In a strange room in Morocco Mary Russell is trying to solve a pressing mystery: Who am I? She has awakened with shadows in her mind blood on her hands & soldiers pounding at the door. Out in the hive-like streets she discovers herself strangely adept in the skills of the underworld escaping through alleys & rooftops picking pockets & locks. She is clothed like a man & armed only with her wits & a scrap of paper showing a mysterious symbol. Overhead warplanes pass ominously north. Meanwhile Holmes is pulled by two old friends & a distant relation into the growing war between France Spain & the Rif Revolt led by Emir Abd el-Krim
- who could be a Robin Hood or a power-mad tribesman. The shadows of war are drawing over the ancient city of Fez & Holmes badly wants the wisdom & courage of his wife whom he discovers to his horror has gone missing. As Holmes searches for her & Russell searches for herself each tries to crack deadly parallel puzzles before its too late for them for Africa & for the peace of Europe.