This locked mansion mystery is set in 1839 at a country estate north of Toronto. Marc and Robert Baldwin have been working tirelessly to effect responsible government in Upper Canada (Ontario). In a few months, Upper and Lower Canada (Quebec) will be joined in a single legislature, and savvy political leaders see this as an opportunity to forge a solid alliance with like-minded Quebec representatives to facilitate democratic reforms. The secret meeting with visitors from the Quebec Rouge Party includes the great Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine.
Enemies of responsible government are the ruling class known as the Family Compact who foresee their power and commercial advantage diminished. Spies are everywhere. When a butler is murdered, everyone at the meeting is a suspect. Marc and Cobb have three days to solve it and save Canada for democracy.