A Murder on the Appian Way A Novel of Ancient Rome [Paperback]

Torchlight flickers on the elegant marble walls. The sound of a mob echoes in the street. The year is 52 B.C. and the naked body of Publius Clodius is about to be carried through the teaming streets of Rome. Clodius, a rich man turned rabble-rouser, was slain on the most splendid road in the world, the Appian Way. Now Clodius's rival, Milo, is being targeted for revenge and the city teeters on the verge of chaos.

An explosive trial will feature the best oration of Cicero and Marc Antony, while Gordianus the Finder has been charged by Pompey the Great himself to look further into the murder. With the Senate House already in ashes, and his own life very much in danger, Gordianus must return to a desrted stretch of the Appian Way - to find the truth that can save a city drunk on power, rent by fear, and filled with the madness and glory of Rome.

Saylor puts such great detail and tumultuous life into his scenes that the sensation of rubbing elbows with the ancients is quite uncanny. The New York Times Book Review

Saylor is skilled at spinning a tale out of unlikely historical sources . . . literate, humane, and dramatic. The Boston Globe

In Steven Saylor's lively imagination, Rome--both glorious and grimy--is revived. Seattle Times

Really excellent . . . an enthralling re-creation of time and place, fascinating storytelling. Sir Derek Jacobi

As always, Saylor sketches the real-life historical background with a masterly hand. Kirkus Reviews

Saylor meticulously resurrects ancient Rome, providing another irresistible installment in the continuing chronicles of Gordianus the Finder. . . . Gripping suspense and intrigue superbly supported by a wealth of accurate historical detail. Booklist

The suspense never lags as Saylor spins a sophisticated political thriller that also brings his readers up to speed on their Roman history. Publishers Weekly

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