Rosy Gilchrist is sent to Venice to find a rare, signed translation of Horace's Odes by Dr Bodger. Rosy jumps at the chance to fit some sightseeing around work, but the holiday plans go on hold when she learns that there is a significant bounty prize for anyone who finds this valuable text. Finding herself in the midst of a cat-and-mouse chase, Rosy's rivals will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get their hands on the book.