"Rome 26BC. An infamous slave trader, Herennius, has been robbed and murdered. Stabbed in the chest. Caesar himself has taken an interest in the crime. Marcus Agrippa instructs one of his agents, Rufus Varro, to investigate. Varro must interview various party guests who were with Herennius on the night of the murder - including a corrupt advocate and an enigmatic young poet. Everyone is a suspect, yet everyone is seemingly innocent.
In the meantime, Agrippa recruits Varro's bodyguard, the former gladiator, Manius, to infiltrate the inner circle of Publius Carbo, a dangerous demagogue. Intelligence suggests that Carbo and his followers are planning to launch an attack on the city's Jewish quarter. But uncovering the truth will exact a price for the two agents."