Civil unrest and murder. Can a Roman patrician quell unrest and find a killer before politicians knife him in the back?

Italy, 512 C.E. Argolicus would rather bury his nose in a book. But, when he leaves his peaceful country villa to open his long-shuttered town home he dies into town politics and meets a potential bride. He refuses to stand by when her family's livelihood is threatened and her merchant father slain.

With the grain supply dwindling and Argolicus fighting incompetent officials, he uncovers a list of high-placed suspects and attracts the attention of a shadowy rival bent on his destruction. And as the citizenry grows increasingly desperate to put food on their plates, he'll have to risk his reputation and life to hunt down the killer before violence erupts.

Can Argolicus find a hidden killer before he takes a knife in his back?

The Grain Merchant is the engaging fifth book in the Argolicus Mysteries historical mystery series. Fans of Ruth Downie, Steven Saylor, and Lindsey Davis, jump forward in time to meet your new detective. If you like intelligent heroes, picturesque Italian settings, and immersive ancient worlds, then you'll love Zara Altair's engrossing mystery.

Buy The Grain Merchant to explore the streets of antiquity today!

5 Stars

Complicated strands coming together into a final solution that is ingenious and satisfying.