Scorpion Rising (Claudia) [Paperback]

Marilyn Todd (Author)

Book Description

Series: Claudia | Publication Date: June 1, 2007

The latest adventure for glamorous Roman sleuth Claudia. Blackmailed into investigating the murder of a child in south-west Gaul, Claudia is plunged into a bizarre world of nature priestesses, known as the Hundred-Handed. She soon finds there is a darker force at work; the Scorpion, master of disguise, is as cunning as he is ruthless. No one betrays this man and lives. Too late, Claudia discovers it was the Scorpion who lured her to Gaul in the first place . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Claudia Seferius, wine merchant in ancient Rome, is in trouble. She has taken a customer's payment but kept his wine to sell again, and now the angry customer--nicknamed the Scorpion--has sent a messenger to kill Claudia. But the messenger delivers an alternative--if Claudia will find out who killed his daughter, he'll let her live. All Claudia has to do is go undercover and find out who in the house of the Hundred Handed--a matriarchal cult of women who worship nature, keep men as sex slaves, and communicate through sign language--is the girl's killer. Arriving at the house, Claudia is shocked to find her old nemesis, Marcus Orbilio, already working undercover to expose a gang of criminals he believes have secreted themselves with the Hundred Handed. Todd marries the ambience of ancient Rome with modern dialogue and a timeless plot, and her heroine--brash, smart-mouthed Claudia--is a naughty delight. Recommend this strongly to readers of other ancient Rome mystery series by Steven Saylor and Lindsay Davis. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Marilyn Todd was born in Harrow, but now lives in West Sussex with her husband and two cats. Dark Horse is the eighth Roman mystery to feature the beautiful but formidable Claudia Seferius.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727891693
• ISBN-13: 978-0727891693
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,046,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast Paced and a Good Read, October 11, 2006

By 

J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorpion Rising (Claudia) (Hardcover)

Marilyn Todd's fast paced historical murder mysteries set in the time of Ancient Rome and featuring the beautiful Claudia Seferius are growing in popularity and the author is up there with the David Wishart's, Steven Saylor`s, not forgetting the Lindsey Davis's of the book world. Perhaps to have a woman and an alluring one at that, rather than a man as the sleuth and lead character is a stroke of genius on Todd's part.

Claudia Seferius has now become an accomplished wine merchant after taking over the business when her husband died, despite his family openly making it known that they should have the business and not her. But now she has done the unthinkable as far as respectable business goes. She has taken payment from a customer but kept the wine he purchased to sell again. Not a good idea as the irate customer nicknamed the Scorpion has sent a hit man to kill the beautiful Claudia.

However, there is a way out for Claudia. The hit man delivers an alternative that Claudia finds more attractive than lying in a pool of blood, or worse. If she can find out who killed his daughter, he will allow Claudia to live. Simple, all Claudia has to do is infiltrate a house, where a matriarchal cut worship nature, keep men as sex slaves and communicate through sign language and then find out who killed the girl. While on the case she is surprised to find her old sparring partner Marcus Orbilio, already at work undercover trying to expose a gang of criminals.