Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison–and the king's estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth. Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter. But Henry's summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king's trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of Saint Albans, who is also her baby's father. Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan's home where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia's investigation is cut short by the appearance of Queen Eleanor. Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken to the nunnery at Godstow. Isolated and trapped, Adelia watches as dead bodies begin piling up. The murders are somehow connected with Rosamund's demise. Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war. . . .