Young Sam Kenwright is a good copper, but who wants to face villains armed with magic? And why is England a province of Spain?
Sam Kenwight is just a young police cadet patrolling the streets of London, when he stumbles on a jewel robbery. Unfortunately the thieves are better armed, smarter, and rather pretty, too. So when the magic wears off the next morning and Sam can move again, he sets off to uncover the villains. Aided by a street urchin called Meric, the horse-girl Rhosyn and Sally, the politician's daughter, he follows the trail through Spanish London. Along the way they encounter a den of illegal scientists, a truly magical play, the destruction of the Tower of London, a kidnapping, and a clandestine performance of a play by the banned author, William Shakespeare.
Are the villains simply jewel thieves, though? Or are there more sinister motives? Somebody wants to free England from the Spanish, certainly. But there's blood-revenge in the mix, and the Portuguese Secret Service too, and Sam's got to figure it all out, get the girl and save the world.