DEATH IN BYZANTIUM: At the heart of what is left of the Roman Empire, lies a city simmering with intrigue & treachery. Amid this maelstrom stands John, a slave who has risen to become the right hand of Justinian, the greatest of Byzantium's emperors. With violence and murder commonplace, it is John's skills as an investigator that the Emperor prizes the most.

THREE FOR A LETTER: It is 539 AD and as the reconquest of Italy draws toward its close, a pair of eight-year old twins descended from the last Ostrogothic king have become valuable pawns in Emperor Justinian's plans to restore the glory of Rome. Unfortunately, during the performance of a play at a banquet honoring the two young diplomatic hostages, death upstages the occasion and claims one brother. Then Empress Theodora's favourite actor vanishes and John, Lord Chamberlain to Justinian, is ordered to find both the missing actor and the murderer... and to protect the life of the remaining twin.

With Justinian's dreams of Empire at stake, John will need all his wits to keep his job... and his head.