Last Act in Palmyra by Lindsey Davis

In this mystery novel excerpt set in the Roman Empire, informer Marcus Didius Falco travels to the ancient city of Palmyra while investigating a missing water organist and a series of murders. Accompanied by his partner Helena Justina, Falco embeds himself within a traveling theatre troupe to observe several suspects, including eccentric actors, musicians, and a pair of clowns. The narrative tracks their journey across the Decapolis and Syria, highlighting Falco's tense interactions with a Palace spy and his developing friendship with a Nabataean priest named Musa. As the troupe performs for a rowdy military garrison, Falco ultimately exposes the murderer during a dramatic on-stage confrontation involving a large python. Through sharp dialogue and historical detail, the text explores themes of professional loyalty, romantic devotion, and the cynical realities of life on the Roman frontier.