Department Z's in the dark. Our leading industrialists are suddenly struck blind. Z agents themselves are affected. Can this be the beginning of a new Dark Age? The antidote must be found.

Inspector West takes charge as one victim after another is the target of a ruthless plan for extortion

The day started for Detective-Superintendent Gideon with a mail-van robbery. By mid-morning a policeman had been killed by a hit and run, a child killer was on the loose, and an old lady lay battered to death in her shop. The East End could be a very busy place and the day proved no exception for Gideon and his overworked Crime Division. But it wasn't to end there....

The Hon Richard Rollison had faced death in many forms in the course of his chequered career - but the Doc's prescription sent a chill down even his spine....Death by Fire! Would the Toff's skill be enough to bring to justice the kidnapper of an innocent child - and save himself from being burnt alive?

Richard Rollison - The Toff to the underworld and Scotland Yard alike - was disliked but respected by those on the wrong side of the law. Lady Luck seemed always to smile his way, and the smart crook would stay out of his path. But his family considered him nothing more than a silly playboy, and not quite respectable - until the unhappy day when the family found itself deep in an evil mess of blackmail, drugs ..........and perhaps murder!

Charmion was not exactly a friend of Richard Rollison's - otherwise known as The Toff. Charmion had just returned from a seven year voyage arranged by the Toff, a voyage with only one stop. Now it seemed that he was seeking vengeance - or was he? Certainly someone was trying to kill the Toff. But was it really Charmion? Or was someone else trying to frame the former con man?

Beautiful, wealthy young Margaret Wylie was going out of her mind. She was obsessed with the idea that someone was trying to harm her baby son. Patrick Dawlish sent his wife to comfort the young woman, but when he tried to telephone the village he found all the lines had been cut. Then he realised the two women were at the mercy of a highly organised gang and that he - Patrick Dawlish - was powerless to help!

Chatworth, the Assistant Commissioner, pulled at his under-lip. 'We aren't doing very well, West, are we?' All kinds of people were interested in Andrew Kelham, including the Home Office. Three days ago his son had been murdered, his cleaner strangled. Since then things hadn't exactly been easy for 'Handsome' West of the Yard. He had been given a bloody nose, sandbagged, robbed of important papers, shot at, attacked with a knife, and accused of gross neglect of duty.....It was about time his luck changed. That afternoon Roger met the astonishingly lovely Mrs Kelham......

The Bullion Boys had brought off the smartest coup since the Great Train Robbery and 'Handsome' West - glamour boy of the Yard - became a target for both the Press and the criminals. Ruthless, desperate and terrifying in their ingenuity, the thieves stopped at nothing to protect the gold for which so many had died - and Rogers' only clue was a splinter of glass.....