In the enchanted city of Turai, the royal family is corrupt, the politicians can be bought, and the civic guards have better things to do than guarding. Thraxas may look unprepossessing, being overweight and not quite overbrained, and more interested in pursuit of his next glass of beer than pursuit of justice, but if you're in trouble in Turai this portly private eye is probably your only hope. Winter's on its way to Turai, and so are an army of Orcs. Thraxas may have been a hero of the last Orc War (according to him) but he's got absolutely no intention of getting mixed up in this battle and is planning to keep his head well down--preferably buried in a big steak pie. Unfortunately, his next case has him in an investigation at the war ministry. A Senior Councilor has been murdered. With a cake . . .