In Daretanas greatest mansion, a high imperial officer lies deadkilled, to all appearances, when a tree erupted from his body. Even here at the Empires borders, where contagions abound and the blood of the leviathans works strange magical changes, its a death both terrifying and impossible.

Assigned to investigate is Ana Dolabra, a detective whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities. Rumor has it that she wears a blindfold at all times, and that she can solve impossible cases without even stepping outside the walls of her home.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol, magically altered in ways that make him the perfect aide to Anas brilliance. Din is at turns scandalized, perplexed, and utterly infuriated by his new superiorbut as the case unfolds and he watches Anas mind leap from one startling deduction to the next, he must admit that she is, indeed, the Empires greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the Empire itself, Din realizes hes barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabraand wonders how long hell be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.