Breslau in the 1920s is haunt of marquises and merchants, gamblers and gutter-rats. Eberhard Mock, the hardened Criminal Councillor, fits right in as he sways from the basements of grubby casinos to his beautiful young wife in their palatial mansion. But his beautiful young wife is feeling neglected. A series of sinister murders linked by the dates of past crimes has taken Mock out of the bedroom and into the archives. While Mock ransacks the city for clues, driven mad by the killer's tantalizing notes, his wife is seeking attention elsewhere. Engaging in perverted games with her less-than-innocent girlfriends, Mock's wife is being seduced by a mysterious sect which preaches the imminent end of the world. 'As noir as they get. Steeped in a rank air of cynicism and fear ... this complex and atmospheric thriller will find many fans' Independent. 'A stylish, intelligent and original addition to the canon.' Financial Times. 'The city of Breslau is as much a character in this thriller as the parade of gothic loons that inhabit it.' Daily Telegraph. 'Reading like Saw would if it had been a book... macabre murder mystery.' Shortlist. 'Atmospheric and piquant period detail saturate the pages... Krajewski's lacerating narrative performs the key function of the skilful novelist: providing an entree into a world far from our own' Barry Forshaw, The Times. 'An outrageously believable police detective' Peter Millar, The Times. 'Liable to live on in your dreams' John Williams, Mail on Sunday.