Detective Sgt. Frederick Hume is called Round Freddy by friend and foe alike because of his girth and easy way of dealing with unusual situations, but he's puzzled by the abduction of a young woman from the Bootham Park Insane Asylum in the middle of a quiet Spring night in 1910. Investigating the kidnapping, with a fire-breathing chief constable continually at his back to deliver results quickly, Round Freddy uncovers a web of lies, deceit, embezzlement and murder. Round Freddy finds he has a roomful of suspects, including an unscrupulous banker, two shadowy financial fixers, a pair of lowlife ruffians, and even her uncle, a church vicar. Round Freddy scours York, England, for the woman until he's able to put together the puzzle pieces that allow him to make a final effort to get her back and clap the irons on those responsible