Into the humdrum life of a quiet London doctor, a chilling nightmare abruptly descends.

When detective Nayland Smith returns unexpectedly from Burma, he brings with him a desperate warning that will alter the fate of the Western world. Hard upon his heels is a criminal genius of unparalleled cunning-a mastermind who wages war not with guns or knives, but with exotic poisons, venomous creatures, and trapdoors hidden in the smoky opium dens of the Thames.

"Imagine a person, tall, lean and feline, high-shouldered, with a brow like Shakespeare and a face like Satan… you have a mental picture of Dr. Fu-Manchu, the yellow peril incarnate in one man."

From eerie, perfumed envelopes that seal the doom of brilliant statesmen, to hair's-breadth escapes from watery graves and burning buildings, this relentless cat-and-mouse chase sweeps readers into a breathless adventure. Join Dr. Petrie and Nayland Smith as they battle unseen assassins, beautiful but deadly spies, and a shadow organization that strikes without warning.

Experience the ultimate classic thriller where every shadow hides a lurking menace, and every tick of the clock brings you closer to the brilliant, unfathomable evil of Dr. Fu-Manchu.