#1 in the Inspector Raft Mystery Series When a series of bizarre murders occur in Londons notorious East End, Scotland Yards Inspector Philemon Raft is called on to solve the crimes, but even he is powerless to explain why the victims are displayed in public places -- or why the killer insists on drilling burr holes in their skulls. With little to go on except the strange red dust found on the victims palms, Raft must scour the city looking for an explanation. Aided only by his newly-appointed constable Freddie Crook, Rafts investigation takes him into Londons most dark and dangerous places, where human predators wait to devour and destroy. But Raft has an even bigger problem: a casual acquaintance is blackmailing him, and what she knows about his secrets could tear Rafts life to pieces.