Hester Monk works with the women of the streets in Victorian London The prostitutes are often seriously injured but when wealthy and respectable Nolan Baltimore, head of Baltimore and Sons is found dead in one of the area's brothels, Hester and her husband are forced to investigate With calls for the police to clean up the streets, Hester decides she must intervene to protect these women Meanwhile her husband, William Monk, has been approached by Katrina Harcus, who suspects that the company her fiancee works for, Baltimore and Sons may be guilty of fraud As Monk endeavours to prevent a serious crime taking place, the link between the two cases becoming ever clearer The time has come for Monk to confront his own demons even if it means losing all that he now holds dear