It is 313 AD. Under the rule of Emperor Constantine, Rome finally appears to be emerging from its turbulent past. Under the guidance of his mother Helena, Constantine plan to consolidate his control by harnessing the power of the increasingly influential Christian Church. But his loyalties are brought into question when three courtesans from the Guild of Aphrodite—a guild Constantine himself frequents—are found dead. All three bodies have crosses etched on their foreheads and each cheek. Aiming at protecting her son’s future, Helena calls upon the service of an agente in rebus politicis—a spy. Claudia is the niece of a tavern-owner and is placed as a wine-server in Constantine’s household, but as it turns out, Claudia has secret motives of her own.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Paul Doherty is the author of several mystery series, including the Ancient Egypt Trilogy, the Ancient Roman Mysteries series, and The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan series.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
4th Century Rome,
By Lyn Reese (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Murder Imperial (Ancient Rome Mysteries) (Paperback)
Murder Imperial
by Paul Doherty It is 312 C.E. Constantine has recently defeated his rival Maxentius and has entered Rome to become Emperor of the West and self proclaimed "protector of the Christians." His eyes, however, are on the real prize, the rich lands of the East now held by Emperor Licinius. These plans are being undermined by a serious of gruesome murders connected to the palace. To discover the identity of her son's enemy, his doting mother Helena has her most effective spy, young Claudia, become an undercover palace servant. Because of her observation skills and ability to glide about without being noticed, Helena calls Claudia her "little mouse." But even a mouse cannot remain invisible for long, and it seems likely that Claudia will be the murderer's next victim. Publicly Claudia is the inconsequential niece of a local tavern owner; in secret she belongs to a type of imperial spy group called Argentes in Rebus. Both personae give Claudia access to a variety of colorful Roman types - from an influential Christian priest to popular gladiators, actors, and courtesans. Of particular interest are the palace personalities and their intrigues. "Trust no one," Claudia is told - advice that more than once proves to be true. Doughty is a prolific writer whose works span wide historical periods. He writes vividly and with great style on the quotidian details of his periods. His main scholarship, however, seems to be medieval England and we would feel more comfortable about his descriptions if this book on Constantinian Rome had listed some of the author's most useful sources.
6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second Book in the Series,
By J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Murder Imperial (Ancient Rome Mysteries) (Paperback)
Paul Doherty is the consummate professional when it comes to writing historical novels. I for one do not know how he can be so prolific with his offering of books and yet make sure that each of them is well researched. Whether they be 13th, 14th, or fifteenth century they are always true to the period. He also writes about Ancient Egypt and Alexander the Great. Paul Doherty has the rare talent of making you feel as though you are there, be it medieval England, or battling with Alexander. The sounds and smells of the period seem to waft from the pages of his books. He has now turned his attention to Ancient Rome and this is the second book in the series.
Rome 313 AD, after a series of abject and at times tyrannical rulers, the Emperor Diocletian has divided the Roman Empire into east and west. Constantine has had a victory over Maxentius in the west and Rome now seems to be heading towards a period of prosperity and stability. But instead of enjoying the fruits of his victory, Constantine under the guidance of his mother Helena is striving to harness the power of the increasingly influential Christians.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
