An Alternate Africa, 1850. England and Holland are on the verge of war and Africa is the field of engagement. Lord Fox Maule-Ramsay, the Queen's Spymaster, has sent a Crimean War widow, Almira Lindenwood, to South Africa to keep an eye on the Dutch. When several prides of lions apparently under the control of a witch doctor named Matamula begin hunting and killing everyone in the area, it's up to Almira to stop him. (NB: inspired by the tale of the real witch doctor Matamula who really did control a pride of man-eating lions)