Longinius Flavius Libertus, freeman and pavement –maker, still seeking his wife, lost to slavery twenty years earlier, has arrived in Londinium, at the behest of the Roman Governor, His Supreme Excellence Publius Pertinax Perennis Felix, general-in-chief of all the coherts and legions in Britannia.
He is charged by the Governor to investigate the brutal murder of Caius Monnius, the chief corn-officer of the city. Perennis outlines the situation ,and Libertus learns that the dead man’s mother is of decided views and personally and is quite a figure in the town. Libertus grasping the essentials realises that just where this is leading.. An awkward political situation, sensitive papers missing. An hysterical woman demanding justice, and the governor not wishing to be involved. And, of course, a foolish pavement-maker with a reputation for solving mysteries.
Like all good investigators Libertus first attends the scene of the crime. This brings him in to contact with the dead man’s mother, Annia Augusta, his wife the beautiful Fulvia, and Lydia, Monnius’s former wife, who appears to live in the same household, as companion to Annia Augusta.
The description of Libertus taking in his first visit to the awe-inspiring city Londinium, was fascinating. By the benevolence of the Governor, Libertus, has acquired, in addition to his own young slave Junio, a rather elegant looking slave called Superbus, with a supercilious gaze, although trotting beside the litter bearing Libertus towards his destination, Superbus began to look less elegant as the litter-bearers pace told on him.
Investigation reveals that Monnius had made many enemies in business, but Annia
is convinced that the murderer is non other than the celebrated charioteer Fortunatus,
with whom Monnius’s wife Fulvia was having an affair. When a second body is
discovered, matters take a sinister twist.
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Lizzie Hayes
Other books in the series are The Germanicus Mosaic, A Pattern of Blood, and
Murder in the Forum