London, 1819: When Brewster, my bodyguard, comes to me about a murder of a pugilist?and what's more, says his wife has summoned me?I must hasten to St. Giles to find a killer before Brewster is arrested for the crime. This is made difficult because my wife's late husband's odious cousin has materialized to try to wrest her son into his care. After all, seven-year-old Peter is a viscount, and his cousin wants to get closer to the title.

But how close? If Peter's life is in danger, I must remain, but Brewster risks hanging for the death of his wife's brother-in-law. He's done too much for me to turn my back on him, but the devil if I'll let the Breckenridge cousin get his clutches on Peter.

It will take all my perseverance, and a few wiles, to plough through these difficulties. In the meantime, I meet a Runner who teaches me about crime and punishment in this enlightened age, and Brewster's old trainer, who made him the excellent pugilist?and thief?he is today.