THE REWARDS OF TREACHERY

As Roman Britannia adjusts to yet another change of ruler in 198 C.E., the populace is left cautious, uneasy, and vulnerable to criminal activity.

Junio, the adopted son of Libertus, took over his father's tile business when Libertus had to flee Glevum after the death of his wife. Junio’s own wife is about to give birth when a messenger arrives from the home of Marcus Septimus Aurelius, the family’s powerful patron, who cannot be ignored. A piece of valuable jewelry is missing, replaced by a fake. Letigines, the same enslaved messenger who's now carrying this news to Junio, had brought it to be repaired at the behest of Marcus' wife, Julia, and is now likely to be accused of theft. Julia thought Junio might be able to find out what happened, helping Letigines avoid punishment. Anlyan, another messenger who's arrived at Junio’s house at the same time as Letigines, presents himself as a Celtic freeman who speaks excellent Latin and looks to be part Roman; he carries a letter of recommendation and offers to help at the house while Junio goes to see Marcus. Marcus is entertaining a powerful magistrate who is annoyed that Marcus favors Junio, who’s a Roman citizen even though he has a far lower status. When Junio and Marcus go to the closed shop of the jeweler Vitellius, they find him hacked to death in the Celtic manner and most of his valuable stock missing. In the meantime, Junio’s eldest son goes missing in the company of Anlyan, forcing Junio not only to hunt for killers, but also for his boy. He can only hope that he learned some of Libertus’ knack for solving crimes.

Ancient rituals, Roman politics, and brutal murders combine in a fascinating mystery.