In the run up to Saturnalia, a rapist is on the loose in Rome. Is he a copycat or did Orbilio catch the wrong man? Claudia's insurance fraud is catching up with her and she needs money fast. Is sponsoring a troupe of actors a way out?
I thought Claudia and Orbilio had reached some sort of understanding of each other in the previous book, but apparently not. We're back to banter again. Not that I'm complaining, mind -- it's good quality banter.