Sylvester Jones and Nicholas Winters, founders of the Arcane Society, each sought to enhance their individual psychic talents. Winters' efforts led to the creation of a device called the Burning Lamp. Each generation the Winters man who inherits it is destined to develop multiple talents and the curse of madness. Now, plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, notorious crime lord Griffin Winters is convinced he has been struck with the Winters Curse...

When the body of small-time crook Mickey Parfitt washes up on the tide, no one grieves. But William Monk, commander of the Thames River Police, is puzzled by the expensive silk cravat used to strangle Parfitt. Informers lead Monk to what may be a partial answer - a floating palace of corruption on the Thames managed by Parfitt, where a captive band of half-starved boys are forced to perform vile acts. Further investigation takes Monk and his wife,...

"Kir 'Master' Vasiliev doesn’t care whether he lives or dies. He’s a burnt-out shell with no one and nothing but his club. Whatever Torpedo Ink needs, Master will put himself in harm’s way time after time. If he doesn’t make it back, he’s certain everyone will move on just fine. Investment banker Ambrielle Moore knows her own mind, and she’s not willing to settle for anyone. So when a second-rate gangster and his thugs try to coerce her...