Once he was a criminal.
Now he could become a legend.
Schloss Alber is situated at the top of a jagged cliff, looming over the nearby town: the ancient seat of an ancient family. But its natural defenses cannot prevent all invasions. Lord Alber, the head of the family, has a unique problem: a priceless sword, known as the Dauerhaft, the inheritance for his eldest living son, is not actually legally his to bequeath. Its rightful owner is on his way to claim it. But now the sword has been stolen from the very heart of the family.
Meanwhile, Clara Mendel, daughter of the family's former governess, returns to Schloss Alber from her medical studies in Copenhagen. Clever and independent, many have underestimated her; she has yet to find someone who could match her first-rate mind. But as she returns to the family she is surprised to see a new face among them: Mr Hugo Strahm. It quickly becomes apparent that Lord Aber's trust is firmly in his new friend, so much so that it is Strahm who is charged with finding the stolen sword.
But Hugo Strahm is not his real name. And there is nothing harmless about this man. He may be playing a detective, but he was once a criminal mastermind. Can Clara trust him? Or anyone at Schloss Alber?
