Buried treasure and pirate legends bubble to the surface in the seaside holiday town of Queenscliff and Phryne finds herself at the pointy end of a Spanish dagger.

When a gang leader is found dead outside a travelling boxing tent, Phryne's investigation leads her into the dangerous but thrilling world of fight rigging and tribal payback.

Inspired by a Kerry Greenwood short story and set amidst the passion and fanaticism of 1929 Australian Rules Football. When Phryne is duped into investigating the coach's missing 'lucky cap', she discovers a gruesome murder instead - the local team Captain is found hanging by a rival team's scarf and it seems at first a clear - cut case of murderous sabotage.

Now estranged, Phryne and Jack step around each other to investigate a murder and the disappearance of a valuable manuscript.