SPQR VIII

Amidst the unrest of the late Roman republic, an elected official sleuths for a murderer among Rome's most formidable men in this historical mystery. He would rise up as savior of the State, but Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger already has a lot on his mind. As an elected official, Decius is responsible for staging elaborate gladiator games to please the Roman crowds as well as maintaining the city and its laws. It is these more mundane duties that call him to the scene of a recently built and more recently collapsed tenement building. Determined to punish the greedy parties who used cheap materials and caused the deaths of hundreds, Decius sets out to exact justice. It is easier said than done, especially when bodies and evidence go missing, and his family pressures him to cease the investigation. When it becomes clear that the collapse of the building was deliberate, Decius is suddenly in the dangerous position of investigating the most powerful men in Rome. In this eighth installment of the series, Roberts once again provides authentic detail in the everyday Roman customs, as well as a fascinating picture of the growing unsteadiness of the Roman Republic. "Entertaining, fast-paced." — Publishers Weekly "Engaging." — Kirkus Reviews "A quick, enjoyable read." — RT Book Reviews "An excellent re-creation of a fascinating era in history." — Library Journal