In the year 14 AD, after a long reign as Emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar has died. He leaves behind one heir, Tiberius Claudius Nero, and a widow in Livia Drusilla. Even though he was an old man, Augustus appeared healthy and happy. Tiberius comes to suspect that the emperor may have been murdered.As a result, he engages the services of Patroclus Numitius, a private tutor who was once a friend of Augustus to discover the truth of what happened. Patroclus soon finds himself tangled up in a web of deceit and lies in which nothing is really certain. No one really knows what has happened. Has Tiberius become the emperor by killing his adoptive father? Has Livia killed her husband so that her son can ascend to the throne? Is someone else involved entirely?Or, for reasons only he knew, has Augustus committed suicide? Only Patroclus can find the truth- a truth that costs him more than he bargains for.