From Publishers Weekly
Roberts ( SPQR ) again proves that he's perfectly at home in the urban sprawl of ancient Rome as his sleuth Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger follows a trail of suspicious deaths to the heart of a dangerous conspiracy. When a banker and a building contractor are murdered in the street, Roman officials are disinterested. Although the second murder was clumsily amateurish, Decius suspects the murders are related and ominous portents of things to come: he also has stumbled on a cache of arms hidden in the Temple of Saturn. Well born but temporarily stuck in a low-level government job, Decius needs only to contrive a bit of grumbling at parties to gain a reputation as a malcontent--and an invitation to further his ambitions by joining Lucius Sergius Catilina's treasonous bid for power. As Decius pursues the investigation, his account is spiced with observations on Rome's politics and personalities. Readers familiar with the period will be entertained by passing references, such as to the posturing Julius Caesar or to young Catullus, fresh from the country and besotted with Clodia. Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review
"Roberts again proves that he's perfectly at home in the urban sprawl of ancient Rome." --Publishers Weekly



Review
"Roberts again proves that he's perfectly at home in the urban sprawl of ancient Rome." --Publishers Weekly



Review
"Roberts again proves that he's perfectly at home in the urban sprawl of ancient Rome." --Publishers Weekly



Book Description
It was a summer of glorious triumph for the mighty Roman Republic. Her invincible legions had brought all foreign enemies to their knees. But in Rome there was no peace. The streets were flooded with the blood of murdered citizens, and there were rumors of more atrocities to come. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger was convinced a conspiracy existed to overthrow the government-a sinister cabal that could only be destroyed from within. But admission into the traitorous society of evil carried a grim price: the life of Decius's closest friend...and maybe his own.



About the Author
John Maddox Roberts is the author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. His latest additions to this series, SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurion, will be published later this year. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It was a summer of glorious triumph for the mighty Roman Republic. Her invincible legions had brought all foreign enemies to their knees. But in Rome, there was no peace.

The streets were flooded with the blood of murdered citizens and there were rumors of more atrocities to come. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger was convinced a conspiracy existed to overthrow the government — a sinister cabal that could only be destroyed from within. But admission into the traitorous society of evil carried a grim price: the life of Decius's closet friend...and maybe his own.

Author Biography: John Maddox Roberts is the author of numerous works of science fiction and fantasy, in addition to his successful historical SPQR mystery series. His latest addition to this series, SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurion will be published later this year. He lives in New Mexico with his wife.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly