Rome, AD 70. Private eye Marcus Didius Falco knows his way round the eternal city. He can handle the muggers, the police and most of the girls. But one fresh 16-year-old, Sosia Camillina, finds him a case no Roman should be getting his nose into . . .
Sosia's uncle is a Senator with suspicions. Some friends, Romans and countrymen are doing a highly profitable, if highly illegal, trade in silver ingots or pigs. For Falco it's the start of a murderous trail that leads far beyond the seven hills. To a godforsaken land called Britain, to Emperor Vespasian himself, and to Helana Justina - a lady leagues out of Falco's class.
