Murder’s Immortal Mask

Doherty’s fifth ancient Rome mystery, the first to be released in the U.S., picks up with former legionnaire Attius Enobarbus found murdered in a locked room. Emperor Constantine’s mother, pious Christian Helena, dispatches her servant Claudia and the ex-gladiator Murranus to find the secret Attius held: the location of the tomb of the apostle Peter. Claudia discovers that Attius was suspected of being the Nefandus, a brutal serial killer, but the Nefandus resurfaces after Attius’s death, and Claudia must discover his or her identity as well as the key to Peter’s tomb. Meticulous historical detail, a carefully constructed plot and an intriguing array of prostitutes, German mercenaries and other underground Roman characters make this an engrossing and informative read, though scant backstory and references to earlier books may frustrate first-time readers. (July)