Books like Oracle of the Dead by John Maddox Roberts
Decius Caecilius Metellus, this year’s magistrate for cases involving foreigners, enjoys a peaceful life in southern Italy away from Rome’s war anxieties over Caesar. While visiting a local site, he is drawn into a pre‑Roman cult at the Oracle of the Dead—a tunnel beneath an Apollo temple. A bitter rivalry between the priests of Apollo and Hecate erupts when all Apollo’s clergy are killed. With Greeks, Romans, and native Italians reporting to revived ancient grudges, the countryside teeters on violence. Decius finds himself caught between the warring factions and must find a way to pacify the region while ensuring his own survival.
First publish date: 2009
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Historical Mystery
Authors: John Maddox Roberts
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