The novel begins with a dual epigraph. The first excerpt is a description of the bustling, prosperous Kensington district in 1891. The second part is taken from a poem entitled “The Lotos-Eaters:”

But, propt on beds of amaranth and moly,

How sweet (while warm airs lull us, blowing lowly)

With half-dropt eyelid still,

Beneath a heaven dark and holy,

To watch the long bright river drawing slowly

His waters from the purple hill— (ix).

The first chapter consists of a list of names and their relationships to the main character and her sister. The author offers no explanation as to who compiled the list or why.

Mickey Fitzpatrick is a 31-year-old veteran of the Philadelphia police force. Because her regular partner is recovering from an injury, she is currently breaking in a new rookie partner whom she doesn’t like very much. His name is Eddie Lafferty. Mickey says of him, “He likes to talk—already I know more about him than he’ll ever know about me—and he’s a pretender” (8).

The two of them are investigating a tip about a dead body in the Kensington district of Philadelphia. It’s a poverty-stricken area where drug addicts and prostitutes congregate. When they arrive, they find a man in a hooded sweatshirt lurking around.