In an age of Zeppelins and gyroplanes, the Transatlantic Span is the industrial marvel of the nineteenth century. A feat of engineering, the steel suspension bridge stretches across the Atlantic from Liverpool to the distant harbour of New York City. One day a faceless corpse is found beneath it. Inspector Matthew is still grieving for his late wife but forces himself to investigate what he intially fears is a Boer conspiracy against Queen Victoria. When more corpses appear he realises the sinister soul snatchers may be involved.