The death of John Harmon, a young man whose inheritance hinges on marrying a woman he's never met, sets off a stir among London's high society. The fortune falls into the hands of the working-class Boffins, who take in Bella Wilfer, Harmon's intended bride, and a mysterious secretary named Rokesmith. Meanwhile, Lizzie Hexam, the daughter of a boatman suspected of Harmon's murder, is courted by two suitors: Bradley Headstone, a self-righteous obsessive, and Eugene Wrayburn, a roguish and laid-back individual. A diverse cast of characters weaves together in a complex and engaging tale.
A body pulled from the Thames is identified as young John Harmon, heir to a f...