From the publisher
The year is 1976, and Stephen III, King of England, has lately died. Mozart's Second Requiem (K. 878) is being sung at the Cathedral Basilica of St. George at Coverly (pronounced Cowely) for the laying-to-rest of the monarch. Above the choir and orchestra soars the faultless boy soprano voice of Hubert Anvil. It is a once-in-a-century talent. Although he cannot yet know it, today's performance before a brilliant international congregation--including two emissaries of the Holy Office--will alter his destiny but save his voice if certain of his elders have their way.

In the world-as-we-know-it the last such castrato died in 1922, but this is another world altogether, spared the Reformation back in the sixteenth century when Martin Luther became Pope. As Hubert is made aware of what may be in store for him, some unsuspected allies, including his father's not-so-celibate chaplain and the New England ambassador spring up. Around him swirls a whirlpool of piety, menace, terror and passion--a vortex from which no reader can or will escape until the final resolution.