It is the fourth book in his Roma Sub Rosa series of mystery novels set in the final decades of the Roman Republic.

Hesitating due to the potential danger, Gordianus asks Bethesda and his daughter, Diana, to serve dinner to his late night guests while he deliberates.

Gordianus ultimately rejects the philosopher’s plea, citing his plans to visit his second son Meto, currently campaigning with Julius Caesar.

Arriving at her horti on the Tiber, he is introduced to the scantily clad Clodia, her trusted slave, Chrysis, and her equally infamous brother, Clodius.

Believing that Marcus Caelius’ debts to Pompey, who wishes to keep Ptolemey XII in power, motivated him to murder the philosopher, Clodia hires Gordianus to find evidence against her former lover.

Knowing the scandal attached to Clodia and her brother, Clodius, Eco unsuccessfully urges his father to drop the case.

Confirming that her husband is in denial, she reveals that the two slaves who prepared Dio's food had suspiciously gone out that day, returning with some mysterious spices.

While there, Gordianus learns that the philosopher regularly abused one of Titus Coponius' slave girls, Zotica, who was with him the night that he was murdered.

Acquiescing, he shows up to the Senian baths the next day expecting to witness a handoff of the poison from Caelius’ friend, Licinius, to one of Clodia’s slaves.

Revealed to be the poet Catullus, Gordianus mistakenly believes him to be Clodia's contact until he sees her slave, Barnabas, approach him.

Compelled by Chrysis to explain the afternoon's events, Gordianus finds himself back at Clodia's house only to be entertained by her brother instead.

Confronting his follower, Catullus, the poet convinces Gordianus to have another drink with him where he reveals his unrequited love for Clodia and hatred for Caelius.

Fearing Bethesda's jealousy and earlier wrath, Gordianus is surprised to find the two women, along with his daughter, calmly conversing in the garden.

To Gordianus' surprise, he learns that his wife was once owned by a cruel and powerful Egyptian who sadistically tied her mother to a hook before sexually assaulting her.

Demanding the truth from Caelius, the newly acquitted man admits to stabbing Dio to erase his debt to Pompey and attempt to poison Clodia.

After spending the night at Eco's house, Gordianus still finds himself unable to face his wife, so he decides to visit Clodia only to discover that she has fled the city.