The second Thomas De Quincey mystery from prizewinner David Morrell: a return to the gaslit streets of Victorian London for a case of murder and assassination that brilliantly blends historical fact with crime fiction.

Riveting! With this mesmerizing series, David Morrell doesn't just delve into the world of Victorian England - he delves into the heart of evil, pitting one man's opium-skewed brilliance against a society where appearances are everything...and the most vicious killers lurk closer than anyone thinks.

A gaslit gallop through Victorian London - Financial Times[An] exceptional historical mystery...page-flipping action, taut atmosphere, and multifaceted characters - BooklistShockingly real...Morrell's thorough and erudite research of the people and culture of the British Empire's heyday informs every page. A literary thriller that pushes the envelope of fear - Associated PressMasterful...brilliantly plotted....evokes 1854 London with such finesse that you'll hear the hooves clattering on cobblestones - Entertainment WeeklyBrilliant. Everything works - the horrifying depiction of the murders, the asides explaining the impact of train travel on English society, nail-biting action sequences - making this book an epitome of the intelligent page-turner. - Publishers Weekly