Ancient history, family past, present day - all collide in this intricately woven first novel about three generations of one family, set against seventy years of political turmoil in Europe. At the outbreak of World War I, renowned archaeologist Lionel Richardson flees Sarajevo to begin an excavation at Ano Meri, an ancient palace in Crete. His success there becomes a lifelong obsession for which there is a very high price - one that his family must pay.