All Roads Lead to Murder — Albert A. Bell Jr.

The ancient Roman world comes to life in this complex tale of horrific murder. Pliny the Younger and Tacitus, the future historian, are returning from a posting by caravan and break the journey in Smyrna. In the morning one of their number is discovered with his heart cut out. The authorities assume his slaves are responsible and prepare to take action: torture and death for all the man's enslaved household. Pliny is convinced not all is as it seems: the man did not die from having his heart removed, and the guilty party is not among his slaves. More than a sense of justice motivates Pliny to work quickly; at risk is a beautiful and innocent young slave girl. Pliny calls in the help of Tacitus and others in the caravan, Luke the biblical physician and his young companion Timothy. First in the award-winning series. Second in the series, The Blood of Caesar, was named a Best Mystery of 2008 by Library Journal.