An abandoned railway tunnel collapses in London, killing dozens, including a large portion of gang leaders. Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn suspect this is an attempt for a rival gang to take over the underworld of crime. The enquiry agents are also hired to find a missing heiress, a wealthy American who had come to London to marry a peer of the realm, just as her sister did. Barker and Llewelyn meet a street beggar, known as Dutch, who suffers with a badly damaged leg and can only crawl from place to place. Cyrus Barker also runs a woman's shelter where he takes Dutch to try and help her recover, but she keeps disappearing from the shelter. Many men are looking for their wives who are sheltered there and a riot ensues, but is it really caused by ordinary folks or is there a sinister purpose behind it? Is this part of the plot to take over the crime world of London? Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? And how does Dutch figure into all of it? Another great read from Thomas. This is a good series with some great history of Victorian London.

I loved reading this in October as I feel the spooky month matches the mystery! I enjoyed learning about the criminal underworld in London throughout this novel. It was suspenseful and thrilling filled with danger and mystery! Would recommend this book

This series is amazing!! You can actually feel as if you are in 19th century Victorian London. Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn are the next Holmes and Watson.