Edward's cousin hadn't just been murdered, but butchered. Everyone he knows advises him not to get involved. Even Quaesitor Kapric Gropa-who's charged with solving the murder and isn't his friend-tells him to stay away. But when the head of the local detachment of Imperial Guard asks for his help, he can't say no. The trail leads to cheating at the hippodrome. It's one of the worst crimes in the entire empire¿ but someone is getting away with it, and they're leaving a trail of murders in their wake. Then Edward discovers it's not a crime: it's an attack on all he holds dear.New foes dog his steps, and he'll have to bloody his steel and muster all the allies he can-including some of his former enemies-if he hopes to live long enough to see this case through. Can Edward figure out who's behind it all before the final assault, or will he meet his end and have his new home explode in additional butchery and terror?