Book excerpt: "When [an 1880s] Dublin pawnbroker is found murdered and the lead suspect goes missing, Sergeant Joe Swallow is handed the poisoned chalice of the investigation. On the way he uncovers deep-rooted corruption, discovers the power of new, scientific detection techniques, and encounters a ruthless adversary. With authorities pressing for a quick resolution, the public living in fear of attack, and the newspapers happy to point to the police's every mistake, Swallow must use every trick in his arsenal to crack the case"--