August 1940. German fighter planes plague London's skyline, but inside the famous Ritz Hotel, the cream of society continues to enjoy all the glamour and comfort that money can buy -- until a man is discovered, his throat slashed open. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg is called in to investigate, no stranger himself to the haunts of the upper echelons of society, ably assisted by his trusty colleague, Sergeant Lampson. Yet they soon face a number of obstacles: as the crime was committed in rooms used by an exiled king, there are those who fear diplomatic repercussions. With mounting pressure from various Intelligence agencies, rival political factions and gang warfare brewing either side of the Thames, Coburg and Lampson must untangle a web of deception if they are to solve the case -- and survive.