Classic murder mystery set in Ancient Rome. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar is at the height of his power and the fortunes of the Fufidii and Scauri families are at a watershed. Quintus Fufidius agrees against his wife’s instincts to the marriage of their daughter to Lucius Scaurus, but before the wedding can take place one of the principals is murdered. Suspects are few, but Roman society is shocked … when Quintus’s wife is accused not only of murder, but also of incest. The trial of Helvia, in which she is defended by Cicero, is a courtroom battle on the grand scale and accompanied by the political shenanigans which result in Caesar’s assassination.
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An Intriguing Approach To Writing A Murder Mystery
Every murder mystery I have read has the murder at the start or very near to the start. The victim is known, but the identity of the murderer or murderers is the focus of the rest of the novel. This novel does not start with the murder. In fact, the murder does not occur until 60% into the novel. The reader has a front row seat to all of the events leading up to the murder.
The novel opens with a discussion. Helvia, the mother of the fourteen year-old Fufidia, and Helvia’s brother, Cinna, talk over the betrothal of Fufidia to a young son of a senator. Fufidia was at the family’s villa south of Rome with her wine-enhanced aunt. While her aunt slept, Fufidia flirted with the next door neighbor’s son, Lucius, a scion of the old patrician Scaurus family. The two quickly become infatuated with each other. The elder Scaurus sees a way to solve the family’s money problems with a marriage to the daughter from a rich equestrian merchant. Fufidia’s father saw a marriage link to an illustrious patrician clan. They agree on a betrothal. Helvia and Cinna, when they learn about it, were not happy. The novel proceeds from here.
The next 50% of the book the author leads the reader through the maneuvering, actions, desires and fears of the Scaurus and Fudidius family members leading up to the murder. Essentially, the main and B-storylines merged during this part of the novel. The complexion of the flow in the novel changes dramatically once the murder occurs. Then the murder charges, counter charges, and throwing people under the bus starts. If you are not knowledgeable on Roman trails, it is not anyway like the American justice system.
I found only two instances of vulgar language. There were a scene at the beginning of inappropriate behavior of Fufidia but it was not repeated and not titillating in nature. An instance of male on male sex was mentioned, and one male-on-male rape occurred. None of these caused me any issues, and, I believe, that it will not for most readers. The author does use many Latin phrases. Many of them are repeated in English. Some I understood from my rudimentary understand of Latin. A few I used the Internet on my e-reader learn their meaning.
The storyline captured and kept my attention throughout the entire novel. I enjoyed the author’s different approach to a murder mystery. There were a few major twists that I also enjoyed. All of the loose ends were tied up by the end of the novel. The author like several Roman mystery writers do adds a little known fact. The one here deals with the minimum number of enemy killed in battle to justify a triumph.
This novel doesn’t meet the same level as novels that I rate with five stars, but it is better than the novels that I rate with four stars. As it was nearer to the five-star novels, I rate this novel with five stars. If you enjoy the ancient Roman mysteries, do try reading this one. I believe that you will enjoy reading it as I did.
I have received a free e-reader version of this novel through NetGalley from Black Quill Press with an expectation for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Black Quill Press for the opportunity to read and review this novel.