Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis

Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis

"Some men are born lucky, others are called Didius Falco."

It's the first century CE in Rome and informer and occasional imperial agent Marcus Didius Falco is miserable. The high-born woman he fell in love with, Helena Justina, has broken off their stormy, impossible affair. So when Emperor Vespasian assigns Falco a task that will take him out of Rome, he can't wait. Disguised as vacationer in the company of his comrade Petronius Longus, captain of the Aventine Watch, Falco travels south to Neapolis, Capreae and Pompeii where he discovers a conspiracy involving the Egyptian grain shipment to Rome. He also stumbles across Helena Justina, conveniently also on a trip out of town, who might, unwittingly, be enmeshed in this dangerous, treasonous scheme.
Lindsey Davis' Shadows in Bronze is historical mystery at its best.

Lindsey Davis is an English actress who was born and raised in Birmingham. She ran away to be a writer after earning an English degree at Oxford and working for the civil service for thirteen years. Venus in Copper, The Iron Hand of Mars, Nemesis, and Alexandria are among her worldwide bestselling novels featuring ancient Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco. She also wrote Rebels and Traitors, a historical novel set during the English Civil War. Davis has been honored with the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association, as well as the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award and the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award.