When a politically sensitive painting is abducted in Rome, Flavia di Stefano of the Italian Art Theft Squad must recover the work without paying a ransom or causing a national scandal. Tasked with an impossible objective, Flavia enlists the aid of her former mentor, General Taddeo Bottando, while her husband, Jonathan Argyll, pursues a parallel investigation into the provenance of a Renaissance painting. The narrative alternates between these investigative threads, utilizing a third-person perspective to navigate the complex intersection of high-stakes art theft and historical secrets. As the two inquiries converge, the protagonists face escalating threats from adversaries determined to keep the truth buried.

This novel is regarded as a sophisticated entry in the art-history mystery genre, noted for its intellectual depth and intricate plotting. Readers and critics often highlight the author's ability to balance technical art-historical details with the pacing of a traditional detective story. The dynamic between the central couple, Flavia and Jonathan, provides a consistent anchor for the narrative as they navigate increasingly dangerous professional waters. The work is frequently cited for its atmospheric depiction of Rome and its nuanced understanding of the art world's hidden mechanisms.