February, AD 80. An imperial messenger summons Jonathan's father to Rome, where the fever which started in Ostia is now threatening to become a plague.

Jonathan and his three friends go, too, and need to use all their skills to solve a dangerous mystery for the Emperor Titus.

Since the first title, THE THIEVES OF OSTIA, was published in September 2001, the series has become a huge success - the author has had a great response from children at her many speaking engagements and through her Roman Mysteries website.