In Restoration London, merchant Matthew Webb is murdered after dining with some of the capital's most influential men. Thomas Chaloner is ordered to investigate, but the trail moves steadily towards Whitehall and people protected by proximity to the King.
Assisted by his friend Aphra Behn, Chaloner enters a world of courtiers, spies and political factions in which witnesses understand the danger of speaking openly. The case forces him to decide how far he can pursue the truth when his employer's interests and the safety of the monarchy may depend on silence.