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Matricide: A Valerius Mystery
Baiae, 59 AD.
Aemilius Valerius promised Junius Atreus a holiday, and what better place to take one than the glittering resort town of Baiae, as famous for its hot springs and ocean views as it is for its drunken debauchery and moral decay? Not that Valerius and Atreus have time to enjoy any of that, because a young patrician woman is murdered and they are tasked to find her killer.
Between weird cults, underground grottos, dinners with the emperor, and the chaos of Mad Uncle Maro in party planner mode, it’s a race against time for Valerius and Atreus. Not only do they have a murder to solve, but Nero’s mother, Agrippina, is also coming to Baiae—she hates Valerius, and she’s killed better men than him before breakfast.
What happens in Baiae doesn’t stay in Baiae. What happens in Baiae is going to change the course of an empire, whether Valerius and Atreus survive it or not.
Aemilius Valerius promised Junius Atreus a holiday, and what better place to take one than the glittering resort town of Baiae, as famous for its hot springs and ocean views as it is for its drunken debauchery and moral decay? Not that Valerius and Atreus have time to enjoy any of that, because a young patrician woman is murdered and they are tasked to find her killer.
Between weird cults, underground grottos, dinners with the emperor, and the chaos of Mad Uncle Maro in party planner mode, it’s a race against time for Valerius and Atreus. Not only do they have a murder to solve, but Nero’s mother, Agrippina, is also coming to Baiae—she hates Valerius, and she’s killed better men than him before breakfast.
What happens in Baiae doesn’t stay in Baiae. What happens in Baiae is going to change the course of an empire, whether Valerius and Atreus survive it or not.
- GenresHistoricalMystery
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 15, 2026
A clever blend.of historical facts and fiction.
We have reached that most scandalous of events in Roman history (and there are a lot of them) Matricide............... Nero plot the murder of his mother Agrippina. His original plan was to sink her ship and have her drown but Agrippina foiled this attempt by swimming to shore, on learning of her survival Nero dispatched his Pretorean Guard to execute her. Agrippina's famous last words "strike the womb that bore him" show her knowledge of what her fate was and who was responsible. So died Germanicus daughter, Augustus granddaughter, Calligula's sister, Claudius niece and wife and finally Nero's mother. With her death ended the grandeur of the Augustan age.........though Nero survived for some years after the rot soon set in. Valerius as a friend of Nero's is Agrippina's enemy (see book one as to why) he knows that he and his family are not.safe.while she lives yet he cannot reconcile himself to what the Emperor has done though only Atrius and his family know his true feelings somehow being Nero's friend no longer feels like such an honour. Matricide is the.worst crime a Roman can commit and it brings with it the.most horrific punishment being tied into a sack with a dog and a snake and then the sack being thrown into the nearest deep body of water. Meanwhile even being on holiday gives no respite from crime. A young patrician female has been murdered and from where the body is found it looks like she was on her way from her brothers house to Valerius.................they happen to be next door neighbours. Valerius has no idea why this young girl would want to see him nor what she might have wanted to tell him........ Answering these questions should lead the intrepid duo to the murderer..........................maybe they can achieve justice for one murder victim............
We have reached that most scandalous of events in Roman history (and there are a lot of them) Matricide............... Nero plot the murder of his mother Agrippina. His original plan was to sink her ship and have her drown but Agrippina foiled this attempt by swimming to shore, on learning of her survival Nero dispatched his Pretorean Guard to execute her. Agrippina's famous last words "strike the womb that bore him" show her knowledge of what her fate was and who was responsible. So died Germanicus daughter, Augustus granddaughter, Calligula's sister, Claudius niece and wife and finally Nero's mother. With her death ended the grandeur of the Augustan age.........though Nero survived for some years after the rot soon set in. Valerius as a friend of Nero's is Agrippina's enemy (see book one as to why) he knows that he and his family are not.safe.while she lives yet he cannot reconcile himself to what the Emperor has done though only Atrius and his family know his true feelings somehow being Nero's friend no longer feels like such an honour. Matricide is the.worst crime a Roman can commit and it brings with it the.most horrific punishment being tied into a sack with a dog and a snake and then the sack being thrown into the nearest deep body of water. Meanwhile even being on holiday gives no respite from crime. A young patrician female has been murdered and from where the body is found it looks like she was on her way from her brothers house to Valerius.................they happen to be next door neighbours. Valerius has no idea why this young girl would want to see him nor what she might have wanted to tell him........ Answering these questions should lead the intrepid duo to the murderer..........................maybe they can achieve justice for one murder victim............
