When foggy mists lift in San Francisco in 1896, they reveal a new underworld alliance in the Barbary Coast alleyways. A soft-spoken man known as Jacques Meunier has come to wield immense influence. On the street, Meunier's voice has a French accent. In private, he appears to be an Englishman. To readers familiar to this classic bestselling crime series by John Gardner, this notorious figure is, of course, Professor James Moriarty.

But upon discovering that Inspector Angus MacCready Crow is tracking his movements, the Professor slips swiftly and secretly back to the familiar streets of London.

A superb master of disguise a brilliantly twisted tactician, Moriarty maneuvers his army of lurkers, pickpockets, punishers, and mobsters, trapping his enemies all across Europe.In this vivid novel of London underworld crime, John Gardner has crafted another novel in his brilliant series pitting the Napoleon of Crime, James Moriarty, against mystery fictions great detective, Sherlock Holmes.