Abandoned as a child in 19th-century London's East End, Harriet was taken in by Mary Dean and brought up as a sister to Mary and her brother Arthur. But 17 years later, Harriet and Arthur have fallen in love, and when Harriet then falls pregnant, they are driven out of Bow by prejudiced neighbours.

Arthur is then caught pilfering and faces a prison sentence. However this is soon to be the least of their worries. Harriet has kept a diary she stole as a child - the diary of a midwife - and perpetrator of the Jack the Ripper murders. And now the midwife has returned to the East End in search of Harriet and her diary - and will stop at nothing to get it back. . .