An Advanced Reader's Edition of this first novel, winner of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The sequel, his third novel A Spectacle of Corruption, was published in March 2004. Liss has received fine reviews for his recreation of 18th C London, with its nascent stock market and labor unions, and lethal under and political worlds. His protagonist the ex-pugilist, Jewish detective Benjamin Weaver is one of the best characters in recent mystery writing. The ARE has different cover art than the final dust jacket.