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 gi rls. But one fresh 16 year old, Sosia Camillina, finds him a case no R oman should be getting his nose into . . . Sosia's uncle is a Senator with suspicions. Some friends, Romans an d countryment are doing a highly profitable, if highly illegal, trade in silver ingots or pigs. For Falco it's the start of a murderous trai l 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.