The latest adventure for the glamorous Roman sleuth Claudia. Blackmailed into investigating the murder of a child in south-west Gaul, Claudia is plunged into a bizarre world of nature priestesses, known as the Hundred Handed, who talk with their hands, believe dwarves possess healing powers, and keep men as sex slaves. But as sinister as this is, an even darker force is at work. A master of disguise, the Scorpion is as cunning as he is ruthless. No one betrays this man and lives. Too late, Claudia discovers it was the Scorpion who lured her to Gaul in the first place . . .