Southeast London is being haunted by the "Manners Killer," who wants to teach his victims a lesson in decency. Unfortunately for him, the investigation is taken over by Inspector Brant, who is currently writing a crime novel and, in the best "The Killer Inside Me" style by Jim Thompson, believes that if someone is going to get away with murder in his territory, it might as well be him. "Now here is a serial killer for modern times." And an inspector from the old school.