Turmoil strikes Rome in BC 52 Publius Clodius, a powerful populist politician with an unsavory personal life, is murdered while travelling on the Appian Way The prime suspect is his arch rival, patrician Titus Milo, and there are repercussions for the state, the judicial system and the military Gordianus is brought into the case by his neighbour, Cicero, who is defending Milo and needs a bit of discreet detective work On Gordianus's investigations rests the fate of Titus Milo, and with Rome now descending into chaos, Pompey and his rival Julius Caesar watch from a distance, coolly scheming to further their own ambitions Meanwhile, Rome burns as Clodius's followers riot to avenge their murdered leader