In the present day NUMA Director Dirk Pitt makes a daring rescue from inside an antiquated submersible in the waters off New York City. His reward afterwards is a document left behind a century earlier by legendary detective Isaac Bell... In 1911 in Colorado detective Isaac Bell is asked to look into an unexplained tragedy at Little Angel Mine in which nine people died. His dangerous quest to answer the riddle leads to a larger puzzle centered on byzanium a rare element with extraordinary powers and of virtually incalculable value. As he discovers that there are people who will do anything to control the substance Isaac Bell will find out just how far he'll go to stop them.

Part of the The Isaac Bell Series series.