The Beggar Of Volubilis (Roman Mysteries, Bk. XIV)

It's March, AD 81. Flavia and her friends are searching for a precious gem called Nero's Eye. According to a prophecy, whoever possesses the stone will rule Rome: so Titus needs it to maintain his power, especially since it's rumored that Nero is still alive. Their mission takes the four detectives on a caravan across North Africa, where they encounter wild animals and beast-hunters, sandstorms and mirages, pantomime actors, and a mysterious beggar who claims to have witnessed Nero's death. A gripping tale set in the most exotic location yet in all the Roman Mysteries.