Rome, 48 B.C.: As the forces of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great fight a bloody civil war for supremacy out in the far-flung outreaches of the empire, the city of Rome itself becomes a hotbed of intrigue, riven by espionage, greedy profiteering, and bitter betrayals. In this tentative and treacherous environment, a beautiful young seeress staggers across the marketplace and dies in the arms of Gordianus the Finder. Possibly mad and claiming no memory of her own past, Cassandra - like her Trojan namesake - was reputed to have possessed the true gift of prophecy. For such a gift there are many in Rome who would pay handsomely ... or resort to murder. Cassandra had become the confidante of the rich and powerful, until she fell victim to a vicious killer.Obsessed with Cassandra and her mystery, Gordianus the Finder begins to investigate her murder. As the citizens of Rome nervously await word of the war's outcome and the political situation in Rome veers toward chaos, Gordianus gradually peels away the veils of secrecy that surrounded Cassandra's life and death. The deadly revelations he uncovers involve some of the most powerful women in Rome, and Gordianus's pursuit of the truth not only endangers his own life, but could affect the very future of Rome itself. Read Less