Virgin Territory

By Marilyn Todd

Book Overview

It just wasn't fair. When you marry a man for his money, you expect him to leave you a shining pile of gold pieces. Not a crummy old wine business. How was the new young widow Claudia going to pay off her gambling debts now?

So when Eugenius Collatinus asks Claudia to chaperone his granddaughter to Sicily she jumps at the chance to escape Rome. It should be easy. Sabina Collatinus, she is told, has recently completed thirty years' service as a Vestal Virgin.

Or has she...?

Claudia suspects she is escorting an impostor. And then a woman's brutalized body is discovered...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 196347936X
• ISBN13: 9781963479362
• Release Date: June 2024
• Publisher: White City Press
• Length: 302 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Effusive

All of Todd's Claudia Seferius Roman series veritably glow with life. She comes across as the party girl's Agatha Christie with flair; stumbling from incident to incident with naught but luck and startling good looks and ready tongue to negotiate both her's and Drusilla's way out of danger. An imperfect heroine with an undeniable infatuation of the noble Orbilio (disingenously desribed as a 'policeman') Todd manages to set her murder mysteries in Rome with minimal care for historical accuracy. Gone is the Roman mater, in is the twenty-first century party girl.To be fair you can see the development in Todd's writing through the series and her latest (Black Salamander) finds Claudia moving out of Rome, but, unlike another great author, Lindsey Davies, her mysteries depend on the character rather than the setting so Claudia travels rather better than Falco.Any mystery afficionado should have these on the shelves. They are delightful.

Witty, well researched, with a sparkling main protagonist.

"Virgin Territory" succeeds on several levels - the heroine Claudia (first met in "I, Claudia") is a realistic, feisty and nicely rounded (in more ways than one!) character with the foibles and attitudes typical of her time. Marilyn Todd manages to make her other characters stand out as individuals also, even the walk-on parts. The murder mystery is both intrigueing but not too obscure (something which always irritates me). The research into the period is obviously intense but used to create atmosphere and a solid backdrop, and isn't allowed to overwhelm the story. A welcome addition to Lindsey Davis and Janet Evanovich for amusing, clever crime fiction on my bookcase.

Engaging characters and a good mystery; very enjoyable!

Hero and heroine make this series a fast-paced treat! Ancient Rome seems very familiar; a lot like London, in fact. This is a fun mystery and a great read.