When the bodies of a number of babies are found scattered around Islington, the volatile Detective Sergeant Best is sent undercover to lodge next door to a suspected baby farm. He shadows an alleged 'child dropper' onto a Thames pleasure steamer and finds himself caught up in Britain's worst civilian tragedy - the 1878 sinking of the Princess Alice - a ghastly experience which will haunt Best forever. His determination to avenge the death of a young pregnant girl he had befriended and save the life of another becomes a crusade. Meanwhile, his beloved Helen returns from Paris with the promise of a decision as to their future. Dead Born is an exciting sequel to Best's adventure's in Dead Image and is again based on historical fact.