This work investigates the moral corruption and unchecked power of Sydney's elite during the late nineteenth century. Cyril Pearl, a seasoned journalist and historian, utilizes archival records, contemporary newspaper reports, and legal transcripts to expose the criminal activities of three prominent figures: John Norton, William Willis, and Arthur Dean. The book argues that these men operated with impunity, exploiting the city's social and political structures to amass wealth and influence through blackmail, fraud, and intimidation.

This text is regarded as a classic of Australian investigative history, noted for its sharp, cynical prose and meticulous documentation of urban vice. The narrative provides a dense, unflinching look at the darker side of colonial development that remains a standard reference for the period.