Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis

This extensive excerpt from "Venus in Copper: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery" introduces the reader to the Roman private informer Marcus Didius Falco, who finds himself embroiled in a complex case. Initially imprisoned and then released through his mother's intervention, Falco is hired by a group of wealthy freedmen, the Hortensii, to investigate a woman named Severina Zotica, whom they suspect of being a "gold-digger" targeting one of their own for marriage. As Falco navigates the intricate social circles of Rome, including encounters with his demanding girlfriend Helena Justina and even the Emperor's son Titus, he uncovers a web of deception, past deaths, and property schemes orchestrated by the ruthless Appius Priscillus. The narrative follows Falco's investigation, his personal struggles with his living situation and relationship, and culminates in his unmasking of the true killer of Hortensius Novus and an explanation of the poisoning method, solidifying his role as a shrewd, if often reluctant, investigator within the bustling Roman world.