The Eunuch's Ring

Benevento, AD 619: A Spy's Game in a Losing Empire

Who butchered Tubby Quintus in Rodi's bed?

Not Rodi himself - the Byzantine Empire's youngest spy in the West was in another bed when it happened.

Was it Aripert, the vicious and expendable brother of the Lombard King?

Was it Gisulf, the Duke's pretty but manipulative and no less expendable nephew?

Was it the Duchess - half-drunken, half-shifty regent of Benevento in her husband's unexplained absence?

Or Clementian, her cadaverous steward and trusted "adviser"?

So long as he can avoid being hanged at the demand of everyone who matters, none of this, strictly speaking, is Rodi's concern.

But murder after murder follows inside the palace. Beyond the crumbling city walls, an army of unknown provenance is burning and slaughtering its way through central Italy - headed for Benevento. Assassins are on the prowl for Rodi. A signet ring has vanished from the Exarch of Ravenna's hand.

Since all these facts may be connected, Rodi has no choice but to stay put and investigate.

The Eunuch's Ring is a taut historical thriller set in an Italy still hovering between imperial grandeur and medieval fragmentation - a world where Latins, Greeks, and Lombards share an uneasy peace, and one young spy must survive them all.

A perfect Christmas present for lovers of historical fiction.

Praise for the Novels of Richard Blake

'Fascinating to read, very well written, an intriguing plot and I enjoyed it very much.' - Derek Jacobi, star of I, Claudius and Gladiator

'Vivid characters, devious plotting and buckets of gore are enhanced by his unfamiliar choice of period.... Nasty, fun and educational.' - The Daily Telegraph

'He knows how to deliver a fast-paced story and his grasp of the period is impressively detailed.' - The Mail on Sunday

'A rollicking and raunchy read... Anyone who enjoys their history with large dollops of action, sex, intrigue and, above all, fun will absolutely love this novel.' - Historical Novels Review

'It would be hard to over-praise this extraordinary series, a near-perfect blend of historical detail and atmosphere with the plot of a conspiracy thriller, vivid characters, high philosophy and vulgar comedy.' - The Morning Star

Richard Blake is a pseudonym for Sean Gabb, who is an historian, writer and university lecturer. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.