About the book

Fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom will devour this captivating mystery, full of twists and turns. From multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Falco series Lindsey Davis. __________________________________ 'Wonderful. A great, fun all round!' - Daily Telegraph 'Surely the best historical detective in the business' - Daily Telegraph 'An excellent who-dunnit!' - ***** Reader review 'A relaxing and absorbing read' - ***** Reader review 'Difficult to put down!!' - ***** Reader review 'Completely addictive' - ***** Reader review __________________________________ A lost child in a deadly lottery. A frightened child approaches Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco, pleading for help. Nobody believes Gaia's story that a relation wants to kill her - and neither does he. Beset by his own family troubles, by his new responsibilities as Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, and by the continuing search for a new partner, he turns her away... Immediately he regrets it. Gaia's been selected as the new Vestal Virgin, and when she disappears Falco is asked to investigate. Finding Gaia is soon a race against time, ending in Falco's most frightening exploit yet.