Todd's 12th Claudia Seferius Roman historical whodunit (after 2004's Stone Cold
) offers more of the same—a fast-paced mystery punctuated by anachronistic colloquialisms that will jar some readers' ears. The perpetually insolvent Claudia involves herself in several puzzles that may relate to her mother-in-law Larentia's fiancé, who's in a position to limit Larentia's financial options. Two young men have turned up dead in Tuscany, and the locals have been plagued by a series of misfortunes suggesting that the region has been afflicted by a curse. Series fans won't be surprised that Claudia's longtime love interest, Marcus Cornelius Orbilio, of the Security Police, resurfaces; newcomers may find their bantering exchanges annoying. Those seeking better ancient Roman period detail and trickier crimes to unravel will be better served by Rosemary Rowe or Steven Saylor. (Jan.)
