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Claudia Seferius #3
Man Eater
On the eve of the Roman festivities, the last thing you'd expect Claudia Seferius to be doing is heading out of the city. Unfortunately, even hedonistic young widows have to put business before pleasure when their vineyards are threatened with arson.
Taking a shortcut through the Umbrian countryside, she is forced off the road, and her beloved cat goes missing in the skirmish. Refusing to leave without her, Claudia accepts the hospitality of Sergius Pictor and the menagerie of wild animals he is training for the Games.
Then a stranger knocks at her bedroom door, with a knife sticking out of his belly.
And Claudia finds herself being framed for murder…
Taking a shortcut through the Umbrian countryside, she is forced off the road, and her beloved cat goes missing in the skirmish. Refusing to leave without her, Claudia accepts the hospitality of Sergius Pictor and the menagerie of wild animals he is training for the Games.
Then a stranger knocks at her bedroom door, with a knife sticking out of his belly.
And Claudia finds herself being framed for murder…
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
9 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Todd
87 books45 followersMARILYN TODD lives with her husband on a French hilltop, surrounded by vineyards, châteaux and vines. As well as sixteen critically acclaimed historical thrillers, she's a prolific writer of short stories, most of which are crime, but range from commercial women's fiction to comic fantasy and all points in between. When she isn't killing people, Marilyn enjoys cooking. Which is pretty much the same thing.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 29, 2018
Although a light mystery this book is still a great little book by Marilyn Todd which is the 3rd episode of the likeable cheeky Claudia Seferius series.
It's a mystery that is told with a lot of wit and although it's someway short of historical details it's still a very entertaining Roman story.
The story itself begins in Rome on the eve of the Roman Festivities while Claudia is heading in the other direction.
After being run off the road to Etruria, while heading to her vineyards which are threatened with arson, she is forced to seek shelter in the home of Sergius Pictor, a shelter which also house a menagerie of wild animals and so you can guess that those animals will play a big part within this murder mystery.
While staying there she's framed for murder when a stranger appears at her bedroom door with a knife sticking out of his belly.
What follows is a thrilling murder mystery, again with wild animals playing an important part, and one that will end with a very likeable suspenseful plot.
This is a most delightful mystery and thus in my opinion "an exciting read"!
It's a mystery that is told with a lot of wit and although it's someway short of historical details it's still a very entertaining Roman story.
The story itself begins in Rome on the eve of the Roman Festivities while Claudia is heading in the other direction.
After being run off the road to Etruria, while heading to her vineyards which are threatened with arson, she is forced to seek shelter in the home of Sergius Pictor, a shelter which also house a menagerie of wild animals and so you can guess that those animals will play a big part within this murder mystery.
While staying there she's framed for murder when a stranger appears at her bedroom door with a knife sticking out of his belly.
What follows is a thrilling murder mystery, again with wild animals playing an important part, and one that will end with a very likeable suspenseful plot.
This is a most delightful mystery and thus in my opinion "an exciting read"!
abandoned
January 16, 2014Sorry, Claudia; you and me just don't work together anymore. Pity.
March 17, 2024
#3 in the Claudia Seferius series set in Ancient Rome.
January 31, 2021
All the Claudia books are great fun, if sometimes a bit confusing. I do wish that she and Orbillio would get their act together though
January 24, 2016
It has been many years since I have read a Claudia Seferius mystery novel and I have to say that the historical mystery series has lost none of its early appeal. Claudia is a truly interesting character in the Ancient world--a rich, independent female protagonist who is fairly resourceful and cunning with no living male relatives to control her or even children to look after. Claudia's one and only focus is to look after herself (sorry Druscilla but as far as lovely cats go, I think Claudia would sacrifice you if push came to shove). Even throughout the story where her life is in constant peril, the reader knows that she will survive not because her patrician wanna-be boyfriend super cop will save her, but because she already possesses all of the necessary skills to save herself. She will not let any obstacle get in her way, even a fake murder charge.
As for the mystery itself, it's a somewhat mixed bag. Claudia seems to be having a run of bad luck as she is run off the road and takes refuge a villa where a strange man falls dead in her arms. She is accused of murder and while is stuck waiting for her lawyer from Rome to show up, more bodies pile up. One must be wondering how shallow and self-absorbed nouveau riche Romans were as the thought of a serial killer on the loose within the villa walls does not stop them from their revelery or debauchery. By the time the killer is finally revealed, the reader no longer really cares because the true story was never about the mysterious death of an unknown stranger or who was behind the plan to steal Claudia's vineyard. It's really about throwing a monkey wrench into Claudia's and Marcus's somewhat complicated relationship built entirely on overt sexual tension that if you could capture it, you could power all of your electronics for an entire year without a recharge.
As for the mystery itself, it's a somewhat mixed bag. Claudia seems to be having a run of bad luck as she is run off the road and takes refuge a villa where a strange man falls dead in her arms. She is accused of murder and while is stuck waiting for her lawyer from Rome to show up, more bodies pile up. One must be wondering how shallow and self-absorbed nouveau riche Romans were as the thought of a serial killer on the loose within the villa walls does not stop them from their revelery or debauchery. By the time the killer is finally revealed, the reader no longer really cares because the true story was never about the mysterious death of an unknown stranger or who was behind the plan to steal Claudia's vineyard. It's really about throwing a monkey wrench into Claudia's and Marcus's somewhat complicated relationship built entirely on overt sexual tension that if you could capture it, you could power all of your electronics for an entire year without a recharge.
May 12, 2014
Taking place in 12 BC, this is the third Claudia Sefarius book. Marilyn Todd's writing is clear and the story moves right along, although her style occasionally irks.
Claudia heads to Etruria to check her vineyards, but must make a stop in Cumbria after her carriage is forced off the road. During the night, she hears a noise at her door, and finds a man with a knife in his belly falling on her. The owner of the estate calls in the local law (the military), and she is accused of murder.
Not only that, but the insufferable Marcus Cornelius Orbilio has followed her...
Claudia heads to Etruria to check her vineyards, but must make a stop in Cumbria after her carriage is forced off the road. During the night, she hears a noise at her door, and finds a man with a knife in his belly falling on her. The owner of the estate calls in the local law (the military), and she is accused of murder.
Not only that, but the insufferable Marcus Cornelius Orbilio has followed her...
October 15, 2014
I have discovered this mystery series which has become available as an ebook.
3rd in series set in Ancient Rome.
The plot was confusing as was the writing style.
Too many characters and hard to care about anyone in particular.
Claudia, Marcus and Junius are the reason I may keep reading.
So far 4/12 of the books are available as ebooks.
3rd in series set in Ancient Rome.
The plot was confusing as was the writing style.
Too many characters and hard to care about anyone in particular.
Claudia, Marcus and Junius are the reason I may keep reading.
So far 4/12 of the books are available as ebooks.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews