The discovery of a deceased peer of the realm sitting at the reins of a hansom cab forces Inspector Thomas Pitt into a complex investigation involving grave robbery and high-society secrets. Pitt must navigate the rigid social hierarchies of Victorian London to determine why a man already buried would be exhumed and displayed in such a public, macabre fashion. Alongside his wife, Charlotte, who provides crucial insights into the upper-class circles Pitt cannot easily access, he faces resistance from both the medical establishment and the aristocracy. The narrative follows a traditional investigative framework, tracking the procedural steps taken to uncover a motive hidden beneath layers of social propriety and professional denial.

This work is characterized by its meticulous attention to the social mores and atmospheric conditions of the Victorian era. The narrative relies on the established dynamic between Thomas and Charlotte Pitt to bridge the gap between the police force and the insular world of the nobility. Readers often note the methodical pacing, which prioritizes the slow accumulation of evidence over rapid action sequences. The mystery functions as a critique of the period's obsession with reputation and the lengths to which individuals will go to preserve their standing.