Magdalene la Batarde is the madam of the Old Priory Guesthouse in Southwark. She and her women are expected to engage in a number of sinful activities, but bloody murder isn't one of them-until Baldassare, the messenger, dies. Magdalene and her women refuse to allow his death to go unavenged, aware that if they don't find the killer, they will be assumed guilty, because they are whores. The bishop of Winchester, who was served for many years by Baldassare, has put the handsome Sir Bellamy of Itchen, his most trusted knight, in charge of the murder investigation. Bellamy is convinced that Magdalene is involved right up to her beautiful eyebrows, but unable to believe that his captivating chief suspect is a killer. Now, he must find out how and why Baldassare died-or watch the mysterious Magdalene meet her fate on the gallows.