Paris: July, 1890.
Achille Lefebvre and his wife, Adele, are planning to enjoy a stay at a seaside resort--until a body found hanging from a bridge in a public park demands the Inspector's attention.
Is it suicide, or murder? A twisted tale of evidence draws Inspector Lefebvre into a shadowy underworld of international intrigue, espionage, and terrorism. Time is of the essence; pressure mounts on the
Sûreté
to get results. Achille's chief orders him to work with his former partner, Inspector Rousseau, now in charge of a special unit in the newly formed political brigade. But can Achille trust the detective who let him down on another case?
Inspector Lefebvre uses innovative forensics and a network of police spies to uncover a secret alliance, a scheme involving the sale of a cutting-edge high explosive, and an assassination plot that threatens to ignite a world war.