London, October, 1895. Former Baker Street Irregular Tim Badger and his colleague in crime-solving Ben Watson, are hired by a man whose neighbours are convinced he is a vampyre and have threatened him and his home. The strange Mister Jonathan Wicker – pale, dark-haired, allergic to the sun, and who spends his time in the study of bats! – needs the detectives to prove to the villagers that he is just an ordinary scientist. He invites the duo to travel to the village of Ashwell in Herefordshire to stay at his grim manor house to assess the situation whilst he is engaged in business in London and vows to join them in a few days time. Meanwhile, Miss Ellsie Moira Littleton, reporter for the Daily Chronicle who writes Badger and Watson's acclaimed adventures, gets wind of their mission and insinuates herself into their travel plans, where the duo becomes a trio in their investigations. But once in Ashwell, tragedy strikes, and Badger and Watson find they have a case they can truly sink their teeth into.

Jeri Westerson