Arriving in Constantinople in 1273, Anna Zarides vows to prove the innocence of her brother, Justinian, who has been exiled for conspiring to kill a nobleman. Disguising herself as a eunuch named Anastasius, Anna moves freely about in society, maneuvering close to the key players involved in her brother's fate, including a devious noblewoman and a ship's captain conflicted by his growing feelings for Anastasius. As Crusaders plot to invade Constantinople, Anna's discoveries draw her deeper into the emperor's treacherous court. Taking a break from her prolific career as a mystery novelist, Anne Perry proves herself a fine purveyor of historical fiction in this 2011 novel.