‘“I still can’t believe I’ve put the bastard away for good!” Petro muttered.’

Petronius Longus, captain of the Aventine watch and Falco’s oldest friend, has finally nailed one of Rome’s top criminals. One dark and gloomy dawn, Petro and Falco put the evil Balbinus aboard a ship.

If you like S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom, you will love this absorbing, fast-paced and - at times - wonderfully funny Roman mystery from bestselling author Lindsey Davis. Guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat...

'Non-stop action, excitements and astonishments - a real cracker' -- The Good
Book Guide
'Absolutely smashing' -- Daily Telegraph
'Davis's writing zings with fun' -- Daily Mail
'Exceptionally well crafted - keeps you guessing right until the end' -- ***** Reader review
'Lindsey Davis never fails!!' -- ***** Reader review
'I started reading it the moment it arrived, and finished it by the same evening. Brilliant' -- ***** Reader review
'There are not adjectives fulsome enough to describe how damned good these books are' -- ***** Reader review

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EVIL SENT INTO EXILE - BUT CRIME NEVER GOES AWAY

Petronius Longus, captain of the Aventine watch and Falco's oldest friend, has finally nailed one of Rome's top criminals. Under Roman law citizens are not imprisoned but are allowed 'time to depart' into exile outside the Empire. One dark and gloomy dawn Petro and Falco put the evil Balbinus aboard ship.

But soon after, an outbreak of robbery and murder suggest a new criminal ring has moved into Balbinus' territory. Petro and Falco must descend into the underworld of Vespasian's Rome to investigate...