Supper Sleuths

The Detective and the Toga: Mysteries Set in Ancient Rome

The setting of this month’s topic is the glorious and nefarious world that for nearly a thousand years—from the founding of the Republic in 510 B.C. to the deposing of the last emperor, Romulus, in 476 A.D.—was ancient Rome. While our detectives in this sub-genre are limited by their time and place, the characters often mirror modern Private Investigators in their vices, love lives, and cleverness. For instance, Lindsey Davis’s popular and classic Marcus Didius Falco has a modern awareness that blends well with a corrupt atmosphere that can easily be compared to many present-day urban areas.
Included in this small group of historical mystery writers is the writing duo of Mary Reed and Eric Mayer who write of Byzantium in 500 A.D., similar in dress and historical flavor, their John the Eunuch brings a different Mediterranean perspective to the mix and presents a comparison for those of you have read everyone else.

The following is a list of titles by author. Whenever possible, the series is in order of publication date. This is meant to be an exhaustive list, but please let us know if you feel that a title should be here. Please read one or more titles, and come prepared to discuss your impressions of them with the group.

AUTHOR DETECTIVE TITLE TIME PERIOD

Mike Ashley, ed. Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits (2003)

Ron Burns Livinius Severus 180 A.D. Roman Nights (1991)
Roman Shadows | Not in NOBLE | Out of Print (1992)

Lindsey Davis Marcus Didius Falco 70 A.D. Silver Pigs (1989)
Shadows in Bronze (1990)
Venus in Copper (1991)
Iron Hand of Mars (1992)
Poseidon's Gold (1994)
Time to Depart (1995)
Last Act of Palmyra (1996)
Two for the Lions (1998)
Dying Light in Corduba (1998)
Three Hands in the Fountain (1999)
One Virgin Too Many (1999)
Ode to a Banker (2001)
Body in the Bathhouse (2001)
Jupiter Myth (2002)
Accusers (2003)
Scandal Takes a Holiday (2004)
See Delphi and Die (2005)

Jane Finnis Aurelia Marcella 91 A.D. Get Out or Die. (2004)

Barbara Hambly C. Marcus Silanus 116 A.D. Quirinal Hill Affair. (1993)
AKA Search the Seven Hills.

John Maddox Roberts Decius Caecilius Mettulus 70 B.C. SPQR I: The Kings Gambit (1990)
SPQR II: The Cataline Conspiracy (1991)
SPQR III: The Sacrilege (1992)
SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses (1993)
SPQR V: Saturnalia (1999)
SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurian (2001)
SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse (2003)
SPQR VIII: River God's Vengeance (2004)
SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates
Due in June (2005)

Mary Reed & Eric Mayer John the Eunuch 500 A.D.
Byzantine One for Sorrow. (1999)
Two for Joy. (2000)
Three for a Letter. (2001)
Four for a Boy. (2003)
Five for Silver. (2004)

Steven Saylor Gordianus the Finder 80 B.C. Roman Blood. (1991)
Arms of Nemesis. (1992)
Catilina's Riddle. (1993)
Venus Throw. (1995)
Murder on the Appian Way. (1996)
House of the Vestals:
The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder. (1997)
Rubicon. (1999)
Last Seen in Massilia. (2000)
Mist of Prophecies. (2002)
Judgment of Caesar. (2004)

Marilyn Todd Claudia Seferius 13 B.C. I, Claudia Out of Print | Not in MA (1995)
Virgin Territory Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (1996)
Man Eater Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (1997)
Wolf Whistle Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (1998)
Jail Bait Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (1999)
Black Salamander Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (2000)
Dream Boat (2002)
Dark Horse (2002)
Second Act (2003)
Widow's Pique (2004)
Stone Cold Due in June (2005)

David Wishart Marcus Corvinus 19 A.D. Ovid (1995)
Lydian Baker Out of Print | Not in NOBLE (1998)
Old Bones (2000)
Last Rites (2001)
Germanicus (2002)
White Murder (2002)
Vote for Murder (2003)
Parthian Shot (2004)

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Lucius Beebe Memorial Library - - lme

AUTHOR	DETECTIVE	TITLE	TIME PERIOD
Mike Ashley, ed.			Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits (2003)
Ron Burns	Livinius Severus	180 A.D.	Roman Nights (1991) Roman Shadows \| Not in NOBLE \| Out of Print (1992)
Lindsey Davis	Marcus Didius Falco	70 A.D.	Silver Pigs (1989) Shadows in Bronze (1990) Venus in Copper (1991) Iron Hand of Mars (1992) Poseidon's Gold (1994) Time to Depart (1995) Last Act of Palmyra (1996) Two for the Lions (1998) Dying Light in Corduba (1998) Three Hands in the Fountain (1999) One Virgin Too Many (1999) Ode to a Banker (2001) Body in the Bathhouse (2001) Jupiter Myth (2002) Accusers (2003) Scandal Takes a Holiday (2004) See Delphi and Die (2005)
Jane Finnis	Aurelia Marcella	91 A.D.	Get Out or Die. (2004)
Barbara Hambly	C. Marcus Silanus	116 A.D.	Quirinal Hill Affair. (1993) AKA Search the Seven Hills.
John Maddox Roberts	Decius Caecilius Mettulus	70 B.C.	SPQR I: The Kings Gambit (1990) SPQR II: The Cataline Conspiracy (1991) SPQR III: The Sacrilege (1992) SPQR IV: The Temple of the Muses (1993) SPQR V: Saturnalia (1999) SPQR VI: Nobody Loves a Centurian (2001) SPQR VII: The Tribune's Curse (2003) SPQR VIII: River God's Vengeance (2004) SPQR IX: The Princess and the Pirates Due in June (2005)
Mary Reed & Eric Mayer	John the Eunuch	500 A.D. Byzantine	One for Sorrow. (1999) Two for Joy. (2000) Three for a Letter. (2001) Four for a Boy. (2003) Five for Silver. (2004)
Steven Saylor	Gordianus the Finder	80 B.C.	Roman Blood. (1991) Arms of Nemesis. (1992) Catilina's Riddle. (1993) Venus Throw. (1995) Murder on the Appian Way. (1996) House of the Vestals: The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder. (1997) Rubicon. (1999) Last Seen in Massilia. (2000) Mist of Prophecies. (2002) Judgment of Caesar. (2004)
Marilyn Todd	Claudia Seferius	13 B.C.	I, Claudia Out of Print \| Not in MA (1995) Virgin Territory Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (1996) Man Eater Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (1997) Wolf Whistle Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (1998) Jail Bait Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (1999) Black Salamander Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (2000) Dream Boat (2002) Dark Horse (2002) Second Act (2003) Widow's Pique (2004) Stone Cold Due in June (2005)
David Wishart	Marcus Corvinus	19 A.D.	Ovid (1995) Lydian Baker Out of Print \| Not in NOBLE (1998) Old Bones (2000) Last Rites (2001) Germanicus (2002) White Murder (2002) Vote for Murder (2003) Parthian Shot (2004)