COLORFUL CHARACTERS TUMBLE FROM THE PAGES AS POMPEII LIVES AGAIN. A.D. 59. Nero, a corrupt and narcissistic sadist rules the Roman Empire. Eventually, tired of the Emperor's determination to destroy the social and political fabric of Roman life, a group of senators, praetorians and courtiers conspire to assassinate him. Pompeii is a city of secrets with a reputation for wealth, leisure and the good life. Culturally rich and oozing energy, it exudes a zest for living unmatched by Rome's cold, corrupt magnificence. Murder and revenge will fuel support for the conspiracy, from those Pompeians with every reason to despise Nero. And Pompeii hides another secret. What is the mystery of the villa with the room of the crimson frescoes? Rome's Empress, Poppaea, born in Pompeii, struggles to cope with Nero's madness, her political ambitions, and her longing for a glamorous lover hidden in a villa in nearby Oplontis. Through the novel's pages walks Praxus, a praetorian guard. His inner struggle between decency and his oath to a murderous Emperor, represents the core of goodness that remains inherent in Roman society.

'Cacat Domitian needed something to get him through the frustration of dealing with Titus. Dragging the container closer, he extracted another fly. Holding it steady, he pierced its body with a long needle. Then he watched it squirm.'

70 A.D. Emperor Vespasian rules Rome after a period of great turmoil. His eldest son, Titus, returns in triumph after the siege of Jerusalem, as his younger brother Domitian seethes with jealousy. Mentally unstable and corrupt, he conspires to overthrow Titus after Vespasian's death.

Celadus, a young Gaul, is sold into slavery to fight in Rome's arenas. He falls in love with the beautiful daughter of Flavius, commander of the Praetorian Guard. Their lives become intertwined with those of the conspirators as Titus fights for survival.

Set against plague and fire in Rome and the devastation of Pompeii, brother plots against brother in a battle to the death for the ultimate prize, - control of the Roman Empire, - and a forbidden love struggles to survive, as fate plays its hand.

Arsinoe Cleopatra's beautiful half sister. Egyptian Princess. Pure blooded descendant of the ruling Ptolemy bloodline. Cleopatra Ruling Queen of Egypt. Of mixed royal blood. Murderer, seducer, schemer and conspirator. Ephesus A magnificent Roman city whose citizens' lives become intertwined with that of Arsinoe. 47 BC Alexandria, Egypt. The Ptolemy dynasty is in conflict following the death of Ptolemy Auletes XII. Cleopatra, her half sister Arsinoe and their brother Ptolemy XIII are at war. Julius Caesar arrives to broker peace. After the Battle of Alexandria, Arsinoe is dragged through Caesar's Egyptian Triumph in Rome. Intrigue, conspiracy and assassinations in Ephesus follow Caesar's death, set against the turmoil of murder and power plays in Rome and Alexandria, as Arsinoe seeks her true place in history as Egypt's rightful Queen.