January 23, 2026
I really, really like this series! It's so well researched, and as someone who doesn't know a ton about ancient Rome, I found the historical details and the descriptions of day-to-day life (primarily of the upper, upper class) really fascinating. I use the wikipedia feature on my e-reader a ton when reading these stories. Valerius is a really appealing MC, he is clearly growing and maturing from book to book, and it's interesting to see his take on his responsibilities and the complex political machinations of high society. Atreus is compelling as well, he gives us a glimpse of the life of a more "normal" Roman, and his feelings for Valerius and the conflict he feels over falling for someone from such a different station in life give him depth and complexity. The supporting characters are fun and well rounded. The mysteries themselves are complex and there's a lot of moral grey area, which adds depth in a way that isn't seen often enough in the genre. I hope the author has many more books planned in this series (and that the next one comes out very soon!).
January 19, 2026
Aemilius Valerius takes his family and his friend Junius Atreus to what was supposed to be a relaxing holiday in Baiae. But things immediately go wrong, and Varelius and Atreus soon find themselves trying to solve a mystery while bodies pile up…
I do love this series. Not only the mysteries are compelling, and the characters are likeable, it has the added value of giving a very interesting account to the events going on in the Imperial Rome of Nero… The drama unfolds smoothly in two levels, one taking place at a “pedestrian” level, and the other, more subtle and way more dangerous, in the higher spheres. It mixes and intertwines in a perfect way, and to the historical account you have to add an intriguing mystery, a dash of romance and plenty of humour… I’m so looking forward to continue reading this series!
I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review
I do love this series. Not only the mysteries are compelling, and the characters are likeable, it has the added value of giving a very interesting account to the events going on in the Imperial Rome of Nero… The drama unfolds smoothly in two levels, one taking place at a “pedestrian” level, and the other, more subtle and way more dangerous, in the higher spheres. It mixes and intertwines in a perfect way, and to the historical account you have to add an intriguing mystery, a dash of romance and plenty of humour… I’m so looking forward to continue reading this series!
I received an ARC and this is my voluntary review
January 21, 2026
A fascinating vacation murder mystery set in Rome in 58 ad. This is my first book that I read in the Valerius Mystery series but I didn’t feel lost at any point, even with the unusual time period . I will be going back and reading the first two because it was so interesting.
In this story, Matricide, Valerius takes his family to Baiae for a getaway from the bustling streets of Rome. It was supposed to be a relaxing trip that turns in to murder, politics and a sprinkling of romance.
A wonderfully engaging read that was a little bit out of my comfort zone but a worthwhile read!
In this story, Matricide, Valerius takes his family to Baiae for a getaway from the bustling streets of Rome. It was supposed to be a relaxing trip that turns in to murder, politics and a sprinkling of romance.
A wonderfully engaging read that was a little bit out of my comfort zone but a worthwhile read!
January 23, 2026
4.5 stars. Another excellent episode in the lives of Valerius, Atreus, and the other wonderful characters in the former's household. The whole group went on holiday to Baiae (seaside), where there was a new murder mystery for them to solve, and a lot of political intrigue around Nero and Agrippina. The research is obviously of high quality, and the characters really fit well. A very enjoyable series.
January 23, 2026
I adored the blend of history and mystery here: this author makes the ancient world both accessible and immersive. In addition, the characters are deeply interesting, and it's so easy to get caught up in the storyline. A deeply engrossing read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
January 21, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this mystery set in the ancient world. The characters were interesting and engaging, the writing was excellent, and there were even a few bits that made me laugh out loud. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing throughout.
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January 27, 2026good mystery, love the characters, though wished there was more of juba lol and altho tenderness between A and V, no glimpses into their private times. was wondering about lucilla's backstory.
February 23, 2026
I love this series and thought the first two books were nothing short of brilliant, but in Matricide, the third book in the series, Jennifer Burke has surpassed herself.
With the main characters, Valerius and Atreus, now firmly established, along with their families and the setting of Rome in the early reign of Emperor Nero, the action moves to the fashionable resort of Baiae.
As always, the author brings the backdrop to vibrant life, and involves the reader in the mystery that Valerius and Atreus must solve, the death of a young, harmless, aristocratic woman. The seemingly unconnected overarching plot which is foreshadowed at the start of the book and echoes forebodingly at the story's climax is handled with maximum impact and links beautifully with the central mystery's themes of the dark underbelly of family and convention. An absolute must-read!
With the main characters, Valerius and Atreus, now firmly established, along with their families and the setting of Rome in the early reign of Emperor Nero, the action moves to the fashionable resort of Baiae.
As always, the author brings the backdrop to vibrant life, and involves the reader in the mystery that Valerius and Atreus must solve, the death of a young, harmless, aristocratic woman. The seemingly unconnected overarching plot which is foreshadowed at the start of the book and echoes forebodingly at the story's climax is handled with maximum impact and links beautifully with the central mystery's themes of the dark underbelly of family and convention. An absolute must-read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews