Leo Stanhope

Leo Stanhope. Assistant to a London coroner; in love with Maria; and hiding a very big secret. For Leo was born Charlotte, but knowing he was meant to be a man and unable to cope with living a lie any longer, he fled his family home at 15 and has been living as a man ever since. But when Maria is found dead, Leo is accused of her murder and stands to lose not just the woman he loves but his freedom and, ultimately, his life.

The headlines scream warnings about the 'Butcher of Berner Street!', and the journalist behind them - Leo Stanhope - is secretly thrilled to see the effect his words are having. Leo's previous work has largely been concentrated on more mundane issues, but when an anonymous letter summons him to a club in East London, only for the owner of the club to be found murdered shortly afterwards, Leo sees a story worth pursuing. Not to mention an opportunity to make a name for himself.