
The seventeenth novel in Anne Perrys acclaimed William Monk series 1864
- Monk & his wife Hester are doing their best to care for Scuff
- a homeless boy slowly recovering from a terrifying ordeal at the hands of Jericho Phillips the runner of a child prostitution ring. Although Scuffs evil abductor is dead there is no suggestion that the ring has been broken & Scuff is certain that more children are suffering an even worse fate. Monk is determined to find the remaining children & uncover once & for all the men funding the operation. & when the body of small-time crook Mickey Parfitt washes up on Mortlakes shore it fortuitously points him in the right direction. But as Monks investigation continues the reputations of respected gentlemen including Arthur Ballinger father-in-law of Monks friend Oliver Rathbone start being called into question & his task becomes fraught with unforeseen dangers. In an illicit world of blackmail vice & corruption Monk must follow the trail
- & his conscience
- wherever it leads no matter how disturbing the truth may be.