Books like Raiders of the Nile by Steven Saylor

In the turbulent year of 88 B.C., Rome, Greece and Egypt are on the edge of war. In Alexandria, the young Roman citizen Gordianus earns a living by solving puzzles and uncovering secrets for payment. On his twenty‑second birthday, his slave Bethesda is taken by brigands who mistake her for a wealthy mistress. Determined to recover her, Gordianus draws on his family’s investigative methods, tracks the kidnappers, and seeks a bargain to secure her freedom. As Alexandria’s streets descend into chaos and rumors of an invasion by Ptolemy’s brother grow, Gordianus finds himself at the center of a bold, dangerous plot involving the raiding of Alexander the Great’s golden sarcophagus. The novel blends mystery, historical detail and the stakes of a city in crisis, as Gordianus must outwit both crooks and political forces to save Bethesda and safeguard Alexandria’s future.

First publish date: 2014