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.
