After the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, it is discovered that six French impressionist paintings have been replaced by forgeries before they are shipped back to France in April. Tough Chicago cop Mike McGhan has just been promoted to Chief of Detectives and inherits the case from his predecessor. Murder, robbery and arson cases he can handle, but the theft of Monets and Renoirs is a little out of his wheelhouse.

McGhan remembers that at his wedding there was a young Yale graduate, Whit Coleman, who drew a sketch of him and his new bride. He was an art major and had studied in Paris. He was also a big fan of the popular Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Mike contacts him and hires him as a consultant on the case.

On May 11th, 1894, three thousand workers at the Pullman railcar factory walk off the job and one of the largest strikes in American history begins. When mobs begin burning railroad cars, the entire Chicago police force is needed to control the violence and amateur sleuth Whit Coleman is left on his own to solve the biggest art heist of the century.

To further add to his dilemma, the French send over irascible Inspector Rene LaFarge to help with the investigation. He states he does not care about the chaos in the city, he wants the art found or he will cause the Chicago police department to be embarrassed by an international incident.