This is the second of the Vlad Taltos novels, and precedes Jhereg in the chronology. Each of the novels is named for one of the 17 Great Houses of the Dragaeran Empire, the "Elven" kingdom of Brust's novels. Vlad has had his own territory for six months, and seems to be making a go of it. However, when his neighbor Larsis, a more experienced Jhereg, muscles in on his territory, Vlad knows he has to do something. What erupts is a full on turf war between two rival criminal enterprises. Each targets the other's businesses, interrupting the flow of money, but one thing Vlad quickly figures out is that Larsis is better prepared for this sort of thing..
But when it moves up to assassination attempts, Vlad figures he has to step up his game as well!