Falco is still working for the emperor and trying to fix his own complicated love life. The conspirators in the first book are still hanging around causing trouble and now a couple of them have turned up dead. Vespasian sends Falco out to track down the rest of them and warn them off. But someone wants Falco out of the way.

I like these books - Falco reminds me of a Roman Archie Goodwin. But they are a little too long, I think. I get distracted and have a hard time taking everything in.