English crime novelist Charles Latimer is travelling in Istanbul when he makes the acquaintance
of Turkish police inspector Colonel Haki. It is from him that he first hears of the mysterious
Dimitrios - an infamous master criminal long wanted by the law whose body has just been
fished out of the Bosphorus. Fascinated by the story Latimer decides to retrace Dimitrios'
steps across Europe to gather material for a new book. But as he gradually discovers more
about his subject's shadowy history fascination tips over into obsession. And in entering
Dimitrios' criminal underworld Latimer realizes that his own life may be on the line.
