Books like Time to depart by Lindsey Davis
In the summer of AD 72, Rome is shaken by a criminal purge that frees Balbinus Pius under a rare legal loophole: a condemned citizen may leave the Empire before execution. The illegal departure leaves the underworld restless, as rivals orchestrate a major robbery that rattles the city’s elite.
Falco, the Emperor Vespasian’s trusted informer, is called upon to uncover the truth amid escalating violence. Joined by his girlfriend, Helena Justina, he follows a trail of murders, kidnappings, and shifting alliances that force them far beyond the courtly boundaries of Roman society.
Through gritty intrigue and clever detective work, Falco navigates Rome’s dangerous streets, decoding the motivations of both crime lords and imperial officials to restore order before the city descends further into chaos.
First publish date: 1995
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Historical Mystery
Authors: Lindsey Davis
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