“There are rules for private informers accepting a new case. Never take on clients who cannot pay you. Never do favors for friends. Don’t work with relatives. If, like me, you are a woman, keep clear of men you find attractive.”
“Will I never learn?”
In ancient Rome, the number of slaves was far greater than that of free citizens. As a result, often the people Romans feared most were the “enemies at home,” the slaves under their own roofs. Because of this, Roman law decreed that if the head of a household was murdered at home, and the culprit wasn’t quickly discovered, his slaves—all of them, guilty or not—were presumed responsible and were put to death … without exception.
When a couple is found dead in their own bedroom and their house burglarized, some of their household slaves know what is about to happen to them. They flee to the Temple of Ceres, which by tradition is respected as a haven for refugees. This is where Flavia Albia comes in. The authorities, under pressure from all sides, need a solution. Albia, a private informer like her father, Marcus Didius Falco, is asked to solve the murders.
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"I loved the Falco books and when they ended, continued with Flavia Albia, whose character might not totally measure up to her father’s, but presents a strong female character, which I always enjoy. I always learn a lot about Ancient Rome (often checking facts) from Davis, and this time she had a deeper presentation of the position of slaves than in her previous books. This was very well done and was a significant aspect of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed other fiction taking place in Ancient Rome. Lucy Davis did a superb job. Some of her male voices were not quite “male” enough, but her reading was beautiful, nevertheless."
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Dfkinjer (5 out of 5 stars)