Virgin Territory

Claudia Seferius #2

by Marilyn Todd

When Eugenius Collatinus asks Claudia Serfius to act as chaperone for his daughter Sabina, who is leaving home from Sicily after thirty years as a Vestal Virgin, she jumps at the chance to escape Rome. Unfortunately, rather too later, it becomes clear that she is escorting an imposter... Back in Rome, investigator Marcus Cornelius fears that Claudia is in very great danger. And there's only one thing he can do: go to Sicily and save that delicious neck of hers.Then, in the grounds of the Collatinus house, a woman's brutilized body is discovered....

Genres: Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction, Mystery

351 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

MARILYN 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.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2012, and its the 2nd volume of the "Claudia Seferius" series.

The year is 13 BC, and after the death of her husband, Claudia Seferius, and with hardly any money left by him, she's in the hillside covered with vines, hoping to produce wine.

So when she gets the chance to make some money when old Eugenius asks her to chaperone his granddaughter home to Sicily, Claudia jumps at this possibility to fill her pockets.

Eugenius insists that Sabina has completed her thirty years' service as a Vestal Virgin, but soon enough In Sicily, Claudia finds out that this Sabina is an imposter, when she stumbles on a brutalized body.

In Rome, Marcus Orbilio is already concerned for Claudia and must go to Sicily himself to save her.

What is to follow is an exciting and intriguing Roman mystery, in which Claudia, with the assistance of Marcus, after a narrow escape herself, and after some other thrilling moments, they will be able to solve this case in the end, and that includes with the usual fun and teasing between Claudia and Marcus.

Very much recommended, for this is a splendid addition to this a very enjoyable Roman series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Likeable Claudia Roman Mystery"!

[Marina López · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó. El plot twist final me dejó
con la boca abierta.

[Jeff J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two of the Claudia Seferius series.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Claudia! I don't care if the series is anachronistic, I love the repartee between her and Marcus. She is truly a "character" in every sense of the word. I'm working my way through the whole series, and I am so glad they are back in print!!

[Bron · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I read this but I enjoyed it at the time.