A freshly rotting corpse has been found in an old steamer trunk in the east end of London.
No one knows how the corpse got to be there. Only Richard Wiseman knows who he is, but he's not saying. According to the newspaper photograph Richard was sent anonymously, Joseph was alive in 1876.
Inspector Pippa Bunting is the lead investigator in Joseph's case. She is called to the scene of another murder only to discover that the man she had in custody a little over twenty-four hours ago, is the victim. Having been forced to let him go under the pressure of his high-powered solicitor and her Superintendent, Pippa begins to reassess the commands of her superiors.
Agent Luke Stirling has been shadowing Andreas Salladin, the wealthy entrepreneur whose riches are exceeded only by his madness. Luke has learned that the brash Inspector is at the center of Salladin's efforts, yet has still to discover why.
Daniel is the coroner assigned to both cases. He has always been like an old gruff uncle to Pippa. When she finds an unexpected body in the morgue, she commits herself to solving the murders no matter the repercussions.
The meaner streets of London. The jeweled paths of Budapest. International intrigue brings Luke and Pippa together on a chase that will change the lives of everyone.
Excerpt
Luke flew over the ground, his feet barely touching the surface before they were lifted and stretching forward again.
The petrol station was set out in the middle of the countryside, a stop for the locals or those unfortunate enough to have gotten lost. Surrounded by trees, with a gravel lot in the front, its hey-day had probably never been.
The cars weren't bothering with petrol, parked on the side, facing outwards towards the road and waiting for the man who was making a phone call from the phone box thirty yards away. Sometimes, things went your way, Luke figured. He slowed down and made his way over to the box, going from tree-to-tree.
Forensic pathologist Greg Stevens MD is caught in the middle of a bitter struggle between two of his closest friends. Sean Merrick, an attorney specializing in malpractice law, sues Dr. Jason Costanza after Merrick's wife dies unexpectedly, following
