There are a million stories in the Walled City. This is one of them... The Walled City is a modern marvel - set at the mouth of the Great River where it joins the Orb Sea - five cities built on top of each other, towering over the landscape, offering haven, excitement, opportunity, and - far too often - death. Junior Watchdog Vela Redmane has a problem. A mysterious murder at the tavern where she was drinking turns into a complicated, dangerous case - the victim died alone...from pleasure. Given the chance to prove herself, Vela's ready and willing to do whatever it takes to find out who, or what, is behind what turns into a string of murders. Uncovering conspiracies with every clue she follows, Vela's thwarted, threatened, and attacked, both physically and magically, by those who want to keep their secrets and dirty dealings hidden. Pursued by rival gangs, utilizing informants who may or may not be trustworthy, and stalked by things otherworldly, Vela needs more than her trusty truncheon and hand crossbow to survive, let alone to solve the case. And she's running out of time, because the investigation has put her next on the killer's list. Noir meets high fantasy in this thrilling debut novel.