A Mist of Prophecies

Review ''Vivid and robust . . . Exquisite detail and powerful drama.'' --Philadelphia Inquirer ''A gritty depiction of the underbelly of the great city in its heyday . . . The secret history of Rome has never been so fascinating.'' --Guardian (London) ''The problem with a writer with the brilliance of Steven Saylor is that he leaves almost impossible standards for other writers to measure up to. With A Mist of Prophecies, Saylor exceeds even his usual standards of excellence.'' --El Paso (TX) Times ''Saylor shows once again why fans of ancient historicals regard him as the leader of the field.'' --Publishers Weekly (starred review)''One of the best mystery series being published today . . . A pitch-perfect work . . . gripping prose.'' --Austin (TX) Chronicle ''A fascinating work!'' --Midwest Book Review ''Saylor writes with such easy grace that the politics of these vicious times become as captivating to the reader as the mystery of Cassandra's life and violent death.'' --Tampa Tribune & Times''Intriguing both as a mystery and as a historical novel, this should find a wide audience. Readers will enjoy the plot twists, the deft portrayal of characters, and the attention to historical detail. Saylor is particularly fine in his presenting of the common people of Rome.'' --Library Journal ''Saylor brings a wealth of historical information lightly to bear on a chilling mystery.'' --Booklist ''It would be impossible to imagine a more stellar lineup of suspects in all imperial Rome.'' --Kirkus Reviews ''If you want to visit Rome -- ancient Rome -- this is the way to go!'' --Oklahoma City Oklahoman Product Description In the year 48 BC, Rome is in the midst of civil war. As Pompey and Caesar fight for control of the republic, Rome becomes a hotbed of intrigue driven by espionage, greed, and betrayals. A beautiful young seeress staggers across the Roman marketplace and dies in the arms of Gordianus the Finder. Possibly mad and claiming no memory of her past, Cassandra -- like her Trojan namesake -- was reputed to have the gift of prophecy, a gift many in Rome would pay for handsomely . . . or kill for. Obsessed with Cassandra's mystery, Gordianus investigates her murder. As he peels away the veils of secrecy surrounding her life and death, he discovers a web of conspiracy linking many of Rome's most ruthless and powerful women. Now Gordianus' pursuit not only endangers his own life but could change the future of Rome. About the Author STEVEN SAYLOR is a freelance writer, editor, and the author of novels set in ancient Rome. He studied history at the University of Texas at Austin. Saylor's writing has appeared in the Threepenny Review, San Francisco Bay Guardian, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He lives in Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.