"President Chester Arthur calls semi-retired Murphy back to duty when, with a meeting of world leaders in New York City approaching, prostitutes are being murdered and dismembered in the streets. Murphy is to take command of the investigation. Given the meeting's importance, Arthur also enlists the Pinkerton Detective Agency, saddling Murphy with diminutive Detective Melvin Knoop. From Scotland, he's rarely left the office but has a keen sense for forensics. After weeks of investigation, the killer escapes New York and a national manhunt begins." -- page 4 of cover.