This story is set in Edinburgh in 1890s. Rose McQuinn, daughter of the infamous Scottish detective Jeremy Faro, discovers a woman's body whilst walking on Arthur's Seat, high above the city. Her description of the gruesome discovery is duly noted by a young constable at the scene, but when Rose returns she finds no trace of the body or the policeman, PC Smith. Turning to her friend DS Jack Macmerry, she finds his usual sympathetic manner distinctly lacking, and he is clearly doubtful over the validity of her story. And when the Edinburgh City Police can find no trace of the reported incident, Rose begins to discreetly investigate the murder herself. Matters take an unexpected turn when a woman is reported missing, and Rose is convinced the cases are linked, but as she pursues the murderer she finds herself in enormous danger of becoming his next victim ...