She is an English woman and her sixteen year old daughter has just been snatched away by a leather clad figure on a motorcycle. She even has photos of the event. Soon she is telling her story to Roman officialdom.

Just a few hours previously, an excitable American couple discovered a body in a peat bog as they attempted to retrieve what they thought was an ancient artifact. It was neither ancient nor artifact but the body of a young girl who has a coin from sixteen years ago in her mouth. Teresa Lupo, the coroner, uncovers a strange tattoo on her arm and evidence of violent death.

As Teresa and Nic investigate, they find themselves caught up in a plot of Machiavellian proportions with knife wielding maidens, organized crime, a black American enamored of both ancient Rome and Japan and the highest judicial officials. A doddering archeologist is murdered just moments after Teresa inquires about an article he wrote on the Villa of Mysteries where arcane Dionysian rituals were once performed, and she flees for her own life. Grotesque masked figures appear on crowded streets and murder with immunity. A local crime lord finds treachery and betrayal rife in his own home and police investigators work to thwart investigations. The clock is ticking as an ancient festival looms near and the missing girl seems to be slated for sacrifice.

Hewson’s previous Nic Costa book, A Season for Dying began with promise but soon became so mired with extraneous blood and gratuitous sex that my interest waned. This effort is much better but still suffers from an overemphasis on plot machinations and little character development. His Lucifer’s Shadow was much more fluid and readable; set in both contemporary and 17th century Venice, his story of a violin was riveting right up to the startling last line. It is because of this I will continue to check out his books whenever I see his name. Perhaps his next Nic Costa will be more developed and less impetuous.

--Jane Davis