Flavia Albia's day-old marriage is in trouble - her new husband may be permanently disabled and they have no funds. So when Palace officials ask her to expose a traitor in their midst she is ready for the task.

Ever since the Emperor Nero committed suicide in AD 68, Rome has been haunted by reports that he is actually alive and ready to reclaim his throne. Two Nero pretenders have emerged from the East and met grisly fates.

But now a new pretender has been smuggled into Rome by the traitor. Flavia must negotiate with spies, dodge assassins and reveal this third Nero before he can make his move. Will she act in time or will Rome once more be plunged into civil war?

On its way to the UK

Arrived on these shores, tb devoured soon. Thank you ULRK. Do you want me to send it on to penelopewanderer?

Loved, as usual. I learnt so much about the Nero effect. I’m even beginning to wonder if Flavia Albia outFalcos Falco. Mm.

Off to penelopewanders in the Flavia Albia spiral started by ULRK. Thank you.

Safe delivery in France, thanks so very much. I have enjoyed all the books I've read by this author so far, and look forward to this one.
Wishing everyone well as we head towards winter.

Continuing this bookcrossing spiral, with pleasure. This takes place right after the wedding of Flavia and Faustus - and the striking accident! As Faustus is recovering during most of the book, Flavia Albia carries out her investigation quite independently.
At times there were rather long explanations of how the whole system works - almost too many details. There was a map of the city in the book (although for some reason I couldn't really match the legend with the map), but I would have appreciated a broader map which would have shown where Parthia and Dacia were.
Despite this, I really enjoyed the book. I am very grateful to be able to read all of these, and look forward to reading the next two which I have here on my TBR pile, thanks to ULRK and Cross-patch.

This now leaves central France (along with the previous book in the series) and heads to the UK.
The spiral continues!
earthcaroleanne (UK, UK shipping)
ReetPetite (UK, int'l shipping)
Diane-Fraser (UK)

All the best to all of you.

Arrived today. Hopefully I won't hold this up as much as the others as the Falkirk Convention is only 7 weeks away and Scottish author reading is slowing down.

This has been my least favourite book of the series so far. In the beginning the explanations of how the whole system worked were too long. Flavia Albia was bored by the record-keeper and so was I. At around page 150 I would have given up if I hadn’t wanted to know how Tiberius was getting on and was delighted at his entrance to the games. However I was not the least interested in her case, the false Neros, but I’ve got to admit the chase was amazing – a mule, a chariot and an elephant! Not to be missed.

Sending on in the spiral.

wow. I now have four of the series to be read. Could be some time before I get to this one.