correctly which one of us was Liam O’Hare. “It is a most disturbing tale, Mr. O’Hare. I fear that my life is in grave danger.”

“Please have a seat, Miss, and tell us what happened. Leave nothing out, no matter how unimportant it might seem.” O’Hare poured her a cup of tea as she took a seat across from us. She smoothed down her azure dress before taking the cup of tea. She put in one lump of sugar and stirred it into the tea before talking.

“My name is Charlotte Parker.” Her silver eyes briefly went to the numerous newspapers my friend and I often perused. “You likely know my work, but very few people know the secret.” She searched both of our faces, and finding us honest enough, she continued, “My pseudonym is Charles P. Barker, and I’m a journalist for the Pall Mall Gazette.”