The stakes are high for Roman army doctor Gaius Petreius Ruso as he heeds a request to go home to Gaul, taking his companion, Tilla, along with him. Brought home under a ruse, Ruso attempts to resolve some of his family's money problems, but becomes the main suspect in a murder inquiry when his family's adversary dies in his presence from an apparent poisoning. Ruso must navigate many competing claims on his attention, including his younger sisters who want money for a dowry, his spendthrift stepmother, and his brother's large and messy family. He slowly investigates the trails of clues he discovers with the help of Tilla, leading to his eventual discovery of the guilty parties. I really enjoyed this fast-paced and intriguing mystery. Ruth Downie does a great job describing a town, buildings, and estates in the classical period, but with characters that have many of the same motivations and desires as modern-day people.
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