With the help of his boss' attractive, vivacious daughter, young journalist Charles Dickens investigates the death of a young woman that bears unsettling similarities to a murder that occurred a year ago to the day.

1835. Young journalist Charles Dickens is invited to dinner at the estate of the Evening Chronicle's co-editor. He is smitten with his boss's daughter, vivacious Kate Hogarth. They are having the best of times when a scream shatters the evening. In the neighbors' home, Miss Christiana Lugoson lies unconscious on the floor. By morning, she will be dead. When Charles hears of a very similar mysterious death a year ago to the date, also a young woman, feels compelled to investigate. Kate offers to help, using her social position to gain access to the members of the upper crust who are now suspects in a murder.