London, 2010. Grieving the loss of her lover, Swinburne museum curator Catherine Gehrig is given a special project--bring back to life an automaton whose original owner, 19th century Englishman Henry Brandling, was also confronted with the mystery of life and death.

The newest member of the Krewe of Hunters elite paranormal team, FBI agent Ryder Stapleton must enlist the help of a beautiful museum curator with an otherworldly ability to track down a serial arsonist setting fire to the streets of New Orleans.