When an explosion in London kills two policemen and injures three more, many believe that anarchists are the culprits. But Thomas Pitt, commander of Special Branch, suspects that someone with more personal motives lit the deadly fuse. As he investigates the source of the fatal blast, Pitt discovers that the bombing was a calculated strike against the ranks of law enforcement. But still more shocking revelations await, as Pitt's inquiries lead him to a member of Parliament hoping for a lucrative business deal, a high-ranking police officer with secrets to keep, and an aristocratic opium addict seeking murderous revenge."--,Provided by publisher.