Charlie is a wily thief taker (Private Investigator) in 1665 London when the plague hits England with a vengeance. He is mistakenly implicated in the violent murder of a young woman by a plague doctor and forced to flee the relative safety of central London for the city's plague-filled outskirts. Charlie is both handsome and inventive. He runs from his present circumstances to find his past in hopes of learning more about his own foundling origins and his freedom. The only clue to Charlie's past is a mysteriously ornate key worn around his neck that will help clear his name and involve him in political intrigue on a scale that threatens the King.

Quinn's book is an enjoyable read. I'm not as familiar with this time period so I can't speak to it's historical accuracy, merely it's entertainment and readability. Quinn necessarily depicts the plague graphically but not to an uncomfortable degree. I would definitely read another book featuring this charming Thief Taker!