What the critics say

''Non-stop action, excitements and astonishments - a real cracker!''
''Absolutely smashing''
''Davis''s writing zings with fun''

EVIL SENT INTO EXILE - BUT CRIME NEVER GOES AWAY.

Petronius Longus, captain of the Aventine watch and Falco's oldest friend, has finally nailed one of Rome's top criminals. Under Roman law citizens are not imprisoned but are allowed ''time to depart'' into exile outside the Empire. One dark and gloomy dawn Petro and Falco put the evil Balbinus aboard ship.

But soon after, an outbreak of robbery and murder suggest a new criminal ring has moved into Balbinus' territory.

Petro and Falco must descend into the underworld of Vespasian's Rome to investigate.

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Readers Love Lindsey Davis:

''Exceptionally well crafted - keeps you guessing right until the end''

''Lindsey Davis never fails!''

''I started reading it the moment it arrived, and finished it by the same evening. Just Brilliant!''

''There are not adjectives fulsome enough to describe how good these books are''