Glevum, AD 187: Despite the opulence of the evening s banquet, Libertus is keen to return to his wife and a warm bed. But this feast has a finale to put any diner off his dessert the guest of honour is found dead in the vomitorium.

To Libertus s horror, his patron Marcus Septimus is arrested on suspicion of murder. Then when Libertus is accused of being Marcus s accomplice, he is forced to go on the run. Hiding in a dark corner of the city, he quickly realises he s an unwelcome visitor to those who haunt the shadows. Soon Libertus is in danger, and this time there s no one to help...