1815.  Peter and Paul Skillen, identical twins and fearless thief-takers, stalk all who dare to walk in the shadow of the hangman. When they catch a notorious burglar, they claim a handsome reward and infuriate the Bow Street Runners who believe that they have a monopoly on policing in the capital.The Home Secretary, Viscount Sidmouth, faces a crisis. During a massacre at Dartmoor of American prisoners of war, two of them escape and come to London to exact retribution. If their demands are not met, Sudmouth will be killed. The Skillen brothers are hired to catch the fugitives and to find the Home Office cleaner who has mysteriously disappeared. Enraged at being overlooked, the Runners compete with the twins to bring the villains to justice in a compelling tale of murder, kidnap, revenge, intrigue and political machination.