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 Lindsey Davis.''Wonderful, great fun all round'' -- Daily Telegraph''Surely the best historical detective in the business'' -- Daily Telegraph''An excellent who-dunnit'' -- ***** Reader reviewA relaxing and absorbing read -- ***** Reader review''Difficult to put down'' -- ***** Reader review''Addictive'' -- ***** Reader review*****************************************************************************A LOST CHILD IN A DEADLY LOTTERY...A frightened child approaches Roman informer Marcus Didius Falco, pleading forhelp. Nobody believes Gaia''s story that a relation wants to kill her - and neitherdoes he. Beset by his own family troubles, by his new responsibilities asProcurator of the Sacred Poultry, and by the continuing search for a newpartner, he turns her away. Immediately he regrets it. Gaia has been selected as the new Vestal Virgin, and when she disappears Falco is officially asked to investigate. Finding Gaia is then a race against time, ending in Falco''s most terrifying exploit yet...