This wonderful novel set in the 1200's by famed mystery novelist Anne Perry (Cardigan Crescent, etc; and the Monk series) is, I think, the longest of all her novels. It is not a quick read by any means, despite the fast moving plot.
In order to find her twin brother, Anna Lascaris goes from Nicea to Constantinople. To ask questions without being obtrusive she poses as a eunuch. Through her patients she hears what happened to her brother as well as uncovering a plot involving the Holy Roman Empire.
I was enthralled from the first page. The descriptions were masterfully done, and the characters come alive on the page. I found it easy to follow the change from "her" to "his" as the viewpoint changed from the narrater to the character point of view and loved the skillful way Mrs. Perry handles the transition. One of my favorite parts was where you learn the meaning of the title (but I'll let the reader discover that for themselves). Neither will I give away the ending, but will just say that it was written just the way I hoped.
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