High in the Himalayas, a renegade Chinese agent is brutally murdered while trying to reach the British Embassy in Kathmandu. A Triad revenge killing? Or does the mutilated corpse point to sinister espionage activity that might set the powder-keg of South East Asia ablaze? SIS China-watcher David Nairn sends vulnerable Ruth Ash to investigate. In Hong Kong she mistrusts the loyalty of station chief Benjamin Foo. But, threatened by danger at every turn, Ruth uncovers an ugly trail of deception and violence snaking back through fifty war-torn years - and forward to the most terrifying clash yet between China and the enemies at her gates . . .