Falco continues tracing the surviving members of the conspiracy uncovered in The Silver Pigs. His search takes him through southern Italy, where former supporters of Vespasian's rivals are concealing money, loyalties and plans for renewed opposition.
The political assignment is complicated by Falco's attachment to Helena Justina and by the limits of his status. As apparent accidents accumulate, he must determine which conspirators remain active and which officials are using the investigation for their own advantage.