El Nueva York de mediados del siglo XIX es una ciudad fascinante, insolente y joven, donde abunda el dinero fresco, gentes llegadas de medio mundo e ideas innovadoras como el telégrafo, el daguerrotipo, la anestesia, el espiritismo, el ocultismo o las mesas parlantes. En el circo de Silas P. Swift se ocultan una madre y su hija, Cordelia y Gwenlliam Preston, y allí tratan de encontrar consuelo para sus corazones heridos mientras provocan el entusiasmo del público en la Gran Carpa: Cordelia es una oscura mesmerista con poderes curativos; y su hija, Gwenlliam, una aplaudida acróbata y funambulista. Pero en Londres, el viejo y depravado duque Llannefydd, víctima del resentimiento y de la bilis que lo ahoga, está dispuesto a pagar diez mil libras a quien asesine a Cordelia y secuestre a su hija.

This book follows on from The Mesmerist finding Cordelia and her 'family' in New York in the 1840s, having fled England to escape tragedy and scandal. Cordelia and her daughter, Gwenlliam, are working as the headline act in Silas P Swift's Amazing Circus. Cordelia's husband is Detective Rivers working for the New York Police. There are also four other members of their unusual 'family'. The seven of them find themselves living in the attic floor of Madame Celine's restaurant. Madame Celine used to work in a circus herself in her younger years so she is drawn to these lively characters.

The circus business starts to drop of in New York resulting in Cordelia and Gwen touring the country doing one night shows all over the country. Then Silas comes up with a plan to make them all heaps of money, they will take the circus to the goldfields in California.

Meanwhile, some unfinished business in England is looking to catch up with Cordelia and Gwenlliam. The women are totally unaware of the dangers awaiting them. Life for Arthur Rivers as an honest policeman in New York is not particularly safe either.

This book is packed with adventure and drama. The loyalty of friends versus the power of the dollar to make people do evil things. The contrast between the proper English culture and the new American way was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I will definitely read more from this author in the future. ( )