Peter Holroyd, a solitary scholar of Ming and Qing Dynasty maritime history, faces a seismic upheaval when his university threatens his funding and the possibility of tenure.

Simultaneously, an old friend ropes him into a volatile international crisis over Dejection Island in the South China Sea. With Britain, China, and the U.S. at odds, Holroyd must unearth ancient sovereignty claims to facilitate Britain's exit.

Alongside a captivating Chinese aide, he plunges into a perilous quest, where corpses multiply, murder attempts abound, and betrayal lurks at every turn. As Holroyd delves deeper into history, he's ensnared in a deadly web, questioning not just the fate of Dejection Island's inhabitants, but his own survival.