In the midst of a growing cholera epidemic in England in 1831, Gustine, a prostitute, agrees to provide cadavers for surgeon Henry Chiver in exchange for his help in saving her son, a child born with a rare heart condition.

The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone--one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood. As more sex workers are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on...