"No one cares much when a couple of street whores working the lowest rung on the prostitutions ladder in 1914 New Orleans are murdered in the same fashion. When a third sporting woman turns up dead, a small panic ensues, and Tom Anderson, the 'King of Storyville.' sends word from his hospital bed to Creole detective Valentin St. Cyr, who grudgingly steps into the investigation"--back cover.