A Roman Death

Historical thriller set in Ancient Rome. In 45 BC Julius Caesar is at the height of his power. Lucius Scaurus the young good-looking fiance of a high-society girl is poisoned at the couples own pre-wedding banquet. In the trial that follows Roman society is shocked when the girls mother Helvia is accused of not only of murder but of incest. Cicero comes to Helvias defence but the killers identity remains a mystery until the final twist - or two.Poison poetry (both high-minded and salacious) marriage for money marriage for love gang-rape cowardice in battle scheming slaves conniving aristocrats malicious matrons casting magical curses and (as if all this were not enough) a previously unknown oration by Cicero -- theres so much going on so expertly conveyed ... (Steven Saylor)