A deadly act of terror on the Thames leads William Monk into a treacherous world where the powerful seek to buy justice, and no one is safe.

Commander William Monk: in search of justice, he will not stop until he has found the truth.

It is a time of progress, with the Empire's interests expanding and the contentious new Suez Canal nearing completion. Many people stand to gain - and to lose - as the world rapidly changes.

When a Thames pleasure boat is blown up with the loss of many lives, an Egyptian man is quickly sentenced to hang for the crime. But William Monk, head of the River Police, discovers the evidence was flawed. As he and his wife Hester investigate further, Monk begins to wonder if the wrong man was convicted. If justice itself has been tainted, exposing the true culprit will be far more dangerous...

"Anne Perry's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have earned much critical acclaim: 'Give her a good murder and a shameful social evil, and Anne Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens' eyes pop out" - New York Times Book Review

"A totally contemporary feel ... admirably well-written" - Guardian

"Her Victorian England pulsates with life and is peopled with wonderfully memorable characters" - Faye Kellerman

"A complex plot supported by superb storytelling ... and William Monk, a contender for the post of Most Original Investigator in recent fiction" - Scotland on Sunday