Falco is required to work with the imperial agent Anacrites while auditing wealthy citizens for Vespasian's census. Their enquiries enter the businesses that supply animals and trained fighters for the arena.
The death of a valuable lion and then a gladiator exposes a rivalry among trainers that extends from Rome to North Africa. Falco follows the commercial network to determine whether competition, fraud or revenge lies behind the killings.
The census work gives the case an economic dimension because the arena depends on contractors, animal dealers, trainers and provincial suppliers whose fortunes can be hidden behind entertainment. Falco’s partnership with Anacrites also remains uneasy, forcing two men who distrust one another to follow the same money trail while deciding which apparent business dispute has become murder.
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