"Rome: September, 96 AD. When the body of Sextus Verpa, a notorious senatorial informer and libertine, is found stabbed to death in his bedroom, suspicion falls on his household slaves--a potential death sentence for all. The cruel emperor, Domitian, orders Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus--known to history as Pliny the Younger--to investigate. However, the Ludi Romani (the Roman Games) have just begun, and for the next fifteen days the law courts...