The gay 1890s aren't always. Gay that is. Sometimes life is dangerous, especially if you're next on someone's murder list. In 1896, there aren't many career choices for a young lady. China Bohannon has fled one bad situation, and is looking to start her life over as a strong, independent woman in the wild and woolly town of Spokane, Washington. Convincing Gratton Doyle to take her seriously as a bookkeeper is hard enough, and when it comes to working as an investigator in the Doyle & Howe Detective Agency, it's wellnigh impossible. But what if China is able to solve a murder case no one, including the police, wants to take on, that of a young girl found dead, her body thrown in the river? maybe Gratton will hire her then. But first, China has to avoid becoming the murderer's next victim.